2020 annual report
In Memoriam
ZIVA 2007 - 2020
When Ziva became the Seattle Police Department’s first female patrol dog in 2011, she had a lot to prove. While it was clear that she had just as powerful a nose as her male counterparts, some questioned whether she might be too docile if forced into a physical confrontation with a suspect.
“She touched a lot of different people in
different ways,” says Mark. “Going home every day, knowing that she had done something good and that people were happy with her and loved her, not just because she was a sweet dog, but because she had helped someone— I think she probably knew that.”
One night, Ziva and her handler, Officer Mark Wong, were chasing an armed robber through Greenlake when the suspect jumped a fence into someone’s backyard. Ziva tracked the man to where he was hiding under a picnic table. When she stuck her nose under the table, the suspect kicked her in the muzzle. Mark warned the man to stand down. When the warning went unheeded, he gave Ziva the command to go in for the bite. Having only ever executed the command in a training environment, it was impossible to know how she would respond. But Ziva didn’t hesitate. She bit him right in the butt. “She mostly got his jeans,” says Mark with a laugh. “I swear, when that fabric started to rip, you could almost see her thinking, oh, my God, this is real. This guy is really trying to get away. It’s not just a toy.” Even as the suspect continued to kick her, Ziva did not let go, not until they safely apprehended the man—and with no more than a scratch to his rear.
The runt of her litter, Ziva wasn’t raised for the job she would eventually take on. While her brothers and sisters went off to find careers, she was brought up as a companion animal. That is until she found herself living with the family of an experienced canine handler who discovered that Ziva not only had an impressive nose but could also be fierce when she needed to. It wasn’t until after Ziva met Mark, her forever partner, that she had the chance to prove herself. The Seattle Police Department K9 Unit is highly competitive. Officer Mark Wong was selected for the unit in 2010 after a month-long trial period as a quarry officer or decoy (in other words, he was bad guy bait). Quarry officers wear thick bite suits or sleeves and act as assailants in a range of training situations. A requirement for all candidates, decoying is not just used to train the dogs but also to see how well an officer works with them. Mark knew right away he was in the right place. But when he met Ziva on his first day, neither of them had a clue what to expect. “I had only been the bait end of the game at that point,” says Mark. And Ziva—had just been raised as a pet. They started slowly, playing simple games in the yard outside the training center, which he later learned were actual tracking exercises. While there were other dogs in the running for the job, Mark knew Ziva was the one. “When people ask, ‘How did you pick this dog?’ my answer is, she picked me,” says Mark. “You just kind of know.” At the time, Ziva answered to the name Nina. But the name didn’t feel fitting to Mark, so he chose Ziva instead after Special Agent Ziva David, the powerhouse heroine of the television show NCIS. He was unsure if the name would stick at first, but his new partner started responding to it almost immediately.
Despite their instant connection, many were skeptical about Ziva’s abilities. Being a two-yearold German Shepherd, Ziva was around 30 pounds lighter than the average patrol dog and friendly as well. Not to mention she was female. At the time, there were no female patrol dogs in Washington and very few in the Pacific Northwest. “There were a lot of people who thought a female dog was going to be too docile or friendly and worry too much about the officer over finding the bad guy,” explains Mark. Police dogs are usually the first to put their lives on the line. They are trained for a range of jobs, including suspect apprehension, search and rescue, and detection. Using their superhero-like sense of smell, sight, and hearing, they help the police conduct safer, faster, and more accurate searches. Generalist patrol dogs like Ziva have to both use their nose to track and be a use of force tool—to bite if necessary. Though, sometimes their mere presence at the scene is all it takes to sway a suspect to surrender peacefully. According to Mark, assailants gave up 90 percent of the time once they realized Ziva was there. Not only did Ziva prove to be just as formidable as her male counterparts, her presumed weaknesses turned out to be some of her greatest strengths. At only 60 pounds, she was faster and easier to pick up. Because she could be propped on Mark’s shoulder, she could be carried over fences and obstacles. Throughout her nearly eight-year career, Ziva answered more than 5,000 police calls and made 81 felony arrests and 23 misdemeanor arrests. “We learned how to do the job together, and she was a very easy dog to train. She was very motivated. She wanted to do the work because she knew that
it made me happy, but she didn’t just do the job for the sake of doing the job. I feel like Ziva really enjoyed the work.” Ziva did more than catch bad guys. She became one of the department’s most popular community ambassadors, demonstrating her tracking skills at more than 100 events in the Seattle area, educating the public, and raising money to help dogs and other animals in need. “She was the kind of dog that even non-dog people could like,” says Mark. “Even though she was a monster when it came to catching bad guys, biting them if she had to, she was a big marshmallow.” Together, they raised over $40,000 for the Seattle Animal Shelter Foundation (SASF) through various events and programs. Among the most popular auction items at SASF’s Annual Furevermore Auction Gala was Ziva and Mark’s K9 Ride-A-Long experience, during which bidders could see them in action. The pair also helped fund the shelter’s first X-ray suite, which was dedicated to Ziva in honor of her retirement in 2018.
“Ziva gave so much and was adorded by SASF donors, SASF board, and everyone who had the privilege to meet her. She was the highlight of every Furevermore Gala and a big reason why this event was so successful. We owe a great deal to her and Mark for choosing SASF as a partner, helping Seattle’s homeless and abused animals. She is greatly missed, and she will always hold a special place in our hearts. She broke the glass ceiling, caught the bad guys, gave her all to great causes, and was a beautiful soul. We were lucky to have known and loved her” —Sue Boivin, President, SASF Board of Directors
Ziva passed away in October 2020, just shy of her 13th birthday. After veterinarians found tumors in her liver and her spleen, Mark’s family knew it was time. Ziva spent a few days at home resting comfortably, eating her favorite foods and saying goodbye to friends and family before crossing over the rainbow bridge.
