Smile Like a Dog » San Francisco SPCA

Fido Factor Launch Party

Mark — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 01:25:58 +0000

Last Friday I was invited to the launch lunch for a new dog-centric website called Fido Factor held at at the San Francisco SPCA, who happens to be their partner. Fido Factor’s twist on the whole pet social networking thing is as a review site for all things dog friendly in San Francisco. Plus, for each review or new listing made for a pet-friendly place, Fido Factor will make a donation to the SFSPCA.

As with most social networking sites dependent on user-generated content the quality and validity of the reviews is dependent on participation by an enthusiastic user base so please check out Fido Factor and add new businesses, parks and other pet-oriented places you know about but don’t see listed or add your two cents to listings that are already there.

Dogs were allowed to bring their owners

SF SPCA President Jan McHugh Smith & Fido Factor founder Justin O'Neill

Zoe the Bouncer keeps out the riffraff

The Demo's About to Start

Fido Factor Founder Justin O'Neill

Can I substitute a burrito for the popcorn?

Hollywood Smile...Silicon Valley Moment

Fido Factor Founders Justin O'Neill and Ketu Patel

I wonder if Justin knows his shoelace is untied?

I've heard of captive audiences but never with a leash involved

It's over! Yay! I mean...can you rewind?

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Kitten Season Chronicles Pt II

Mark — Thu, 14 May 2009 22:10:47 +0000

I recently returned to see the SPCA foster kitties I first photographed a few weeks ago. Now at 6 weeks they were larger and stronger and no longer needed to be syringe fed. Unfortunately, two of the original 5 had become sick shortly after I visited and didn’t have the strength to fight off whatever illness they’d picked up. This is always an inherent risk with foster kittens, especially extremely young ones. Now there were only 3: Ernie, Oscar and Kermit (I mention this not to dissuade folks from fostering — in fact, it’s fostering programs like this one that actually save countless kittens each year–but it is serious and sometime emotionally difficult work, particularly with the very, very young kittens that everyone should be prepared for)

It was very different visit this time. All the kittens were acting very much like little cats: prowling, playing, batting low-hanging objects, etc. And, if it’s even possible, I think they actually may have gotten even cuter.

I’m planning to stop by again at least once or twice to check their progress but with the three catsketeers growing larger and stronger every day they seem out of danger and on their way to being made available for adoption.

Anyone reading this who wants to help can do so by becoming a foster parent or, if that’s not for you, you can still make a big difference by spaying or neutering your cats, volunteering at a shelter, or donating to a local rescue group.

Ernie in the window

Ernie at bat

Ernie in profile

Kermit practices for Halloween

Oscar the basket case

Oscar and his enormous toy

Ernie on patrol

Ernie Investigating

Kermit

Ernie

So much bigger this time

Franklin

Mark — Sat, 29 Nov 2008 03:45:25 +0000

I’ve had a welcome run of kitty sessions in the last few weeks and my most recent was with a handsome guy named Franklin. Franklin’s full name is Franklin Winston (named after both FDR and Churchill) and I think he may have inherited our 32nd president’s eyes — he has the most amazing set of blue peepers I’ve seen in a while. Franklin was adopted from the San Francisco SPCA almost a year ago and has landed himself in a fabulous forever home with people who adore him. Franklin, get ready for your close-up.

Happy Birthday, San Francisco SPCA

Mark — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 10:58:16 +0000

Last weekend the San Francisco SPCA celebrated its 140th anniversary and I was asked to photograph it for them (I tried to get past the irony that they shared their anniversary date with the 1906 earthquake)

It kicked off on Friday with speeches by SFSPCA president Jan McHugh-Smith, Assmemblyman Mark Leno and others along with appearances by the city’s police and fire chiefs and the San Francisco Mounted Police Unit.

Officer and Horse with San Francisco Mounted Police Unit

Better than kissing babies…Assemblyman Mark Leno

Period Horse Ambulance

Saturday and Sunday things moved inside where there were booths and demos for the Hearing Dog program, agility classes and Animal Assisted Therapy (AAT) program.

Hearing Dog Demo

Odd Couple: Animal Assisted Therapy animals Guido the Car and Stanley the Guinea Pig -