Winter 2009 â¢ V ol. 43 No. 4 - San Diego Humane Society and SPCA

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president’s message Leading By Example Mark Goldstein, D.V.M., CAWA, President of the San Diego Humane Society and SPCA with his dog Ren. We have all heard the expression, “actions speak louder than words.” Though one can speak about the changes they would like to see in the world or in their community, real change happens when we model the change we hope to see. Mahatma Gandhi said, “Be the change you wish to see in the world” – that philosophy guides us each and every day at the San Diego Humane Society and SPCA. From our home-like adoption habitats to our positive reinforcement training philosophy, doing what is best to strengthen the human-animal bond is at the heart of every action. As an organization that believes education is the key to promoting the human-animal bond, one of the most effective ways we can educate the community is by demonstrating best practices ourselves. For instance, we feel that homeless pets deserve the same level of care that an owned animal would receive, including not just food, water, and shelter, but also complete medical care and unconditional love. In this issue, you will read about Janet, a sweet, young Shepherd mix that received extensive surgery to overcome a congenital health problem that may have ended her life if left untreated. When healthy pets are admitted to the San Diego Humane Society, they are able to move to the adoption floor quickly. However, pets with treatable medical conditions may utilize many resources before becoming available for adoption. By offering this kind of thorough care to Janet and other homeless pets like her, we hope that all pet owners will, within their resources, extend the same level of care to their own pets. As we successfully work towards a day when every pet is welcomed into a home as a member of a family, we hope that the actions we model each day at the San Diego Humane Society will bring our community closer to this goal as well. When a family that keeps their pet in the backyard visits our shelter for the first time and sees pets in home-like environments, perhaps that family will feel inspired to open up their living room to their own pet. Before you know it, they may even be playfully fighting for space on the bed with that pet! When disaster strikes and San Diegans turn on the news to see our Animal Rescue Reserve (ARR) out on the front lines rescuing animals in peril, we hope that families will assess their own disaster preparedness plans for their pets. Just as we want our ARR volunteers to be prepared for any and all situations, we hope the community at large will follow our lead and put disaster preparedness best practices into use in their own homes. From the adoption habitats to the ARR’s rescue efforts, all of the San Diego Humane Society’s programs and services are funded solely through contributions from donors like you. We are not affiliated with any other local, state or national organization such as the Humane Society of the United States in Washington D.C. or the ASPCA in New York. Charity Navigator, an organization that helps donors make responsible charitable gift decisions by ranking the financial health of nonprofits, has awarded the San Diego Humane Society its highest four-star rating for three consecutive years. This is an honor bestowed on fewer than six percent of charities they evaluate nationwide, so you can rest assured that your contribution to the San Diego Humane Society is being used in ways that will achieve the most effectiveness and provide the greatest impact to the animals we care about in our community. The San Diego Humane Society continues to strive to be a beacon for animal welfare, yet our light cannot shine without your help. Just as your utility bill will continue to grow with each new lamp you plug in, our ability to shine brighter depends upon your contribution. It is because of you that we have been able to achieve so much, and it is through your continued support that we will be able to model best practices for many years to come. Mark Goldstein, D.V.M., CAWA President of the San Diego Humane Society and SPCA Photo: Melisa Codgell
