What Makes You Grateful?

We’re grateful for San Francisco and her people and animals. photo: AdobeStock

One of my efforts to promote mindfulness in my young children was to ask them each evening at dinner, “What are you grateful for?” I suggested that everyone try to mention three things, though sometimes we might have more or less to say. Several themes typically emerged: the weather, homemade meals, basic necessities such as housing. And, of course, our dog. 

The dog might be mentioned merely because of his presence: “I’m grateful for Sam.” But often, it would be something more specific: “I’m grateful that Sam’s tummy is feeling better.” Or a comment about the dog’s own happiness: “I’m grateful that Sam was able to see his friends today.” 

This simple exercise is intended to recognize those things that make us happy. And when we talk about our pets, it’s clear that the happiness provided by them manifests in many ways. We are happy spending time with them. We are happy that they are healthy. And, of course, we are happy that they are happy. 

In this month of Thanksgiving, I'd like to share some thoughts about gratitude and the San Francisco Animal Commission. 

First, I am grateful that the Board of Supervisors offered me the opportunity to serve our animals back in 2014 when I first applied for the position. Filling out the application and sending it in, I was unsure of what would happen. Soon after, the clerk for the board notified me of the Rules Committee hearing, and I headed to City Hall for the first time where I spoke to the three board members about my background and interest. 

Upon my appointment by the Board of Supervisors, I was immediately introduced to the chairperson of the commission, who kindly informed me of the next steps. At that time, I was new to animal advocacy. How grateful I was to be welcomed into a group of committed advocates who were volunteering to give voice to animals and their humans every month. I remain thankful for those early days of learning. 

I am grateful for the countless citizens of San Francisco who have attended our meetings over the years to speak for those without voices. From pigeons to pigs to Pitties, we have heard about the plights of so many different animals in our city. I admire the people who attend meetings, taking their two minutes of public comment to make the commission aware of an issue. When meetings took place in person at City Hall, this sometimes required making their way into the building through throngs of protesters with various chants and signs. I am grateful for their persistence. 

I am grateful for my fellow commissioners. Together, we have helped bring attention to important issues, such as assisting our unhoused population with their pets’ needs. We’ve talked about the spike in dog-nappings, including the particular vulnerability of French Bulldogs to this tragic crime. We’ve learned  about the disturbing use of shock-collars for dog “training” purposes. And we receive regular updates on the status of the animals at Animal Care and Control, San Francisco’s city-funded shelter. 

This November, as my family sits down to a big turkey and a slightly less massive  Tofurky, we will go around the table again, listing three (or more) things that we are grateful for this year. At the top of my own list will be our dog, who many years ago inspired me to join a community of animal lovers at the San Francisco Animal Commission.

The San Francisco Commission of Animal Control and Welfare (Animal Commission) meets on the second Thursday of each month at 5:30 p.m. As of April 2022, meetings are still being held virtually over WebEx. Details at sfgov.org/animals