San Francisco is grappling with a troubling aftermath of the COVID-era animal adoptions, where a surge in pet adoption during the pandemic has ironically resulted in a significant increase in pet abandonment.
Recent analysis from the Chronicle reveals that animal shelters throughout the city are experiencing their highest euthanization rates since 2013, with many residents abandoning their dogs.
The issue of overcrowded shelters is exacerbated by a combination of factors, including skyrocketing veterinary care costs that leave many pet owners unable to afford necessary medical treatments. As the San Francisco Animal Care & Control (SF ACC) pointed out in a recent tweet, these challenges are compounded by a halt in neutering services during early pandemic lockdowns, leading to a troubling spike in puppy births.
The Chronicle’s examination includes insights from two primary animal shelters in the city: SF Animal Care & Control and the San Francisco SPCA, which typically promotes pet adoption through events, such as their annual Puppies and Kittens display in Macy’s windows during the holiday season. However, in recent years, the SPCA has taken fewer dogs from the SF ACC.
Virginia Donohue, executive director of SF ACC, shared with the Chronicle, “Historically, the SPCA has taken as many as 600 dogs from us, which helped us save more dogs. Unfortunately, for the last few years, it has been fewer than 200 dogs, so we have looked further afield to find homes.” She emphasized the city’s pressing need for more pet adoptions and less breeding to provide loving homes for the dogs that are currently at risk.
The financial disparity between the two organizations plays a significant role in the overall crisis. The SF SPCA, with greater financial resources, can afford to be selective about the dogs they take in, focusing solely on canines and felines. In contrast, SF ACC is burdened with caring for a broader range of animals, straining their capacity to provide adequate medical care for the escalating number of dogs entering their facility.
As highlighted in the Chronicle’s analysis, the SF ACC’s “live release rate,” which measures the percentage of animals that find homes rather than face euthanasia, dropped from 91% in 2023 to a mere 88% in 2024. This marks the lowest rate the organization has recorded in over a decade, with 257 dogs euthanized last year. Projections indicate an even lower live release rate in the year ahead.
Meanwhile, the SF SPCA has expanded their intake of dogs from regions outside San Francisco, particularly the Central Valley, which has drawn criticism from some quarters. Critics argue that this shift in focus has sidelined the needs of dogs within San Francisco, leading to unnecessary euthanizations.
Former SF SPCA animal hospital co-director Chelsea Capaccio, who departed the organization in October, expressed concerns about this trend, stating, “They’re so focused on this Central Valley expansion that they’ve forgotten that they’re the San Francisco SPCA.”
In response, SF SPCA CEO Jennifer Scarlett defended the organization’s broader mission: “We’ve seen a slip in the live release rate. What’s happening in the Central Valley is even harder. We’re finding buckets of puppies and kittens in orchards.”
Navigating these challenges requires a multifaceted approach and a collective commitment from the community. Both shelters encourage the public to adopt rather than shop for pets, especially in an era dominated by puppy mills.
For animal lovers distressed by the ongoing plight of pets in shelters, there are practical ways to make an impact. Individuals can contribute by making donations to the Friends of SF Animal Care and Control, an initiative designed to bolster the resources available for shelter animals and decrease euthanization rates.
As San Francisco continues to recover from the lingering effects of the pandemic, the situation at local shelters underscores the urgent need for community support and awareness in order to protect the welfare of the city’s pets.
image source from：sfist
