March 10, 2005

Looking for love

Adoption fair at Santana Row is the place to be
when looking for that special family addition

By Jeanne Carbone Lewis
Staff Writer

A special delivery arrived at Santana Row recently. Dogs, cats and a bunny made an appearance looking for homes at the upscale center.

Volunteers Cathy Grovenburg and Elizabeth Laverty with HSSV adoptable canines. Grovenburg received the Distinguished Volunteer Award from Silicon Valley chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals for 2004 for her work with HSSV. She donated more than 500 hours and $9,000.

The partnership between the Humane Society Silicon Valley [HSSV] and Santana Row began innocently enough.

“I rescued my dog, so I know first hand how important the society’s work is,” said Fred Walters, Santana Row’s vice president and general manager. “Everyone at Santana Row—employees and merchants alike—is excited about our new relationship with the Humane Society Silicon Valley. Santana Row is very pet-friendly neighborhood, so the partnership is a natural.”

The first adoption fair was held last weekend under sunny skies as eager canines greeted the crowds on the grassy area of Santana Row’s Park Valencia on Olin Avenue. Transported by HSSV’s new 24-foot animal van, felines and a bunny remained inside for potential adopters to view.

“We really want to bring animals to the people,” said Laura Fulda, director of marketing and communications for HSSV. “We want to increase our market share of people adopting animals from us.”

HSSV is an independent, nonprofit agency offering adoptions, medical care and education programs to enhance the human-animal bond. Fulda is proud of the new partnership with Santana Row and hopes that it garners more exposure for HSSV’s work provided by 64 full time employees and over 600 volunteers. She is also carrying on the family vocation as her grandfather was president of the San Francisco SPCA.

Fulda is committed to matching animals with guardians. HSSV has trained adoption counselors to answer questions and match people with the right pet. HSSV is not just a place to find an animal but also a wealth of advice on animal needs and behaviors available through a phone call or by email. At this time, 17 percent of family pets are adopted from shelters. Fulda wants to increase their “market share.”

Volunteers Linda Mazzone and Margie Croall with feline Althea.

Last year HSSV found homes [including rescue groups] for 7,451 animals. Another 2,308 lost pets were reunited with their owners. Other figures are staggering: 18,611 strays were picked up, 5,558 pets were surrendered with 15,556 euthanized not counting 1,659 pets brought in by owners to be “put to sleep” due to illness.

The adoption fair is one way the HSSV is finding homes for the animals under their care. The adoption fee is $145 for a dog or cat which includes a health examination, first vaccination, de-worming [for dogs and cats under 4 months], microchip, free access to an animal behaviorist, medical exam by an outside veterinarian, educational materials, spay/neuter at Humane Society and a pet identification tag.

“We are thrilled to partner with Santana Row to promote animals as lifelong companions and find adoptable animals new homes,” said Christine Benninger, HSSV president. “Mobile adoptions allow HSSV to be more visible to the community and show the public first-hand why we’re the best place to adopt a pet. We want people to experience the wonders of the human-animal bond and see why shelter animals make wonderful pets.”

HSSV will have adoption fairs the first Saturday of every month at Santana Row on Olin Avenue from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. Visit their Web site at www.hssv.org or call (408) 727-3383.