Summer 2011 • V ol. 45 No. 2 - San Diego Humane Society and SPCA

president’s message
Giving Back to Animals
that Give Us So Much
Mark Goldstein, DVM,
CAWA, President of
the San Diego Humane
Society and SPCA
with his dog Ren.
In spending time with animals, I’ve come to realize that they have a language all their own. For animals, each
word is new and has never been said before. One word is one breath. One word is the extension of a paw … is a
compassionate gaze … is a wagging tail – rapid or slow, ambitious or unbothered, noticeably loud or barely visible.
We as human beings are bettered by spending time with animals and experiencing first-hand what they have to teach
us. We can become happier and healthier people just by watching, listening and experiencing the ways that animals
naturally live and love.
Sadly, many animals with healthy or treatable conditions are still being euthanized every year in San Diego area
shelters before they ever have a chance to inspire or improve a human life. While the San Diego Humane Society and
SPCA has not had to euthanize a healthy or treatable animal in more than ten years, other shelters have not been as
fortunate due to a lack of space and resources. In direct response to this growing challenge, the San Diego Humane
Society launched the Paws to Success Program in 2009, a three point approach to ending the euthanasia of healthy and
treatable pets countywide by 2020.
The first point of action in the Paws to Success Program was to create a 24/7 kitten nursery, as our research showed
that 71 percent of at-risk and potentially treatable animals euthanized in San Diego Animal Welfare Coalition shelters
(SDAWC) were kittens and cats, specifically 38 percent were kittens under the age of eight-weeks-old. These tiny
creatures are vulnerable to an array of potential medical issues at this fragile age, and require around-the-clock care for
the greatest chance of survival. The Paws Nursery has been so successful that we are now opening a second nursery in
North County, which will admit orphaned kittens as well as queens and kittens (see page 10 to learn more).
The second part of the Paws to Success Program involves improving shelter conditions since many pets are often
relinquished or returned to animal shelters due to behavioral problems in the home. To address this topic, we hired Dr.
Petra Mertens, a Certified Applied Animal Behaviorist (who is a member Diplomat of the American College of Veterinary
Behaviorists and the European College of Veterinary Behavioural Medicine Companion Animals, one of only three
in the world to hold both distinctions). Dr. Mertens leads our Behavior and Training team at the San Diego Humane
Society and is available to share her expertise with other SDAWC members at no cost to them. With approximately 100
or so certified applied animal behaviorists nationwide, Dr. Mertens provides San Diego County shelters with access to
specialized, expert advice that few organizations are so fortunate to have.
The third step of this program involves enhancing animal husbandry protocols and support for San Diego Animal
Welfare Coalition partners. Dr. Mertens and other key leaders at the San Diego Humane Society are in the process
of outlining a comprehensive animal care training program to share with staff at the other San Diego welfare
organizations. Fashioned after the training programs presently available to San Diego Humane Society staff, this
program will make new training options available onsite at shelters that are currently seeking to improve their protocols,
as well as self-nurturing workshops for employees such as Compassion Fatigue.
So often I hear stories from a recent adopter, a pet-assisted therapy patient or a child who attended our animal
adventure camp, about how an animal changed their life. Help us give back to the animals who give so much to us by
supporting our Paws to Success Program and the many animals and people this program is able to impact. Only with
your help, can we continue to work towards saving the life of every animal with treatable and healthy conditions. With
every life saved, another person may experience that animal’s unique voice and unconditional love.
Mark Goldstein, DVM, CAWA
President of the San Diego Humane Society and SPCA
Photo: Melisa Codgell
From the Mailbox
Hi San Diego Humane Society!
Just wanted to update you on Nudge... He has changed
so much already and grown to twice his size from when
he came in. He loves the kids and spends hours cuddling
and hanging out with them. The kids love him in return
and he gets along with his three dog family members now
too. He wasn’t sure about any of it in the beginning but
now after running the show and letting them know how it
was all going to be – it’s all good. He totally likes taking a
bath – which I’ve never seen in a cat yet! He’s a cool little guy and we love him!
