Small, scrappy, and full of spark, Foggy arrived at Fresno Animal Center when she was just a few weeks old. She had an uncertain future, one shared by hundreds of thousands of puppies and dogs across California looking for homes, often in communities where veterinary care is difficult to access.

From Fresno stray to Puppy Bowl Sunday

Thanks to our partnership with Fresno Animal Center, Foggy was transferred to the San Francisco SPCA to give her a better chance at adoption. This kind of collaboration is crucial to how we work, strengthening access to care in San Francisco while also supporting animals in regions like the Central Valley, where veterinary services are scarce.

Foggy received the medical care, attention, and support she needed to grow healthy, strong, and ready for adoption. It didn’t take long for her personality to shine. Determined, playful, hilarious, and a little sassy, Foggy quickly made it clear she was ready for whatever came next.

Foggy’s journey includes participating in Puppy Bowl XXII. This February, Foggy is taking the field for the beloved canine counterprogramming to the Super Bowl. Airing Sunday, February 8, on Animal Planet, the Discovery Channel, TBS, truTV, HBO Max, and discovery+, the Puppy Bowl is the longest-running call-to-adoption event on television, airing during the biggest football game of the year. The three-hour broadcast will feature a record 150 rescue dogs from 72 shelters across the country—proof that shelter animals are ready for the spotlight and loving homes.

How access to care and partnerships save lives

Foggy’s journey from Central Valley stray to national television is more than just adorable. It is an example of what’s possible when access to care meets collaboration.

California’s Central Valley faces some of our state’s most significant gaps in veterinary access. Many communities are under-resourced, and shelters are often stretched beyond capacity. At the same time, San Francisco is facing its own challenges, which is why the SF SPCA has doubled down on expanding services locally while also partnering statewide to improve outcomes for local animals.

By investing in care in San Francisco and supporting shelters throughout the Central Valley, we’re building a more connected animal welfare system, one that helps animals like Foggy get the care they need.

This Puppy Bowl Sunday, Foggy will take the field alongside an unforgettable lineup of fellow participants, including Chappell Bone, Rupaw, and Carrie Pawshaw. And while Foggy is ready to take on the competition, her biggest win has already happened.

Foggy has been adopted and is settling into her forever home full of cuddles and lifelong companionship. The outcome of her journey is what we work toward every day, one animal at a time.

During fiscal year 2025, the SF SPCA provided care to nearly 98,000 animals and delivered more than $5.2 million in free and reduced-cost veterinary services in San Francisco, while supporting thousands of animals through partnerships in the Central Valley. Foggy’s Puppy Bowl moment helps share that work on a national stage, reminding viewers everywhere that adoption changes lives, and that access to veterinary care makes even more Happy Tails possible.

Looking for a new teammate? View our adoptable animals to find your new MVP. We’ve got a full roster of all-stars ready to join your starting lineup. 

The post Happy Tails: Foggy appeared first on San Francisco SPCA.

Recently, we made a few updates to how our Community Cats Program operates. Our goal with this update is to provide clarity, transparency, and reassurance about what is changing, what is not, and why these refinements are important for the program’s long-term health.

Supporting more cats in San Francisco 

As our Community Cats Program has evolved over the years, we’ve been able to increase our capacity to support more local cats. In 2022, the SF SPCA provided spay and neuter care for roughly 500 community cats. In 2025, that number grew to more than 2,700 cats. 

These numbers mean an increase in lives improved, litters prevented, and suffering reduced. This is why we do what we do. We care so deeply for these cats, and with these changes, we expect to help even more this year. 

What has not changed 

First and foremost, Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) is continuing. We will also continue to offer trap rentals.

Through the Community Cats Program, cats trapped in San Francisco County continue to receive fully subsidized sterilization, microchipping, ear tipping, vaccinations, and flea control. We will continue to provide basic medical care for cats who come through the program, as well as humane euthanasia when appropriate. Cats from outside San Francisco County are still eligible for care at a significantly subsidized rate.

We’ve also added regularly recurring high-volume Feral Fix days as part of our ongoing Community Cats work. These days allow our teams to help a large number of cats efficiently and reduce wait times across the program. We will also host special events, like our recent Champions for Pet Health event, which build on this same model and help us reach even more cats.

The goal of the program is unchanged: preventing future litters and supporting healthier outcomes for cats, caregivers, and neighborhoods across San Francisco. 

