In 1884 the San Francisco SPCA built a horse ambulance, the first of its kind in the West. The unique vehicle was used for horses before ambulances were used for people. During its first month in operation, the ambulance came to the aid of six disabled horses. In those days, San Francisco roads were primitive and poorly maintained. The ambulance frequently rescued horses who had fallen into ditches and excavations on city streets.
After the SF/SPCA took charge of the city pound in 1905, it introduced a horse-drawn, small-animal ambulance for stray dogs and cats. As horse power gave way to gasoline power, The SF/SPCA implemented motor-driven ambulances for horses and small animals. By 1943, The SF/SPCA had four ambulances, equipped with short-wave police radio receivers, to pick up strays.
In 2003 the SF/SPCA restored its last remaining horse ambulance to working order for 135th Anniversary celebrations. The vehicle features a 1974 International cab attached to the back of the original horse-drawn ambulance, which was modified over the years with new side panels and a removable top. In the early 1980's, when The SF/SPCA stopped a state plan to kill the deer on Angel Island, the ambulance was used to relocate the deer to the Mayacamas Mountains. After the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake, the ambulance delivered supplies to hard-hit animal shelters throughout Northern California. For many years, it was also used to transport Police Department horses to the SF/SPCA retirement ranch.
The story of ambulances at The SF/SPCA will soon come full circle, as The SF/SPCA prepares to build The Leanne B. Roberts Animal Care Center, a world-class animal care center. The Leanne B. Roberts Animal Care Center will offer animal ambulance service, bringing an SF/SPCA tradition back in modern times.
