THE MAGAZINE OF THE SAN FRANCISCO SPCA …Tuesday in 2015 is on Dec. 1, the Tuesday following...

T H E M A G A Z I N E O F T H E S A N F R A N C I S C O S P C A F A L L 2 0 1 5 S F S P C A . O R G

Vol.

109,

No.

3 F

all 2

015

OUR MISSION

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.

OUR ENVIRONMENTAL COMMITMENT

Printed by a Forest Stewardship

Council-certified printer on 30

percent post-consumer-waste,

recycled paper.

The San Francisco Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals

201 Alabama St.San Francisco, CA 94103 415.554.3000 Founded April 18, 1868

OfficersDerek Dean — Board Chair Jennifer Chung — Vice ChairKeith C. Wetmore — Treasurer Jennifer Scarlett, DVM — Co-President Jason Walthall — Co-President

DirectorsSusan AthertonAhmed Badawi Leslie DoylePaul FarrKen FulkDaniel Levitt, M.D., Ph.D.Celeste MeierScott E. MillerCatherine NardoneDennis PufpafJ. Peter ReadJeanette RoachEric B. RobertsJake SteinmanSue Troxel

Emeriti DirectorsKatherine H. Black Catherine B. Brown Austin Hills James J. Ludwig Jacqueline L. Young

Honorary BoardPam Baer Hon. Willie L. Brown, Jr. Laura Fisher Sue Fisher KingAdam Savage Charlotte Mailliard ShultzDiane B. Wilsey

Cover Photo: Robert J. Schroeder Photographywww.schroederphoto.comProduction Design: Jean B. Tsang

Although the SF SPCA does not endorse products or services, we are very grateful to our corporate sponsors, who help make Our Animals possible. Published three times a year, Fall, Spring, Summer issues.

© 2015 San Francisco SPCA. All rights reserved. Contents reprinted only by permission.ISSN 030-6789

ABOUT THE COVERCassidy is one of the adoptable rabbits at the SF SPCA. All of our rabbits, as well as dogs and cats, are spayed or neutered and microchipped before being adopted into loving homes.

Contents»

pg. 3 Co-Presidents’ Letter

pg. 4Wyeth Coulter, Inspirational Young Entrepreneur

pg. 5’Tis the Season

pg. 6–8Events

pg. 9Butterscotch

pg. 10–11Vision 2020

pg. 12Holiday Safety Tips

pg. 13Shy Dogs

pg. 14We Speak Feline

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SFSPCA.ORG SAN FRANCISCO SPCA | 3

It never fails. Someone calls us the “San Francisco ASPCA.”

Or when asked for a donation, they say, “We already give to

you,” when actually they are giving to the ASPCA. Or some

other SPCA.

Most of you know we are a local, independent nonprofit, not

associated with any national organizations and dependent solely

on donations from our community and the revenue we generate

from our programs. But as we recently confirmed, most people

don’t know this.

To see how pervasive this misperception is, we teamed up with

Brunswick, a leader in strategic communications consulting, and

conducted a survey among Bay Area residents. Among the not

surprising, but frustrating, findings:

• 70% think that the SF SPCA is a chapter of the ASPCA.

It isn’t!

• 61% think that the SF SPCA receives a portion of donations

given to the ASPCA. We don’t!

• 72% of people who identify as “very familiar” with the SF

SPCA agree that when someone donates to the ASPCA, part

of those funds benefit local Bay Area animals. They don’t!

The ASPCA, The Humane Society of the United States, and

Best Friends Animal Society do many good things and support

important programs around the country, but we are not associated

with them, and they do not have any programs that directly impact

people or animals in the Bay Area.

Jason Walthall and Dr. Jennifer Scarlett

Rob

Sch

roed

er

Co-Presidents’ Letter»

We are asking all of our supporters to help us get the word out.