Key learnings and changes 

As the program has grown, we’ve continuously made operational improvements to better support our local cat populations. One of the biggest lessons was this: when we opened appointments by request instead of holding recurring slots, we were able to serve more people and more cats.

That shift allowed us to completely clear a two-page waitlist of caregivers who had been waiting for help. Instead of appointments being tied up long-term, more people were able to get cats scheduled and cared for when they needed it.

These changes helped us discover a system that lets us say “yes” more often. The same is true of our move toward high-volume Feral Fix days and clearer scheduling structures. These refinements help our medical teams plan effectively, reduce delays, and ultimately reach more cats without burning out the people doing the work. When you’re helping thousands of cats a year, small operational improvements make a huge impact.

Clarifying volunteer identity and representation 

Trappers are powerful advocates. You share knowledge, connect neighbors with resources, and speak up for cats who don’t have a voice. That matters enormously, and it always will.

We recognize that there are many perspectives on what responsible, humane community cat management looks like, and we respect that people come to this work with different approaches and philosophies. Our role is not to dictate a single “right” way to care for community cats. In fact, part of providing equitable TNR support across San Francisco means acknowledging those differences and creating space for a wide range of caregivers to access services.

At the same time, when someone is representing the SF SPCA, it’s important that what’s being said and done reflects our organization’s specific policies. For that reason, representing oneself as an SF SPCA volunteer is limited to formal, on-site volunteer roles during active shifts. Outside of those roles, individuals are acting independently, even when bringing cats to the SF SPCA for care.

This clarity helps the public understand who is speaking on behalf of the organization, helps volunteers avoid being placed in difficult or risky situations, and ensures that information shared with the community is accurate and consistent. It does not change who can access our Community Cat services or diminish the vital role independent caregivers continue to play in helping cats across San Francisco. 

What’s next 

We are committed to listening, learning, and communicating clearly as we move forward together. We are currently compiling FAQs based on questions raised during our recent Community Cats webinar and additional feedback we’ve received. Once finalized, we will share the FAQs on our blog.

If there are questions you would like us to address, you are welcome to submit them using this form.

Thank you again for your passion, your advocacy, and the many ways you support cats in San Francisco. We remain deeply committed to this work and to strengthening the partnerships that make it possible. 

The post Strengthening Our Community Cats Program Together appeared first on San Francisco SPCA.

None of this would be possible without the adopters, volunteers, veterinary care clients, and donors who show up for pets and their families every single day. Below is just a small glimpse of the impact our community made this year.

Adopters opened their hearts and homes 

In fiscal year 2025, 4,294 animals found loving homes at the SF SPCA Adoption Center. Our adopters showed up in extraordinary ways, including on two record-breaking days. On California Adopt-a-Pet Day, 140 animals went home, setting an all-time single-day adoption record…until a few months later, when 161 adoptions took place during our Clear the Shelters event.

Thank you for choosing the SF SPCA and for welcoming your new companions into your families. It is our greatest joy to share the excitement of adoption day and see pets thrive in their new homes.

Volunteers lifted up our mission 

1,183 volunteers donated an incredible 86,065 hours to care for animals and support our local community. Our volunteers performed essential tasks, such as walking dogs, socializing cats, helping with medical care and adoptions, and staffing mobile vaccine clinics that provided preventative care to 5,985 pets throughout San Francisco.

Our 199 foster volunteers opened their homes to 1,124 animals. And yes, we absolutely celebrate “foster fails” like Boba Fetch, whose incredible personality convinced his foster to adopt him, giving him the loving home he deserved.

Our Animal-Assisted Therapy (AAT) volunteers also made an extraordinary impact this year. 171 AAT volunteers reached 59,590 people in our local community. Through programs like the Wag Brigade at SFO, Puppy Dog Tales in classrooms and libraries, and therapy visits in hospitals and senior homes, these volunteers brought the healing power of the human-animal bond to our city.

Spay/neuter clients strengthened our community

This year, our team spayed/neutered 5,212 pets at our public Spay/Neuter Clinic, 2,567 community and free-roaming cats with the support of our Community Cats volunteers, and 17,640 dogs and cats in the Central Valley.

Thank you to our clients for choosing to be responsible pet owners. Spay/neuter surgery is one of the most effective ways to reduce overcrowding in shelters. Your commitment to preventing overpopulation is helping shape a more humane future for animals across California.

