San Francisco SPCA Opens Holiday Windows for Adoptable Pets

Today marks the opening of the San Francisco SPCA’s 22nd Annual Holiday Windows at the Macy’s in Union Square.  Last year the event contributed to the adoption of 277 animals and $34,000 in donations for the SF/SPCA.  The 2007 Holiday Windows was one of the best the SPCA has ever had and marked the 40,000th adoption since the event began 21 years ago.

The theme of this years window design comes from the famous letter written by eight-year-old Virginia O’Hanlon to the editor of the New York Sun, and Francis Pharcellus Church’s reply, which was printed in the paper on September 21, 1897.

SF/SPCA representatives are available during the event (November 21, 2008 through January 1, 2009 during Macy’s store hours) to answer questions.  Every animal is medically and behaviorally screened, vaccinated, and spayed or neutered and comes with a 30-day gift of pet health insurance, a free advice DVD, leash and collar (for dogs), discounts on most SF/SPCA training classes, and a goodie bag filled with other gifts and treats.

Each day, as many as 20 animals are on display and about half are adopted. SF/SPCA staff and volunteers carefully monitor the animals and rotate them frequently. Any animal that appears stressed or unhappy is immediately taken out of the window and all of the animals that are not adopted are shuttled back to the shelter at night in order to rest.

Volunteers are still needed so if you’re currently living in the San Francisco area and want to make a difference, you can click here for more details and to sign up for a two-hour shift.  Or you can call Norma Wood Metcalf, volunteer services manager, at (415) 522-3543.