A Personal Message from Our President Dear Friends,
“
2020 was an unprecedented year. For everyone. We learned to adapt, improvise, come together, and overcome despite not knowing how it would all turn out.
Every individual matters. Every individual has a role to play. Every individual makes a difference.
“
–Jane Goodall
We look back on 2020 as a year when everyone worked in harmony and tried their best to be there for the animals regardless of the circumstances. Foster parents, volunteers, Seattle Animal Shelter (SAS) staff members, and SASF board members all rose to the challenge to make sure that every single animal who found themselves at SAS was cared for and had the necessary provisions and support to be adopted into loving forever homes. We cannot thank our generous donors enough for giving us the ability to do our very best. Our successes are your successes, and we are so grateful for your support. As we all reflect on the upheaval and uncertainty of 2020 one thing is certain, together we can accomplish great things. In 2020 we awarded $208,000. in grants to SAS. Combined with prior grants SASF has contributed over $1.4 million to improve the lives of all animals cared for by SAS. We continue to fund the ongoing existing programs which include spay and neuter, behavior training, veterinary care, medical equipment, medicine, food, foster care, hospice care, quality of life care, license assistance, owner assistance, training for SAS staff and volunteers as well as providing a safe place for animals whose guardians are victims of domestic violence or those who need to seek treatment. In 2020 over 1,000 animals found themselves at the shelter. SAS animal officers helped thousands
more in our parks and on our streets. Everyday SAS was there, doing the hard work wherever there was an animal in need. It’s because of donors like you we get to treat every animal as an individual and provide them with the best care possible. You are part of their stories, their journeys and their happy outcomes. Because of our generous donors we were able to support 220 animals that were rescued in the most egregious animal abuse case in SAS history. SASF funds made sure that each animal had the best medical attention, medicine, food, behavior help, and all the love from SAS staff and volunteers that they could handle. Due to the large influx of animals, the volunteer foster program expanded exponentially as more foster parents were trained and onboarded to help with the situation. Within a few months every animal was in foster care—and for the first time in their lives they were experiencing love, patience and compassion. Unfortunately, this cruelty situation is not an isolated incident. In 2020 SAS Animal Care Officers (ACOs) saw a 20% increase in animal cruelty cases. The SASF donor-funded behavior team worked tirelessly to make sure every animal that came into the shelter had a behavior assessment and a personalized program to help them overcome their past, learn to love and to trust that their bad days were behind them. When SAS went into COVID-19 lockdown, each member of the behavior team went virtual. They spoke with foster parents, SAS staff, and volunteers. Throughout the year were on point giving
Sue’s furry kids attempting to pose for a group photo. 2020 SASF Board of Directors Sue Boivin, President Brad Near, Vice President Tiffany Daily, Secretary Ian Wathen, Treasurer Jocelyn Bouchard, SAS Representative Kara Main-Hester, Development Chair
advice and adjusting programs, while working with SAS medical staff to ensure everyone was in sync and that every animal was receiving the best care. In this report you will read an article on how the experiences of 2020 shaped how SASF and SAS partners with other organizations to ensure the best results for Seattle’s homeless animals. You will also read about four animals who went through the behavior program and were adopted into loving forever homes. In 2020 we learned to quickly adjust and partner with other animal welfare organizations to help pet owners who were struggling financially and experiencing food insecurity. Instead of having to surrender their pets, SAS collaborated with other animal welfare agencies to host pet food banks both at the shelter and in communities around Seattle. On average, the mobile food bank fed over 190 animals per event. In 2021, SAS will develop an expanded Owner Support program funded by generous SASF donors. As the year progressed, we realized that we needed to adapt our fundraising efforts to accommodate COVID-19 protocols. For the first time in twenty-one years, the Furry 5K went virtual. For the first time in ten years our Furevermore Auction Gala was produced and attended entirely online. We want to thank all those who contributed, attended, and supported us through these venue
changes. We hope to see you all in person at our events in the near future!
Katy Thweatt, Marketing Chair
We are so excited to announce that we hired our first full time employee. The SASF Director of Development role takes on multiple functions including event marketing, fundraising initiatives, partner and donor relationships, day-to-day management, and assisting board chairs and committees. By bringing these activities in-house we’ve greatly reduced the costs associated with external vendors. We are also able to maintain and share vital information.
Emily Rondestevdt, Auction Co-Chair
As my second, 3-year term (and final year) as SASF president comes to a close, I am reminded of how dedicated and generous our donors have been and continue to be. Without you, none of what we would have been able to accomplish in the past ten years would have been possible. By supporting the hard work of SASF, you have helped save thousands of animals and have given those who do not have a voice a reason to live, love, and trust again. As I pass the torch to the new president, I want to thank you for being one of the thousands of people that believe that the shelter can be a temporary home, and a place of compassion, love, and hope for all animals in need.
Leah Traxel, SASF Development Director
For the Animals,
Animal Shelter by engaging our community,
Sue Boivin
increasing awareness and raising funds.
