What can people do if they are concerned about a feral cat or a cat colony in their neighborhood? What help does The SF/SPCA provide for feral cat caregivers?
The SF/SPCA Feral Cat Assistance Program works with feral cat caregivers, volunteers and ACC to manage and monitor cat colonies. Since we started the program in 1993, we have provided spay/neuter surgeries for well over 30,000 cats.
People who are concerned about a feral cat colony in their area should call The SF/SPCA Feral Cat Assistance Program. They operate a program called Trap/Neuter/Return (TNR) whereby the cats are humanely trapped, transported to the Spay/Neuter Clinic for sterilization — a free service — and then are returned to their colonies under the care of volunteers. TNR is widely considered the most effective and humane strategy for reducing feral cat populations.
People may not know that The SF/SPCA provides safe retirement for San Francisco's police horses, funded by donations. In addition to financial donations, what else can people do or contribute toward the efforts of The SF/SPCA?
Most people don’t realize that The SF/SPCA receives no government funding. We are a community-supported nonprofit, and our services are possible only because of generous donations and bequests.
We also could not do our work without the support of an amazing group of volunteers — approximately 700 of them. But we always need more to care for more animals, and there are many types of fulfilling opportunities to suit volunteers: cat socializers, dog walkers, volunteers who take their own animals to hospitals, and foster parents who can care for underage or sick animals before they are ready for adoption.
There is also an auxiliary fundraising group called CLAW (Critter Lovers At Work) that organizes events to raise money for The SF/SPCA Cinderella Fund, which provides medical care for the neediest homeless animals at the shelter.
Tourists are often surprised to see dogs and cats in the Macy's Holiday Window displays. What are some of the things people may not know in terms of what goes into creating the displays? And, what influence do the windows have on pet adoptions?
The Holiday Windows event is The SF/SPCA’s major adoption event of the year — mid-November through January 1 — and this year is our 22nd season. Last year we found homes for 277 cats and dogs and raised $37,000. This year we are hoping to find loving homes for 300 animals and raise even more money.
Few people realize how much of an undertaking the windows are logistically. Macy’s designs and constructs windows that create enchanting, make-believe quarters for the animals. Macy’s goes to great lengths to create “creature comforts,” such as temperature-controlled windows, concealed litter boxes and comfy spots to recline.
Our staff and volunteers also constantly monitor the animals and rotate them frequently. We are very careful about which animals we take to the Holiday Windows, so that no shy or fearful ones are subjected to undue stress. If an animal in a window does appear stressed, we remove it immediately. And all of the cats and dogs that are not adopted go back to the shelter at night for a good night’s sleep!
The SF/SPCA was born in 1868 from the act of one man rescuing an abused animal on the streets of San Francisco. What are some of the things you believe any individual can do to promote compassion toward animals in our cities and in our society?
Everyday at The SF/SPCA there are examples of individuals making a tremendous difference in the lives of animals. This includes staff but also volunteers, donors, adopters, and trainers and veterinarians who learning and furthering the latest and greatest techniques of their trade.
At The SF/SPCA, we also believe that one of the best ways to prevent abuse and neglect is to provide a comprehensive humane education for children. In our program, which is available to schools in San Francisco, we aim to break the cycle of violence by teaching humane values.
And perhaps most timely is the recent example of the power of individuals. On November 4, California voters passed Proposition 2 to end animal cruelty by changing the standards for confining farm animals.
Is there anything we haven't addressed that you'd like people to know about The SF/SPCA or about the issues you address with respect to animals?
I would just encourage people to visit our website (www.sfspca.org) to learn more about various programs and best practices that can be applied to other animal welfare work — at all levels. The more our field and its advocates share ideas and what’s working, the greater our ability to care for more animals in the most humane ways.
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Jan McHugh-Smith is President of The San Francisco SPCA. For more information on all SF/SPCA programs and adoptions, visit their website at www.sfspca.org. The main telephone number is (415) 554-3000. Maddie's Pet Adoption Center is located at 250 Florida Street (415-522-3500).