While organizations like the ASPCA, The Humane Society of the

United States, and the Best Friends Animal Society do some

admirable work, they are not your local shelter, and rarely do they

fund any programs that help animals in the Bay Area. Most every

SPCA and Humane Society is, like us, independent. If supporting

local animals is the goal, encourage your friends and family to

support their local shelter.

As always, thank you so very much for your continued support. We

really couldn’t do it without you. As you know, all of our donations

come from you, our community of supporters.

Thank you.

JENNIFER SCARLETT, DVMCo-President

JASON WALTHALLCo-President

4 | SAN FRANCISCO SPCA FALL 2015

Wyeth Coulter»

At the age of 8, Wyeth Coulter decided he

wanted to make a difference.

“I was at the moment when you start seeing

some of the bad in the world. You start seeing

people out on the street hungry, dogs who

have been abused, or kids that don’t have

the opportunities you have, and you just want

to start doing something,” he says. “I didn’t

understand what’s going on quite yet, but I felt

I needed to help, somehow.”

Wyeth decided to create an annual pumpkin

patch to raise funds for three organizations

that matched his passion: the San Francisco

SPCA, the SF-Marin Food Bank, and Family

& Child Empowerment Services (FACES SF).

He grew the pumpkins on his family’s land

in Sonoma, transported thousands of them

to San Francisco, enlisted his friends to help staff the patch, and turned his back yard into a

pumpkin wonderland every October.

The annual pumpkin patch is just one of the

many ways Wyeth put his philanthropic values

into action. When his cross-country coach

passed away from ALS, Wyeth organized a

fundraiser with his track teammates and the

San Francisco running community that raised

more than $14,000 for ALS research. A few

years ago, he organized an Easter egg hunt for

the kids at the Edgewood Center for Children

and Families, and he mentors middle-school

students in the Summerbridge program.

Wyeth exemplifies the next generation of

philanthropists with his entrepreneurial spirit,

dedication to community, and inspirational

leadership. The Association of Fundraising

Professionals recognized Wyeth’s good

work this year by honoring him with their

Youth Philanthropy Award at their National

Philanthropy Day luncheon this November.

In the nine years since he launched his

pumpkin patch, Wyeth has raised nearly

$150,000 to benefit the SF SPCA, the Food

Bank, and FACES SF. He just wrapped up his

final pumpkin patch this October before he

goes off to college next fall.

“Wyeth is a remarkable young man who is

an inspiration to us all at the San Francisco

SPCA,” says Jason Walthall, Co-President.

“The funds he has contributed have helped

us save thousands of homeless, sick, and

injured animals, and have brought us closer to

meeting our ambitious goal of ending animal

abandonment in San Francisco by 2020. We are

very grateful for his dedication and generosity.”

Wyeth Coulter.

Wyeth and his Golden Retriever, Louie, in his annual pumpkin patch.

The Association of Fundraising Professionals recognized Wyeth’s good work this year by honoring him with their Youth Philanthropy Award at their National Philanthropy Day luncheon this November.

E N T R E P R E N E U RI N S P I R AT I O N A L Young

If you are inspired by Wyeth’s commitment to the animals, please consider making a gift in his honor.

Wyeth Coulter

Pho

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prov

ided

by

the

Cou

lter

Fam

ily.


Thanks to your generous support, animals’

lives are being saved in San Francisco, the Bay

Area, and beyond.

The San Francisco SPCA depends on private

donations from animal lovers like you. We are a

local, independent nonprofit. We are not affiliated

with any national animal welfare organization,

and we do not receive funding from the

government — it’s you who saves lives.

Here are some ways that you can provide

lifesaving services and care for homeless cats

and dogs this holiday season:

• Give a gift in honor or in memory of

a loved one: When you are making your

holiday gift list, celebrating a birthday, an

anniversary, or an adoption milestone,

consider making a gift to the SF SPCA

for that special person, pet, or occasion.

Please visit sfspca.org/donate.

• Giving Tuesday: #GivingTuesday or

#GT is a special call to action to create

a national day of giving during the

shopping and spending season. Giving

Tuesday in 2015 is on Dec. 1, the Tuesday

following Thanksgiving, Black Friday, and

Cyber Monday.

