animal chronicles - Marin Humane Society

ANIMAL CHRONICLES
Spring 2013 | A Marin Humane Society Publication
Special Annual
Report Edition!
Organization Statistics
Double-digit growth
in 2012
Lieutenant Steve Hill
Celebrating 40 years
at MHS
GRACIE
Read this cover girl’s
story on page 15
A McKenney Minute
W
e are combining this issue of Animal
Chronicles with our Annual Report
(for calendar year 2012) because we
want the community to know about our wide
array of services, be moved by our recent
success stories, and have access to our yearly
statistics. In my two short years at the Marin
Humane Society, I have witnessed a lot of
happy tails—all a result of our experienced,
dependable, incredible and dedicated staff
and volunteers working together.
Whether you go by the 2012 calendar or our
Fiscal Year (July 1, 2012 – June 30, 2013), your
humane society (the only one serving both
people and animals in Marin since 1907) is
truly making a difference 365 days a year, 24
hours, 7 days a week!
See page 14 for more details on these special
rehabilitation stories.
Ninety-two percent of our donors responding
in the community survey last year said
MHS has a “major impact on the lives of
animals.” We are committed to maintaining
if not increasing that rating as we begin
implementing our new strategic plan. MHS
cannot rest on its laurels—we know that
another spring and summer season will
bring us more litters of unwanted animals,
there are more reports of abuse/neglect
to investigate and more animals in need
of rescuing, rehabilitating and re-homing.
And since we envision a better world for all
animals, we know there is still more work to
be done!
One of the most significant signs of progress
is the number of animals transferred in from
overcrowded shelters—nearly double the
number of animals were transported through
our Pet Partnership program to MHS in 2012
(intake was 790 in 2011 and in 2012, it jumped
to 1,530!). Each animal received extra tender
loving care from the time they arrived on our
campus until they left. From a needed bath
to a thorough health exam and temperament
assessment, every animal is given a chance, or
perhaps second and third chances, at finding
a new loving home at MHS.
With the new dog adoption area in full
operation for the year and our participation
in the national ASPCA $100K Challenge, the
number of animals adopted and lost animals
reunited with their guardians both increased
significantly! The community survey we
conducted in 2012 asked our stakeholders
if they felt MHS “offers comprehensive
humane care for shelter animals” and 88%
agreed. There is no doubt we provide an
amazing amount of individualized care to
each resident coming through our doors. For
example, the 36 abandoned black and white
cats (dropped off in the middle of the night,
on two separate nights), required special
attention and treatment by our animal care
team. A litter of puppies showing symptoms
of the Parvovirus required rigorous testing,
cleaning and handling procedures whereas
in other animal shelters they may have
automatically been candidates for euthanasia.
The abused puppy from the Golden Gate
Bridge deserved a special foster home to
help with his recovery and training needs
before he was placed in a new, loving home.
Animal Chronicles
Our Mission
We improve the lives of animals and
people through advocacy, education,
and support.
Board of Directors:
John Thompson, President
Robin Rodi, DVM, Vice President
Laura Goff, Treasurer
Nancy B. McKenney, Secretary &
Chief Executive Officer
Heather Bowker
Brian Cooley
Polly L. Elkin
Noelle Leca
Lisa Doran Schnitzer, CPA
Bruce A. Wagman
Berkeley Board Fellows,
2012–13:
Morgan Gurfinkel
Jenn Kimbal
Marin Humane Society
171 Bel Marin Keys Blvd.
Novato, CA 94949
415.883.4621
MarinHumaneSociety.org
Shelter Hours
Tuesday–Sunday 10 a.m.
to 5:30 p.m.
Wednesdays 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Mondays Closed
Animal Emergencies
415.309.6339
The Marin Humane Society responds
to animal emergencies 24 hours a
day, 365 days a year.
As you read more about MHS in this issue
I hope you will consider becoming a new
supporter or, if you already donate, increasing
your support. Our work in 2013 and beyond is
only possible thanks to the generous support
(in-kind and financial) from caring individuals,
corporations and foundations. On behalf of
the animals and MHS, thank you again for
your investment in our mission and vision.
Gratefully,
Nancy B. McKenney, MNPL, CAWA
Chief Executive Officer
Editor-in-Chief
Carrie Harrington
Publisher
Nancy McKenney
Photography
Kristin Herrera
Contributors
Helen Cameron, Carrie Harrington,
Nancy McKenney, Trisha McNamee,
Emily Robledo, John Thompson,
Nancy Weiler
Published by the Marin Humane
Society, a 501(c)(3) non-profit
organization. Reproduction in
whole or part without permission
is prohibited.
The Marin Humane Society does not
endorse or guarantee any products,
services or vendors mentioned in
Animal Chronicles.
SPECIAL ANNUAL REPORT ISSUE
departments
2012 Organization Statistics
4
Home Sweet Home 6
2012 Operating Statement
5
Volunteer Spotlight 13
Programs & Services Overview
6
Special Cases 14
Staff Spotlights 16
Message from the Board President 18
Legacy Society 19
Paw Society 20
Calendar 25
Annual Report Issue | 3
Animal Care Summary
January–December, 2012
I
t is a source of pride for us, and important to our community, that the Marin Humane Society is an open-door shelter. No animal
is turned away from our facility, regardless of health, age or temperament. And, MHS gives all adoption animals as much time as
necessary to find a new home.
• O
ur 2012 community Live Release Rate (percentage of animals that left our facility through adoptions,
return-to-owner and transfers to other agencies) is 89 percent.
• M
HS placed 1,049 cats and kittens in welcoming homes, a nine percent increase over 2011. Twenty-five
percent (158) of the 639 stray cats received were redeemed by their guardians.
• A total of 795 small companion and farm animals were adopted, a 17 percent increase over the previous year.
• M
HS placed 839 dogs and puppies in caring homes, a 41 percent increase over the previous year. Of the
927 stray dogs received, 77 percent (716) were redeemed by their guardians.
LIVE ANIMALS RECEIVED
OUTCOMES FOR LIVE ANIMALS RECEIVED
Strays1,709
Transferred from other organizations
1,530
Wildlife1,372
Guardian surrenders
987
Guardian requested euthanasia
647
Others (Emergency board or born in shelter)
235
Adoptions2,683
Redeemed/returned to guardian
1,141
Transferred/wildlife 976
Guardian requested euthanasia
647
Euthanized/domestic—unable to rehabilitate1
433
Euthanized/wildlife—unable to rehabilitate1
388
Transferred/domestic
161
Died/lost while in care
31
Remained in MHS care at year end
20
TOTAL LIVE ANIMALS RECEIVED 6,480
Deceased upon arrival1,745
TOTAL ANIMALS RECEIVED 8,225
TOTAL OUTCOMES 6,480
MHS provides humane euthanasia only when it is compelled by circumstances including behavioral issues that cannot be rehabilitated,
public safety issues, or untreatable pain or suffering. MHS employees are extensively trained and certified to perform euthanasia to ensure
the final moments of an animal’s life are filled with compassion and care.
1
4 | Annual Report Issue
2012 Operating Statement*
REVENUE
Animal Services Contract$2,851,589 42% Contributions, including Grants, Bequests, & Events
$2,334,566 34%
Educational Program Fees, Thrift Shop Sales, & Other
$ 851,879 12%
Operating Fees and Income
$ 681,037 10%
Investment Income$ 111,906 2%
TOTAL REVENUE $6,830,977 100%
EXPENSES
Animal Services$2,982,091 46%
Education and Community Programs, Other
$1,671,278 26%
Clinic, Adoptions and Foster Care
$ 905,918 14%
Management & General$ 501,658 8%
Fundraising & Development$ 421,652 7%
TOTAL EXPENSES $6,482,597 100%
TOTAL INCREASE/(DECREASE) IN NET ASSETS
$ 348,380
*Audited fiscal year ended June 30, 2012
Annual Report Issue | 5
Programs and Services
In 2012 our dedicated supporters ensured that the Marin Humane Society served thousands of animals through a comprehensive range of rescue, rehabilitation, and support
programs. Services such as adoption, behavior and training classes, and low-cost spay/
neuter clinics were enhanced by other programs including humane education, a foster care
program staffed by San Quentin inmates, and a program that keeps companion animals
safe and healthy in the homes of their low-income, senior guardians who need a little help
caring for their “best friends.”
Adoptions
From dogs and cats to rabbits and birds, and more, the Marin Humane Society found homes for 2,683 animals in 2012. Take a
look at some of our recent favorite happy ending stories!
