Community. Compassion. Life. That’s what it’s all about with Silicon Valley’s newest animal welfare organization, Silicon Valley Pet Project.
Silicon Valley Pet Project (SVPP) was launched in February 2015 by a team of like-minded professionals who came together with a vision to change the face of animal rescue in Silicon Valley. SVPP’s main focus is partnering with the San Jose Animal Care Center, Silicon Valley’s largest animal shelter. We’re inspired by national models such as No-Kill Los Angeles and Austin Pets Alive!, and we bring passion and experience to our community.
SVPP’s mission is clear and our dream is big. We are a nonprofit organization of volunteers committed to saving local at-risk shelter pets through rescue, community involvement and education. We rescue, rehabilitate and rehome both cats and dogs of all breeds, as well as senior and special-needs pets, from our local municipal shelter. We foster these pets in caring, temporary homes until they are ready to be put up for adoption.
SVPP’s vision goes far beyond rescue, however, with a comprehensive approach to the adoption and volunteering experiences. We offer support before, during and after an adoption with the goal of keeping animals in loving homes. We provide recommendations or referrals to trainers, vets, insurers, and other community partners, some of whom offer discounted rates to our adopters and volunteers.
Each foster home is paired with a foster coordinator — someone to answer questions, arrange for needed pet supplies or training and to provide support until their foster pet is adopted.
While many of our volunteer opportunities are virtual, we also plan regular get togethers so volunteers have a chance to meet and get to know each other. We also offer our volunteers opportunities to learn and expand their skills through field trips, classes and conferences.
Another major goal is to maintain a sustainable organization, since many rescues struggle to keep afloat. SVPP’s three founders — Melissa Lisbon, Vivian O’Connell and I — spent a year before the formal launch recruiting an experienced board, studying best practices around the country, building committed volunteer teams and a foster network, and developing practices and procedures that would create camaraderie and consistency. Since then, we’ve identified specific roles and responsibilities, produced an SVPP volunteer manual, conducted an “internal” launch and training event, and created a private Facebook page, enabling volunteers and foster families to network, support and help each other. We’ve also developed relationships both with other animal welfare organizations and the local community, establishing outreach, marketing and social media campaigns.
Even within the first few months of operation, we have encountered mission-critical rescue circumstances. In one instance, a beautiful American Bulldog living with her owner in a homeless encampment was attacked while protecting him against an assault. The shelter agreed to house and treat the dog, who had sustained significant injuries resulting in the removal of one of her eyes. After healing from her injuries, Ruby was placed on the “at-risk” list. Thanks to widespread community awareness and support of this case, a foster family stepped forward and SVPP was able to pull Ruby from the shelter. We are providing all of the care and necessary resources to ensure she can be placed in a loving, forever home.
Going forward, our five-year plan includes procuring a facility to supplement our foster home network. We envision this facility as a pet community center offering support services, obedience and behavioral training, educational opportunities and volunteer training, as well as a place to just drop in and have a cup of coffee with a cat or a canine.
We are excited by the progress we’ve made in the few short months since we’ve launched. We’ve adopted out 13 animals, built a solid network of foster homes, co-hosted two local fundraising and outreach events, engaged with more than 100 volunteers, and launched a website and Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and Pinterest accounts. In addition, we have just been accepted as a Best Friends Animal Society network partner.
We encourage our pet-loving community to join us in our vision of becoming a community catalyst for changing the lives of our local shelter pets. Silicon Valley Pet Project knows that together we ALL can make a huge difference through adopting, fostering, sponsoring, volunteering, donating and/or advocating for homeless animals in our community.
Cathy Heape is a co-founder and on the board of Silicon Valley Pet Project (SVPP), focusing her efforts on marketing and communication. Cathy and her husband Judd live in San Jose, have 2 rescue dogs — Bella and Buddy — and foster regularly for SVPP. A long-time animal lover, Cathy feels very fortunate for the opportunity to apply her professional skills to the local cause of animal welfare full-time.
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