• Give cash: Gifts of cash are the

easiest and most direct way to support

the animals. You can make your gift

online at sfspca.org/donate, by calling

415.554.3029, or by sending a check

payable to SF SPCA to 201 Alabama St.,

San Francisco, CA 94103.

• Give a gift of appreciated stock: Making

a gift of appreciated securities is simple

and offers a number of financial benefits.

Because the securities are donated rather

than sold, capital gains taxes are not owed

on the appreciation. The more appreciation

the securities generate, the greater the tax

savings will be. Please contact Jill Jacobs,

Major Gifts Officer, at 415.522.3549 or

[email protected].

• Join Circle of Friends: Our monthly

giving program provides consistent support

for our animals and ensures that we are

always able to give them the care they

deserve. Please visit sfspca.org/friends.

• Leave a lasting legacy: A bequest —

a gift in your will or trust — can be the

easiest way to make a legacy gift. We have

simple language that can be added to your

will or trust. Please contact Sandy Irber,

Legacy Giving Manager, at 415.554.3027

or [email protected].

• Donate from our wish list: We accept

lightly used towels, blankets, pet toys,

natural chewies, kennels, crates, leashes,

and other practical goods. If you’re in

doubt about whether we need an item,

call us at 415.554.3029.

• Become a volunteer: Volunteers are

needed to be SF SPCA ambassadors

for Macy’s Holiday Windows, our largest

adoption outreach event of the year. To

volunteer, please go to sfspca.org/volunteer.

• Round up for the animals: The next time

you visit our adoption centers or hospitals,

round up your payment to the next $5,

$10, or $20, or drop a gift into our donation

box. Every little bit adds up for the animals!

• Purchase from our wish list: Purchase

direct supplies for the animals under our

care at sfspca.gooddler.com. Items bought

are delivered directly to the SF SPCA.

Giving Guide »

Rob Schroeder


Events»

P erfect weather on August 29 drew our

beloved four-legged Giants fans to AT&T

Park for a day of peanuts, Cracker Jack,

and the occasional fur on the bleachers.

Dressed to the nines in fabulous hats,

sunglasses, and jackets, no one disappointed

in the fashion department. Oh, and the

humans dressed up too, we think.

Even though the Giants lost to the St. Louis

Cardinals (after beating them the day before),

no one is a loser when you can spend your

afternoon with a beer in one hand and your

best friend’s paw in the other.

A special thank you to the San Francisco

Giants and AT&T Park for their continued

support of our organization.

What’s orange and black and furry all over?

Dog DaysOF SUMMER!

Dressed to the nines in fabulous hats, sunglasses, and jackets, no one disappointed in the fashion department. Oh, and the humans dressed up too, we think.


Events»

Clear the Shelters

I t was our most successful adoptions weekend ever! NBC’s Clear the Shelters on Saturday,

August 15 (which we, in typical SF SPCA fashion, continued through Sunday) did, in fact, nearly

clear our shelter. We sent home 111 cats, dogs, and rabbits, which includes 81 adoptions from

the Mission Campus and 30 from Pacific Heights. This surpassed our previous record of 106 from

Maddie’s Pet Adoption Days. Overall, both SF SPCA locations found new homes for 76 cats and

kittens, 33 dogs and puppies, and our first pair of rabbits, Shasta and June.

More than 400 animal shelters across the country partnered with NBC for the event in which all

participating organizations offered waived or reduced adoptions. The San Francisco SPCA was

proud to be one of them, and even extended free adoptions and event hours on August 16. Nearly

20,000 pets found homes during Clear the Shelters nationwide.

Smalls Sometimes the best things

come in small packages!

In addition to felines and

canines, we’ve added

“smalls” to our list of

adoptable animals. For the

time being, smalls include

rabbits and rats.

Yes, you read right. Rats.

