For Gee Zinza, behavior work isn’t about “fixing” animals. It’s about listening, translating, and meeting them where they are. As a Behavior Specialist at Humane Society Silicon Valley, Gee’s days are anything but predictable. Her role spans hands-on behavior work with dogs and cats on the Behavior Team’s radar, training consultations for adopters, post-adoption support, and ongoing guidance for foster … Read More
Pets and People: How Cecilia Sternzon Builds Trust, Confidence, and Lasting Change in Dog Training
Cecilia Sternzon has spent a lifetime paying attention to how dogs learn—and just as importantly, how people do. Her relationship with training began early. At 12 years old, she was already working with her own dogs, curious about how communication, trust, and behavior fit together. That curiosity stayed with her through college and resurfaced more formally in 1992, when she … Read More
Celebrating National Train Your Dog Month at HSSV
January’s National Train Your Dog Month™ is a reminder that training is not just about teaching cues, it is about building communication, confidence, and connection. Led by the Association of Professional Dog Trainers (APDT), the campaign celebrates positive, science-based training methods that strengthen the bond between dogs and their people while promoting safety, trust, and lifelong success. This philosophy is … Read More
A Lifeline on Wheels: How HSSV’s Regional Rescue Saves Lives Across the Bay Area
Every week, a white vehicle with Humane Society Silicon Valley’s (HSSV) logo pulls into the parking lot of a crowded municipal shelter. For the animals inside—dogs, cats, puppies, and kittens—the ride marks the start of a new chapter. This is HSSV’s Regional Rescue Program in action: a lifeline for overwhelmed shelters and a second chance for animals to find a … Read More
Growing Together at HSSV: Careers Built on Passion and Purpose
With a culture of continuous learning, HSSV fosters a growth-oriented work environment for staff at all levels and functions. Investing time and resources into professional development not only supports the individual, but our organization as a whole. Our commitment to our values and working agreements, shines through our staff and the opportunities to increase their impact. Learn about the … Read More
Taking Care of Nala and Bear
Find out how Humane Society Silicon Valley is helping to keep at-risk animals like Nala and Bear out of shelters and where they belong – with the people who love them most.
It Took a Village to Heal Smokey
Keep reading to find out how Humane Society Silicon Valley partnered with the City of San Jose Animal Care & Services and San Diego Humane Society to give Smokey a second chance. 10-year-old Smokey was found as a stray wandering the streets in September of 2023 and brought to City of San Jose Animal Care & Services (SJACS) for help. … Read More
Michelle, Nick & Papi’s Story
Michelle and her father Nick suffered a tremendous loss when her mother Sandy passed away suddenly. Their greatest comfort came in the smallest of packages – their dog Papi, adopted from HSSV in 2020. This is their story: “In the summer of 2020, we had to put my parents’ chihuahua Fancy to sleep. They lasted about a month before my … Read More
Echo Locates the Perfect Family
Echo is a white dog with pointed ears and very wolf-like features around his face. At first glance, he appears cross eyed or as if one eye is bigger than the other. A special boy, he was born with abnormally formed eyes and is mostly blind, with limited vision in one eye. Echo was transferred into HSSV from a local … Read More