Frida (formerly Sweet Potato)
When little Sweet Potato arrived at MHS from another shelter through our
Pet Partnership program, she was nervous, fearful, and very timid. Off
she went to a loving foster home where she started to relax and come
out of her shell. But when she went up for adoption, she retreated
to the back of her kennel and once again avoided interacting with
anyone. When Patricia and Ricardo Sunderland of Belvedere, and
their three children, came to the shelter, the entire family fell in love
with Sweet Potato just the way she was, and home she went. Patricia
reports that Sweet Potato—now Frida—is fun-loving and energetic. She
runs to greet the children when they get home from school, smothering
them with kisses. She loves to play with her toys and has fun hiding her
favorite one between the stuffed animals and pillows so she can go looking for it in the morning.
Roxy (formerly Pippi)
After living her entire nine years in the same home, Pippi found herself
at MHS. Friendly and affectionate, she was placed up for adoption.
Pippi kept getting passed over when potential adopters stopped by to
visit. However, David VanArsdale, a member of our janitorial staff, was
keeping a watchful eye on her whenever he came to MHS in the evenings. Little by little they got to know each other through the glass
of her small room and Pippi slowly bonded with this kind, gentle
man. Even though he had never petted her, David soon realized he
was looking forward to seeing this lovely cat when he came to the
shelter to clean. Although he and his wife, Eva, already have several
animals at home, David ultimately felt that the bond he and Pippi
shared meant only one thing—that she would be joining their family,
too. Home at last after several long months, Pippi—now Roxy—is still
settling in, but Eva has already found these two special friends napping
together on David’s favorite recliner.
6 | Annual Report Issue
Honey Dew and Benji
Parakeets are active, cheerful birds that are happiest when living with
other budgies, so we were delighted when Honey Dew and Benji (who
arrived at MHS separately) became new best friends. When Jorge
Flores of Novato, his wife Rebecca, and their three children came to
MHS to get a new license for their Boxer, Fancy, these two beautiful birds caught their eye. When the children said, “look Mommy, its
Milo,” Rebecca, who had recently lost her beloved Senegal Parrot
Milo, knew “it was truly meant to be.” Honey Dew and Benji are now
in Milo’s giant green cage in the family’s living room and loving their
new home. They sing and chirp at the kids and eat from their hands.
Benji already comes out of the cage to visit and Honey Dew is starting
to follow. Rebecca says, “they are such adorable, precious birds and we
are so happy we came home with our two little treasures.”
Hiro (formerly Zander)
Zander was brought to MHS as a stray, and went up for adoption after
nobody claimed him. Although he enjoyed playing with his toys and
hanging out in laps, he was easily overwhelmed by a lot of handling
and attention and needed to learn how to trust people again. Meanwhile, Lorene Lee, who has ALS (Lou Gehrig’s disease), was searching
different shelter websites looking for a dog to share the remainder
of her life. Zander caught her eye, so she, her husband Tony and
son Brian, drove up from San Bruno to meet him. It was love at first
sight! Zander took to Lorene immediately. Tony reports that Zander—
now Hiro—has profoundly changed their lives and has really bonded
with Lorene and her caregiver. He is still much like a puppy and keeps
them entertained for hours, complete with lots of kisses. Brian has
taught him how to lie down, shake hands and roll over. The entire family loves him and Tony says it will be hard not to spoil him—which is just
fine with Hiro!
Arva (formerly Henrietta)
Henrietta was picked up by Napa Animal Services running around on
the outskirts of town. Although she was traumatized by her ordeal, she
settled in after a few days of expert care. After a month at the Napa
shelter with no interested adopters, they contacted us and we agreed
to try and find her a home. One day a MHS staff member casually
mentioned to Marianne Barrell of Petaluma, her daughter’s fourth
grade teacher, that we had a pig up for adoption. Marianne’s husband Ross had recently mentioned that after admiring their neighbor’s pigs, he wanted one, too. Their anniversary was coming up and
well, you guessed it. Henrietta was renamed Arva and she happily
settled into her new home surrounded by sheep, chickens, honeybees,
two dogs, two cats and a little red pig friend named Pancetta. When
Ross calls her, Arva races up to him to be petted. When she’s finished
running around like a torpedo, she lies on her side under a shady tree
for a nice long rest.
Annual Report Issue | 7
Programs and Services continued...
San Quentin Pen Pals Unlock Bright Futures
Pet Partnership Saves More than 1,500 Lives
MHS volunteer foster parents tell us they benefit as much
from their work as the animals do. Nowhere is this truer than
in the Pen Pals program at San Quentin. Specially selected
low-security inmates who live at the San Quentin Firehouse
(and provide fire department services) help dogs overcome
behavior or health problems. The dogs live with and are nurtured by their handlers who get regular training and support
from MHS staff and volunteers. Once dogs have completed
their behavior and medical rehabilitation, they are returned
to MHS, ready for adoption. In 2012, 32 dogs participated in
the program, bringing the program total to 212 dogs and 43
inmates over the past eight years.
Due to the high adoption rate we enjoy at MHS, we are in
the enviable position of being able to ease the burdens of
under-resourced sister shelters throughout the state. When
space is available, we send Pet Partnership teams to overcrowded shelters—sometimes as much as five hours away—
to bring back animals for our adoption program. Volunteers
rescue animals facing euthanasia for lack of space, time or
funding, which also lengthens the time these shelters can
then hold other adoption animals.
Here’s how one inmate recently expressed his appreciation: “My name is Glenn. I’m currently serving time at San
Quentin State Prison. I just wanted to thank you for this
program. I’m a dog person and this program has helped me
with doing time and has also taught me how to train dogs
the right way. It’s really helped me at times when I’ve felt
a little down or needed someone to talk to. I would just
spend time with my dog; my dog would be there to listen.
Thank you for everything.”
Veterinary Services Provides for the Health
and Well-Being of Thousands
One of the things that distinguishes the Marin Humane
Society from other shelters and rescue groups is that we
are an open-door shelter, and care for any domestic animal
brought to us, regardless of age or condition. Many are stray,
orphaned, or victims of neglect or mistreatment. Our professional veterinary team gives every animal we receive—fourfooted, winged or scaled—a full medical assessment and
vaccinates animals against potential diseases. In 2012, the
talented veterinary staff supervised the health care of thousands of adoption animals and performed nearly 2,000 spay/
neuter surgeries.
Foster Care is Rehab with TLC
When animals are sick or injured or recovering from medical
procedures they often need a specialized degree of tender
loving care. And sometimes very young animals simply need
time to grow to adoption age. Sometimes, too, an animal
can become adoptable with a slight behavior adjustment. In
such cases, the amazing volunteers of the MHS Foster Care
program step in. They open their homes (and often temporarily adjust their lives) on behalf of animals in need. They
not only see their charges through recovery and rehabilitation, but they also provide the focused socialization and
love many need as badly as they need medical or behavioral
support. In 2012, more than 550 animals (16% of adoption
animals) were nurtured in foster homes. That figure includes
69 newborn kittens.
8 | Annual Report Issue
The number of animals transported through our Pet Partnership program nearly doubled in 2012. We journeyed to
approximately 30 different partner shelters to bring 1,530
animals to Marin to find their forever homes.
We recently received this note from a volunteer who works
with one of our partner shelters: “Thank you so much for
all the donations. I stopped by the county shelter last night
and put some of the bedding in with the poor little pups
that were there. Every little bit helps these guys get a little
comfort and some food in their bellies ‘til we can get them
out of there and to better places. Thank you, again, for all
the goodies and for rescuing so many furry ones.”
Feral Cat Program
Largely hidden, feral cat colonies populate many areas
throughout Marin. MHS partners with groups such as Marin
Friends of Ferals to care for these homeless animals. In recent
years TNR, or trap, neuter and return, has been deemed the
most effective and humane way to control the feral cat population. In 2012, MHS sterilized 76 feral cats, and provided
33 vouchers to other individuals to subsidize spay/neuter of
ferals by other veterinarians. In some cases adoption can be
an option for feral kittens. Last year, MHS placed 56 semi-feral kittens in foster homes where they were lovingly socialized
before being made available for adoption.
Volunteer Services Fuel Every Aspect of
MHS Success
Animal care is a 24/7 responsibility, so MHS volunteers—
alongside staff—are on duty every single day, rain or shine.
Our 700 volunteers are vital to MHS operations. Their contributions make our work possible. Whether they are assisting in animal evaluations, socializing kittens, walking dogs,
washing dishes, cleaning cages, building a rabbit enrichment
area, or doing office work, volunteers are essential to the
smooth running of our organization.
In 2012, volunteers gave 45,000 hours to the animals and
people of MHS. Every one of those hours was immensely
valuable, and directly or indirectly saved lives. The mission of
MHS is alive and well thanks to the tireless, selfless efforts
of our amazing volunteers.
212 Pen Pal graduates
1,704 spay/neuter surgeries
1,530 lives saved
109 feral cats spayed/neutered
553 foster animals
45,000 volunteer hours
Annual Report Issue | 9
Programs and Services continued...
