Author: Lisa Stanziano

Duma and Tandy at their Los Angeles layover. They had a blast! 

By Kathryn Jones
SFACC Adoption Partner Transfer Coordinator

In my role as Adoption Partner Transfer Coordinator, it was a treat for me to provide input to the Friends of SFACC board during their annual process of inviting applicants to apply for a Rescue Partner Grant. Over the past few years, I have been able to see first-hand how very effective these grants are to our valued partners and how deeply they appreciate them. While partner rescue is more behind the scenes than an adoption or a brave wildlife rescue (hello, mountain lion in a tree!), I have found that these rescue placements and transport trips reveal a deeply passionate network of people who will go above and beyond for an animal at SFACC.

I cannot understate how valuable our rescue partners are to our shelter animals—they are a lifeline for dogs, cats, birds, rodents, wildlife, and beyond. With our extensive partner program and our wide reach, I have come to think of SFACC as a launching pad; oftentimes we are merely a pit stop on the journey to a bright future. It takes some creativity and persistence on my part, and at times some bribery (I’m not above sending a dog along to rescue with a few cases of beer and a cake), and a whole lot of folks willing to donate their time and resources, but it is incredible to be a part of such an effective chain of people.

Our master list has approximately 135 rescue partners that span from California to Idaho to Arizona and beyond. When providing feedback about which partners Friends should invite to apply this year, I considered a few things; like so much of the rescue world, this is a nuanced piece. The award decision-making process is not just about the number of animals the rescue takes from our shelter, but also takes into account the types of animals pulled and their specific needs. A rescue that specializes in high-risk dogs with extensive medical needs will often have a high cost of operation and the grants from Friends can be a lifeline these rescues.

One such story is of Duma and Tandy, a pair of adolescent Rottweilers. This brother-and-sister pair were surrendered to our shelter last month. These two dogs were inexperienced with much of the world, and deeply anxious in the shelter environment. Our fantastic behavior team saw their potential, worked with FETCH to increase Duma and Tandy’s comfort during their stay with us, and I got to work pounding the digital pavement in order to find them suitable placement. I found an excellent rescue that focused solely on Rottweilers and had experience with undersocialized dogs. They were the perfect fit for our twin Rotties—but they were located in Arizona.

With some luck and elbow grease, the rescue agreed to take Duma and Tandy. Our heroic LT, the supervisor of the Behavior & Training department, offered to drive the pair to a halfway point in Los Angeles. We loaded the pair up in crates and LT spent a day carpooling these two goobers down south. In LA, they spent a few nights at a layover with some friends of the rescue before being scooped up by a volunteer from rescue; he flew from Phoenix to LA, rented a car, and drove our Duma and Tandy back to Arizona with him. Both dogs are doing fantastically and already have potential adopters waiting in the wings.

These rescue stories happen every week. They involve volunteers, staff members, good Samaritans from the general public, and folks I’ve never even met on the receiving end of things. They take trust, persistence, an almost foolish level of hopefulness and faith, and they produce outstanding results. The grants from Friends help our partners continue to do the incredible work they do for our animals. It has been a privilege to spend the past few years growing this network and extending this chain on behalf of the dogs and other animals under our roof. I have met a lot of wonderful people who all have one thing in common: a love of animals.

May 26, 2021

Dear Friends,

We hope this story finds you and your loved ones safe and happy. Friends of San Francisco Animal Care and Control (Friends) is so grateful that we have been able to continue to support SFACC during the pandemic. In March, SFACC moved into a brand new, state-of-the art facility that has already positively benefited the well-being of the animals in SFACC’s care. Thank you to all of our community who helped fund such an impactful project. Now that the animals and staff are settled into the new facility, Friends is working hard to assist SFACC with immediate needs for the animals in their care─animals like George.

George arrived at the shelter in December of 2020 in rough shape. The person who brought him in was using a belt as a leash and was unwilling to provide SFACC staff with any information about George’s history or condition. George was depressed, emaciated and blind, and unable to walk into the shelter; one of the staff members carried him inside. SFACC veterinary team was initially unsure of what was going on with George medically or how he had come to be in such a sad state.

Over the coming days the vet and animal care teams provided George with excellent TLC and he began to perk up! He was put on special feeding schedule to help him gain weight and he even began walking again. George had a terrible flea infection and his arthritis was so advanced that he wasn’t able to scratch himself (which was actually a good thing to save the health and condition of his skin). When a severe flea infestation is untreated, it often causes secondary bacterial infections and wounds.

Angie Yen, Registered Veterinary Technician (RVT), and SFACC Animal Health Technician shared the following the day after she met George: “I combed so many live fleas and so much crusted flea dirt off his rump and back that I created a dark brown ‘flea soup’. I often think about how flea preventatives can be unaffordable for pet owners, it’s often a monthly budget cost consideration that’s out of reach. As sad as George’s initial condition was for staff, I am very grateful that someone took the initiative to bring him in. It’s natural for us to judge others but I feel it’s important to push back against our inherent biases. The good news is that while senior dogs like George often have chronic illnesses that accompany age, his was in near perfect shape after a slow recovery from flea anemia.”

Because George required extra care as a senior dog, SFACC’s Rescue Coordinator reached out to a valued partner who specializes in dogs like him. Friends provides grants to SFACC Rescue Partners every year thanks to our donors. These grants honor their commitment to San Francisco’s animals and help to offset the cost of this type of advanced care. This year, Friends distributed a total of $50,000 between 25 rescue partners throughout the Bay Area.

While George awaited transfer, SFACC’s Behavior & Training Supervisor and one of the RVTs volunteered to take him home on foster and provide him with a comfy environment. George thrived and quickly established himself as a gentleman and a scholar. Though he was blind and had mild mobility issues, he was quickly able to navigate the home and get himself outside for relief breaks and sunbathing. George integrated into the foster home, living peacefully with the resident American Bully, tiny Chihuahua, and blind cat. His foster parents became quite attached to him and loved giving him all the treats, scratches and body massages he requested. His fosters were grateful to have his company over the holidays in 2020. “George gave us a bit of hope and resilience at the end of such a challenging year.”

Within a few weeks, George was ready to be transferred to the rescue partner and because he had such excellent notes, they were able to find his perfect placement. George is one of many similar examples of SFACC going above and beyond to help the animals who need us most. Please consider supporting this important work by making a one-time or recurring donation to Friends of SFACC. Let’s all do our part to make sure that our City’s animals are treated with the dignity and compassion that they deserve.

Warmest regards,

Lauren Weston
Chair, Board of Directors
Friends of San Francisco Animal Care and Control