Veterinary clients trusted us with their pets’ care 

Every time you walk through our doors, you place your trust in our experienced team of veterinarians, technicians, and staff. This year, our Mission Hospital provided 25,509 exams, and our Community Veterinary Clinic treated 11,328 cats and dogs.

Together with our community partners, we are expanding access to high-quality, compassionate care so every pet in San Francisco can thrive. Thank you for being part of this shared effort to build a healthier city for pets and the people who love them.

Donors funded our future 

Behind every adoption, every clinic visit, every lifesaving surgery, and every second chance is someone like you—someone who believes that pets and people deserve care, dignity, and compassion. With your support, we provided more than $5.2 million in free and reduced-cost veterinary care to the San Francisco community.

Your generosity fuels every one of our programs. From all of us at the San Francisco SPCA: thank you. Your compassion is the heart of our mission, and we’re so grateful to be on this journey with you.

Explore even more successes and metrics by reading our 2025 Impact Report. 

The post Thank You for Making 2025 a Lifesaving Year appeared first on San Francisco SPCA.

These victories were made possible through Shelter PALS, our advocacy initiative, and the collaboration of animal welfare organizations and compassionate lawmakers across California. 

Expanding access to veterinary care 

As part of our 2025 legislative agenda, the SF SPCA co-sponsored two bills with the California Veterinary Medical Association and the San Diego Humane Society: AB 516 and SB 602. Both these bills were signed by Governor Gavin Newsom in the second half of 2025:

• AB 516, authored by Assemblymember Kalra, helps improve access to care by clarifying which tasks Registered Veterinary Technicians (RVTs) and veterinary assistants are permitted to perform under the law. By reducing regulatory confusion and acknowledging the wide range of skills these professionals bring, this bill empowers veterinary teams to serve more animals. 
• SB 602, authored by Senator Cortese, allows RVTs to perform “wellness” appointments (such as administering vaccines and parasite prevention) under veterinary supervision, but without a veterinarian being physically present. This change will expand access to preventative care by increasing the number of shelters able to perform vaccination clinics, especially in communities where veterinary services are hard to find.

Shutting down the puppy mill pipeline 

Beyond improving veterinary access, we’re also celebrating the signing of three crucial bills aimed at ending the flow of unethically bred puppies into California.

SB 312, AB 506, and AB 519 work together to: 

• Increase transparency by requiring public access to health certificates for animals entering the state. 
• Stop deceptive sales practices that mislead consumers about the origin and health of animals for sale.  
• Ban retail sales by brokers who source from unethical breeders.

A year of legislative progress 

From our third annual Animal Advocacy Day in April (where the SF SPCA and partners met with lawmakers to champion these bills) to the moment Governor Newsom signed them into law, 2025 was a year of progress powered by collaboration and compassion.

The SF SPCA is proud to be part of creating a better future for animals and the people who love them. With these wins, California strengthens its position as a national leader in animal welfare and veterinary access.

Want to learn more about our animal advocacy efforts? Our CEO, Dr. Jennifer Scarlett, and Bruce Wagman, Keith C. Wetmore Shelter PALS Special Counsel at the SF SPCA, were recently interviewed by HumanePro about Shelter PALS and how we support shelters and rescues across California. Read the full Q&A here.

The post California Strengthens Animal Welfare Leadership with 5 New Laws appeared first on San Francisco SPCA.

Ella’s story 

In the spring of 2001, Grace adopted a tuxedo cat named Ella from an animal shelter in Ithaca, New York. From the beginning, Ella moved through life with a calm confidence. She explored balconies like a tightrope artist, greeted guests like a seasoned host, and took her seat at the table as if she had always belonged there.

Grace explains that Ella had a gift for connection. Friends who insisted they were not cat people often found themselves converted after Ella perched on their chest, purring inches from their face.

During the holidays, her personality sparkled even brighter. One Christmas, she transformed an empty Amazon box into a custom-designed bed after carefully chewing the cardboard into a curved headrest. Her creativity was so noteworthy that it later earned her first place for Most Unusual Behavior at Cornell Vet School’s “Feline Follies.”

Ella traveled cross-country with Grace to settle into a sunlit life in the Bay Area. Even as kidney failure weakened her body, her spirit remained strong. She still found her favorite patch of sunlight by the sliding glass door, choosing warmth and leisure whenever she could.