President, SASF Board of Directors
Krystle Gomez, Governance Chair Cassie Ballering, Development Co-Chair Sarah Yacoub, Marketing Co-Chair Sarah Coppock-Pector, Auction Co-Chair Erica Fiesta, Governance Richard Todd, Governance
2020 SASF Staff
Seattle Animal Shelter Foundation is a notfor-profit 501(c)3 corporation governed and operated by a volunteer board of directors. Donated funds go directly towards improving the lives of animals at Seattle Animal Shelter. Our Mission Seattle Animal Shelter Foundation supports the programs and initiatives of the Seattle
Kimberlee Spicer is the Animal Behaviorist Lead at Seattle Animal Shelter. She started at SAS in January 2020. SASF spoke with Kimberlee about her background, her passion for animals in need, and the important life changing work she and her team do for SAS animals. Learn more about Kimberlee and her passion for working with animals, in her own words.
INTRODUCING
KIMBERLEE SPICER SAS ANIMAL BEHAVIORIST
I started working with animals professionally about ten years ago when I was hired as an adoption counselor at Homeward Pet Adoption Center in Woodinville, WA.
considering how our animals are feeling. It is a great time to be part of this growning field.
About a year into working there, leadership announced they were going to work with a veterinary behaviorist on a dog that had come into the shelter and they wanted to know if we knew of volunteers who might be interested in implementing the training. I jumped at the chance. With the training, I got to work with one of the 72 veterinary behaviorists in the country, Dr. Wailani Sung, MS, PhD, DVM, DACVB. Being able to work with Dr. Sung, get her feedback, and seeing a dog progress with the use of evidenced-based positive reinforcement training just lit a fire in me and the rest is history.
Learning is also important for pet owners. I believe the most important thing someone could do for their pets is just taking the time to learn about animal body language. A lot of the time we hear from people, “it came out of nowhere,” when in reality our animals are communicating with us all the time — but most people just don’t have the knowledge or training to understand what our animals are saying to us and often miss the signals that they are trying to share.
Since then, I have become a certified canine behavior consultant (CBCC-KA), certified professional dog trainer (CPDT-KA) and Fear Free Certified Professional. I have attended countless workshops given by top veterinary behaviorists like Dr. Sung because learning is so important in my line of work. I literally spend my downtime reading behavior books and watching webinars. There is so much information out there! While it can be overwhelming sometimes, I am just grateful that the animal training world is evolving and people are really
I feel fortunate to be working with SAS animals. It is because of SASF donors and the SAS team that we can do the work that ensures every animal gets a chance at lasting happiness. I’ve seen these animals overcome so much. Everyday I am thankful that I get to be a part of their journeys and happy outcomes. Their capacity to trust and love again with every fibre of their being inspires me. The behavior program not only saves lives— it can change lives forever.
was uncomfortable and needed space. Kimberlee spent 10-15 minutes per training session, with the barrier door in place, tossing treats to reward Tippi for looking at Kimberlee without barking or growling. After five sessions, Tippi started having a softer face and softer eyebrows and actually started to take treats out of Kimberlee’s hand.
TIPPI TAPPI A story of second chances
“Tippi is a quick learner and super smart—which made training fun for the handler and the learner” Kimberlee said. Within a few days Kimberlee started working without the barrier. In many cases, handlers want to reward the animal for moving away from the “scary” person, and not force the animal to come to them. “It’s better to let the animal choose when they are ready to engage,” Kimberlee said. Tippi was uncomfortable with a person in her kennel, but was was not lunging or communicating “leave”. This was a huge success. After many training sessions Tippi made great progress: She allowed Kimberlee to approach her and give her gentle touches; she held her nose in the air; and she allowed a lead to be slipped over her head.
Tippi was surrendered to SAS on February 12, 2020. Her owner was moving out of the country which required a quarantine period. Knowing Tippi’s aggressive behavior towards strangers, her owner felt that Tippi would do better being surrendered and adopted through SAS. When Tippi arrived, she was reactive and so scared that shelter staff and volunteers could not go near her. The shelter can be a very stressful place for any animal; for Tippi the shelter was a fear-inducing environment that had every one of her fear triggers firing. Kimberlee quickly let everyone know that Tippi needed time to decompress for a few days, so she could adjust to the environment—but asked staff to toss her high-value treats when they walked by her kennel to let her know that “scary” people
approaching actually meant postive things. For the first 3 days, Tippi recieved an outpouring of hotdogs and string cheese every time someone passed by her kennel. During Tippi’s acclimation to the shelter, she was displaying high levels of stress like panting, pacing, circling, and could not relax. Based upon behavioral history from her former owners and her shelter behavior, Kimberlee recommended anti-anxiety medication to help with behavior modification training. After 3 days, Kimberlee started kennel training with Tippi. For safety she placed a baby gate as a barrier door to the adjacent kennel. Even with having a barrier door, Tippi had her ears back, tail down, pupils dilated, a stiff body and a “c” shaped mouth—all communication that indicated she
The big day came when Kimberlee took Tippi on her first walk outdoors, to observe her behavior outside the kennel environment. Tippi was hyper-vigilant and scanned the environment. When Tippi saw people outside, Tippi’s body language exhibited behaviors rooted in fear and anxiety, like having her tail down, eyebrows furrowed, mouth closed, pupils dilated ears back. “While it is never easy to see our animals reacting negatively towards new people, addressing the fear is modifiable,” Kimberlee said. “The amazing thing about Tippi is she is very affirmative. If you are in her circle, you are in her circle and there isn’t an issue with handeling, leashes or petting.” Tippi accepted Kimberlee into her circle, and learned that her time with Kimberlee meant walks—which became the way to expand her