42 adoption outposts
6,614 animal services calls
431 training classes
12 K9 first responders
2,000 education opportunities
$92,000 for spay/neuter from MHS Thrift Store
10 | Annual Report Issue
Outreach to Marin County
Animal Services Responds to 6,614 Calls
While we host a steady stream of visitors to our Novato campus, we also like to “take our show on the road” to acquaint
the broader community with our services. Volunteers regularly set up temporary sites in high-traffic locations throughout
the county. They talk with passers-by about MHS programs,
answer questions and, whenever possible, showcase adoption animals. In 2012, 42 outreach events were held. Some of
the locations included the Vintage Oaks Shopping Center in
Novato, Town Center Farmers Market and the Village Shopping Center in Corte Madera, City of San Rafael Health and
Wellness Fair, a San Rafael Pacifics baseball game, Whole
Foods Dog Show in Mill Valley, and a Marin County Parks
Block Party.
The Marin Humane Society’s dedicated Animal Services
Officers (ASOs) serve as the frontline in fulfilling our contract with the County of Marin to provide legally required
animal services. Our Animal Services department responds
24 hours a day, 365 days a year to help animals in need.
In 2012, ASOs answered 3,645 emergency calls. They also
responded to 2,969 calls for assistance, and investigated
1,199 complaints. MHS trained 56 law enforcement officers
throughout the state in animal rescue and investigations as
host of the basic and advanced-level Animal Law Enforcement Training Academies.
Behavior & Training Served 4,014 Animals
Every animal available for adoption at the Marin Humane Society has been thoroughly evaluated by our expert Behavior and
Training staff. Assisted by experienced volunteers, the patient
professionals test each animal in a variety of circumstances
to determine termperament and to identify special needs. In
2012 the department evaluated 898 dogs and 1,012 cats.
Behavior and Training is also one of the most popular aspects of MHS community involvement. Last year, guardians
of 471 cats and 419 dogs requested consultations to address
behavior challenges and enrich relationships with their companion animals.
The Department also offers some of the most valued dog
training classes in the Bay Area. Four hundred thirty-one
classes were attended by 1,214 dog-handler teams last year.
They ranged from Beginning Puppy and Family Dog to Agility
and Scenting specialties. The highly-regarded Canine Behavior Academy graduated 124 students.
Education Provides 2,000 Opportunities
The more we all understand the need to respect living things
and to appreciate our interdependence, the more likely
we are to be compassionate and tolerant. We at MHS are
compelled to share our guiding philosophy with all members
of our community, especially children. We regularly provide
onsite and outreach humane education programs throughout
the county. In 2012, Marin children took advantage of more
than 2,000 opportunities to benefit from humane education. Our summer camp and after-school programs were so
popular that admission was determined through lotteries.
The semester-long after-school Animal Care Club and Roots
and Shoots programs were attended by 57 students; summer
day camp delighted and educated 223 campers, and thousands more were enriched by participation in Humane Society
birthday parties, in-school programs, tours, and independent
community service projects. In addition, 146 adults participated in adult education workshops.
In the past year officers have rigged up an ad hoc rope and
pulley system to lift an injured horse out of a muddy ditch,
rescued terrified dogs running near busy freeways, and freed
domestic and wild animals from all manner of tight spots.
One officer was coincidentally the first on the scene of a
car accident and gave the driver lifesaving first aid until the
paramedics arrived.
K9 First Responders Receive MHS Support
Sustained by donors, the MHS K9 Care Program provides
support to local dogs “in uniform.” Beside their human handlers, they work for local police, fire, search and rescue and
Coast Guard agencies. The Marin Humane Society honors the
work of these brave dogs who protect our community, and
helps oversee their health and well-being. There are currently
12 of these canine heroes participating in K9 Care.
Sadly, MHS had to help say goodbye to a very special K9 recently. A handsome black Labrador retriever, Jessie was a Marin
County Urban Search and Rescue K9, one of only approximately 200 Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) certified
search and rescue dogs in the entire country. Jessie responded
to calls not only in Marin, but across the United States.
Recycled Treasures Raise $92,000 of Support
Those who visit the Humane Society Thrift Shop in downtown
San Anselmo are surprised at the tiny shop’s big impact. Attracting treasure hunters and animal lovers for more than 50
years, the little boutique raised $92,000 for the MHS Veterinary Clinic in 2012. Staffed entirely by volunteers, the shop
features handmade, one-of-a-kind greeting cards, scores of
current book titles, and racks of attractive, gently-used designer clothing donated by generous friends and neighbors.
Housewares, tableware, jewelry, and an unending variety of
knick-knacks almost guarantee shoppers will find bargains
they can’t resist.
Annual Report Issue | 11
Programs and Services continued...
Special Human-Animal Relationships (SHARE)
At MHS we believe in the power of the human-animal bond. We know what the unconditional love of a companion animal can
mean, and we know the small miracles animals can create in cases where human effort may be ineffective. Our SHARE programs reach out to those to whom this bond is already precious, and to those who may not even know how much they can
benefit from interactions with animals.
Animal-Assisted Therapy
Especially with the demographic graying of Marin, many of our neighbors live in assisted living senior communities, require
hospital stays or attend senior day care programs. Many of these seniors can’t have pets of their own, and they miss the
companionship. Visits from specially trained animals almost always elicit smiles and outstretched hands. Caregivers are often
surprised that patients will make an effort when an animals “asks” them to, even when they’ve refused human requests. This
year, through the MHS Animal-Assisted Therapy program, 92 trained volunteers took their animals (108 dogs, 2 cats, and 1 rabbit) to visit with people in 42 such facilities. It’s not always
easy to tell who enjoys the time more—the volunteer teams
or those they visit.
SHARE a Book
The MHS SHARE a Book program reaches out to struggling
young readers with a particularly compelling form of help. In
2012, 28 teams of specially trained dogs and their handlers
conducted 2,132 remedial reading sessions in Marin schools
and libraries. The dogs watch and listen patiently as the
students read to them. Some are even trained to turn the
page when requested. No judgment; only nuzzles and wags.
Needless to say, the youngsters look forward to reading with
the dogs and find that their fears and self-consciousness
melt away.
Side-by-Side
For more than 20 years the MHS Side-by-Side program has
helped struggling seniors by ensuring that their beloved pets
can stay healthy and happy at home. That peace of mind is
precious to this vulnerable population.
Side-by-Side volunteers make pet food deliveries, walk dogs,
clean litter boxes, administer medications and do minor
grooming. They can also provide transportation for veterinary
appointments. And they deliver lovingly-made holiday baskets
at year-end. The volunteer visits are also a welcome point of
contact for the sometimes-isolated pet guardians.
In 2012, the 18 Side-by-Side volunteers made life much happier for 228 grateful clients. Their equally grateful animals
included 115 dogs, 175 cats, and 16 birds. Side-by-Side also
provided one-time assistance (usually pet food) to 163 nonsenior pet guardians in need.
As one grateful client recently wrote:
“Thank you from the bottom of my heart for everything you
have done this past year for my best friend and me. I don’t
know what I would do without the SHARE program. Cookie
is now 13 years old and slowing down, but doing great. She is so happy today because she found a beautiful Christmas bag of
goodies at our front door from you! Thank you and may God bless the SHARE program for the huge hearts and help for ones
who are not very wealthy.”
12 | Annual Report Issue
Q&A: Joe Lisella, Director of Development
Joe Lisella joined the Marin Humane Society as the Director
of Development on January 2nd. He brings decades of development experience from universities and nonprofits in the
Bay Area as well as his native Pennsylvania. Joe has lived in
Mill Valley for the past seven years and shares his home and
office with Otis, a lively 20-month-old Labrador retriever.
Q: What are your first impressions of Marin Humane
Society (MHS)?
A: I have been most impressed by the volunteers
and staff who inspire by example. Within a couple
hours of starting on the job, the horse neglect case
in western Marin came to light and the dedication of our Animal Services officers made a strong
first impression. Since then, I have had first-hand
experience fostering a puppy until she was ready
for adoption, seeing SHARE helping dozens of
our community members, volunteering to clean
dog runs on a Saturday so staff could attend a
seminar, and helping Otis become a better canine
citizen in our Family Dog 1 class. The breadth of
the operation and the dedication of our staff and
volunteers is really a credit to the people who have
generously supported MHS.
Q: What do you see as the greatest challenges in building support for MHS?
A: I prefer to view challenges as opportunities. Educating
the public about our work and the needs that will enable
us to remain at the forefront of animal welfare are essential
components. Last year, we had great success increasing our
adoptions and growing our programs, but we could do substantially more with additional funding.
Q: What do you see in the future for MHS from a development perspective?