When Ella passed away, her absence left a hole in Grace’s heart. Her resilience and her devotion to Grace left a lasting imprint. For a long time, the idea of adopting another cat felt impossible.

Nella’s story 

On December 16, 2016, Grace went to San Francisco to see a performance of The King and I at the Golden Gate Theatre before visiting Macy’s Holiday Windows. While Grace was admiring the puppies and kittens playing in the windows, a volunteer mentioned that there were more kittens inside. That’s where she met a little kitten named Nella.

At first, Grace was struck by how similar Nella’s name was to Ella’s. Then she saw that, like Ella, Nella was a tuxedo cat with a distinctive white stripe down her nose. The resemblance was uncanny, and it was love at first sight. With care and kindness from the San Francisco SPCA team, the adoption was finalized and Nella went home.

As a kitten, Nella was playful, curious, and endlessly inventive. Now at nine years old, her guardian explains that “she’s more mellow, but still sweet and entertaining.” And like Ella before her, she has claimed the same favorite sunlit spot by the sliding glass door, stretching out in the warmth to continue the tradition.

Ella and Nella never met, yet their stories are intertwined, linked by sunlit windows and the joy that adoption can bring. 

The post Happy Tails: Ella and Nella appeared first on San Francisco SPCA.

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Paisley 

Tiny in size but overflowing with curiosity and charm, Paisley (far left) came to us from Stray Cat Alliance in Los Angeles. At our shelter, she quickly became part of our welcoming committee—trotting to the door of her condo to enthusiastically greet visitors. This year, she’s headed to Oregon as her guardian starts grad school.

Wren 

Wren (middle left), a spirited Chihuahua that came to the SF SPCA from San Francisco Animal Care and Control, proves that great things come in small, fearless packages. At just a few months old, she’s already learning how to ride a skateboard! 

Sesame 

Sweet Sesame (middle right) came to us from San Francisco Animal Care and Control and was adopted in 2024 by one of our dedicated volunteers. After his adopter passed away, Sesame found a new home with another one of our volunteers, Sean. Now, Sesame spends his days zooming around the house and snuggling up for love.

Olivia 

Olivia (far right), a wiggly Australian Shepherd who was transferred to the SF SPCA from Tulare County Animal Services, wins hearts the moment she meets someone new. Her joyful energy and love for people make her the kind of dog who lights up any room. 

Find love that lasts all year 

Looking to create your own Happy Tail this season? Our name your price adoption promotion for animals five months and older continues through the end of the year. You can meet adoptable puppies and kittens at Holiday Windows at Macy’s Union Square, visit the SF SPCA Adoption Center, or set up a virtual adoption appointment. No matter how you meet our adoptable animals, our team is here to help you bring your cozy companion home. 

Give comfort and joy 

This holiday season, you can bring love and second chances to cats and dogs who need it most. Your generosity powers every part of our mission—from lifesaving medical care to compassionate shelter—ensuring more animals can experience safety, hope, and love this holiday season. If you’re able, please give today. 

The post The Happy Tails Behind Our Holiday Card appeared first on San Francisco SPCA.

Holiday Highlights

Shelter Animal Toy Drive
Spread holiday magic to shelter animals waiting for their forever homes. On Saturday, December 13, 11 a.m.–5 p.m., donate new cat or dog toys at the SF SPCA tent in Winter Walk (Stockton at O’Farrell). Cast members from Cirque du Soleil ECHO will join the Animal-Assisted Therapy Animals from 11 a.m. – 1 p.m..

SF SPCA at Winter Walk
Visitors can visit the SF SPCA’s booth at Winter Walk to meet Animal-Assisted Therapy Animals, pose for photos, and purchase SF SPCA swag and personalized gifts.

• Saturday, December 13, 11 a.m. – 5 p.m.
• Sunday, December 14, 11 a.m. – 5 p.m.
• Friday, December 19, 11 a.m. – 5 p.m.
• Saturday, December 20, 11 a.m. – 5 p.m.
• Sunday, December 21, 11 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Special Holiday Partnership

The SF SPCA has partnered with Cirque du Soleil ECHO to spread holiday cheer beyond Union Square. Through this collaboration, theatergoers can save 25% on tickets, and for every ticket purchased through this offer, $3 will be donated to the SF SPCA to support our lifesaving work for animals.

