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SAN DIEGO — Left unaddressed, behavior challenges can become the reason dog owners make the difficult decision to surrender their pet to the shelter. January is National Train Your Dog Month, and San Diego Humane Society is here to help pet families and their dogs thrive. Whether you’re teaching basic commands or addressing challenging behaviors, dog training is key to building a more harmonious home.

SAN DIEGO — Five key animal welfare bills sponsored by San Diego Humane Society will take effect Jan. 1, 2026, marking a significant step forward in protecting animals and strengthening veterinary care across California.

The legislation represents a successful advocacy year in Sacramento, where San Diego Humane Society joined fellow leaders in the field — including San Francisco SPCA, Valley Humane Society, CalAnimals, ASPCA, Best Friends Animal Society, Humane World for Animals and the Michelson Center — at Animal Advocacy Day 2025. Together the coalition urged lawmakers to adopt measures that increase transparency in the puppy market, prevent predatory sales practices and expand access to essential veterinary care.

With 2025 coming to an end, San Diego Humane Society is releasing an overview of the most common dog breeds entering its doors this past year, and there are some surprises!

In 2025, the organization saw an increase breeds that are considered highly desirable, including 381 French bulldogs (a 514% increase since 2020!), 287 pugs, 161 maltese, 158 maltipoos and 120 shih tzus!

SAN DIEGO — On this World Wildlife Conservation Day, San Diego Humane Society is celebrating that its Project Wildlife Program has successfully released a rehabilitated hoary bat, fitted with a lightweight Motus tracking transmitter. This marks the first time a hoary bat in Southern California has been equipped with this technology.

SAN DIEGO — A man was sentenced today, Dec. 1, 2025, in a case involving the rescue of 33 animals from his San Ysidro home in August 2024. After San Diego Humane Society’s Humane Law Enforcement successfully brought animal cruelty charges against him, Gary Marks has been banned from owning an animal for 10 years, and his sentencing includes a Fourth Amendment Waiver (allowing law enforcement to search his home without a warrant) and mandated mental health treatment.