Twenty-two years ago this month, the UC Davis Koret Shelter Medicine Program was born, the first of its kind in the world, but luckily not the last.
One year ago on Valentine’s Day, the KSMP came together with shelters, partner organizations, California changemakers and allies for people and pets to Share the Love and launch California for All Animals, the first state-funded program of its kind to unite and amplify the work of California animal shelters to achieve our shared goal of matching every animal in need with the right outcome through the right care, delivered in the right place and at the right time, and to help communities achieve the state’s policy goal that no adoptable or treatable dog or cat should be euthanized.
We are thrilled to have awarded over $15 million in grant funding to shelters and animal control agencies in Cal for All Animals’ first year. This February 14, we’re reflecting on what love looks like through a new edition of the #allthenews newsletter:
- Love looks like 204 animal shelters and partner organizations from communities up and down the state joining Cal for All Animals last year.
- Love looks like shelters dreaming up innovative approaches and forging new partnerships to expand spay/neuter capacity at a critical time.
- Love looks like a record-breaking number of California animal shelters, foster-based organizations, and public charities focused on keeping pets and people together registering for the 2023 Open Arms Challenge to pilot new approaches that open doors to more adopters and volunteers and welcome their entire community.
- Love looks like collaborating to understand challenges that impact us all, including the veterinary shortage confirmed by a statewide study, and working together to develop and advocate for short- and long-term solutions.
- Love looks like telling and amplifying stories that reflect our compassion-forward values and celebrate the powerful bonds that shape our communities and connect us all to one another.
- Love is acknowledging that no matter our circumstances or individual differences, we all want to see animals thrive in their homes and with their people, and together we can help make that happen. Because that’s the mark of a movement, as activist Loretta Ross says: many people thinking different thoughts and moving in the same direction.
A lot has changed in the last two decades of shelter medicine. Our collective commitment to a humane-hearted California that builds well-being for animals and people, inside the shelter and out, has only gotten stronger. Here’s to all we can build together in the year ahead!
