Building and Sustaining Resilience

Here for the animals and the people who care for them

We are continually adapting and expanding our efforts to help even more of the homeless animals who need us. At the same time, we’re establishing and fortifying our programs that serve our community’s companion animals and the people who love them. These efforts support our mission by keeping animals out of the shelter system and in the arms of loving families – and our work is just getting started!

Not only do we serve as a lifesaving regional resource to our partner shelters throughout the North Bay and beyond, we also function as a resource hub for pet guardians in our community. Our Safety Net Services support the wellbeing of the community by relieving families’ concern for their pet’s well-being with access to basic needs such as affordable veterinary care, free pet food, supplies, compassionate behavior support and other resources. By freeing pet companions of these worries, we can preserve the human/animal bond and empower them in caring for their own needs and wellbeing.

Your support is what enables us to be proactive in responding to the changing needs of our community. Whether you make a contribution to our CVC, our low-cost Spay/Neuter clinics, or donate pet food to our pantry, you are helping us grow and sustain our role as a vital resource in our beloved community – a community where struggles are eased, where all pets are safe, healthy and loved, and where resilience and compassion shine. 

Thank you for your steadfast, heartfelt kindness!  

Some of the ways our Safety Net Services support our community:

Now in its third year, our Community Veterinary Clinic (CVC) provides low-cost, subsidized veterinary care for low- to no-income local pet owners. By providing access to care on a sliding scale, we can help local pet guardians who might otherwise choose between their own care and that of their beloved pets.

Food insecurity affects pets too. No one should have to choose between feeding themselves and feeding their companion animal. Our Pet Food Pantry is replenished daily with donated pet food and supplies for pet owners experiencing financial hardship.

Our donor- and grant-funded clinics are operated four times a week, providing low-cost spay/neuter services for families who cannot afford private care. Our Spay/Neuter Clinic services allow low-income families to properly care for their pets while preserving funds for essential family needs.

In addition to our popular public Dog Training classes, we provide phone and in-person support for understanding and managing animal behavior for community pet owners. Along with a library of references and resources, we also provide a centralized hub of information about lost and found pets, pet-friendly rentals and step by step adoption-by-owner pet re-homing to prevent pet surrender to the shelter. Need help understanding your feline friend? Find support on our Caturdays with Saffron page!

HSSC wants to ensure the pets of our community are protected against deadly, transmissible diseases. Vaccines strengthen your pet’s immune system and can extend your pet’s life. Our Free Vaccination Clinic is open on the 1st and 3rd Wednesday of each month at our Santa Rosa shelter, and every Wednesday of each month at our Healdsburg shelter.

We strive to not only educate local youth about compassion, responsibility, respect and care for animals, but also foster a spirit of cooperative team building, a commitment to community and an appreciation of the human animal bond. Each Humane Education program is designed with fun, age-appropriate lessons and activities that promote critical thinking, teamwork, patience and kindness toward all living things – and introduce youth to the vast range of animal-related careers. Attendees learn about exciting career opportunities in animal welfare directly from our veterinary and animal care staff. We have even hired several former program participants onto our own staff!