Digital News Report- The San Francisco SPCA has announced the opening of the Leanne B Roberts Animal Care Center, which will be the new home of its nonprofit Veterinary Hospital, Spay/Neuter Clinic and Shelter Medicine Program. The hospital will host an open house for the public from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, January 31 and will offer tours and a cat claw-clipping clinic among other activities.
The old facility, built in 1932, became too small to provide the level of care needed in San Francisco. The new building has more space for examination rooms, surgery suites, laboratories, quarantine and intensive care wards. The facility also has upgraded equipment and separate areas for feral cats and shelter animals in order to create a more stress-free environment.
The hospital plans to offer competitive rates for routine check-ups, vaccinations, prescriptions, common surgeries and emergency care during normal working hours (8 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily). They also plan on providing free care to homeless animals and to work with low-income guardians to provide their pets with all of the necessary care.
The SF/SPCA plans to perform 12,000 spay/neuter procedures in 2009. This is nearly double the number performed per year in past years. “Spay/neuter services and veterinary care have always been critical pieces of our efforts to save and protect lives,” said Jan McHugh-Smith, president of The SF/SPCA.
“But there are always more animals in need,” she continued. “Our new veterinary hospital enables us to provide high-quality, compassionate care not just for cats and dogs whose guardians can afford it but also for homeless animals and for guardians who need financial assistance.”
“The SF/SPCA is one of many groups focused on animal welfare in the Bay Area, but they are uniquely positioned in our community to have a great impact on the health and well-being of our animals, including reducing the number of unwanted puppies and kittens,” said Sherri Franklin of Muttville, a San Francisco rescue group for older dogs.
The SF/SPCA also plans on offering discounted services to rescue groups and expanding services to pets outside of San Francisco. “We are grateful that they will team up with fellow animal advocates to make it easier to spay and neuter more cats and dogs. Together, we can save even more lives,” Sherri continued.
The hospital is named for the late Leanne B. Roberts, a former SF/SPCA Board member and animal lover. Her son, Eric Bovet Roberts, is a current Board member, and the family has donated $18 million to the building of the hospital.
“My mother recognized that a city’s approach to animal welfare is not complete if it is not providing compassionate, comprehensive medical care to all of its animals,” said Eric Roberts. “It is fitting that the city of San Francisco — named for the patron saint of animals — is home now to a world-class, nonprofit center of care and excellence for all the community’s cats and dogs. The Roberts family is proud to be part of this service to the community — and to have my mom’s name adorn its walls.”
For more information on services provided by the SF/SPCA, contact 415-554-3000.
To learn about the capital campaign, contact: Tina Ahn, Development Director, 415-554-3025, tahn@sfspca.org
For general information, visit www.sfspca.org