Many people have a misinformed

impression of these furry little creatures, but

they are surprisingly intelligent, trainable,

affectionate, and sometimes cleaner than

your cat! Our first three rats — Mika,

Nikolai, and Bartholomew — were adopted

just a few days after being made available!

We look forward to educating the public

about our new friends and expanding our

small-animal adoptions.

To find out more about SF SPCA small

animals, visit sfspca.org/smalls.


Coming Soon»

T his year will mark the 29th year of Holiday Windows and the San Francisco SPCA has

partnered with Macy’s to feature adoptable kittens and puppies in the windows of their

Union Square store. Last year we raised over $100,000 and found homes for 267 animals!

It is one of our most talked-about events of the year that everyone looks forward to. So whether

you’re planning on pressing your nose against the window and making baby noises at the kittens

(yes, we know you do that) or joining our amazing team of volunteers, there’s something for

everyone to enjoy.

To volunteer, please visit sfspca.org/holiday for more information.

Santa Paws

Come see Kris Kringle at one of his

favorite places to be, the San Francisco

SPCA! Mr. Santa Claus himself will be

taking photos with you, the family, and

and even your four-legged best friend at

our Mission adoption center (250 Florida

Street) on December 5. Don’t miss the

chance to add the perfect holiday family

portrait to your collection!

The suggested donation is $25, no RSVP

or appointment necessary. All proceeds

benefit the SF SPCA.

Where to Find UsKRON:

Look for the San Francisco SPCA on

KRON 4, the Bay Area’s news station.

Tune in to find out more about adoptions,

veterinary services, and more.

360° TOUR:

Never been to the SF SPCA before? Take

a “tour” of both our Mission and Pacific

Heights campuses without having to leave

your home. Visit sfspca.org/360tour.

Macy’sHOLIDAY WINDOWS


B efore she was rescued, Butterscotch

lived a lonely existence in a rodent-

infested back yard. When she finally

arrived at the San Francisco SPCA, she

probably felt like she woke up in heaven: She

received all the treats, hugs, and belly rubs

she had missed so much during her years of

fear and neglect.

Unfortunately, Butterscotch’s body was still

suffering from the cruelty she experienced

in that lonely yard. Our Shelter Medicine

staff determined that she’d need expensive

orthopedic knee surgery to run and play

without pain, and to get that surgery she’d

have to visit a specialist.

We needed to raise funds quickly to help

cover the cost of the surgery, so we turned

to social media. We asked our followers

to help support Butterscotch by donating

and sharing her story. In just four days we

were able to surpass our $3,000 goal! The

outpouring of support was incredible.

After undergoing surgery, Butterscotch came

back to the SF SPCA to recover. She spent

several days being nursed back to health by

our Shelter Medicine team. Our doctors and

nurses continually reported that even though

Butterscotch had endured so much cruelty,

she was incredibly loving and affectionate

throughout the treatment process.

She was still on exercise restrictions and

could only take limited walks, but had soon

healed enough to move to the Mission

adoption center. Our social media followers

continued to rally for Butterscotch, sharing

her adoption profile and offering words

of encouragement.

“She quickly became a staff and volunteer

favorite,” said Suzanne Hollis, Director

of Adoptions. “Despite the humans in

Butterscotch’s past who had caused her

such suffering, she’s a resilient little girl who

still adored everyone she met. She was so

happy to receive treats and belly rubs that

she’d go from zero doggy kisses in under

60 seconds!”

Thank you to everyone who rallied on

Butterscotch’s behalf and helped her get a

second chance. It was incredible to watch

so many people come together to help a

dog who was so deserving.

We’re happy to report that Butterscotch is

now happy, healthy, and receiving all the love

that she missed during her years of neglect.

Stories like Butterscotch’s wouldn’t be

possible without your support. To donate,

visit sfspca.org/donate.

Butterscotch»

“Despite the humans in Butterscotch’s past who had caused her such suffering, she’s a resilient little girl who still adored everyone she met. She was so happy to receive treats and belly rubs that she’d go from zero wet doggy kisses in under 60 seconds!”

