Summer To Save Lives: Adopt, Foster, Volunteer

San Diego Humane Society is inviting the community to partner with them through Aug. 31 to make this a Summer To Save Lives for animals throughout San Diego County. The initiative was developed because shelters nationwide are facing unprecedented challenges: record numbers of animals in care, staffing and volunteer shortages, and a critical lack of space for incoming animals. The organization is asking community members to be heroes for homeless pets and shelters in need.

Following the July Fourth holiday, when the shelter took in 323 stray pets, San Diego Humane Society had 2,584 animals in care, compared to 1,755 in 2022. “We’ve never seen anything like this before,” said Gary Weitzman, President and CEO of San Diego Humane Society. “Our shelters have been over capacity for the past seven months, and we saw a record number of stray animals entering our care over the July Fourth holiday. To put it bluntly, now is the time we need our community’s help.”

Here are opportunities to be a hero for animals over the next eight weeks:

• Adopt: If you’re thinking about adding a pet to your family this summer, San Diego Humane Society urges you to consider adoption first. By opening your home to a shelter pet, you give a deserving animal a second chance while creating critically needed space for other pets in need. Adoption fees are currently 50% off for adult dogs and cats (7 months and older) at all San Diego Humane Society campuses.
• Foster: With shelters facing space crises, fosters are more critical than ever. By temporarily opening your home to a pet, you give them a break from the shelter — and help preserve extremely strained shelter resources. Whether you choose to foster for a few days or weeks, it all makes a difference. San Diego Humane Society provides all the supplies, you provide the safe space and love.
• Volunteer: With all San Diego Humane Society shelter campuses facing staff and volunteer shortages, support is urgently needed. Volunteers are especially needed for the 7-10 a.m. morning shifts through August 31. If you have spare time available this summer, committing to a shift each week is a great way to make a lifesaving difference.

Click here to learn how you can be a hero for animals in need.

Published: July 10, 2023