Life was often brutal for animals in mid-19th century San Francisco. Animal abuse was widespread. Bull baiting, bear baiting, cockfighting and dogfighting were popular sports. In a rough-and-tumble city that ran on horsepower, San Francisco's thousands of horses were especially at risk. Overworked and underfed, they pulled heavy loads for hours and were often beaten mercilessly. As a result, much of the San Francisco SPCA's early work involved protecting and saving horses.
In 1884 The SF/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. San Francisco roads were primitive and poorly maintained, and the ambulance frequently rescued horses who had fallen into ditches and excavations on city streets. 
Noting that slippery streets were causing horses to fall, The SF/SPCA provided the animals with carpet slippers. It bought carpet remnants and fashioned overshoes that laced on to the horses feet, giving them protective traction on slick, wet streets.
In 1906 The SF/SPCA came to the aid of horses imperiled by San Francisco's devastating earthquake and fire. The SF/SPCA rescued hundreds of horses from burning buildings in stable districts. Afterwards, when the city began to clean up and rebuild, horses were constantly at work hauling heavy loads of debris, sand and construction materials. Many were forced to go without water from the time they left the stables in early morning until they returned at night. Responding to their plight, The SF/SPCA built water troughs in burned-out areas of the city, so the hard-working horses could get relief during the day.
In 1911 The SF/SPCA honored the city's horses with a parade on September 9th. Hailed as the "greatest parade of work horses ever held to that time," it involved 2,069 horses and 986 drivers. For three hours, the horses passed in a steady procession before the grandstand. More than 200,000 people lined the eight-mile parade route to celebrate "Horses' Day."
From 1914 to 1917, during World War I, The SF/SPCA was part of Red Star Animal Relief, a nationwide campaign that raised funds to aid animals used by the armed forces. Red Star supplied small horse ambulances, bandages, medicines and veterinary supplies, as well as motorcycles and sidecars for Army veterinarians, and was credited with saving the lives of countless horses on the battlefield.
In 1918 Lottie G, an elderly horse who had served the San Francisco Fire Department, was the first horse retired to the SF/SPCA Animals Home Farm. Instead of being sold, retired Fire and Police Department horses could now spend their golden years on quiet country ranches, thanks to The SF/SPCA's new "pensioners fund." To this day, The SF/SPCA maintains a ranch north of San Francisco for horses retired from the Police Department.