bubble and introduce her to the rest of the shelter staff and dog behavior team volunteers. Tippi needed training every single day. The team was working against shelter stress and the environment, so Tippi needed to trust every member of the team to get the maximum amount of training time. It was a gradual process that included desensitization and counter conditioning; all in all, it took two weeks for Tippi to accept the entire behavior team and let them work with her. Kimberlee and her team work with every behavioral case at SAS. Every animal in the behavior program has a backstory; and sometimes, the team is lucky enough to learn why the animal is presenting itself the way it is. Part of the behavior evaluation at SAS is to gather as much history about the animal so the team can better understand the root of the challenge(s). When Kimberlee called Tippi’s former owners, they told her that Tippi came from Texas at 8-9 weeks of age. They noted that Tippi was always weary of people even at such a young age. Tippi’s behavior worsened when she became 8-9 months old. “Dogs go through a second period of “fear” between 8-14 months where they are incredibly sensitive to their environment and things that may occur,” Kimberlee said. On one occasion at the docks, a group of kids picked up Tippi and threw her into the water. She was panicked and scared. After that experience, the previous owners noticed Tippi’s barking and lunging towards strangers began to present itself. Tippi spent the next two years practicing the unwanted behavior of barking and lunging at “scary” people to make them go away. Knowing Tippi’s history and how long she had reinforced these behaviors helped Kimberlee and her team establish the best treatment plan for her, which included implementing desensitization and counter-condtioning protocols. Tippi was on a leash, and another team member would appear. When the person appreared, Tippi was given a high-value treat. When the person
went away and reappeared, it would rain special treats. This helps create the association that the scary person actually makes really amazing things happen. “The key to this training is the distance—the new person wouldn’t appear right in front of her, but would start about 80 feet away and slowly close the distance as Tippi appeared relaxed” Kimberlee said. After weeks of training, the person became able to appear and walk towards Tippi without a reaction.
forever home in November 2020—just in time for Thanksgiving.
There was a lot of progress in the first two months of training— but by the end of March 2020, SAS began limiting visitor and volunteer access to the shelter due to the pandemic protocols.
“Tippi’s story is about a scared and shut down dog, and about not judging a book by its cover—but instead taking the time and asking why and what can we do to change the behavior.” Kimberlee said. “It’s because of our generous donors, SASF, SAS staff, and Behavior Program volunteers that she is able to share her life with us and make her adoptive parents so happy.”
Tippi was then placed with an experienced foster family. During that time Kimberlee worked with Tippi remotely. With the help of her foster parents, she became muzzle trained and continued to improve around strangers.
What’s special about Tippi’s story, and others like hers, is that behavior issues can be very scary to a lot of people and it is easy not to invest in dogs like her. But what is most compelling is their capacity to overcome and trust humans again.
Within a month of being in foster care, Tippi was ready to be adopted into her forever home. But like her journey, her adopton had some bumps and twists. She was adopted into a loving home at the beginning of June 2020 but was returned; as her new home needed a more patient family. “While it can be sad to see an animal returned there is always something that we can learn to aid in the next adoption” Kimberlee said. One of the reasons for her return was that Tippi was too anxious and was and pacing around. When Kimberlee inquired about Tippi’s return, she learned that Tippi’s kennel had been placed under a large bay window that looked out onto a heavily trafficked street and Tippi was constantly seeing strangers pass by her home. Tippi needed a more quiet and less busy environment.
SASF donors are a part of their stories and are supporting each animals on their road to recovery and finding love, acceptance and their forever homes. Without our generous donors, these dogs would never have a second chance at life.
After Tippi was returned to her foster parents, the SAS adoption team got together and created the perfect adoption criteria that would meet all of Tippi’s needs. After pre-screening potential adopters, reviewing multiple applications, phone screening 20 applicants, and meeting with 8 people multiple times, Tippi finally found her perfect
Great books on understanding behavioral issues with dogs, plus helpful information about what your canine companions are trying to tell you. The Other End of the Leash By Patrick B. McConnell The Culture Clash By Jean Donaldson
“When we first decided that we wanted to bring a new dog into our family, we knew we wanted to adopt a shelter dog. When we saw Tippi’s adoption page, she seemed like she could be the right fit for our family and we jumped right into the process. Kimberlee and Tippi’s foster family were very accomodating to facilitate several interactions with Tippi before the adoption so we could get to know her and she get to know us to ensure we would be a good match. Since the adoption, Tippi has been a joy to bring into our family, and we recognize all of the hard work that the staff at SAS and SASF has invested in getting the medical and behavioral help she needed in order to be ready for adoption. We are thankful for the opportunity to have her as a member of our family, and enjoy all of her spunk and personality that keeps emerging each day that she is with us.” —Amanda and Stephen, Tippi’s happy forever parents You can see your donations in action by following Tippi on Instagram @tippitappy
Great books on understanding behavioral issues with cats, plus helpful information about what your feline companions would like you to do for them. Think Like a Cat By Pam Johnson Bennett Starting from Scratch By Pam Johnson Bennett
Foster Parents Save the Day
2020 was a challenging year for SAS animals and their foster parents. Because of the pandemic and the shuttering of the facility, all shelter cats found themselves in foster care by the end of March. SAS staff and foster program volunteers quickly increased the number of foster households as well as training sessions for new foster parents. It goes without saying that the foster families are truly the unsung heroes of SAS. They opened their doors, their hearts, and their lives to these animals.
