This past weekend, our community, volunteers, and partners united around one goal: helping our local cats and communities thrive.
With veterinary costs rising nationwide, many cat guardians struggle to keep up with basic care, such as vaccines, flea treatment, and wellness checkups. At the same time, unowned community cats continue to need safe, effective spay/neuter services to prevent illness and avoid adding to overcrowded shelters.
Champions for Pet Health set out to meet both needs at once, and thanks to an incredible collective effort, it delivered.
A weekend dedicated to cat careÂ
Champions for Pet Health brought together foundations and animal welfare organizations, including Berkeley Humane, Contra Costa Animal Services, Friends of Alameda Animal Services, Humane Society Silicon Valley, Marin Humane, Muttville, Oakland Animal Services, the San Francisco SPCA, Valley Humane Society, and Vets in Vans.
At the SF SPCA Hospital, we provided care for owned cats whose guardians sought affordable, accessible support. Our veterinary team provided preventative care (like vaccines, flea medication, and wellness assessments) to help families keep their cats healthy year-round.
At the same time, our Community Cats Program led large-scale spay/neuter efforts for unowned, free-roaming cats. By the end of the weekend, our team performed 174 spay/neuter surgeries on local community cats! These cats, once altered and returned to their neighborhoods, can live safer, healthier lives—and they no longer contribute to animal overpopulation. It’s an essential service that helps protect San Francisco’s cats and reduces shelter crowding across the Bay Area.
Why access to care mattersÂ
For many families, affordable veterinary care isn’t just helpful—it’s a lifeline. When pets receive preventative care, they avoid serious illnesses that are costly and difficult to treat. When community cats are spayed and neutered, we prevent avoidable suffering and keep shelters from becoming overwhelmed.
Events like Champions for Pet Health are part of the SF SPCA’s commitment to expanding access to care in San Francisco, the Central Valley, and throughout California. By removing barriers, we create healthier communities and reduce the number of animals entering shelters. It’s all part of our vision of a future where every pet receives the care they need, no matter their family’s circumstances.
