Rescue in the Age of a Pandemic: The Glass is at Least Half Full!

It’s hard to believe that in February, a mere five months ago, we expected a budget surplus in California to help fund the no-kill movement here.  Governor Gavin Newsom had proposed $50 million be provided over five years to the UC Davis Koret Shelter Medicine Program.  This money would have been allocated to under-resourced shelters — for training and support — with the ultimate goal of eliminating (especially space-based) euthanasia.  We outlined the effort in that month’s blog.

Fast forward to today.  Although we have no state budget surplus to help accelerate the shelter-focused no-kill movement, at least two positive turns have come from the pandemic.  The first is that fostering and adoption rates have skyrocketed.  As work from home has become the norm, individuals and families have discovered physical and emotional space for homeless pets. 

Secondly, it’s even more crystal clear that community-based rescue and community-focused life-saving is the future of animal welfare.  SVPP, with its Pup Plaza community center, is helping enable that future.  State budget cycles come and go but animal rescue needs the local pillars of support, stability and predictability.  Best Friends’ CEO Julie Castle agrees that community-based efforts are key to saving lives.

Pup Plaza opened at the end of 2018.  Its mission has been to provide community-based outreach, education, resources, and support.  It has been the heart of adoption events, educational and fun classes, fundraisers, and respite for shelter dogs.  It has been the home to Doga, training meetups, paint your pet, cat- and dog-related workshops and instruction, a kitten shower, private pet birthday parties, numerous cat and dog adoption events, weekly shelter dog day out events, and more.  All, pre-pandemic of course.

While we expect these activities to re-emerge when it’s safe,

Pup Plaza has continued to play a pivotal role for SVPP.  Although adoption meet and greets tend to take place virtually, we have had — by single appointment only and with social distancing! — many adoption pick-ups take place there.  We use Pup Plaza as a hub to store supplies and also provide them to our 40-plus foster families.  It is even a place that foster families (again by appointment!) can pick up their pets.  It is still a work space for planning, creating web and video content and ultimately determining how to thrive and save lives in this climate and beyond.  

After all, saving lives is the bottom line!

For more information about fostering, volunteering, donating, and becoming part of our community-based, life-saving effort, click here. 

Karen Zamel is a long-time SVPP volunteer and is now a member of the communications team.