Thanks so much for the great kitty! We are very happy to have him in the family.
The Forsberg Family
Dear San Diego Humane Society,
We are so pleased with our little Sparky. He is
adjusting very well to his new home, his bed and his
new family. He won our hearts from the very start.
He is such a good boy. He is making a lot of “doggy
friends” on his walks to the park and around the
neighborhood. Everyone knows Sparky and he shows
his appreciation readily. I think he may have lost a
little weight since we put him on his “diet” and we are
sticking to it. We have all bonded very well with him. He did have some doggy guests
recently and was the perfect little boy among his girl doggy friends.
Thank you for all your great advice and training.
The Durans – Charles, Paula and Sparky
Dear San Diego Humane Society,
I just wanted to update you as to how Mrs.
King is doing! She is a spayed female guinea
pig I adopted earlier this year, hoping to match
her up with one of my lonely boy guinea pigs. I
wanted to introduce them right away, but gave
Mrs. King a chance to adjust to living here first.
While allowing her to adjust, she had Stevie, my
male hairless guinea pig, as a neighbor. From the start they were very interested in each
other and would “talk” through their divider grid between cages. After less than a week,
they were spending most of their time lying down right up against each other, but with
the cage wire between them. They looked so pitiful, that I threw out my original plans of
a formal introduction in a large space and just removed the divider one night! They have
been best buddies every since that night! Here they are sharing a guinea pig sized bed.
Thanks again for helping me to add Mrs. King to my pet family!
Debbie Rothstein
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: Toby, a 3-week old kitten, receives lots of love and special care at Paws Nursery.
COVER PHOTO: Leslie Wallace
Board of TrusTees
fred Baranowski
Chairperson
david Hickey
Chairperson, Finance Committee
diane Gilabert
Chairperson, Board Governance & Nominating
Committee
Beverly oster ornelas
Secretary
Sandy Arledge; Allen Blackmore; Robert Brown, Ed.D.;
George Coles; Lee Collins; Susan Davis;
Dana Di Ferdinando; Diane Glow, Ed.D.; Dave Mason;
David Mittleman; Anne Perry; David Sear
Life MeMBers
Vi & Dan McKinney, John Parker
President
Mark Goldstein, DVM, CAWA
senior staff
Renee Harris, RVT, Executive Vice President
Kim Shannon, CAWA, Chief Operating Officer/SVP
Shelly Stuart, CSPG, CFRE, CAWA,
Chief Development Officer/SVP
Kelly Riseley, Chief Financial Officer
AnimalFare editors
Michael Baehr, Kelli Herwehe
Contributing Writers
Nicole Angelucci, Laura Coburn, Shannon Gusy,
Jenny Ludovissy, Elkie Wills
design & Layout
Kat Godard, DraDog, LLC
Published quarterly by:
San Diego Humane Society and SPCA
Mailing address:
Gaines Campus
5500 Gaines Street, San Diego, CA 92110
North Campus
(For dogs)
2905 San Luis Rey Road, Oceanside, CA 92058
(For cats)
572 Airport Road, Oceanside, CA 92058
Main Telephone: (619) 299-7012
Website: www.sdhumane.org
Email: postmaster@sdhumane.org
To report animal abuse call (619) 243-3466
Serving San Diego County since 1880, the San
Diego Humane Society and SPCA’s scope of social
responsibility goes beyond adopting animals. The
Humane Society offers San Diegans a wide range of
programs and services that strengthen the humananimal
bond, prevent cruelty/neglect, provide medical
care and educate the community on the humane
treatment of animals.
As one of San Diego’s oldest nonprofit organizations, the
Humane Society has campuses in both San Diego and
Oceanside and is supported solely through contributions,
grants, bequests, investments, proceeds from the
Muttique retail store, and small fees for services.
For your privacy, the Humane Society does not sell, rent,
lend or exchange its mailing of contributor lists.
AnimalFare • Summer 2011 www.sdhumane.org
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