A: Given the commitment the Marin community has to create a better world for animals, we need to ensure that MHS
has the resources to achieve our full potential. I visited the
adoption area prior to its recent renovation and the sense of
cleanliness and calm that the redesign created is a great example of how we can do better for the animals with community support. Our success is generally the result of our large
base of annual donors, but our future depends on identifying
and enlisting community members willing to support us at
leadership levels.
Q: Any last words?
A: Thank you to all the staff, volunteers and donors who
have enabled MHS to provide outstanding care for the animals of Marin County for more than a century. Throughout
my career, I have been fortunate to work for nonprofits that
benefit the community. MHS is truly a special organization
with an enormous passion for our mission of improving the
lives of animals and people through advocacy, education and
support. I would enjoy meeting you and sharing more about
the Marin Humane Society. Please feel free to contact me at
415.506.6257 or jlisella@MarinHumaneSociety.org.
“Our future depends on
community members
willing to support us at
leadership levels.”
Annual Report Issue | 13
PECIAL CASES
Puppy abused on
Golden Gate Bridge
Imagine. You’re driving across the Golden
Gate Bridge, marveling at the magnificent
views, until you come upon a scene so
horrible it’s almost unimaginable. A man
walking on the pedestrian path is kicking
and beating a small puppy.
This happened to Leo on November 1,
2012. The California Highway Patrol (CHP)
arrested the man and notified MHS. Our
animal services officers rushed to the
scene and transported Leo to the Pet
Emergency & Specialty Center of Marin
(PESCM), where he was treated for bleeding paws, a fractured right canine tooth,
and other internal injuries. After a weeklong stay at PESCM, Leo was brought to
MHS to begin his rehabilitation.
Our animal services officers worked tirelessly in collaboration with a number
of agencies, including the CHP, Golden
Gate Bridge Highway and Transportation
District and the Marin County District Attorney Office to secure a swift resolution
to this case. As a result, Leo’s guardian
pled guilty to animal cruelty and served
jail time.
Leo was understandably traumatized and
required an experienced foster parent
who provided weeks of intensive behavior rehabilitation for him. Today, Leo is
enjoying life in Petaluma with his loving
guardian Bajun Mavalwalla, who recently
returned from a National Guard Tour in Afghanistan. “Leo is one of the best things
that ever happened to me,” said Bajun.
They almost died!
Gracie (formerly Elisa) and her five siblings had a rough start
in life. Last November, the then two-month-old pups were
diagnosed with parvovirus upon their arrival at MHS from a
Central California shelter via our Pet Partnership program.
The pups were kept in isolation, a necessary means to keep
the virus from spreading to other shelter animals. It was MHS
veterinarian Dr. Anne Miller who suited and booted up to
tend to the pups’ needs around the clock, hoping that they
would survive the deadly virus.
Though Gracie was the first of the litter to show signs of
recovery and regain her puppy-like spunk, she needed to remain in isolation, in a separate kennel from her siblings with
few toys. Dr. Miller would regularly stop by Gracie’s kennel
before giving the other puppies their treatments to ensure
that she received much-needed love and socialization. Dr.
Miller’s husband would come by in the evenings and watch
the pair interact through the isolation room window.
When it was clear that all of the puppies were going to make a
complete recovery, Dr. Miller called her husband and proposed,
“I think I’m ready for a puppy.” His response: “It better be the
little black and tan one!”
This “cover girl” has fit in perfectly with her new family. Even
Jack, their six-year-old giant collie/terrier mix, has welcomed
Gracie with open paws.
Had these puppies been found to have parvovirus at the
shelter they originally came from, they would have been
euthanized. However, MHS was able to give them everything
they needed to rehabilitate. Now all six pups are healthy and
happily living in their forever homes.
36 cats abandoned
On November 25, 2012 at 5:15 a.m., Marin Humane Society
Animal Services Officer Brett Trumper heard the shelter’s
night kennel alarm and a car door close. He stepped outside,
noticing a dark sedan speeding off. By the night kennels, Officer Trumper found 14 boxes, all full of cats.
Some cats were stuffed two to a box, all were soaked in
urine. There were 24 cats in total. The following week, the
same vehicle—identified from security cameras—was seen on
campus in the middle of the night when an additional 12 cats
were abandoned.
An unexpected influx of 36 cats is a challenge for any shelter.
Yet, we are grateful that these cats were brought to MHS,
where they were well-cared for and given a chance at finding loving homes. An anonymous donor offered to pay 50
percent of the adoption fee which helped them find homes in
short order.
One of those cats was two-year-old King Tux (pictured
left), adopted by Gray and Victoria Miller of Novato. Victoria reports that Tux follows their two Australian Shepherds
around the house, naps with them and even “sits” for a
treat when they do. His favorite place to sleep is with all
the stuffed bears and pillows on the bottom bunk of their
six-year-old daughter’s bed just like a royal prince—or, in
this case, a King.
Annual Report Issue | 15
As the Marin Humane
Society’s longestserving employee,
and the longestserving animal
services officer in
Northern California,
Lieutenant Hill has
seen quite a bit in
his 40 years.
Lieutenant Steve Hill Celebrates 40 years
W
orking at the Marin Humane Society is no ordinary
job for Lieutenant Steve Hill. This tall, imposing man
has been a familiar figure on and off campus for decades. He is supervisor, advisor, teacher and friend. He is the
driving force behind the MHS softball team, loves disc golf
and reads novels by Clive Cussler while he works out.
He is also a crime scene investigator; snapping photos, taking
eyewitness statements, writing detailed reports, and testifying
in court. In his current position as Field Services Supervisor,
Steve oversees the actions of nine field officers and two parttime technicians. As the Marin Humane Society’s longest-serving employee, and the longest-serving animal services officer
in Northern California, Lieutenant Hill has seen quite a bit in
his 40 years.
Hired January 1, 1973 as a night shift officer, it wasn’t unusual
for Steve to round up 10 to 15 stray dogs in one day and
bring them to the shelter. This was an era when few people
spayed or neutered their pets and open spaces meant your
dog could roam freely around the neighborhood.
Things began to change in the mid 1980s. The push was
on to spay and neuter. A veterinary clinic was built on campus, the first subsidized spay and neuter clinic in the state,
along with an education center. Steve’s role shifted from
rounding up strays and handling nuisance complaints to
educating the public on responsible pet guardianship and
investigating cruelty and neglect cases.
16 | Annual Report Issue
Even though Steve has been involved with many rescues over
the past four decades, he recalls the one which involved a
ranch in Tomales as if it were yesterday, not January 14, 1993.
After arriving on scene, Steve quickly discovered 250 lambs
and ewes suffering from neglect. Through a torrential downpour, he and a small team transported all 250 to the shelter.
The tiny lambs where sheltered in the dog runs so they could
be bottle-fed by a team of volunteers while the ewes where
housed in the shelter’s barn.
Steve has been involved with rescues on a national level as
well. During Hurricane Katrina in 2005, he and a team from
MHS drove to Texas and spent 10 days in a converted arena
with rescue teams from across the United States. “The dedication of these people was amazing,” he recalls. “We may
never see involvement on that large a scale ever again.”
His desire now is to continue the legacy that is MHS. “We’ve
always been top notch. I started out at a state-of-the-art facility and we are still that. It has a lot to do with the people
who are here. Rarely do you find such dedication with staff
that has been here 10, 15 or 30 years. There is a reason for
that and it isn’t just the economy. We have a lot of people
who care about the animals.”
For many of us, we spend years looking for a career that will
bring meaning to our lives. We are fortunate that Steve Hill
discovered his 40 years ago. Says Steve, “When you start out
at the best, it’s hard to go someplace else.”
Kim Lanham-Snyder:
Committed to Animals
for 30 years
Years of employment: 30
First job at MHS: Animal Care Technician
Other positions held: Field Services Sergeant, Front Office
Supervisor, Director of Animal Care and Director of Shelter
Programs
Current position: Director of Special Programs and Projects
On how she came to work at MHS: “I had been working at
veterinary hospitals for six years. I knew that I wanted to
continue working with animals, but felt a strong desire to
take care of homeless animals in our community.”
Most dramatic changes seen at MHS over the years: “We’ve
come a long way since the early 1980s. Thanks to spay/neuter education, we don’t see such dramatic pet overpopulation in our community. We also provide top-notch community
service programs like Education and SHARE. I think that our
community is more passionate than ever about responsible
pet guardianship—our community does not tolerate the mistreatment of animals.”
“For me, animal welfare is at the heart of who I am. I am meant
to do this. I am built for it. This is not a job, it’s a lifestyle.”
Standout cases: “I remember rescuing a Marmoset and two
Tamarin monkeys that were being sold in front of a pet store.
They had been drugged with cough syrup and smuggled
into the country from Peru. They could fit in your pocket! We
converted my office into a makeshift rainforest until we could
find a sanctuary to care for them. That case made me have
such an appreciation for the exploitation of exotic animals.”
