This month the 28th Olympiad began and once again, the ideals of the Games - peace, harmony, and fellowship between countries and their peoples - will proffer an example to the world. We live in an increasingly interconnected world, and we cannot separate ourselves from it, even if we may wish to.
The San Francisco SPCA has always sustained the ideal of fellowship in its work to save the lives of animals and to better their conditions. Throughout our 136-year history, we've reached out into the community, searching for allies and people of goodwill to help us in our mission. Our success in the on-going process of preventing the mistreatment of animals is a testament to the cooperation and teamwork of many individuals. We can't do it alone.
This organization has been blessed in its allies. In 1994 we became partners with the San Francisco Department of Animal Care & Control, when we signed the historic Adoption Pact. Since then, by effectively complementing each other, our two organizations have raised the save rate for companion animals in this city to unprecedented heights, while at the same time slashing shelter intake by over 60 percent. We couldn't do it alone.
This October, for the first time, The SF/SPCA will be collaborating with another long-time ally and supporter, PAWS (Pets Are Wonderful Support), to co-host one of San Francisco's legendary fundraising events, the Ninth Annual 5-K Doggone Fun Run. The participants in the Fun Run - teams and individuals - will be working together in harmony and fellowship to support and ensure high quality care for some of the most deserving people and animals in San Francisco.
PAWS is a remarkable non-profit organization which, for over 17 years, has been dedicated to keeping people with AIDS and other disabling diseases together with their companion animals through comprehensive services. Their mission augments one of the goals of The SF/SPCA and SF/ACC - to prevent companion animals from being surrendered to shelters, and to keep them in loving homes. The work of PAWS exemplifies the bond between dogs and cats and their humans, and the physical and psychological benefits that accrue to both from the love and companionship they share.
The fellowship between The SF/SPCA, SF/ACC and PAWS is a powerful pledge of continuing service to the pets and people of San Francisco.