Suzanne Hollis, Director of Adoptions

BraveButterscotch

Our social media followers rallied to help Butterscotch’s story have a happy ending.


Vision 2020»

In 2012, the SF SPCA Board of Directors challenged the executive team to define the

strategic direction of the organization. What would be the goal? How would we

achieve that goal? The leadership, with Co-Presidents Jason Walthall and Dr. Jennifer

Scarlett at the helm, envisioned an ambitious plan: Vision 2020, the roadmap to end

animal abandonment in San Francisco by the year 2020.

It sounds audacious to approach the persistent

cycle of homeless animals by planning to

eradicate it completely, but in the past three-

plus years, the San Francisco SPCA has

reprioritized its programs, its staffing, and its

financial commitments to address the root

causes of animal homelessness.

As we pave the way to change the definition of

success in sheltering, we will be able to share

what we’ve learned with shelters across the

country and around the world. The resounding

success of the plan so far is why the SF SPCA

Board of Directors recently recommitted to the

Vision 2020 strategy.

Vision 2020

ADOPTIONS

SF SPCA ADOPTIONS

UP 9%TO 4919 ADOPTIONS

ANIMALS FOSTERED

UP 26%

COMMUNITY VETERINARY SERVICES

TOTAL SPAY NEUTER SURGERIES

UP 8%

CLIENTS RECEIVING HOSPITAL CARE

INCREASED 8%

Reaffirming Our Commitment to

Citywide euthanasia

of cats and dogs

per capita

declined 32%

achieving the

lowest rate

in the nation

CHANGES IN ANNUAL TOTALS

The strategy is deceptively simple: Remove

the barriers to keeping animals in homes;

reduce overpopulation through preventive

means; and educate the community about

prevention and the programs and services

available to them.

By doggedly chipping away at the underlying

issues that lead to animal surrenders and

overpopulation, we’ve seen the progress that

can be made in just a few years. The results

have been dramatic and have already changed

the lives and outcomes of thousands of San

Francisco’s cats and dogs.

In order to support Vision 2020, the SF SPCA

repositioned its resources so that each of the

organization’s departments and programs

supports at least one of the three pillars of the

plan: Prevention, Rescue, and Education.

The successes realized in these years

are encouraging. We are fortunate in San

Francisco to have significant resources and

generous donors. This is not the case in

many shelters across the country. That’s

why it’s particularly incumbent upon an

organization like ours to change the paradigm

of animal welfare.

What does this mean for the next five years?

More initiatives to provide preventive care for

the city’s owned animals with behavioral and

medical resources, more efforts to reduce

overpopulation through aggressive spay/

neuter and trap-neuter-return, more outreach

to the community to engage them at all levels

of animal welfare, and ultimately less animal

suffering and more saved lives.

We thank you for making it possible for us to

strive to be the very first city to achieve this

game-changing benchmark, and we thank you

for taking this journey with us.


Vision 2020»

BEHAVIOR AND TRAINING

ANIMALS SUPPORTED

26% INCREASE

COMMUNITY CARES

TOTAL CLIENT EXAMS

71% INCREASE

TOTAL FREE VACCINATIONS

UP 45%

HUMANE EDUCATION

42% INCREASEIN THE NUMBER OF STUDENTS

RESULTS

CITYWIDE INTAKE PER CAPITA

DOWN 3%

CITYWIDE LIVE RELEASE RATE

INCREASED 5% TO 91%

Rob

Sch

roed

er

SINCE FISCAL YEAR 2012


Celebrate with Care»

HOL IDAY Safety Tips

T he holidays are right around the corner!

It’s a wonderful time for families and

friends to get together and celebrate,

but please keep your pet’s safety in mind.

Below are our tips for ensuring that you and

your furry friends have a great holiday season.