SATSUMA
Satsuma found himself at SAS in dire need of
touching his eye area, after which he got a treat.
medical and emotional help. He came in as a stray
Much like the bottle approach she did this
and it was clear that he was picked up just in time.
multiple times a day. When he seemed comfort-
He had an eye infection, and an upper respiratory
able with being touched around the eye area, she
infection, and he was tired, hungry and starved for
paired touching the eye with also showing the bot-
love. For a kitty that was a little over two years old
tle—which of course resulted in Satsuma receiving
it was obvious that he had had a tough life.
a treat. This took some time; however with lots of treats, patience and positive reinforcement Satsuma
He was put into foster care in March 2020, and
started being fine with getting eye drops.
it was immediately evident that he did not care for his eyedrop medicine. His foster mom Karen
But that wasn’t Satsuma’s only problem as his
reached out to the SAS behavior team and they
respiratory infection turned out to be asthma. In
suggested Positive Association Desensitization
order to help his breathing Karen needed to now
and Counter Conditioning (DSCC)—which is
introduce an inhaler into his medical regime. The
basically creating gradual change in behavior by
SAS veterinarianes sent Karen a video that showed
creating a positive association with the action.
her how to operate an inhaler and how to position Satsuma’s tiny body to help him inhale the medicine.
At first, Karen just showed Satsuma the eye drop
Because she had successfully used DSCC with the
bottle, then gave him a little treat. This was repeat-
eye drops, she started getting Satsuma used to
ed many times throughout the day. When he was
the inhaler with the same method. Needless to say,
comfortable with the bottle, Karen started gently
the power of treats won out.
“For the first time this week, Satsuma saw me with the inhaler and actually ran over. Since we don’t have the medicine quite yet, all he knows is that it’s his happy treat machine. He gets lots of pats and “good boy!” after he does it. I’m also following the video in terms of his positioning. I try to come from behind to support him with my body and hold the inhaler out in front with my other hand. I’m happy that I get to teach Satsuma how to accept the inhaler because I know he trusts me. He is such a sweet and charming little guy that I know he will quickly win the heart of a forever family. He has really blossomed since he came to stay with me.” —Karen Ruby, Foster Parent
“Every foster parent was so open to communicating and listening and trying out new ideas. There was an enormous amount of compassion and time spent on making sure every cat would have the best outcome. I’m blown away but how quickly the foster parents reacted and acted on behalf of the SAS cats.” —Kimberlee Spicer, SAS Behaviorist
THE GREAT CATSBY
The Great Catsby was found on the streets of
Mark and Jess did a second phone consult with
Seattle. By the look of his teeth, SAS veterinarians
Kimberlee on Catsby’s random spraying. It turns
estimated his age to be about sixteen. He was in
out that because he was used to the
need of major dental care, and was very scared,
stimulation of the outdoors, he needed mental
and emotionally shut down and tried to hide from
enrichment as an indoor cat. His spraying was an
everyone and everything. In March, he was intro-
indication of wanting attention, more stimulation
duced to his new foster parents (Mark and Jess)
and lots of physical play. Mark and Jess quickly
who were also new to fostering. He did not take to
introduced toys that mimicked prey like a mouse
his litterbox very well and was apt to go outside
and birds with lots of feathers. In the outdoors,
the box and in random places around the house.
cats follow a natural routine. They stalk, hunt, kill,
The SAS behavior team did a phone consult: as
consume, groom and sleep in that order. So, play
a result Kimberlee suggested that moving the
therapy can be the first of a natural sequence. It
litterbox from the basement to an upstairs location
doesn’t have to be a long time it just has to be
would make it easier for him to get to. Sometimes
stimulating. It’s recommended that play therapy
when a cat is not using its litter box it has to do
end with a moist treat, and most cats will groom
with the location of the box. In Catsby’s case, he
and sleep afterwards. When their natural instincts
preferred a convenient, clean environment. The
are met, you will see less behavioral challenges.
only times he didn’t use his box was when he felt
Mark and Jess made sure to use play therapy prior
that it was too dirty. He quickly learned that if he
to being preoccupied or too busy to tend to
meowed loud and long enough, Mark and Jess
Catsby. So far it seems to be working and the
would clean it!
spraying has stopped.
“Regarding the litterbox incidents: we used several of Kimberlee’s suggestions (thank you!) and they helped considerably—we now have a litterbox located on each floor of our home (he uses both) and we’ve sprayed deterrent on problem areas. The main out-of-box accidents that come to mind have been near the litterbox and seem to happen when we aren’t as diligent about scooping it enough each day. Recently, when the litterbox is too full for his liking, he’s started meowing insistently to get our attention rather than simply peeing nearby, which works well for us! :) We’ll work on more consistently scooping twice a day and let you know if we can avoid that entirely.” —Mark & Jess, Foster Parents
PICA
This cute little tabby was surrendered by her guardian due to unforeseen circumstances. He was diagnosed with Feline Idiopathic Cystitis (FIC) which is a stressed induced (feline) lower urinary tract blockage and infection. Katy, a SASF board member was happy to have Pica be her foster cat but quickly found out that he liked to “door dash”. Katy mentioned that Pica dashed for the door only when she was leaving the house. The SAS behaviorist suggested the behaviors displayed were consistent with separation anxiety because Pica never dashed when people came home, only when people were leaving the house. Kimberlee suggested play therapy to make being indoors seem like it was more fun and an enrichment protocol—which
“Pica has been doing much better since we decreased his dosage and started giving him medicine at night. He’s been so happy with the birds lately and isn’t darting toward doors (though he still loves the pantry door opening). The only thing we’re trying to work on is him eating one of our plants. It’s non-toxic; a quarter of our foster cats have enjoyed chewing on it. I’m going to grab him some wheatgrass from the pet store tomorrow and see if that entices him instead.” —Katy Thweatt, Foster Parent
meant every time someone left the house, Pica would get a yummy treat to reinforce that it isn’t so scary when people walk out the door. Thanks to Kimberlee’s advice, Pica grew happier and more confident staying indoors. He got play time twice a day with a variety of toys, from long string toys to balls that he would bat back and forth. Before Katy left the house, Pica would get another play time and a treat. When leaving the house, Katy would also make sure the blinds were open so Pica could entertain himself by looking outside at the birds. During all of this play therapy, his health also improved and Katy decreased his medication and changed when he received it to later in the day (at the recommendation of the SAS team). Katy is just relieved Pica is no longer a flight risk. It’s a scary situation to have a pet dash away from home, especially when you’re caring for someone else’s pet. Thanks to Kimberlee’s advice, Pica stands a better chance of living out a happy and healthy indoors life, and all of the tips and tricks Katy learned can be passed along to Pica’s new adopters to set him up for long- term success.
