Over the course of her career, our CEO, Dr. Jennifer Scarlett, has seen veterinary medicine change lives in countless ways. One case from her early years at the San Francisco SPCA has stayed with her because of what compassionate financial support made possible.
A single mother and her young daughter arrived at the SF SPCA Veterinary Hospital with their newly adopted kitten. The daughter had been the kitten’s biggest champion, and the decision to adopt had been a meaningful step for their family during a period of transition.
Then the kitten swallowed an earplug.
The object caused a blockage in the kitten’s abdomen, a condition that can quickly become life-threatening. Medically, the path forward was clear. With prompt surgery, the kitten had an excellent prognosis. Without it, the options were devastating. For this family, the question was not whether or not the kitten needed care, but whether or not they could afford it.
Rather than presenting the situation as a simple yes-or-no decision, the hospital team began with a conversation. Through our Financial Assistance Program, staff worked with the mother to understand what she could realistically contribute. Together, they arrived at a number that felt possible for her, and the hospital covered the remaining cost through donor-funded grants.
The impact went far beyond the operating room. The mother, already navigating the emotional strain of a recent separation, later shared how much it meant to be able to say yes to her daughter in that moment. Saving her daughter’s kitten allowed her to show up as a source of stability during a fragile time. Through medical care and compassion, the hospital preserved not only a kitten’s life but also the family’s sense of dignity and connection.
Since opening our first animal hospital in 1924, the SF SPCA Veterinary Hospital has always been shaped by the needs of our community. From its early days of caring for working animals in a growing city to its present-day focus on cats and dogs, the hospital has adapted as veterinary medicine, community needs, and the human-animal bond have changed. Facilities have expanded, technology has advanced, and treatment options have grown more sophisticated. What has remained constant is a commitment to compassionate care—and the understanding that supporting animal health also means supporting the people who love them.
Veterinary care rooted in partnership
Across the country, the cost of veterinary care has risen faster than many families’ ability to keep pace. According to the 2025 PetSmart Charities-Gallup State of Pet Care Study: Pet Parents’ Assessment of American Veterinary Care, just over half (52%) of pet parents say they have delayed or declined veterinary care within the past year, even when they believed their pet needed it. This is not a reflection of how much people love their pets. It is a snapshot of the reality many families face, caught between medical recommendations and financial constraints.
At the SF SPCA Hospital, that reality shapes everything we do. Over the past year, our team performed 25,903 exams, each one representing not just an animal patient, but a person navigating decisions about a beloved companion. The hospital exists to help close the widening gap between what veterinary medicine can do and what families can realistically afford.
At the heart of the SF SPCA Hospital’s approach is a simple, but powerful, idea: there is no single right way to care for a pet. Instead, treatment recommendations exist along a spectrum, shaped by each animal’s medical needs and each family’s unique situation. This contextualized approach centers on relationships first, allowing treatment plans to grow from conversations, trust, and shared goals.
The SF SPCA Hospital provides best-in-class care for our patients, but it pairs that medical excellence with something increasingly rare: the flexibility to meet families where they are.
Rather than insisting on a single “gold standard” path, it recognizes multiple valid ways forward. “Our primary goal, no matter what, is to build a relationship with the client,” says Dr. Jena Valdez, Chief Medical Officer at the SF SPCA. “That means meeting people where they are financially, emotionally, and culturally, and really listening to what matters most to them. From there, the plan for that animal and client unfolds through partnership between the veterinarian and the client and what the client needs and wants for that visit.”
Coordinated care that puts patients first
Partnership with our clients takes shape through hundreds of everyday interactions at the SF SPCA Hospital, especially in moments of uncertainty or crisis. The following stories offer a glimpse into how this approach works in real time, guided by teamwork, flexibility, and care that extends beyond the medical chart.
A bulldog named Alofa arrived at the SF SPCA Hospital after her guardian noticed a recent loss of appetite. During the initial exam, our doctors discovered a large umbilical hernia measuring roughly seven centimeters in size. It was a serious condition that required prompt surgical attention.
Rather than delaying care or transferring Alofa offsite, her medical team looked for the safest, most efficient way to treat her quickly. After consulting with Dr. Grace Park of our Community Medicine team, the doctors determined that Alofa would benefit from surgery at our on-site Spay/Neuter Clinic. While it’s best known for sterilization procedures, the clinic’s highly specialized surgical team routinely performs complex abdominal surgeries and cares for higher-risk patients, including brachycephalic breeds like Alofa.
By tapping into that expertise, the team coordinated Alofa’s care so our doctors could perform her hernia repair and spay surgery during the same procedure. Moving her just next door allowed the team to address both needs in a single surgery, minimizing her time under anesthesia and avoiding an additional procedure and recovery period. This kind of collaboration allows patients to receive the right care without unnecessary delays, referrals, or stress on them or their families.
Throughout the process, Alofa’s guardian was informed at every step. The care team explained the diagnosis, the surgical plan, and what to expect during recovery, ensuring that decisions were made clearly and collaboratively. Behind the scenes, veterinarians, Registered Veterinary Technicians (RVTs), and support staff moved in sync to treat Alofa. Thanks to that teamwork, she underwent surgery and returned home to her guardian later that day.
Training the next generation while delivering exceptional care
When a five-month-old puppy named Samael returned home after running away, he was unable to bear weight on his left hind leg. X-rays revealed a severely fractured femur. In growing puppies, injuries like this are particularly painful and destabilizing, with the potential to interfere with normal development.