Save the Holiday Treats

The No. 1 problem that veterinarians report

during the holidays is pets eating food they

shouldn’t eat. Bones, chocolate, grapes,

raisins, macadamia nuts, walnuts, alcohol,

and other holiday treats can all cause serious

health problems. Other foods to avoid include

garlic, onions, and avocados.

Not So Sweet

Many of us already know that chocolate is

dangerous for pets to eat, but beware of the

artificial sweetener Xylitol — it can cause liver

failure. This sugar substitute is widely used

in candies, chewing gum, baked goods, and

even some brands of peanut butter.

Think Twice about Holly, Mistletoe,

and Lilies

Holly can cause nausea, mistletoe can cause

cardiovascular problems, and lilies can lead to

kidney failure if ingested by cats.

Secure the Tree

Ensure that your tree won’t fall if your cat tries

to climb it. Also cover the tree water, which

might contain fertilizers or bacteria.

Careful with Candles

If you have cats, avoid candles altogether. If

you have dogs, keep the candles high enough

that they can’t reach them.

Decorate Carefully

Cats love tinsel, but it can cause intestinal

blockage if eaten. Glass ornaments should

also be avoided. Curious pets often play with

tree ornaments, and glass can cause injuries if

it breaks.

Candy Wrappers

Watch out for foil and cellophane wrappers

from sweet treats. Make sure wrappers are

properly thrown out. This material can cause a

life-threatening bowel obstruction, which can

require surgery.

If you suspect your pet may have ingested a

dangerous substance, call your veterinarian

immediately. We recommend keeping your

veterinarian’s phone number, as well as the

location of the nearest 24-hour emergency

clinic, on your refrigerator.

The San Francisco SPCA’s Pacific Heights

Veterinary Hospital at 2343 Fillmore St. accepts

emergency cases 24 hours a day, every day

of the year. The hospital can be reached at

415.554.3030.

Rod

Kilp

atric

k

The No. 1 problem that veterinarians report during the holidays is pets eating food they shouldn’t eat. Bones, chocolate, grapes, raisins, macadamia nuts, walnuts, alcohol, and other holiday treats can all cause serious health problems.

Keep your pets safe while you celebrate this year!


H E L P I N G D O G S

“Find”T H E M S E L V E S A G A I N

Most dogs coming into the shelter

have one of two reactions. Some

are scared, but bounce back

quickly. Others remain shut down for months.

Lana, a 3-year-old Chi mix, came to us afraid of

people, extremely shy, and with four newborn

puppies. Lana was a fierce mother who thought

humans were a danger to her pups.

Thanks to Mik Moeller, our behavior specialist,

and Frances Ho, our animal transfer and

partnership associate, Lana was eventually

placated with some tasty cheese, and the

pups got their health checkups. After the pups

were adopted, our Behavior & Training team

was able to work with Lana more closely. She

has come a long way and at time of print is

looking for a home with a patient adopter.

Our Behavior & Training team is led by Dr.

Jeannine Berger, a board certified veterinary

behavior specialist. Over the years, her team

has spent countless hours on initiatives

targeting shy dogs.

“We have to be aware that learning can only

happen when animals feel comfortable,” says

Dr. Berger. “We let them explore and become

more curious about people and things in their

immediate environment. Eventually they can

learn some new tasks and better coping skills.”

The goal behind each initiative is different.

The T Touch program teaches shy dogs that

humans are safe. The dogs learn to approach

humans of their own accord, and they get

tasty rewards in return.

Playgroups are another avenue for relaxation.

Shy dogs generally love the company of other

similarly sized dogs and are more likely to

come out of their shells. Again, they learn to

associate humans with positive experiences,

and we learn more about their personalities to

help us find them the right homes.

The SF SPCA has many shy dogs who, with a bit

of paw holding, would make the most loyal pets.

Our shy dogs could use a boost to combat

the holiday blues. Long-time donor Laurel

Walsh has generously donated beds, toys,

and treats from her Toys4Tails.com business

to help the shy pups. If you’d like to help,

please make a contribution to our wish list at

sfspca.org/wishlist.

