This is a most exciting time at The San Francisco SPCA. 2007 was a banner year for achievement, and this year is shaping up to be just as successful. And since 2008 is the 140th anniversary of the Society’s founding on April 18, 1868, we’ll be celebrating all year long with special observances and events.
Last year was certainly a memorable year for me, personally. I took up the position as President of The SF/SPCA on April 2, and since then my life has been a kaleidoscope of thrilling opportunities, plain hard work, and gratifying accomplishments. I am very fortunate to have an amazing group of colleagues, and working closely together we have been striving to streamline and expand our programs to meet the increased need for advanced animal welfare services in the community, now and in the future.
On October 4, The SF/SPCA broke ground on The Leanne B. Roberts Animal Care Center, which, when completed in 2009, will go a long way toward meeting those needs. It will double our ability to care for sick animals and increase the number of spay/neuter surgeries – currently approximately 7,000 – we can perform each year. Finally, our non-profit, full-service hospital (which sees over 20,000 clients annually), our shelter medicine program, and free Feral Fix program will all be under one roof. The opening of The Leanne B. Roberts Animal Care Center will make expanded veterinary services available to all of our clients. Currently, the Society provides approximately $1.5 million each year in charitable and subsidized veterinary medical care, and we remain committed to providing help for certain qualified residents in our community for the care and treatment of their companion animals.
The new policies The SF/SPCA staff and I have been putting in place have already impacted our adoption rates: So far this fiscal year we have achieved an 86 percent increase in dog adoptions and a two percent increase in cat adoptions. The boost in the number of lives saved by this upsurge in adoptions is so rewarding, and it has been accomplished in no small measure through collaboration between the Society, San Francisco Animal Care & Control, and regional shelters and rescue groups. Transfers of animals from these groups to The SF/SPCA have increased by 69 percent for dogs and eight percent for cats. The strengthening of cooperative relationships with like-minded organizations can only benefit homeless companion animals.
The results can also be seen in our Holiday Windows Outreach Adoption event at Macy’s Union Square Store, where adoptable dogs and cats are showcased in the store windows. Some people have voiced opposition to this event, but for 21 years The SF/SPCA has used this opportunity to find homes for a growing number of shelter animals. At the end of November, adoption rates for the 2007 Holiday Windows were approximately double those of 2006, and donations from the public had increased at the same rate. The mission of The SF/SPCA is to save the lives of homeless companion animals, and Holiday Windows has proved to be an innovative way of doing just that.
During 2007, The SF/SPCA strengthened its partnership with the San Francisco Department of Animal Care & Control to ensure that healthy animals in our care are not euthanized, and that as many “treatable” animals as possible are placed in loving homes. The SF/SPCA has also adopted the language of the Asilomar Accords to standardize statistics and work in collaboration with other shelters. We are moving away from using the “no-kill” terminology, because it misrepresents the reality that some of the animals in our care with serious medical and behavior problems are euthanized.
Nevertheless, The SF/SPCA recently celebrated a 97% live release rate (82% when combined with SF/ACC’s numbers) and we are committed to saving even more animals’ lives. Our animal statistics can be reviewed at www.sfspca.org/about_us.shtml; we are committed to being transparent in our operations and to helping the public understand the plight of homeless and abused animals.
Finally, the San Francisco Bay area earned a national first in 2007, and the people and animal welfare organizations working here all deserve a pat on the back. The Humane Index, created by the Humane Society of the United States, ranked the country’s 25 largest metropolitan areas and declared ours the most humane region in the nation! This is not something that happened in a vacuum; rather, it is the result of years of tireless advocacy, continuous education, selfless endeavors, and good will by an involved community.
New Year’s Resolutions from the SF/SPCA
“The mission of The San Francisco SPCA is to save and protect animals, provide care and treatment, advocate for their welfare, and enhance the human-animal bond.”
The last component of the SF/SPCA’s mission statement is probably the most intangible – the human-animal bond – but it’s something that everyone who loves animals recognizes when they see it and feel it! More and more Americans regard their pets as members of their families, and in 2006 they spent an estimated $39 billion on supplies and services for them. There’s no doubt that we love our dogs and cats, but there are some simple things we can do to make them even healthier, happier, and safer.
- If you haven’t already done so, choose a good veterinarian for your pets.
- A yearly wellness check up, including medical and dental examinations, is a pro-active way to ensure your pet’s health (and yours, too).
- If your pet is overweight, resolve to give him more exercise and to feed him a healthier diet.
- Follow your vet’s guidance about a yearly vaccination schedule, such as a rabies shot.
- Have your dog or cat tested for heartworm; it’s a potentially lethal disease, but easily preventable.
- If your pet is on medication, always follow the dosage instructions, and make sure you complete the regimen of the prescribed medicine.
- Have your pet spayed or neutered. This is the most important way to reduce the numbers of unwanted companion animals, and it also has health and behavioral benefits for your pet.
- Have your cat or dog microchipped, because it’s the most effective way to recover a lost pet.
- As a special New Year resolution for cats, the animal behaviorists at suggest daily play sessions with interactive toys for physical and mental fitness. And keep your cat indoors – she’ll live a longer, healthier life.
- The dog trainers at The San Francisco SPCA recommend training or activity classes for your dog, which are loads of fun.
- Make sure you walk him every day.
Thanks and Happy New Year to all our dedicated collaborators and supporters!
For more information about Jan McHugh-Smith and The San Francisco SPCA, visitwww.sfspca.org.
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