San Francisco Animal Care & Control: Ensuring the Well-being of Animals and the Community

Introduction

San Francisco Animal Care & Control (ACC) is dedicated to maintaining the health and welfare of animals, promoting responsible pet ownership, and safeguarding the well-being of the San Francisco community. With a mission to "promote the human-animal bond, reduce animal suffering, and protect the community," ACC works tirelessly to care for abandoned, lost, or unwanted animals, while also enforcing animal welfare laws and educating the public on responsible pet care.

Services Offered

ACC provides a comprehensive range of services to meet the needs of animals and their human companions:

• Animal Adoptions: ACC offers a second chance to thousands of homeless animals every year through its adoption program. All adoptable animals are fully vaccinated, spayed or neutered, and microchipped.

  

• Animal Care: ACC provides shelter and care to thousands of animals annually, including dogs, cats, rabbits, guinea pigs, and other small mammals. Animals receive food, water, shelter, and medical attention as needed.

• Animal Control: ACC investigates animal-related complaints, such as barking dogs, roaming cats, and animal bites. Officers enforce animal welfare laws and respond to emergencies, ensuring the safety of both animals and the public.

• Community Outreach: ACC plays an active role in the community, offering educational programs, pet licensing services, and support to low-income pet owners. The goal is to foster responsible pet ownership and reduce animal homelessness.

Animal Welfare Statistics

In 2022, ACC served the San Francisco community by:

• Adopting out 7,854 animals
• Licensing 13,500 pets
• Investigating over 24,000 animal-related complaints
• Providing medical care to over 12,000 animals

Effective Strategies for Animal Welfare

ACC employs a range of strategies to promote animal welfare:

• Spaying and Neutering: ACC encourages spaying and neutering of pets to reduce pet overpopulation and prevent unwanted litters.
• Microchipping: ACC recommends microchipping all pets to ensure safe return in case of loss or theft.
• Responsible Pet Ownership: ACC educates pet owners on responsible care, including proper nutrition, training, and socialization.
• Community Collaboration: ACC partners with local organizations to provide support to animals and pet owners, such as spay and neuter clinics and pet food pantries.

Steps to Support Animal Welfare

Everyone can play a role in supporting animal welfare:

1. Adopt, Don't Shop: Consider adopting a pet from a shelter or rescue organization rather than buying from a breeder.
2. Spay or Neuter Your Pet: Prevent unwanted litters and health problems by spaying or neutering your pet.
3. Microchip Your Pet: Ensure your pet can be identified in case of loss or theft.
4. Report Animal Cruelty: Report any suspected cases of animal cruelty to ACC at (415) 554-9400.
5. Support Animal Welfare Organizations: Donate to shelters, volunteer your time, or raise awareness about animal welfare issues.

Call to Action

San Francisco Animal Care & Control is committed to ensuring the well-being of animals and the community. By working together, we can create a humane and compassionate city where all animals are treated with respect and dignity.

Tables

Table 1: Animal Adoptions and Euthanasia

Table 2: Animal Control Cases

Table 3: Community Outreach