THE SAN FRANCISCO SOCIETY FOR THE

Public education and advocacy: the sf spca advocates for more humane treatment of animals on a state level. The shelter policy and legal services (spals) program champions policy change and seeks to transform sheltering in california. Shelter pals also assists other animal shelters and rescues in california with free legal assistance to improve their lifesaving capabilities. Shelter pals is the country's only pro bono legal-aid program dedicated exclusively to the needs of animal shelters, providing free legal advice and coordinating strategic litigation.

Volunteer services: the sf spca would not be able to accomplish all it does without the more than 1,300 generous volunteers who support its many programs. These services are the fuel for many of the sf spca programs including the shelter, shelter medicine, community medicine, our central valley clinics, and the foster and the animal assisted therapy programs.foster: underage, sick, or injured cats and dogs are nurtured in volunteer foster homes until they are old enough or well enough to be adopted. Animal assisted therapy: the sf spca animal assisted therapy program (aat) brings the healing presence of animals to people in a variety of facilities across the city. Each year, the sf spca volunteers and staff take animals to visit nearly 30,000 community members in over san francisco facilities: hospital wards, nursing homes, psychiatric clinics, senior centers, special schools, hospices, and san francisco international airport. The loving, non-judgmental presence of animals is often successful in breaking down barriers that isolate people with physical and emotional difficulties. The dogs, cats, rabbits, and other small animals chosen for the aat must meet medical and socialization criteria.