Your 2020 Gifts in Action
Thanks to generous donors like you, SAS can provide the highest level of care for the animals in Seattle. In 2020, SASF continued to fully support and fund the successful Behavior Modification Program. Even in a year of upheaval and challenge we were able to continue saving the lives of so many deserving animals. Here is what you helped us achieve in 2020.
Behavior Modification Program
$169,000 Unfortunately, animals with challenging behavior issues, including separation anxiety and are often deemed unadoptable — and used to be candidates for euthanasia. In 2016, SASF helped create and fund the Behavior Modification Training Program pilot. Because of the passionate involvement of SAS volunteers and staff, the program saved the lives of so many animals
Number of animals in behavior program in 2020:
Number of individual sessions in 2020:
Animal training hours in 2020:
153
1,990
956
Post adoption support hours:
Animals adopted from behavior program in 2020:
Animal adoption screening hours:
within the first six months that it has now become one of the essential programs that SASF funds 100% every year. This program also has huge benefits for animals who spend long periods of time in the shelter due to court cases. Caring for these animals presents a unique challenge from day one, and every additional day spent in the shelter compounds the challenge. Incorporating tailored training programs into their care helps them remain stimulated, calm, and healthy, and sets them up to succeed when they finally are adopted into loving forever homes. In 2020, donated funds have helped save over 121 dogs like Tippi, and 31 cats like Pica. Because of generous donors like you, and this program, SAS is nationally recognized and is considered one of the most progressive animal welfare organizations in the country. On behalf of every animal that has been given a second chance at happiness, we thank you.
74
110 Not including returned animals.
73
Your 2020 Gifts in Action 2020 Existing Program Support
Day in and day out, SAS cares for Seattle’s animals and the people who love and provide for them. SASF is always proud to support existing programs that are essential for sustaining or expanding animal care services and providing support for animals in our King County communities. Last year, over 2,500 animals were helped because of the generous donations of our animal-loving community, not including thousands of animals on our streets, in our parks, and in homeless camps. Here is how you helped make life-changing improvements in the lives of Seattle’s animals.
$21,000 Spay & Neuter Program
calm the animals, making their stay at the shelter less stressful and improving their chances of finding
Fospice Care Program (foster-hospice)
Funds from SASF help to underwrite spay and
a forever home. In 2020, we helped over 4,500
neuter surgeries for animals whose guardians are
animals feel loved and cared for during their stay at
This program allows elderly, terminally ill, or other-
low income or are homeless. By working together
the shelter and in foster care.
wise unadoptable animal companions to live out the remainder of their lives in the comfort of a loving
with human service organizations and building relationships in underserved communities, SAS is
Owner Support Program
and caring foster home. In 2020, we had 4 cats in fospice, 4 dogs and 1 critter in hospice. Granted
able to provide services to animals that may otherwise never find their way to a clinic. In 2020, 780
This program was created to support those pet
funds provide prescription food and specialty
public and shelter animals combined were altered.
owners who are struggling with food insecurity and
medical treatment.
are having to make difficult decisions. To avoid pet
Licensing Assistance Program
surrenders SAS and SASF is partnering with other
Foster Care Programs
animal organizations to hold mobile pet food bank This program ensures that individuals who cannot
events around Seattle. On average each event feeds
Foster care volunteers provide essential support;
afford a license for their furry family member are
190 animals. In 2020 we gave out 1,358 pounds of
their compassion and unwavering dedication is only
able to keep their licensing current. In some cases,
dry food, 900+ cans of wet food, and 220 pounds
surpassed by their love for the animals. In 2020,
this program can make the difference between a
of kitty litter.
SASF supported 117 foster cat families, 122 foster
guardian keeping their family pet or having to relinquish them. In 2020 we helped 86+ animals
dog families, and 98 foster critter families who care
Shelter Veterinary Clinic
and their families.
too young to be at the shelter, have shelter stress, In 2020, the SASF-funded veterinary clinic cared
Quality-of-Life Improvements
for more than 4,741 animals. Every day, clinic
Through SASF donations, all animals can enjoy
and foster homes, many of whom haven’t received
stimulating and fun quality-of-life improvements
proper health care or attention during their lives.
like toys, food puzzles, doggie tunnels, kitty
With the increase in cruelty cases the veterinary
condos, prescription food, natural wood chews for
clinic performed 22% more exams, surgeries, X-rays,
rabbits, doggie beds, interactive feeding bowls, and
emergency care, and telemedicine consults. The
hormone therapy diffusers and a wireless stereo for
veterinary clinic was built by SASF donations and is
soothing tunes that helps even the most excitable
maintained by SASF donations.
animal to relax. All of these improvements help
for animals that might have medical concerns, are
veterinarians provide care for animals in the shelter
come from a hoarding situation, or are waiting for a court case to be resolved. In 2020, we helped over
625 animals and their foster families. The percentage of animals that went into foster care was 43%.
