Animal Advocacy: The Path Forward

Local residents participating in the San Francisco Pride parade. photo: AdobeStock

It's summer in the city! And while our SF weather may still have us reaching for a jacket, animal advocacy around town is definitely heating up.

I covered one change in Bay Woof’s last issue, but now it's official: we held our first meeting as the newly christened Animal Advisory Council last month. But while the name at the top of our agenda has changed - and our place in the city's Administrative Code shifted - our commitment to improving the lives of animals throughout San Francisco certainly has not.

As with any transition, this one has raised a few questions. As the group’s chair, I want to make sure we understand exactly how the new requirements will work in practice, not just for current council members, but for those who may serve in the future. Questions remain about how the new 60-day holdover provision will apply after members' terms expire, as well as how the council's scheduled sunset process in 2029 will ultimately work. 

These may seem like technical details, but good governance depends on clarity. And as we all know, government language isn't always as straightforward as we'd like, which is why it's important to get these details right. To ensure we have accurate guidance, I’ve already reached out to the City Attorney's Office, and I look forward to sharing whatever I learn from them. In the meantime, I’m happy to report that our website and letterhead have been updated, and we're slowly getting used to referring to ourselves as council members instead of commissioners.

Of course, governance wasn't the only business before the council last month. We also revisited three animal advocacy issues that continue to generate significant public interest both in the community and in the media: artificial grass at Crocker Amazon Park, mandatory spay and neuter legislation, and giant pandas at the San Francisco Zoo.

We began by discussing the Department of Recreation and Park's Baseball and Softball Renovation Plan for Crocker Amazon Park. This plan would remove about 100 trees and 75% of the park’s grass and replace it with harmful artificial turf. Knowing the impact this would have on wildlife, companion animals, and the community at large, we voted unanimously in opposition to the proposed change at our August 2025 meeting. The organization Keep Crocker Real made a compelling presentation on the issue and has continued to provide valuable outreach to the community and those who live in the neighborhoods surrounding the park. Unfortunately, the staff at Rec and Park have continued to advocate for artificial turf despite its harmful effects. Our council will continue to discuss this issue at future meetings.  

Council members also continued our conversation about the mandatory spay and neuter legislation proposed by the Department of Animal Care and Control earlier this year. At our January 2026 meeting, we voted unanimously in support of it, but regrettably, the proposed legislation has been paused for additional research. Still, meaningful work can continue while we wait, such as looking into ways to offer more options for affordable veterinary services and strengthen breeding accountability. These are issues that we’ll continue to examine in the months ahead.

And of course, there’s the ongoing talk about bringing giant pandas to the San Francisco Zoo. Though our council hasn’t officially voted yet regarding the panda plans, we did vote back in October 2024 to support recommendations by the animal welfare advisors on the city’s Joint Zoo Committee, which included a section opposing the panda plan. But now with the renewed interest in giant pandas, it may be time for us to hold a hearing and vote on a more specific recommendation. I look forward to working with our council members on this important matter and hope we will be able to address it before the end of the year. 

Here’s Where You Can Help

One of the greatest strengths of our community has always been our willingness to step forward on animal issues. Whether it's attending meetings, writing letters, speaking during public comment, volunteering, or simply asking questions - it all matters. If any of these issues interest you, I encourage you to reach out. Community voices truly do make a difference, and there is always room for more people who want to help create compassionate change for animals.

At our August meeting, we will hear announcements and shelter updates from San Francisco Animal Care and Control. Presenting at the meeting will be Director Amy Corso, who will also go over the department's Quarterly Report covering the April through June 2026 time period.

There are so many ways to make a difference, and I am so grateful to be able to work alongside our remarkable community toward meaningful change. I look forward to seeing what we accomplish in the months ahead. See you at City Hall!

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The next meeting of the Animal Advisory Council will be held at 5:30 p.m., Thursday, August 13, in Room 408 at City Hall, 1 Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Place, San Francisco, CA 94102. Information concerning remote access to meetings is on our website (agendas for upcoming meetings are published within 72 hours prior to that meeting).

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Please be aware that the views and opinions expressed in this column are those of Council Member Torres and do not necessarily reflect the official policies or positions of the Animal Advisory Council.