Those friends include the more than 4000 cats and dogs who've been adopted from the Holiday Windows since the inception of the SF/SPCA tradition. That was in 1986, when the first seasonal display was featured at Gumps Department Store.
Holiday Window Enclosures and Designs
When you pass by the corner of Stockton and O'Farrell, you'll see cats, dogs, puppies and kittens at play in their holiday-themed enclosures -- this year, representations of classic architecture. The design process starts well in advance of the actual implementation, with brainstorming beginning almost a year ahead of time.
Much care is taken to balance the aesthetics of the Holiday Windows with the obvious concerns of animal comfort and safety. The enclosures are temperature controlled. Advancements in materials have made the combination of beauty and practicality even easier to attain in recent years. Vertical displays, with cat-friendly climbing surfaces are part of the plan, giving felines the physical outlets for their natural inclinations while allowing people to actually see the cats above the curious crowds outside the windows.
The pets featured by the SF/SPCA are constantly monitored -- and they're rotated frequently. The San Francisco SPCA has extensive experience with adoption outreach, and the animals in Holiday Windows are chosen precisely because their individual dispositions are a match for the public setting. If an animal becomes stressed under the circumstances, he or she is removed from the situation. All animals not adopted during the day are sleeping in their beds at the shelter during the night.
Next Page: SF/SPCA Adoption Details