VOLUME 1, ISSUE 4

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(Continued from page 1)

The complex is divided into two halves. From the entryway, the dogs are on the left and the cats are on the right of the building. Our tour started with the first corridor of cats for adoption. Each corridor has a number of small rooms filled with cat furniture, real furniture, and T.V's displaying video fish bowls or outdoor images of birds and squirrels.  Each room holds one to four cats depending on its size and the compatibility of the cats. A very neat fea

ture of adjacent rooms was the Plexiglas panels that were positioned between the rooms. A platform was on each side of the window, which allowed  the cats in either room to visit each other if they interested to do so. Even a single cat would be able to see his neighbors and not feel alone. A number of the rooms faced the front of the building, allowing the cats to see the outside world as they lounged on their cat trees and chairs. At the end of each corridor was a cleaning area with water access for the daily maintenance

duties. Disinfecting stations were very convenient and allowed visitors to wash their hands between visiting cat rooms.

Each cat room had a sign posting information about the cats living within. The cats

were also given a level number that correlated to the skill level required to handle the cat. The SPCA volunteers are encouraged to spend time with the cats daily and this information is noted on sign-in sheets posted on the outside of the doors. This helps ensure that all animals will get the love and attention needed for a proper quality of life. This helps rehabilitate the animals and further increase their adoption

rate, continuing to reduce the number of unadoptable animals that are euthanized each year.

There were about a dozen of these corridors, each containing about 6 rooms. And to my amazement there was a second floor filed with more corridors and more rooms! Janet and I went over to the dog side to see what differences there were. The most immediate was that each dog room has a small hole

where the dog can come and sniff or lick your hand through the hole. The rooms were also bigger and a little messy, as dogs can be. The back of the complex had a very large courtyard area where the dogs can run and play with potential adopters. The courtyard perimeter had a number of gated areas for private one-on-ones with a pooch.

I have visited a number of shelters and have never seen one as neat, clean, organized, or unique as this one. If I lived in San Francisco I would certainly volunteer my time to this shelter. If you are ever in the San Francisco area and have some time to spend stop by and visit this shelter. Someday, I hope that all shelters may look like this, but until then there is only the Maddie's Pet Adoption Center.