On dealing with emotional cases over the years: “Sometimes you are forced to go to the depths of your soul to
get through a tough animal abuse case. Just recently, I was
asked to assist with the largest-ever seizure of animals in
California down in Southern California, where tens of thousands of rats and reptiles were found suffering. To be faced
with animal cruelty on such a large scale was emotionally
taxing. But my years of experience really helped me … having
not just the skills and knowledge but also physical endurance and the psychological capacity to push myself beyond
what I thought capable.”
A Board That is Never Bored
“There is a special feeling about walking through this beautiful
shelter and seeing so many animals being lovingly nurtured as
they heal or simply wait for their forever homes.”
You have seen the cartoon depictions of a board of directors;
fat cats in plush chairs smoking stogies and gloating over
piles of money. The artists obviously never saw a board meeting at MHS. Here, the board is a hard working collection of
highly qualified professional people who, unlike those characters in the cartoon, don’t receive any compensation.
Well, that isn’t exactly true. The reward comes in knowing that
we are part of a larger corps of volunteers who are helping literally thousands upon thousands of animals have a better life.
My time at MHS
began as an
animal care volunteer. I cleaned
cages, scrubbed
cat litter boxes,
cuddled sick
animals, washed
windows and
made sure the
feed bins were
always full. After
years in a more
sterile investment banking
and publishing
environment it was a heart-opening experience to be hands
on with so many animals. When the invitation came to join
the MHS board, though, it required some soul searching.
Boards handle paper, not animals. But I was assured that
there would still be opportunities to visit with the critters.
The board does not run the day-to-day operations of the
organization. It hires a chief executive officer to handle all
the administrative processes. The board makes sure that the
organization remains true to its mission, operates within legal
boundaries, handles its resources prudently, and allocates
funds properly to support operations. This requires teamwork
among directors who come with well-developed but diverse
skill sets. We are very fortunate to have attracted outstanding
18 | Annual Report Issue
experts in finance, law, corporate structure, governance and
investments to our board.
Directors have term limits. They can serve a maximum of four
two-year terms. Many non-profits don’t have term limits but
at MHS we see it as a way to keep the board fresh with new
insights and cutting edge expertise.
The downside is that we ultimately loose some very good
people. Right now, Polly Elkin, the immediately former Board
President, has “termed out” and will be leaving the board.
Polly, a San Rafael real estate agent, has been a gracious
and caring steward through several years of positive change.
We are very grateful for her years of service, and we will
enormously miss her as a contributing board member. Even
though Polly will no longer serve on the board, I am sure she
will remain active at MHS given the level of commitment she
has to the animals and people we serve. I can tell you that in
my tenure as president I am trying hard to measure up to her
shining example.
Directors like Polly donate many hours of personal time to
making MHS the finest organization of its kind. But it isn’t
all work and no play. We do get to enjoy each other in
social situations. A recent example was an elegant and fun
reception given for the Board and high donors by celebrity chef Tyler Florence and his wife Tolan. Chef Florence of
course provided incredible treats. He also offered heartfelt
testament to the contribution MHS has made to his family
through their adopted dog Frank Jr. It was a moving validation of the kind of difference MHS makes every day for
people and their animals.
Sharing “feel good” moments like that are
a vital part of the non-monetary compensation I was referring to earlier. I will take
that to the bank any day.
John Thompson is the president of the
Marin Humane Society Board of Directors.
Kathryn Horton: Past, Present and Future Animal Lover
Former board member Kathryn Horton is Vice President of
Convention Services and Events for the San Francisco Travel
Association, the region’s largest agency that recruits conventions and tourists to the Bay Area.
Growing up in Michigan, Kathryn’s family adopted many dogs,
hamsters, and fish over the years. “Animals have been a
passion for me throughout my entire life,” Kathryn shared.
“I can’t imagine life without them.” After college in Boston, Kathryn moved to the Bay Area in 1980 and has since
rescued a yellow Labrador retriever named Cody, a golden
retriever named Winston, and her latest love Chloe, a miniature schnauzer.
In 1992, Kathryn
moved to San Anselmo and became
active in the community. One of her
favorite activities
was coming to the
Marin Humane Society (MHS) to visit
the animals. During
one visit about 10
years ago, she saw
a card advertising
a fundraising event
and decided to attend. She ended up
sitting with some
MHS board members and learned
more about the
Society. “I knew it
was a great shelter
but the dinner really
opened my eyes and convinced me that it was time to use my
talent to help one of my greatest passions, animals,” Kathryn
said. “Before I knew it, I was being interviewed and joined a
great group of dedicated volunteers as a board member.”
A few years ago, Kathryn began looking beyond retirement and started thinking about her estate plans. “I always
thought that I would leave everything to my sister,” Kathryn
shared. “Over the years, we have both been fortunate and
it became less important to build a nest egg for her should
something happen to me. And an important question arose,
what would happen if I survived my sister?”
“I took some time to examine the things that have always
been most important to me in life, and animals were a common thread of happiness,” said Kathryn. “And, since I had
been involved at Marin Humane Society, I knew that I could
make a difference in hundreds of animal lovers’ lives including
“Through my estate planning, my legacy
ensures that the Marin Humane Society
remains a prime example of a community
that values the welfare of animals at the
highest level.”
seniors and low income families who receive support through
the SHARE program; children who learn how to treat and
respect animals in after school programs and summer camps;
the people who take advantage of the training and education
resources; and countless others who adopt animals who need
loving homes. Most importantly, through my estate planning,
my legacy ensures that the Marin Humane Society remains
a prime example of a community that values the welfare of
animals at the highest level.”
“It was actually a great exercise to take stock of my life and
ensure animals, which have brought me so much joy over the
years, will continue to do that for others in the future. The
Marin Humane Society has served our community for more
than 100 years and I hope they will continue to thrive for
another century!”
Marin Humane Society’s Legacy Society honors the individuals and families that have included MHS in their estate
plans. For additional information on planned giving, please
contact Joe Lisella, Director of Development, at 415.506.6257
or jlisella@MarinHumaneSociety.org or visit MarinHumane
Society.org/legacy.
Annual Report Issue | 19
The Paw Society
Marin Humane Society’s Paw Society recognizes generous individuals and organizations that support MHS with an annual
gift of $250 or more. This community of dedicated supporters plays a leading role in helping us serve thousands of Marin
residents and animals. To join this prestigious group or to learn more about the Paw Society, please phone 415.506.6231,
email development@MarinHumaneSociety.org, or visit MarinHumaneSociety.org/pawsociety.