In Samael’s case, the location and severity of the fracture made repair unlikely to restore comfortable use of the limb. Amputation was recommended as the most humane option to relieve pain and allow him to move forward. While amputation may sound daunting, young dogs often adapt remarkably well to life on three legs, regaining mobility as they heal.
Samael’s surgery also became an opportunity for mentorship. The procedure was scheduled with Dr. Divya Ravichandran, a veterinarian at our hospital who had not previously performed this specific type of amputation. She was eager to help Samael while continuing to grow her surgical skills. With Dr. Valdez as her training doctor, she performed the surgery with close guidance and shared decision-making.
This kind of collaborative learning helps our veterinarians grow their skills and care for more animals. By supporting clinicians at different stages of their careers, the hospital expands its ability to care for complex cases while ensuring patients receive thoughtful, attentive treatment. For Samael and his family, this meant access to high-quality care and a path forward to an active, pain-free life.
Prevention, education, and long-term health
Contextualized care isn’t just about responding to crises. It’s about building relationships early, especially with families who might be seeking veterinary care for the first time, and using that trust to prevent small concerns from becoming bigger, more costly problems later. When clients feel seen and supported, they are more likely to ask questions, return for follow-up care, and address issues before they escalate.
Each recommendation is grounded in an understanding of the animal’s health and the guardian’s circumstances, equipping families with tools that support long-term wellbeing. For some families, it could mean learning how to brush their dog’s teeth to prevent advanced dental disease. For others, it might involve spaying or neutering to reduce the risk of preventable emergencies, such as pyometra or pregnancy-related complications.
Education is not delivered as instruction, but as collaboration. RVTs, who are similar to nurses in human healthcare, play a central role in this work by building relationships with clients and helping them feel confident caring for their pets at home. Whether demonstrating how to give medication, answering follow-up questions, or offering reassurance, our nursing team helps translate medical guidance into everyday practice.
Behind the scenes, collaboration continues across the hospital. Veterinarians consult with one another, drawing on a range of experience and perspectives to explore creative treatment options and continuously refine their approach. This culture of teamwork and learning supports better outcomes and reinforces the idea that no one is navigating care decisions alone.
Ultimately, contextualized care allows the SF SPCA Hospital to align high-quality medicine with access and compassion, rather than forcing families to choose between them. It frames veterinary care as a shared journey built on transparency and respect for each client’s realities. For pets and their guardians, that partnership can make all the difference.
The community that makes it possible
None of this happens without the community of supporters who believe in this work. The Leanne B. Roberts Animal Care Center stands as a testament to that generosity. Made possible through donor investment, the facility was designed to support patient-centered medicine, with dedicated spaces for procedures such as endoscopy, digital radiology, and ultrasound.
Donor support also underwrites the hospital’s ability to deliver contextualized care, including meaningful financial assistance for families facing difficult decisions. Expanded through significant gifts from supporters like Curt Kirschner and Nick Augustinos, these programs help cover essential services, including urgent surgeries, pain management, and, when no other option remains, compassionate end-of-life care. This support sustains a care model that prioritizes practical, individualized solutions over one-size-fits-all approaches.
Beyond individual cases, donor funding helps create an environment where veterinary professionals can practice medicine with intention. It helps create a healthier, more sustainable workplace where veterinarians and medical staff have the time, resources, and peer support needed to develop their skills and have fulfilling careers in veterinary medicine. This commitment to learning and professional development strengthens care today while preparing the hospital for tomorrow’s needs.
Our donors empower the SF SPCA Hospital to be many things at once: a trusted medical center for pets, a safety net for families navigating financial strain, and a place that fosters innovation in veterinary medicine. The impact extends far beyond the hospital walls, strengthening the bonds between pets and people, and helping ensure that compassionate care remains within reach for the San Francisco community.
Strengthening San Francisco’s system of care
Our hospital is a neighborhood practice for San Franciscans, a place where love for animals is the common denominator. As veterinary medicine continues to evolve, so does the role the SF SPCA Hospital plays within San Francisco’s broader system of care. One of the most significant drivers of this evolution is the hospital’s commitment to continuous improvement. Rather than relying on static systems, the team regularly examines how everyday processes work, starting with smaller, more manageable steps. By testing and refining workflows, the hospital is building consistency and efficiency into its operations. These improvements ripple outward, strengthening quality, safety, and overall client experience.
This focus on refining how care is delivered opens new possibilities for the future. As systems become more efficient, the hospital can explore ways to apply those lessons across services, making high-quality care more attainable for more families. Over time, documenting what works and contributing to evidence-based practices can help shape veterinary medicine beyond the hospital’s walls, offering models that balance excellent outcomes with accessibility.
Together with free vaccine clinics, affordable spay/neuter services, and preventative care at the Community Veterinary Clinic, our full-service hospital serves as the anchor of an interconnected system of veterinary care in San Francisco. Each part works as part of the system to expand access, reduce barriers, and help pets stay healthy and with the families who love them.
In many ways, this moment echoes a sentiment shared in an issue of Our Animals more than half a century ago: “Whatever the SF SPCA faces in the future, it is resolved to be strong enough, wise enough, and flexible enough to meet the challenge.” That resolve continues to guide the hospital today. By combining compassion with medical curiosity and tradition with thoughtful change, the SF SPCA Hospital is a steady presence in a shifting landscape, strengthening San Francisco’s system of care for pets and the people who love them, now and for generations to come.
This story originally appeared in the spring 2026 issue of Our Animals magazine. Download a copy to read more.