SAS registered volunteers:
2020 active volunteers:
2020 active volunteer hours:
1,270
450
8,305
Including foster parents
Medical Diagnostic Equipment
*
*Does not include foster hours
In 2020, SASF funds purchased a much needed ultrasound machine and dental X-ray equipment. The equipment has been consistently in use from the moment it arrived. The arrival was especially timely as it coincided with the West Seattle animal cruelty case. As a result each rescued animal did not need to be transferred to other medical facilities for a diagnosis. This made is so much easier on the animals and the humans taking care of them.
Other Gifts in Action: “Adopt Me” jackets for dogs
Dogs in foster care:
Critters in foster care:
Cats in foster care:
140
252
232
243 potential adoption visits
286 potential adoption visits
269 potential adoption visits
Average foster stay for dogs:
Average foster stay for critters:
Average foster stay for cats:
21 DAYS
80 DAYS
102 DAYS
Rabies Day Clinic funding Pet Food Bank container New Behavior Program Refrigeration Unit RV Outreach Program
SASF 2020 Financials
1% 2%
Merchandise Sales
.01%
In-Kind Donations
Organization Donations
INCOME Individual Donations
$223,297 $101,457
Corporate Donations
$62,480
Organization Donations
$9,750
Merchandise Sales
$4,333
In-Kind Donations
$1,200
TOTAL INCOME:
Investment Income
16%
Auction & Event Net Revenue
Investment Income
.005%
$321
$402,838
Corporate Donations
INCOME
55%
Individual Donations
25%
Auction & Event Net Income
EXPENSES Grants to Shelter Operational Expenses Fundraising Expenses
TOTAL EXPENSES:
*$244,715
$49,621
5%
Fundraising Expenses
$12,404
$200,387
18%
Operational Expenses
CHANGE IN NET ASSETS:
$202,451
NET ASSETS:
$812,590
(AS OF 12/31/2020)
*Includes $106,353 in grants returned to SASF
EXPENSES
77%
Grants to Shelter
FROM
SEVERE NEGLECT TO EXPERT CARE
“In my time in this profession, including nearly two decades as an investigator and trainer, I have seen many things that have been shocking, disturbing and that I cannot unsee. When I was taken through the [property] … I felt an overwhelming sense of sadness and suffering that I will never unfeel.” —Ann Graves, Director, SAS
To read the Seattle Times article on the West Seattle cruelty case please go to: https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/ crime/animal-cruelty-cases-spike-in-king-county-prosecutors-and-animal-service-organizations-consider-pandemics-role/
In 2020 SAS and SASF saw an alarming increase (20%+) in felony cruelty cases. In October 2020, SAS received a call from the Seattle Police Department describing a horrific animal abuse situation uncovered in West Seattle. SAS Animal Care Officers could never have imagined the indescribable horror they witnessed. Because of donors like you, 220 animals were rescued. They were given medical attention and, for the first time in their lives, a chance at finding a loving forever home. Unfortunately, the remains of even more animals were found on the premises. If you are concerned for the welfare of an animal, please contact SAS immediately at 206-386-7387, and help us save those who do not have a voice. In fall of 2020, SAS was alerted by a concerned and vigilant neighbor of a hoarding incident and potential animal cruelty case in West Seattle. In October, with the support of the Seattle Police Department, SAS was able to successfully execute a search warrant and bring more than 220 animals to the shelter for proper care. A dozen SAS staff were involved in the intake including animal officers and veterinary staff. The animals retrieved from the property included 77 rabbits, 128 guinea pigs, seven chickens, two mice, two chinchillas, three dogs, and three guinea fowl. The animals were treated for severe neglect and malnourishment. When the shelter shared the intake story and a list of resources on social media, they received a massive outpouring of support from the community. “We received hundreds of items including critter cages, food, enrichment items, scales and medical supplies. Our Amazon wish list sold out twice!” says SAS DeputyDirector, Jocelyn Bouchard. SASF funding was also used to purchase bedding, medical supplies, and other supplies for the animals. Due to the nature of the case, the animals were officially surrendered to SAS in January 2021. The shelter then worked to get several animals who had been taken in, released to people with ownership claims. After sorting that out, SAS reached out to the animal welfare community and partners to get support with ongoing care and outcomes for the remaining animals. SAS was again overwhelmed with the community response. Over 130 animals from this case were transferred to other organiza-
tions for continued care and subsequent adoption. Those organizations were Center Valley Animal Rescue; Everett Animal Shelter; Humane Society Skagit Valley; Humane Society for Tacoma and Pierce County; Kitsap Humane Society; Olympic Peninsula Humane Society; PAWS of Grays Harbor; Rabbit Meadows; Sammamish Animal Sanctuary; Seattle Humane Society; Tiny Tails and Scales Rescue; and the Whatcom Humane Society. “The shelter supported these partner organizations in their continued care by providing veterinary support and training, specifically in the spaying and neutering of the rabbits from the intake case. Rabbits are very fragile and spaying and neutering these gentle animals requires a special skillset that both of our SAS veterinarians have. By providing this training to these partner organizations, we were able to get the procedures done quicker and helped increase the skillset and capacity for other organizations. This, in turn, helps increase the overall capacity for these procedures in the community in the future.” —Jocelyn Bouchard , SAS Deputy Director The veterinarians that donated their time to come to SAS and assist with these surgeries included Dr. Katie Kuehl; Seattle Humane Society, Dr. Irene Yen; Independent Relief Veterinarian; and Dr. Corrine Fry, Humane Society for Tacoma and Pierce County. Thanks to the hard work of shelter staff, our donors, and overwhelming community support, more than 220 abused animals received the supportive and proper care they needed.
