Pleasanton's Valley Humane Society (VHS) offers a wealth of programs to help pets and their people stay together. When that is not possible, it also matches responsible pet-seeking individuals and families with cats and dogs. In Northern California and in the Tri-Valley, there is currently a surplus of wonderful adoptable pets that need forever homes.

By state law, animals must be spayed or neutered before they can be adopted. The Phil Schultz Veterinary Surgery Center, which VHS opened in May 2023, plays an important role in animal health by providing high-quality spay and neuter services to California animal shelters as well as the public. Since it opened, the Surgery Center has done more than 8,300 surgeries. 

VHS plans to launch a new field veterinary program in August. The program will bring basic veterinary care to the pets of at-risk community members who are already receiving services through another nonprofit. The program will include offering age-appropriate vaccinations, microchipping, and medical check-ups to these animals.

Melanie Sadek, who is President of VHS, has been in animal welfare for 13 years and comes from a Health and Human Services background. Sadek has long dreamed of integrated services for people and their pets. The new field program does just that. It also complements the nonprofit's existing AniMeals program, which redistributes at no charge over 250,000 donated pet meals each year by working with partner organizations such as food banks.

"When we're dealing with food insecurity, a lot of funding is distributed throughout the country to make sure people are fed. But it doesn't include animals," says Sadek. "Housing, domestic violence, and other issues that have animal components receive little notice. We've got people who have been in a domestic violence situation who are living out of their cars. They brought their animals with them so the animals wouldn't continue to be abused. And now nobody will give them housing because they won't accept the animals."

Sadek is working to change that as President of the California Animal Welfare Association as well as in her role at VHS. A recent bequest to the group is being used to launch the field program, but additional donations will be needed. VHS recently created a medical assistance fund, which will help  support the field program as well as help offset the cost of surgeries for low-income individuals receiving vet care at the Surgery Center. 

"This is a new program for us, and we are very excited," notes Sadek. "The cost of vet care for fixed-income community members is an obstacle. This impacts a person's mental health, and can lead to them sacrificing their own care so their pets are helped." 

VHS receives no government funding and relies on community support to operate. Such support will be welcome at the nonprofit's 10th annual Tails at Twilight fundraiser, which will be held this year on Saturday, July 13, at Casa Real in Pleasanton. The event's theme is the Roaring 20s and includes a champagne reception. Ticket sales end on June 29, 2024.

"Pets are part of our family, regardless of our income or housing situation," Sadek adds. "In some cases, they may be the only family someone has. Yet there are limited resources and often barriers to provide the care they need. We believe no loved animal should be separated from their family."

For more information about Valley Humane Society, please visit valleyhumane.org.

To buy tickets for Tails at Twilight, please visit valleyhumane.org/about/tails-at-twilight.

Photo by Bruce Warrington on Unsplash