$25,000+
Anonymous
Virginia and Glenn Haldan
$10,000–24,999
Betty Bower
Sue Hoeschler
Mr. and Mrs. Henry Martens
Platinum Paw ($5,000–9,999)
Anonymous
Nanc-Elisha and Eric Briot
Margaret Feldstein
Ulla B. Howes
Ken Kuhn
Arthur and Joan Latno
Noelle Leca and Michael Moradzadeh
Stacy O’Connell and Brian Cooley
Martin and Ryan Sacks
Jeanne Strongin
Bruce and Deborah Wagman
Golden Paw ($1,000–4,999)
Andy and Ginny Anderson
Anonymous
Wendy and Chris Avery
Heidi Baron
William Bazzetta
Shannon and Mark Bennett
Heather Bowker and Dennis Dougherty
Arthur Brazy and Angela Luchini
Kim Bromley and Dave Carson
Mary D. Brown
George and Avis Buckley
John Capizzi and Glenn Riddell
Patrick Carlisle
Larry and Janice Carson
Jim Clark, DVM and Tammi Clark
Heather Clifton
Carol Coffman
Lori Dana and Steven Dana, DVM
Don Dayre
Deborah and Michael Dean
20 | Annual Report Issue
Thomas Dickson
Helga Dietrich and Robert Parzival
Peter and Linda Dooley
Stuart and Emily Dvorin
Polly and Ron Elkin, MD
Allison and Michael Farey
Robyn Finley-Pope
Elsie Fletcher-Rosenthal
and Donald Rosenthal
Diane Foug
Kathryn Frohling
Claudia and Melvin Gilbert
Mark Glickman
Laura A. Goff
Joanne Gordon
Susan M. Gray
Josephine B. Haas
Ann Harriman
Bill and Sally Held
Kaye and Bob Hiatt
Kristin A. Hite
Kathryn Horton
Margaret and Marcel Houtzager
Patty and Mark Jackson
Karen Jenkins-Johnson
and Kevin Johnson
Steve and Elly Kaufman
Francis and Arlene Keesling
Art and Alison Kern
Peter Kerner
Wendy King
Andrea and Kenneth Krueger
Suzanne La Haye
Carol and Christopher Lacey
David Lake and Ina McInnis
Peter Levinson
Arabella and Robert Levorsen
Sarah Lewis
Michael Lohmeier
Susanne and Jeffrey Lyons
Shirley Ann Marn
Judy and Jack Martin
Betsy McGee and Bill Clarke
Nancy and Jim McKenney
Christina McKinley
Kathie Meier
Kathy Miles
Karin Mitchell and Barry Ulrich
Sandy and Ray Monticelli
Melanie Morgan
Nancy, Michael and Patrick Moyle
Stephen Mussells
Nasaw Family Foundation
Susan Natoli
Irmgard Neumann and Astrid Brawley
Loren and Mark Neumann
Martha and Robert Olson
Roland Ortgies
and Carmela Anderson-Ortgies
Cherity Payne
Peggy and James Phelps
Margaret Pozzo
Ellie P. Price
Gregory and Linda Rice
Jean Rieke and Patrick Maguire
Carolyn Rieschick
Douglas Rigg
Robison Family Foundation
David Roche
Robin and Chris Rodi, DVMs
Karen and Harry Rosenbluth
Tom and Jeanne Rowe
Lisa and Nate Schnitzer
Allan Scholl
Edward and Pamela Segal
Neil Shah and Yvonne Rojas
Christine and Dixon Smith
Vickie Soulier and Fred Craves
Lisa and Peter Tarantino
Gloria and Frank Tedesco
John Thompson
William and Linda Tichy
Jean-Michel and Janet Valette
Kelsey Wiegmann and Peter Ellis
Candy and Brian Wilson
J.R. Yeager
Iva Young
Lori Zager and Edward Gaston
Silver Paw ($500–999)
Jane and Norm Albert
Peter and Linda Alexander
Lisa and Joseph Allanson
Gary P. Allen
Marigene Allison
Linda Applewhite and Marshall Miller
Chad Audet
Pamela Beatty
Jack Beckerman
Karen and Melvyn Bert
Marygale Beyer
Anni Jay Black
Molly Blackwell-Ornish
Barbara Block
Steve and Sandy Blumenthal
Phyllis and Joe Bonocore
Alex and Olivia Bosman
Peter Bowie, DVM
Chris Boyes
Greg and Donna Brennan
Laurel Burke
Kathleen Call and Levon Sagatelyan
Helen Cameron and Tom Jones
Francine Castner and Thomas Blower
Joan Castro
Paul and Michele Chait
Peter Chan
Cindy Clements
Lee Cohen
Amy and Mike Cooper
Catherine Coulter and Anton Pogany
Fred and Theresa Cziska
Maureen Decombe
Mary Denton and Monte Deignan
Polly Diffenbaugh
Martha and William Dixon
Jo Donaldson
Diana Dormas
Dr. Anthony and Mrs. Martha Eason
Sylvia Elsesser
Judith Ets-Hokin and Trygve Liljestrand
Linda Eurman
Mr. and Mrs. Frank E. Farella, Esq.
Sue and Dick Ferguson
George and Kathleen Ferrick
Frances Findley
Cyndee Folk
Marilynne Forguson
and Carolynne Knoles
Alison Fuller
Rodger Gerhardt
Lynette Giannini
Laraine M. Glaze
Barbara Hamilton
Cheryle Hangartner
Jack Hanshaw
Susan Harper
Gayle Hartsook
Bruce and Joan Herriges
Ruth Holland
Ami Hontalas
Betty and Ron Ingram
Carol Jaffe
Alice Jeung
Virginia Kahn
David Kliman and Lars Yockel
Chris and Ted Klinck
Ned Klingelhofer
Lisa Klyse
Dawn Kovell
Donna Kranhold
Everdina Lampe
Judy Lee-Strain and Donn Strain
James E. Lewis, MD
Marilyn Long
The Lopez Family
Jennifer Lopez
Cindy Love
Mary Hoe Tyler Love
Tom Lucas
Margareta and Bob Luff
James and Patricia Lyness
Ian Mackintosh
Jerry and Penny Maioli
Wanda H. Mankedick
Jean Mansen
Natasha Mantle
Nicola and Nino Marchesiello
Shirley Martin
Vicki Martinez
Susan McNear
Kenneth and Vera Meislin
Sue and Dwight Merriman Jr.
Brian and Jacquelyn Miller
Herbert Miller
Billy and Jean Musgrave
Danielle Myers
Sally Narey
Eileen Newman
Richard and Gail Odgers
Arlene Strong Pinkerton
Bill and Barbara Prior
Amy and James Ramsey
Sonia and Dave Rapko
Mark Raskoff
George and Karen Rathman
Paula and William Raudio
Donna Reardon
John and Andrea Reese
Linda Riedel
Larry Rosenberger Family Fund
Ellen Ross
Susan and Jeffrey Rudsten
Ann Marie Santana
Angie Schleicher
Susan Seefeld
Sylvia Shapiro
Kerry and Linda Simpson
Martin and Elizabeth Sleath
Lucille D. Spangler
Mae Stadler
Teru Taketa
Douglas Tingley
Don and Barbara Tornberg
Mary Turner
Christopher Van Dyke
Susan Virta and Richard Voorhees
Beth Voorhees
Robert and Diane Wagner
Lewis Wallach
Michael Walters
Donna Williams and Audrey Miller
Mr. and Mrs. W. A. Wilson
Barbara Wong
Yunhee Yoo
Barbara Young
Bronze Paw ($250–499)
Leif Alexandersson
Dr. Paul and Dr. Geri Alpert
Halle Alvarez
Carol Anderson and William Buffalow
Ann Armour
Marilyn Ascher
Renate and James Avery
Irmgard Bagshaw
Barbara and Bob Bally
Lindsay Bartsh
Roger Battaglia
Valerie Beijen
David and Michele Benjamin
Paula and Eric Bennett
Joanne Bethlahmy
Linda Blackwood
James Blaisdell
Jim and Kimberly Boggeri
Leilani and Richard Borenstein
Juan Bravo
Lee and Luanne Bright
Delia Brinton
The Brooks Family
Jesse and Peggy Brown
Joshua and Amanda Brown
W. Pierce Brownell
Carla Buchanan
Robin Burgess
Carolyn Burt
Danielle Cane
Cynthia Cannam
Gregory and Robin Canonica
Leo Capocchi
Angelo and Louise Capozzi
James Castille
Jean Chambers
Cris Chater and Michael Lucchesi
Leslie Chatham
Everett Clark
Susan Clark and Katie Sisson
Ron and Marilyn Coffer
Elizabeth Collins
Dr. David and Dr. Rebecca Conant
Annual Report Issue | 21
Catherine Connell
Linda Corino
Claudia Courter
Crissa Cugini
Coleen Curry
Nancy and Mike Cusack
Thomas J. Danahey, MD
Ulla Davis
Robert Deitz, MD
Louis DeMattei
Lawrence Devin
Dan and Rachel Di Paola
Peter and Tara Dickson
Trudy M. Dixon
Christine Donohue
Kathleen Earley
Joeann Edmonds and Rob Matthew
Gary Edmunds
John Eisberg and Susan Kline
Patricia E. Elvebak
Heather English
Sharon and Sam Esterkyn
Lillian Etcheverry
Vince Evans and Belinda Evans, DVM
Fred Fanchaly
Barbara and Dixon Farley
Juli Farris
Diane and Dan Farthing
J. Christopher Felchlin
Jessica Fewless
Michael and Carol Fielding
Pat and Bruce FitzGerald
Ann Flynn
Nancy Foushee
James and Barbara Frey
Joel Fruchtman
Peggy and Robert Fujimoto
Carol and Charlie Funk
Maynard and Kim Geisler
Sara Gigliotti
Amy Glaser
Margaret and John Glassmaker
Tia Miyamoto and Bryce Goeking
Maureen Goldfarb
Ann Goodall
Joan and Lowell Gordon
Michael J. Gothelf, MD
and Laurel Gothelf
Althea Gould
Susan J. Gradney
Elisabeth and John Graham
22 | Annual Report Issue
Deanna and Thomas Graves
Robert and Kathleen Green
Carolyn Grenier
Susan Griffin
Ian and Lori Gruber
Kate and Dale Gruen
Cheryl and Michael Guheen
Elana Gulbransen
Marc Gup
Jane K. Hagopian
Carie and Larry Haimovitch
Alexandra Halsey
Linda Hammond
Kristina Hansson
Annie and Jack Harding
Mary and Dennis Harrington
Kathleen and Steve Harshbarger
Jim and Annette Haydel
Ruth Heller
Donna and Pablo Helman
Cynthia and William Hersey
Dr. Arlene Hoffman
Karen and Ray Hoffman
Michael Hollander & Moose
Linda Huber
Lisa Ireland
Carolyn Sue Jenkins
Brian Jennings
Lisa and Kevin Johnson
Marcine McDonald Johnson, Ph.D.
