Two Stories of Giving Back
photo: AdobeStock
photo: Vet SOS, Mark Rogers Photography
This month, Commission Tails spotlights two groups that give back to our community in different, but very needed ways. First up, Vet SOS.
Most of us in the Bay Area welcome the wet weather, settling into the shorter days, and the coziness and excitement of the holidays. These are the days when we hope for rain to quench the parched earth and fill our reservoirs. Indeed, the outside world pops to life - lush, green, and active.
Of course, four walls and a solid roof make it much easier to cope during atmospheric river downpours. I’m also fortunate to have rain boots, a waterproof jacket, and all the gear I need to take the dog out on walks. But I know that without these comforts, rain would be a misery.
Back in June, Boyd Williamson, the Program Coordinator for Vet SOS, visited the Animal Commission to give us a picture of the services this organization offers to the unhoused residents of our city and to bring us up to speed on how many unhoused people are on the streets of San Francisco on a given rainy night. He told us that, in 2019, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) logged 8,035 homeless individuals in San Francisco's 2019 point-in-time street and shelter count - an increase of 14% above the 2017 count. That’s 8,000+ unhoused humans suffering through dreaded downpours and other weather extremes - and those figures were before the pandemic sent the economy into a tailspin.
Vet SOS serves these people and their beloved animal friends. Each year, Vet SOS provides free veterinary care to over 500 companion animals of homeless San Franciscans. VetSOS also provides pet supplies and food, but the need for these items always surpasses the donated goods they have to distribute. So when I recently circled back with Mr. Williamson about the Vet SOS holiday wishlist, he was quick to respond.
Vet SOS Holiday Wishlist
Pet rain jackets
Pet sweaters and jackets
Harnesses (these are a big need)
Leashes
Blankets
When you’re shopping for your own pet this holiday season, we hope you’ll consider the companion animals of Vet SOS clients and drop a few of these items in your cart. Better yet, shop local and spread even more holiday cheer as you're supporting San Francisco businesses and the communities they serve, both housed and unhoused.
To arrange delivery of donated items to Vet SOS, please email vetsos@sfccc.org or call (415) 355-2237. If it’s easier, you may also donate directly to Vet SOS online.
photo: Canine Grooming Academy
A Beautiful Idea: How a Nonprofit Uses Animal Grooming to Improve Lives
Throughout the year, the Animal Commission has explored the human and animal bond and spotlighted ways to support the most vulnerable communities in our city. We've invited nonprofits to share the services they offer to help at-risk individuals with and through animals. We’ve also worked to identify opportunities and pathways available to those experiencing barriers to employment and how animals may be part of the solution.
Last month, the Animal Commission invited Rebecca Katz and Bernie Machado of Canine Grooming Academy (CGA) and Sunny Schwartz of Five Keys to share their work with us. CGA is a start-up nonprofit that uses an innovative concept to help people build better lives for themselves and their families while benefiting hundreds of low-income pet owners. Five Keys serves as the organization’s fiscal sponsor.
The Problem
From CGA, we learned that formerly incarcerated individuals often struggle to find work due to a lack of job skills or opportunities to attain them. The rate of recidivism in the United States is an astonishing 70% within five years of release, with many people returning to criminal activity to get by financially.
Similarly, survivors escaping the cycle of domestic violence often have limited financial resources. As a result, many have been prevented from going to school or working outside the home and may lack job skills or a consistent work history. In fact, an alarming 80% of homeless mothers with children are domestic violence survivors.
These two groups, along with communities of color and the homeless population in general, often struggle to find work that pays a living wage, a gap that is only increasing amid the current economic and public health crises.
At the same time, the pet grooming industry faces a chronic shortage of skilled labor. This scarcity has led some businesses to close and triggered higher prices in those businesses that can retain enough workers to remain open. All of this undermines accessibility to grooming services for lower-income pet owners.
The Solution
Could a "beauty school" that offers vocational training to marginalized students while providing affordable care to dog owners and animals in need be an answer? The folks behind CGA thought so but they needed help to make this concept a reality. As a start-up nonprofit, they reached out to a like-minded mission-driven organization, Five Keys. Since 2003, Five Keys has invested in individuals living on the margins, changing lives through a focus on five key elements: Education, Employment, Social Justice, Housing, and Revitalizing Communities. It was a perfect fit.
With the support of Five Keys, the Canine Grooming Academy is now on its way to transforming the lives of struggling San Francisco residents, one well groomed dog at a time. To learn more about CGA’s innovative approach, contact bernie@cgacademy.org or rebecca@cgacademy.org
In the new year ahead, the members of the Animal Commission look forward to discovering more organizations like CGA that work to lift barriers, develop skills, and explore pathways to financial stability and dignity for humans and animals. It's ambitious work, and we plan to share the progress of CGA and other groups at future meetings.
In the meantime, please enjoy the holiday season with all your family members, both two-legged and four-legged. And remember to donate generously, shop locally, and stay warm and dry!