San Francisco SPCA

The San Francisco SPCA was founded in 1868 by James Sloan Hutchinson, making it the third humane society in the United States and the first west of the Mississippi. It is an independent, locally funded non-profit (it is not part of the ASPCA) and its mission is to ensure every companion animal has access to quality medical care, compassionate shelter and a loving home. In 1998 it opened Maddie's Adoption Center, described as the first cageless adoption centre in the US.

Cats and dogs are rehomed from the SF SPCA Adoption Center (Caroline Read Center) at 250 Florida Street in the Mission District. Adoptions are same-day: no appointment or application is needed, and you must be 18 or over with photo ID and proof of address. Virtual adoptions are also offered for animals other than kittens. The centre is open Tuesday to Thursday 1pm–7pm, Friday and Saturday 11am–7pm and Sunday 11am–6pm (closed Mondays).

Alongside adoption, the SF SPCA runs a veterinary hospital and spay/neuter and behaviour clinics at 201 Alabama Street, a low-cost Community Veterinary Clinic at 4527 Mission Street, a free monthly mobile vaccine clinic and clinics in California's Central Valley, plus an animal-assisted therapy programme. In the fiscal year to June 2024 it reported 4,672 animals adopted, 5,569 cats and dogs spayed or neutered at its public clinic, 13,754 animals treated at the community clinic and more than 100,000 volunteer hours. Its Vision 2030 plan aims to give every pet in California access to humane care.

You can adopt, volunteer, foster or donate online; gifts are tax-deductible in the US (tax ID 94-0836580).