2020 Seattle Animal Shelter in Service
273 DOGS ADOPTED
375 CATS ADOPTED
INVESTIGATED
636
ANIMAL CRUELTY CASES
PERFORMED
818
SURGERIES INCLUDING SPAY & NEUTER CLINIC
For animals currently available for adoption visit:
www.seattle.gov/animal-shelter/adopt http://petango.com/Seattleanimalshelter
REUNITED
316
LOST PETS WITH THEIR OWNERS
125
RESCUED
CRITTERS ADOPTED
510
INJURED WILDLIFE
675
X-RAYS TAKEN
4,741
SHELTER VET EXAMS
MEETING COMMUNITY NEEDS WITH
PET FOOD BANKS
“People who came across us at the mobile food banks were thrilled at the resource. One young man who initially seemed irritated at the activity in the parking lot we were operating out of, quickly pulled into the queue when he realized what was happening. He thanked me profusely on his way back out, telling me he was literally going to spend his last few dollars on pet food and now, thanks to the food bank, they could all eat.” —Jocelyn Bouchard, Deputy Director SAS
2020 was a year that presented many challenges and difficulties for the community. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, many pet owners were facing (and continue to face) financial difficulties that left them worried about how they may be able to support and care for their animals. Thankfully, with the financial support of SASF, the shelter has been able to run a successful onsite pet food bank throughout the pandemic to support those in need. In accordance with safety precautions and guidelines, the food bank at SAS operates on a byappointment visiting system for those interested in taking advantage of the pet resources available. From May through December 2020, the shelter made 80 appointments to serve 58 individuals, 70 cats, and 57 dogs. Funding from SASF has been used to fund the storage container as well as the food and supplies within it. Thanks to this funding, the shelter has provided the following to the Seattle Community. • • • • •
421 pounds of dry cat food 649 cans of wet cat food 220 pounds of cat litter 937 pounds of dry dog food 167 cans of wet dog food
This dedication from SAS and SASF to help struggling pet owners has not gone unnoticed. “Everyone I have interacted with is grateful for the support,” shares SAS Deputy Director Jocelyn Bouchard. In addition to the shelter’s onsite food bank, SAS partnered with other local shelters and animal welfare organizations to run mobile food banks that widen and strengthen the safety net for the community during these difficult times. SAS staff made up a portion of the workforce at the mobile food banks, along with staff from other partner organizations, to keep things running smoothly. They helped with wayfinding, general onsite management, and the physical loading and handing off of resources. On average each event fed over 190 animals Thanks to the combined support and efforts of SAS and SASF, community needs continue to be met, even during these difficult and impactful times.
History of SASF Donor-Funded Accomplishments
2020
Here is a summary of what you have helped accomplish over the past ten years by supporting and donating to SASF. We could never have done it without you, and we hope that you will continue to be an essential supporter of the Seattle Animal Shelter.
Funded the Owner Support Program Completed construction of the permanent onsite dog walking area Reallocated and increased funding towards animal cruelty cases
2011
2012
2013
2014
2015
Inception of the Animal Health and Safety Program
Construction of the Dog Kennel Doors
Construction of the Cat and Critter Rooms
Support for Development of the Fospice Care Program
Construction of the onsite Veterinary Clinic
Inception of the Sponsored Adoption Program
Construction of the Cat Kennels
Construction of the Meet & Greet Room
Support for Development of the Owner Support Program
Event Tent
Inception of the Outreach and Training Program
Professional Digital Camera for Cruelty Investigations
Inception of the Quality of Life Improvements Program
Completion of the Critter Room, Cat Rooms, and Meet & Greet Room
Inception of the Licensing Assistance Program
2016
2017
2018
2019
Launch of the Behavioral Training and Assessment Program
Purchase of Medical Equipment and Supplies for the Shelter Medicine Program
Construction of the onsite X-ray suite dedicated to retired Seattle Police K-9 Officer Ziva
Fully supported the Behavioral Modification program
Funded the construction of an onsite X-ray suite dedcated to retired Seattle Police K-9 Officer Ziva
Support for the Behavior Modification Program
New Dog Walking Area Spay & Neuter and Licensing Assistance Program Feline Fospice Care Program (foster-hospice)
Support for Safe Keeping Program
Funded new permanent onsite dog walking area named in honor of the volunteer Fit with Fido running team
Became owner and producer of the annual Furry 5K
DONATE AT:
www.seattleanimalshelterfoundation.org
JOIN THE TEAM Our talented, dedicated, and passionate
All gifts to SASF are tax deductible. Your funds stay
volunteers are at the heart of what we do.
local and make a difference for Seattle animals.
info@seattleanimalshelterfoundation.org
Contributors:
Seattle Animal
Sue Boivin Taylor Laidley
Shelter Foundation PO Box 99006 Seattle, WA
Alice Ven
98139-0006
Jennifer Carson
All animal images are of SAS animals currently in foster care, at the shelter, or who have found their forever homes.