From the Mailbox Dearest Humane Society, Last week I visited the San Diego Humane Society in search of a small animal companion. I immediately fell in love with Mocha, an adorable hamster who just had surgery to remove two lumps (one cancerous) from her body. Since I have been caring for small pets for more than 13 years, one of whom needed surgery, I felt familiar and comfortable with the recovery process. I brought Mocha home that day, and she truly could not be a more charming little critter! I love to see her so curious about her servings of fresh fruits or vegetables. Healthy, happy and curious, I have to keep a close eye on her or she will just take off running! She adores rolling around the house in her plastic ball, and my dog, Marli, loves to run after her. Thank you for bringing Mocha into our lives! Kristie Bircumshaw Thanks San Diego Humane Society! I adopted Buggy and Iggy from a Mobile Adoption event and am absolutely thrilled with my two fantastic kittens! Every morning, they wake me by galloping up and down the hallway or meowing at the birds in a tree outside my window. Buggy is the lap cat, but Iggy is constantly seeking attention, too. They sweetly follow me around the house and enjoy snuggling. I am so thankful to the San Diego Humane Society for the hard work and dedication that goes into saving and bettering the lives of animals in need. Buggy and Iggy are true members of the family, bringing so much joy, fun and love into my life. Rheesa Eddings Greetings Humane Society! As a senior citizen, I thought that I might be too old to get another dog, yet life felt incomplete without one. After looking online and visiting shelters for months, I found Luca, a 10-month-old Maltese mix. This ball of energy was a bit frustrating and exhausting in the first month, but ultimately such a rewarding experience. Today, Luca is a smart, obedient and happy little guy who I could never imagine living without. His favorite activity is going to the dog park where we both socialize with new friends. Life with Luca is good, and I’m grateful for all the caring people who helped make it possible. Hannah Evans Do you have a happy adoption story to share? Then we’d love to hear from you! Visit www.sdhumane.org and go to the Success Stories page for more details. ON THE COVER: Janet receives regular check-ups in the San Diego Humane Society’s Veterinary Medicine Department as part of her recovery. Read her complete story on page 4. Cover Photo: Candice Eley Published quarterly by: San Diego Humane Society and SPCA 5500 Gaines Street, San Diego, CA 92110-2572 (619) 299-7012 www.sdhumane.org postmaster@sdhumane.org To report animal abuse call (619) 243-3466 Board of Trustees Fred Baranowski Chairperson David Hickey Chairperson Finance Committee Diane Gilabert Chairperson Board Governance & Nominating Committee Alyce Lynn Secretary Robert Brown, Ed.D.; George Coles; Dana Di Ferdinando; Diane Glow, Ed.D.; Hon. Eve Godfrey; Dave Mason; Patrick Mead; David Mittleman; Beverly Oster Ornelas; Anne Perry; David Sear Life Members Betsy Hillyer, Vi & Dan McKinney, John Parker President Mark Goldstein, DVM, CAWA Senior Staff Renee Harris, RVT, Senior Vice President of Animal Services Laura Maloney, Senior Vice President of Strategic Initiatives and Communications Kelly Riseley, Chief Financial Officer Kim Shannon, CAWA, Senior Vice President of Support Services Shelly Stuart, CSPG, CFRE, CAWA, Vice President of Education and Development AnimalFare Editors Candice Eley, Jake Shakhman Contributing Writers Nicole Angelucci, Laura Coburn, Candice Eley, Shannon Gusy, Dr. Cassie Hamilton, Shelly Stuart Design & Layout DraDog, LLC Our sincere thanks to DraDog and Precision Litho for their generous support of the San Diego Humane Society and SPCA. Serving San Diego County since 1880, the San Diego Humane Society and SPCA provides vital services to animals and people alike through sheltering and adopting animals, providing positive reinforcement behavior training for adoptable animals and for owned animals through public training classes, investigating animal cruelty and neglect, providing adult and youth education programs, sharing animals through pet-assisted therapy and rescuing animals in emergency situations. A private, nonprofit organization that receives no government funding, the San Diego Humane Society and SPCA is supported solely by contributions, grants, bequests, investments, proceeds from its retail outlets and some fees for service. For your privacy, the Humane Society does not sell, rent, lend or exchange our mailing or contributor lists. AnimalFare • Winter 2009 www.sdhumane.org 3
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Page 13 and 14: Bootsie (Kay Adkins) Joanmarie Russ
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Page 19 and 20: WINTER 2009 Calendar of Events The

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Winter 2009 â¢ V ol. 43 No. 4 - San Diego Humane Society and SPCA