San Francisco has always been at the heart of our mission. At the San Francisco SPCA, we’re building a more inclusive, compassionate, and judgment-free system of care. One where pets can stay with the people who love them.
With a strong network of veterinary services and trusted community partners, we’re breaking down barriers to care and helping build a stronger, more humane city for pets and people alike.
Expanding access where it’s needed most
In 2022, we opened San Francisco’s first standalone low-cost veterinary clinic in the Excelsior District, an area where pet guardians had very limited access to care.
Our Community Veterinary Clinic was created to serve people who have been historically overlooked by traditional care models, especially in Latinx and Asian communities. By hiring a multilingual, culturally competent team that reflects the neighborhood, we’ve built a welcoming space where every pet guardian feels seen, respected, and supported.
The clinic offers affordable care for pets, including basic exams, vaccinations, deworming, flea and tick treatments, and referrals for spay/neuter or more complex care at our hospital. By making care more accessible, we help prevent emergencies, keep pets healthy, and make it easier for families to stay together through life’s ups and downs.
Preventing shelter overcrowding
Across the country, it’s getting harder to find affordable spay/neuter services—and San Francisco is no exception. That’s why our High-Quality, High-Volume Spay/Neuter (HQHVSN) Clinic remains a vital part of the SF SPCA’s mission to reduce shelter intake and support long-term pet health.
Widespread spay/neuter reduces the number of unplanned litters and helps prevent shelter overcrowding. If price is an issue, we encourage hospital clients to reach out to us to discuss available programs and options, so no one is turned away due to cost.
Our Shelter Medicine team also provides spay/neuter surgeries for animals in our care, many of whom arrive unaltered from partner shelters. For example, in the past fiscal year, we provided more than $500,000 in subsidized spay/neuter services for San Francisco Animal Care and Control (SFACC). By investing in prevention, we help shelters create more breathing room to focus on supporting the animals in their care.
Bringing preventative care to our community
For many pet guardians, getting to a veterinary clinic can be a real challenge—whether due to cost, transportation, language barriers, or lack of nearby services.
That’s why we operate free mobile vaccine clinics in San Francisco. These clinics bring essential preventative care (including vaccinations, flea and tick treatment, and deworming) directly into neighborhoods that need them most.
We partner with local organizations and return to the same communities regularly, which helps us build trust and lasting relationships. For many people, these clinics are their first step into a larger system of care that they can count on.
Nurturing the human-animal bond
Every animal deserves a loving home—and every family deserves the joy of a loyal companion. At the SF SPCA Adoption Center, we give thousands of animals a second chance each year. Before adoption, each animal receives veterinary care, behavioral support, and spay/neuter surgery to help them thrive in their new home.
While each adoption is worth celebrating, the ripple effects go even further. Adoption eases overcrowding, reduces euthanasia, and makes room for the next animal in need. Right now, only about 30% of pet guardians adopt from shelters or rescues. But even a small increase in adoption rates can save thousands of lives.
A more accessible future for veterinary care
All of our programs in San Francisco share the same goal: to make veterinary care more accessible, inclusive, and compassionate.
By addressing the barriers that prevent pet guardians from getting care, we’re not just helping animals. We’re helping people, strengthening neighborhoods, and building a system of care that puts dignity and empathy at the center.
With your support, we can build a future where pets and their people stay together, where no one is left behind, and where love, not circumstance, determines the quality of care.
Want to get involved? Learn more about our programs, volunteer opportunities, or make a donation at sfspca.org. Every action you take helps us build a more compassionate city for pets and people.