Shy Dogs»

The goal behind each initiative is different. The T Touch program teaches shy dogs that humans are safe. The dogs learn to approach humans of their own accord, and they get tasty rewards in return.

Shy dog Lana on an outing.


San Franciscans love their pets, so it’s no

surprise that there are more dogs and

cats than children here. We all know how

important it is to take good care of our pets,

including regular visits to the veterinarian for

checkups, but studies show that dogs are

twice as likely as cats to have annual exams.

By nature, cats do not tend to show signs

of illness, so annual visits to the vet can

help identify underlying issues and provide

preventive care for your cat. Another reason

cats tend to visit the vet less often is the stress

for both cats and their guardians. The San

Francisco SPCA veterinary hospitals have

tackled this deterrent head-on by recently

becoming certified as Cat Friendly Practices.

To earn the distinguished Cat Friendly Practice

certificate from the American Association of

Feline Practitioners, the SF SPCA veterinary

hospitals had to prove that we have taken

extra steps to show we understand the unique

needs of cats.

Our Pacific Heights hospital has a Feline

Wellness Center (FWC) with a separate

entrance so cats do not interact with dogs

waiting for an appointment. The FWC is also

equipped with warm towels, plug-ins with anti-

stress pheromones, and soft music to relax

your cat while getting great care. All of the vets

in the FWC have taken a special interest in

cats and providing the best care for them. We

recently hired Dr. Amie Knieper, who focuses

on feline medicine.

The cats in the Mission are certainly not left

out. Our Mission hospital has a separate

cat-only waiting room and strives to treat

cats’ needs in one treatment room rather than

moving them to draw blood or get a sample.

Dr. Tom Mason, VP of Veterinary Services

at the Pacific Heights Campus, shared a

story from when the Feline Wellness Center

first opened in January 2014. A guardian

specifically brought her cat to the FWC

because he had previously needed to be

sedated before any sort of exam at other

practices. Upon entering the relaxed and calm

environment, the cat made himself at home by

stretching out on the cushioned benches and

could be easily examined without any sedation,

stress, or discomfort. “Both the guardian and

cat have been back several times since that

initial visit, always experiencing an easy exam,”

said Tom.

Time and again, cats receive outstanding

care at our veterinary hospitals, setting their

guardians’ minds at ease. Visit sfspca.org/

cat-friendly to learn more, or call 415.554.3030

to make an appointment at one of our certified

Cat Friendly Practices.

We Speak Feline»

Dr. Matthew Toscano in one of our exam rooms.

To earn the distinguished Cat Friendly Practice certificate from the American Association of Feline Practitioners, the SF SPCA veterinary hospitals had to prove that we have taken extra steps to show we understand the unique needs of cats.

Dr. Amie Knieper examines a cat in the Feline Wellness Center.

FELINE FRIENDLY HOSPITALS:

Cat Tested, Guardian Approved

Rob

Sch

roed

er


Purina is proud to feed the pets of the San Francisco SPCA.

The SF SPCA offers pet owners an innovative way to plan for their pet’s future. When pets outlive their guardians, cats and dogs enrolled in the Sido Program are welcomed into our adoption centers. They will receive exceptional care and attention while we work to place them in their next loving home. The Sido Program is named for Sido, a dog who was

condemned to die in her owner’s will. Over 30 years ago, the SF SPCA led the charge to save Sido’s life and helped pass legislation specifically aimed at saving her life and obtained a court ruling stating that it is illegal for a person to order a dog destroyed in a will.

To enroll your beloved cat or dog, contact the Development Office at 415.554.3029 or [email protected].

Protect Your Pet with the Sido Program

Macy’s is proud to partner with

the SF SPCA again in 2015 for

the Macy’s and San Francisco

SPCA hol iday windows at the

corner of O’Farrel l and Stockton

Street. Join us for the unvei l ing

of this hol iday tradit ion at 5pm

on Fr iday, November 20th.

201 Alabama Street San Francisco, California 94103

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