“The holidays should be a time of joy for every animal, not just those already in homes. Our 39-year partnership with Macy’s Union Square transforms window shopping into lifesaving action,” said Dr. Jennifer Scarlett, CEO of the SF SPCA. “Between our iconic Holiday Windows and KTVU and FOX LOCAL on 2’s toy drive on December 13, our community has multiple ways to make a difference. Whether through adoption, toy donations, or simply spreading the word, together we can rewrite these animals’ stories before the year ends.”

Name Your Price Adoptions
As Union Square becomes a festive destination for the holiday season, the Holiday Windows emphasizes the importance of adoption for families considering welcoming a new furry companion. To help more than 500 animals get adopted this holiday season, the SF SPCA will have Name Your Price adoptions for all animals over 5 months old throughout the entire holiday period. Those looking for a new best friend can view adoptable animals at sfspca.org/adopt.

The SF SPCA is grateful for the support of our generous Holiday Windows corporate sponsors, including Fetch, Nestle Purina PetCare Company, and KPMG.

The post San Francisco SPCA Brings Holiday Cheer to Downtown SF with Holiday Windows and Festive Events appeared first on San Francisco SPCA.

With veterinary costs rising nationwide, many cat guardians struggle to keep up with basic care, such as vaccines, flea treatment, and wellness checkups. At the same time, unowned community cats continue to need safe, effective spay/neuter services to prevent illness and avoid adding to overcrowded shelters.

Champions for Pet Health set out to meet both needs at once, and thanks to an incredible collective effort, it delivered.

A weekend dedicated to cat care 

Champions for Pet Health brought together foundations and animal welfare organizations, including Berkeley Humane, Contra Costa Animal Services, Friends of Alameda Animal Services, Humane Society Silicon Valley, Marin Humane, Muttville, Oakland Animal Services, the San Francisco SPCA, Valley Humane Society, and Vets in Vans.

At the SF SPCA Hospital, we provided care for owned cats whose guardians sought affordable, accessible support. Our veterinary team provided preventative care (like vaccines, flea medication, and wellness assessments) to help families keep their cats healthy year-round.

At the same time, our Community Cats Program led large-scale spay/neuter efforts for unowned, free-roaming cats. By the end of the weekend, our team performed 174 spay/neuter surgeries on local community cats! These cats, once altered and returned to their neighborhoods, can live safer, healthier lives—and they no longer contribute to animal overpopulation. It’s an essential service that helps protect San Francisco’s cats and reduces shelter crowding across the Bay Area.

Why access to care matters 

For many families, affordable veterinary care isn’t just helpful—it’s a lifeline. When pets receive preventative care, they avoid serious illnesses that are costly and difficult to treat. When community cats are spayed and neutered, we prevent avoidable suffering and keep shelters from becoming overwhelmed.

Events like Champions for Pet Health are part of the SF SPCA’s commitment to expanding access to care in San Francisco, the Central Valley, and throughout California. By removing barriers, we create healthier communities and reduce the number of animals entering shelters. It’s all part of our vision of a future where every pet receives the care they need, no matter their family’s circumstances.

Veterinary care for all

The post Champions for Pet Health 2025 appeared first on San Francisco SPCA.

The twinkling lights and the festive buzz of Union Square during the holidays provided the perfect backdrop for these playful kittens to meet the public—and it didn’t take long for the magic to happen. 

Their adopter, who was visiting San Francisco with her daughter, hadn’t planned to adopt during her trip, but the idea had been in the back of her mind. She had lost her husband a few years earlier and had been considering getting a cat, hoping to add a cozy companion to her home.

 

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As her daughter remembers, their visit to the Holiday Windows was serendipitous: “We just wandered in to get some makeup and saw the display…Then they opened the curtains, and we saw two kittens…I’m telling you, these things are not accidents.” 

Thanks to the magic of Holiday Windows, Disco and Inferno found their forever family and a place to call home.

Looking to adopt this holiday season?

Meet adoptable animals by visiting Holiday Windows at Macy’s Union Square, the SF SPCA Adoption Center, or by setting up a virtual adoption appointment. Our team is here to help you bring your cozy companion home. Don’t miss out on name your price adoption fees for all animals 5 months and older, now through the end of the year. 

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