Sherry Johnson
Joyce L. Johnston
Sheila and Miles Jones
Richard Kamieniecki
Barbara Kane
Rich and Nancy Keaton
Birgit Kelley
John Kennedy
Loren and Rachel Kertz
Robert Khoo
Sue Fisher King
Annegrethe Kisling
William and Marion Kleinecke
Anne and William Klemme
Susan Klinger
Toni Knorr
Nancy A. Kuhn
Nancy and Donald La Bash
Mary J. Lang
Patrick Layne and Sherry Shirkey
Allison Levenson
Mr. and Mrs. Steve Lewis
Dorothy Libby
Catherine Licht
Andrew Lie and Cheri Nielsen
Catherine Lindelli and Ed Eckersdorff
Donna Look
Maxine E. Lowery
Carol and Ronald MacAnnan
Dena and John Maddox Jr., MD
John Maddox
Linda Madsen and David Bennett
Jeanette and Brock Maggio
Elizabeth Manning
Sherry Mansfield
Helen Man-Son-Hing
Laura Marks
Carol Marvel
K. Ira Polcyn McEvoy
Becky McLain
Alex and Lois McLean
Doug and Laura McPherson
Paul and Sharon Melodia
Lisa and Tom Meyer
Edward Middelton
Worth Miller
Patricia and Donald Mindham
Sylvie Montuis
Susan Moreland
Lauri Moss
Laurie Nardone
Barry Neal and Cheryl Finley
Maxine and Larry Nilsen
Minette Norman and Tom Borromeo
Rich Noronha and Jill Johnson
Ellen and Peter Obstler
Joan Okasako
Patricia and George Olsen Jr.
Catherine O’Neill
Kip and Patty Oxman
Darryl and Irene Page
Janet Pagels
Sitarani Palomar
Rachel Pang
Marcy Taylor Pattinson
Paul Peacock
Linda Pelletier Feeney
and Michael Feeney
Rita Pingatore
Barbara and James Popoff
Mario and Olivia Porto
Audrey K. Pulis
Rowena Putman
Bill and Mary Rawlins
Rachel N. Remen, MD
Corrine and Victor Rice
Leonard Richardson
Richard Rinck
Greg and Sher Ripley
Debra Rogers
Margo and John Rohrbacher
Myron Rosenthal
Robert Ross
The Rudloff Family
Larry Russell
Shane Sadler
Bob and Shirley Sanderson
Rainey Sarmiento and Mark Welte
John and Betsy Scarborough
Lisa and Theodore Schade
Donna and H. James Schafer
Sonja Schmid
Barbara Schmitt
Warren Schneider
Michael and Susan Schwartz
Diane Scott, Ph.D.
Heidi Scott
Don and Kathleen Seaman
Judith Wilson
William and Nancy Wilson
Mary Lou Winn
Bonnie M. Witt
Everett Witzel
Patty Wolfe
Jennifer Zamzow
Rob Zerby
John Ziegenhorn
Ralph Zimmermann and Cynthia Segal
FOUNDATIONS, ORGANIZATIONS
AND BUSINESSES
$100,000+
DMARLOU Foundation
$50,000–99,999
Thelma Doelger Charitable Trust
The Seay Family
Elizabeth and Robert Sheppard
Noel and Janetta Shumway
Beverly Smith
Lisa Smith
Tadd and Patty Smith
Patty A. Souza
David and Jacqueline Spielberg
Sally and Eugene Stamper
Lawrie Stevens
David and Mika Strassman
Debra and Rex Stratton
Sandor and Faye Straus
Julie and Marty Strauss
Thomas and Holly Strobel
Michelle and Alan Sullivan
Beverly F. Tanner
Deborah and Roderick Thompson
Beverly and Blake Thorman
Mary Tobias and Nick Carter
Judy Todd
Vicki Topaz
Hans Treuenfels
Doris Tucker
Elfriede Tucker
Chris Vail
Janice Van Gutman
Natalie Van
Leah and Duane Veldman
Julie Vinitsky
Renate Vogel
Sarah and Glen Walker
Scott Wasley and Ann Sandhu
Audrey Webb
Amanda Weitman
Nancy Welsh and Susan Sternau
David and Kay Werdegar
Christopher White
Mitch and Isobel Wiener
G. Mitchell Wilk
Leigh and Charles Williams
$10,000–49,999
Shirley Brownrigg Charitable Trust
May and Stanley Smith Charitable Trust
Mental Insight Foundation
Rockstar Beverage Corporation
San Rafael Police Association
Thelma Doelger Trust for Animals
$5,000–9,999
ASPCA
Barbed Oak Vineyard
Brayton Purcell, LLP
Doelger Charitable Trust
Norman Raab Foundation
Pet Food Express
Schow Foundation
Schultz Foundation
$1,000–4,999
Alpha Dog Marketing
American Kennel Club
Autodesk Inc.
Bank of America Foundation
Cagwin & Dorward
ChevronTexaco
Circle Bank
Cliff Consulting, Inc.
Dell Computers
Dimensions in Travel Inc.
Hilltop Foundation
Intervet
Marin County Federal Credit Union
Marin Pet Hospital
Marin Running Riot Flyball Club
The Melanson Family Foundation
Mill Valley Market, Inc.
New World Library
PEDIGREE Foundation
Pet Emergency & Specialty Center
of Marin
Petfinder.com Foundation
Raymond Family Foundation
Roto Rooter of Marin County
Silva Watson Moonwalk Fund
Target Corporation
US Bank
Victor Medical Company
W. Bradley Electric
Whole Foods Market
$500–999
City of Citrus Heights
Hotwire
Marin County Veterinary
Medical Association
Novato Fire Foundation
Parker & Crosland LLP
Taube Family Foundation
$250–499
AON Foundation
Birkenstock Sandals
Bishop Pine Fund
Cantor Chiropractic Center
Freddie Mac Foundation Employee
Giving Program
Front Porch Realty Group
Genentech Employee Giving Program
Google
Kaiser Permanente Foundation
Health Plan
Kitty Charm School
Levi Strauss Foundation
Martinelli Electric
Rickey’s Restaurant
Sausalito Chamber of Commerce
Three Dog Bakery
Uni-Kool Partners
VISA Givingstation
W.H. Smith Wines
Wells Fargo Home Mortgage
Yang & Lee, DDS, Inc.
BEQUESTS
Estate of Mildred Antrobus
Estate of Misty Bebe
Estate of Richard I. Becker
Jean Katherine Bernstein Estate
Philip M. Eisenberg Trust
Garnet Gorin Trust
Kenneth H. Howard Revocable Trust
Nina McCleery Hunt Estate
Estate of Curt L. Kraft
Shirley Masterson Estate
Elizabeth A. O’Donnell Estate
Andrew L. Pansini Gift Fund
Blanche Thomas Estate
Elizabeth Wild Family Trust
Annual Report Issue | 23
IN KIND GIFTS OVER $250
Animal Kind
Animal Wellness Center of Marin Inc.
AT&T Park Tours
Elizabeth Baier
Amy Bajakian
Barbed Oak Vineyard
Bayer Animal Services
Bel Marin Animal Hospital
Bella Notte Linens
Laura F. Bellows
Nicole Black
Body Image Personal Fitness Training
Body Kinetics Mill Valley
Herbert Borsting
Steve Boyer
Arthur Brazy and Angela Luchini
Burrous Brothers Co.
