Gunnar before and after ringworm treatment
A Testament to Resilience
Gunnar came into our care in November with one of the most severe cases of ringworm we’ve ever seen; when viewed under a woods lamp, you could see that he was completely covered in it. He began treatment at HSSV and was one of over 130 animals evacuated in December when a fire damaged 50% of our facility.
A lot happened in the following weeks, but our dedication to our shelter animals has always been top of mind. Even though it was a tough case, and despite the fire, Gunnar completed his two-month-long treatment at HSSV with the support of a foster family – and we’re happy to report he went home just this week.
Gunnar hung in there and so have we – even with half our facility rendered unusable, we are continuing to Save Lives, Keep Families Together, and Change the Game for pets and people in Silicon Valley and beyond.
Every day, we see animals arrive at our shelter with uncertain pasts—lost, injured, or surrendered through no fault of their own. And yet, time and time again, they show us what resilience looks like. They don’t dwell on what they’ve lost; they focus on what’s in front of them. That same resilience has carried us through the past two months. While the fire changed our landscape, it did not change our mission. We’ve faced tough decisions, but each step forward allows us to rebuild with purpose.
A map of the HSSV campus, with fire damaged and affected areas marked in red and pink.
The Aftermath: Assessing the Damage
Though it may not appear so from outside, fire and water damage to the interior of our facility was extensive and has impacted several critical areas, rendering them unusable until repairs can be made. Our timeline for recovery is long – much of the equipment damaged is specialized and will take a long time to replace.
Areas at HSSV destroyed by the fire include:
- Medical Center and Lobby, including all medical equipment and storage
- 70% of cat housing
- 80% of dog housing
- 100% of west wing medical isolation rooms
In the aftermath of the fire, major changes to our operations had to be made for us to continue our work – including creating temporary office space for staff whose work areas were impacted by the fire, moving most animals in our care into foster homes, and relocating service areas for Medical and Community Services.
Demolition crew clean up debris during renovations.
Making Difficult Decisions: Navigating the Roadblocks
In this ‘new normal’ and with very limited shelter capacity for the foreseeable future, some tough decisions had to be made. This includes the necessary transition of Sunnyvale’s stray animal intake from HSSV to Santa Clara County Animal Services – so that HSSV can best prioritize resources to continue its lifesaving work effectively.
Signs of Renewal: Progress and Recovery Efforts
Despite the setbacks created by the fire over the past few months, HSSV has continued to make significant progress. We found homes for over 130 animals over the holidays, creating precious space at our shelter to allow weekly rescue transports to resume so that we can continue to relieve overcrowding in our partner shelters. We’ve partnered with shelters like San Jose Animal Care Center, East Bay SPCA and Pets in Need to utilize their medical facilities and ensure continued care for our animals, and we’ve pivoted quickly to continue to offer spay/neuter services, wellness exams, and vaccine clinics to pets in our community.
Expanding Our Impact Beyond the Shelter
Our recovery process has even inspired new ways to serve pets and people – expanding our impact far beyond shelter walls. In this time, HSSV’s Pet Pantry served it’s millionth meal to pets and families in need, launched the Home to Home program, which empowers foster families to find adoptive families for the animals in their care, so these animals can get a second chance without spending a single night at our facility. We’ve also expanded accessible veterinary services out in the community, reaching five new neighborhoods in San Jose and Gilroy.
Looking Ahead: Rebuilding with Purpose
As we continue to rebuild our facility, we are focusing resources on continuing medical services and optimizing our foster and behavioral programs to help Save Lives. We’re expanding programs that Keep Families Together and prevent shelter surrender in the first place – and we’re increasing TNR efforts for community cats to further improve the well-being of animals in Silicon Valley.
How You Can Help: Be Part of the Next Chapter
Humane Society Silicon Valley is so much more than just a building. It’s the staff, volunteers, donors, adopters and partners who power our lifesaving work and allow us to keep moving forward. In the week leading up to Giving Day on March 26th, we’re inviting you, our community, to support our recovery efforts as we continue to find new and innovative ways to help pets and people. You can support our efforts by making a gift, volunteering to foster a shelter animal, or spreading the word by sharing our posts on social media. Every contribution makes a difference!
Hope for the Future
Every loss is an opportunity for growth. We are optimistic and excited about the new ideas and programs that will be born out of this fire incident. How could we not be? We’ve got the best donors, volunteers, and staff around! The road to recovery will be long, but we are not remaining idle – and we are confident that HSSV will rebuild stronger than ever before.