HUMANE SOCIETY SILICON VALLEY

Programs for changing the game:- mutual rescue is a national initiative created by humane society silicon valley to change the conversation around animal welfare from "people or animals" to "people and animals." mutual rescue brings stories about how shelter animals have changed the lives of people for the better to the world stage. It raises awareness that when people donate to a local animal shelter, they are helping to transform the lives of people in their community for the better through life-changing, human-animal relationships. (continued on schedule o)it also drives engagement with local shelters throughout the country by promoting programs like doggy day out (ddo) that benefit both animals and humans.- currently, there are 109 shelters and rescues nationally in the ddo directory. The mutual rescue team also speaks at conferences around the country about ddo including facilitated workshops to teach shelters about starting ddo programs.- during the year ended june 30, 2024, the organization implemented the leap (learn, engage, and prepare) internship program with silicon valley career and technical education. This program, funded by a foundation, is a paid 12-week internship that provides recent high school graduates interested in veterinary medicine and animal welfare the opportunity to work in various departments at the organization to learn all aspects of animal sheltering. Two students participated in the inaugural year, and one of the interns was hired as a full-time veterinary assistant (va), demonstrating the value this program can have on building a pipeline for shelter medicine careers as well as the roots it can plant for a young student's career.- the organization and cristo rey, a local high school, have partnered for the past three years through a work-study program that enables students to gain hands-on experience alongside their studies. Students are paired with a mentor in a department that matches their interests, and each student also works with the animal care and enrichment team on a weekly basis, which provides insight into different areas and aspects of shelter care. This exposure allows students to see that animal welfare could be a viable career path for them in the future.- through veterinary student externships and registered veterinary technician (rvt) internships, the organization is teaching the next line of veterinary professionals its practices and encouraging them to practice shelter medicine as a career. During the year ended june 30, 2024, the organization hosted 16 dvm and 3 rvt/va trainees.- the organization, through the chief of medicine and staff, provided consultations for a range of organizations, from national education programs to local shelters across the country. Topics ranged from medical protocols and practices to shelter processes and operations and emergency-related adaptations to programs and processes.