Camp K-9 of Marin
Janette Caron
Larry and Janice Carson
Tom and Nancy Charlton
Ellen Clements
College Cash Solutions
Brian Cooley and Stacy O’Connell
CostCo Marketing
Colleen Costello
Amity DeFontaine
Del Mar Middle School
Shelley Dorssers
Kyle Emerick
Patricia Epp
Arthur Farmer and Rita Yost
James Felchlin
Pat and Bruce FitzGerald
Flex Wine Tours
Tyler and Tolan Florence
Frances A. Chuba Fina Art —
Pet Portraits In Oils
Good Shepherd Lutheran School
Linda Gore
Green Shampooch, LLC
Joanne Greene
Joshua Grout
Terri and Mark Haddix
Jeb Harrison
Michael Hartnett
Kristin and Benn Herrera
Linda Hill
Idexx
24 | Annual Report Issue
Patty and Mark Jackson
Tyna Jensen
Kaiser Permanente Medical Center
Nancy Kawata
Kitty Charm School
Le Jardinier Landscape Management
Lefler Engineering
Lexus of Marin
Margit Liesche
James and Patricia Lyness
Carol Maggio
Marin Food Bank
Marin Luxury Cars
Marin Pet Hospital
Dan Martino
Matt & Jeff’s Car Wash and Detail Center
Linda McCready
Kathie Meier
Joan and Bob Mengarelli
Nicole Mezo
MoMo’s Restaurant
Moylan’s Brewery Restaurant
Mulas Family Wines
Georgia Ann Murphy
Mutt Lynch Winery
Novato Grocery Outlet
Ocean Song Retreat
Jean O’Korn and Michael McDaniel
Jim Pappademas
Andrew and JoAnn Parker
Pet Emergency & Specialty
Center of Marin
Pet Food Express
Photo Lab Pet Photography
J. Pimentel
Audrey Postel
Prandi Management
Q&A Research
Redwood Landfill
Reed Elementary
Ritz Carlton Hotel
Scott Rosenberg
Leslie D. Ross
Paul Saleh
Mark and Nancy Sanders
Marcia Schatz
Debra Scheenstra, DVM
Sylvia Shapiro
Mary Small
Sonoma Meritage
South Novato Animal Hospital
St. Francis Episcopal School
Stahr Dust
Darin Stephens
Target
The Country Vet
The Inn Above Tide
Ray and Linda Thompson
John and Susan Touchstone
S. Vasquez
Anthony Vecino
Vintage Aircraft Company
Wag Hotels
Deanna and Darrell Walker
Kristine R. Walsh
Ronald Werthmann
Whistle Stop
Louise and Dave Wilson
Barbara Wong
Worldwise, Inc.
Susan Wright
LEGACY SOCIETY MEMBERS
The Marin Humane Society’s Legacy
Society recognizes individuals who
include MHS in their will, trust or retirement plan. For additional information
on planned giving, please contact Joe
Lisella, Director of Development, at
jlisella@MarinHumaneSociety.org or
visit MarinHumaneSociety.org/legacy.
Georgia Anker
Georgia Athanasio
Betty Brashear
Carson Family Trust
Don Dayre
Constance Downing
Margery Entwisle
Bruce and Justine Fairey
Arthur Farmer and Rita Yost
Christina Fisher
Tim Flint and Sheryl Hodges
Kathryn Horton
Ulla B. Howes
Cynthia and Richard Jordan
Robin Joss
Richard Kamieniecki
Barbara and Dick Kattman
David Kliman and Lars Yockel
Eleanor Knox
Susan Koide
Kathy Miles
Lawrence Newhouse
Jean Patterson
Frank J. Perez
Joyce Remak
Linda and Roy Robins
Susan Rouder and George Detuncq
Kathy and Gerry Silverfield
David and Jolynn Taylor
Richard Viehweg
CALENDAR & SERVICES
Stay current at MarinHumaneSociety.org
Book Nook Dollar Day Tuesdays
Find great books, CD and DVD deals at
the Book Nook, located in the Marin
Humane Society main lobby. Plus,
don’t miss Dollar Day Tuesdays the last
Tuesday of every month where select
inventory is available for just $1. Sales
benefit MHS. Open Tuesday-Sunday,
10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Donate your gently used books, CDs and DVDs to MHS
during regular business hours.
Microchipping & Low-Cost
Spay/Neuter
Get your dog, cat or rabbit microchipped anytime during business hours
(Tuesday-Sunday, 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.;
Wednesdays until 7 p.m.). Cost is $25
for dogs, and $15 for cats and rabbits.
For information about our low-cost
spay/neuter and vaccination services
visit MarinHumaneSociety.org or call
415.883.3383.
Marin Human(e) Race
Saturday, May 11
We’ve partnered with the Marin Human
Race to create the Marin Human(e)
Race dog walk! Race day at the Marin
Center Fairgrounds & Lagoon features a
fun 5K run/walk/roll, pancake breakfast,
the Community Village fair featuring the
K9 Corral for animal lovers, and more.
Walk with your dog or honor your animal companion and support the Marin
Humane Society! Find more information
at MarinHumaneSociety.org/MarinHumaneRace.
For the Love of Animals
Saturday, May 18, 6 to 10 p.m.
$125 or $1,500 per VIP table (seats 10)
The 7th Annual For the Love of Animals gala at the Mill Valley Community
Center is our biggest fundraising event
of the year! Entertainment by Transcendence Theatre Company, three-course
dinner catered by Sonoma Meritage
Restaurant, silent and live auctions,
puppy kissing booth, and more.
Cocktail attire. Purchase tickets online
at MarinHumaneSociety.org or call
415.506.6231.
Get SMART About Training!
Seminar with Kathy Sdao
July 13–14, 9 a.m.–5 p.m.
An associate Certified Applied Animal
Behaviorist, Kathy has spent the past
two decades as a full-time professional
dog trainer specializing in operant
conditioning, the science of training
and the power of clicker training. Visit
MarinHumaneSociety.org soon for more
event details.
Save the Date!
Woofstock Music Festival and
Adoptathon
Saturday, September 28
Don’t miss our 5th Annual Woofstock
benefit concert and adoptathon with
live music, local vendors, kids zone,
raffle, snacks, wine and beer. A funfilled dog-friendly afternoon for the
entire family! Visit MarinHumaneSociety.
org for more event details.
Behavior & Training Classes
and Workshops
MHS offers dozens of specialized dog
training classes and workshops, and
workshops on a variety of cat and
small companion animal topics. Upcoming topics include: The Loose Leash
(4/20), Dog Aggression (4/21), Rally
Obedience (4/27), Agility Fun Match
(4/28), Games Galore (5/5, 6/8), and
Woofs & Whinnies (5/15, 6/17). Plus,
national expert on canine behavior
modification Steve White visits MHS on
6/29 and 6/30.
Visit MarinHumaneSociety.org or call
415.506.6280 for more details on these
classes and workshops.
Annual Report Issue | 25
Your Pet’s Health - Our Priority
Complete Wellness Care
■ General Surgery & Spay/Neuter
■
Free
First
exam*
State Of The Art Medical Equipment
■ Advanced Dental Services
■
oPen 7 dAys A week
M-Th 7:30AM - 8PM • Fri 7:30AM - 5:30PM • Sat 8AM - 5PM • Sun 9AM - 5PM
VCA MAderA Pet HosPitAl
415-924-1271
VCAmadera.com
5796 Paradise Drive • Corte Madera, CA 94925
*For new clients only. Not to be combined with any other offer. Up to 2 pets per household. Exp. 06/30/13. Cashier Code. 700.500
Travel With Your
Animal Companions
Flights - Hotels - Cruises
Aunt Susan’s Kitty Sitting
Contented kitties in your home
Daily visits & overnights
Vet recommended by Past President
of American Association of Feline Practitioners
415.883.1699
KhadijaSusan@yahoo.com
This is my travel expertise
Let me arrange your trip with your pets
Reva Ward
DIMENSIONS IN TRAVEL
350 Ignacio Blvd., Suite 201
Novato, CA 94949
415-883-3245 or 800-828-2962
Reva@DimensionsInTravel.com
Rehabilitation and
Pain Management Center
Providing Acupuncture, Rehabilitation, Underwater Treadmill
Services and Cold Laser Therapy
We support the Marin Humane Society!
CST # 1001493-10
26 | Annual Report Issue
www.AWCMarin .com
450 4th Street , San Rafael, CA
Phone 415-456-4471
Fax 415-532-2294
Providing:
Integrative Medicine, Chiropractic,
Acupuncture, Rehabilitation,
and Traditional Western Medicine
Dr. Terry Cosgrove
Dr. Stan Goldfarb
Dr. Michelle Rose
Dr. David Fong
See our website at www.AWCMarin .com
506 4th St San Rafael, CA
Phone 415-456-4471
Fax 415-532-2294
Pet Portraits by Donna Solin
From your photos or mine
The Pet Emergency and
Specialty Center of Marin
is dedicated to providing
compassionate, state-ofthe-art medical care for
your pet.
• 24/7 Emergency and
Urgent Care
• Specialists in
Internal Medicine,
Surgery, Oncology and
Dermatology
• Working with Your
Family Veterinarian
415-479-5688
donnasolin@yahoo.com
www.donnasolin.com
More than pets...family
Bel Marin Animal Hospital
901 E Francisco Blvd, San Rafael, CA 94901
Est. 1979
Melissa Robinett, DVM
Medicine, Surgery, Dentistry, Exotics
Close to MHS!
415.883.0578 Fax 415.883.1014
25 Commercial Blvd., Novato
Expertise
Compassion
Convenience
415-456-7372
www.pescm.com
Proud to be a long-term supporter of the Marin Humane Society
Annual Report Issue | 27
anichron2013.indd 1
3/20/2013 8:34:15 AM
171 Bel Marin Keys Blvd.
Novato, CA 94949
MarinHumaneSociety.org
Campus Hours: Tuesday – Sunday 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Wednesdays 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Mondays closed.
Main Phone: 415.883.4621