Sad news comes to us from the San Francisco Chronicle today. For the first time in 141 years, the city by the bay’s Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals is being forced to scale back on its days of operation. Like other agencies nationwide, the SPCA has suffered from reduced contributions and staff layoffs (16 employees were let go earlier this month) and its Maddie’s Adoption Center will no longer be open on Mondays in an effort to eliminate a $3.5 million deficit.
From the Chronicle:
“It’s unclear what effect the once-a-week closure will have on the local homeless pet population, said Rebecca Katz, interim director of San Francisco Animal Care and Control. Last year, the SPCA averaged seven adoptions per Monday.
Katz said Mondays are typically busy days at Animal Care and Control, located across Alabama Street from the SPCA in the Mission, with residents looking for pets that go missing over the weekend.”
Last year, the SPCA was able to place 4,301 dogs and cats – an all-time high for the agency. But the number of animals needing free or reduced-cost vet care has climbed, a byproduct of rising unemployment and more pet owners bringing in incomes low enough to qualify for low-cost care.
SF Gate has the full scoop. And those who wish to support the SPCA can do so here.
