Across the country, millions of animals will enter shelter doors this year, each with a story and each met by someone determined to help. Behind those doors are the people who do the quiet, essential work of animal welfare: comforting scared pets, treating wounds, reuniting families, and creating new beginnings.
During National Animal Shelter Appreciation Week (November 3–9), we honor them, the staff, volunteers, and community partners whose compassion drives the progress of animal welfare nationwide.
At Humane Society Silicon Valley (HSSV), we are proud to be part of this national movement to create a better future for pets and the people who love them. From medical care and adoption services to community outreach and shelter partnerships, our work reflects the same innovation, resilience, and hope that define shelters everywhere.
This week is more than a celebration. It’s a reflection on how far we’ve come and a recognition of the dedication and heart that continue to move our field forward.
Where Every Life Matters
Animal shelters are the foundation of animal welfare. They provide safety for lost, injured, and abandoned pets, offering medical treatment, behavioral support, and a bridge to loving homes. They also strengthen their communities through education, access to veterinary care, and resources that keep pets with the families who love them.
At HSSV, our impact extends well beyond our shelter walls. We support animals and their people at every stage of life through adoption and fostering, affordable veterinary care, community pet food programs, and partnerships that help under-resourced shelters across the region. Each program, from spay and neuter surgeries to our Garden Cat Adoption Program, helps reduce intake, nurture the human-animal bond, and ensure every pet has a path to safety.
Behind the Scenes: The Realities of Shelter Work
Across the country, shelters are facing growing challenges. Intake numbers remain high as families struggle with housing instability and veterinary costs. Nationally, animal intake has increased by more than ten percent since 2021, and many shelters are operating at or beyond capacity.
The work is emotionally demanding, with long hours, limited resources, and heartbreaking decisions. Yet through it all, shelter staff and volunteers show unwavering dedication. They celebrate every small victory: a dog learning to trust again, a kitten gaining strength, a family reunited.
At HSSV, we see that dedication every day in our own team. Naadia found her calling in veterinary medicine and now cares for shelter animals with empathy and precision. Kyoko helps people navigate uncertainty and keep their pets, even when life gets hard. Hailey guides new adopters through the joyful process of welcoming a pet home. Their compassion mirrors that of our partners and reminds us why this work matters.
Partnerships like Rescue Run extend that care even further, strengthening the entire sheltering community and ensuring no one stands alone in this lifesaving effort.
Collaboration in Action
Behind every successful program are the people and partnerships that make it possible. Across the country, shelters rely on one another to share expertise, transfer animals, and create space for those still waiting for help.
In Northern California, our collaborations with San José Animal Care Center, Contra Costa Animal Services, and Santa Clara Animal Control show what is possible when compassion meets coordination. These shelters often operate beyond capacity, taking in hundreds of animals each week. Together, we make sure healthy and treatable pets receive the care and opportunity they deserve.
Farther south, our ongoing partnership with Tulare County Animal Services continues to make a lifesaving difference for animals and staff alike. As Cassie Heffington, Animal Care Manager at Tulare County Animal Services, shared:
“Partnering with HSSV has allowed us to find placement for countless puppies that otherwise would have proven very challenging to place. Loading the HSSV van is always a welcome relief to tired staff. Even though many animals come through our doors, we strive to treat each one as an individual and remain committed to the best-matched outcome possible for every pet.”
These collaborations show the strength of a shared mission. Whether it’s transporting animals, expanding access to veterinary care, or supporting community programs, our collective efforts are saving more lives than ever before.
Together, We Save Lives
Sheltering has never been easy. Across the nation, animal welfare professionals face rising veterinary costs, staffing shortages, and emotional fatigue while intakes continue to climb. Yet their dedication never wavers.
At HSSV, that same spirit shines through every member of our team. Our staff and volunteers show up day after day to heal, comfort, and connect. Their stories, and those of shelter workers everywhere, remind us that behind every adoption number is someone who believes in possibility and works tirelessly to make it real.
As we celebrate National Animal Shelter Appreciation Week, we invite you to join us in this lifesaving work:
- Adopt or foster. Give a pet in need a loving home or provide temporary care that helps them heal.
- From walking dogs to helping at events, your time and compassion make a difference.
- Your support funds medical care, community outreach, and programs that keep pets and families together.
- Share stories, spread awareness, and help others see the power of adoption and shelter work.
To every shelter staff member, volunteer, and partner across the country: thank you. Your compassion saves lives, eases suffering, and builds the foundation for a brighter future for pets and people alike.
When shelters succeed, communities thrive. Together, we are creating a stronger, kinder world for animals and the people who love them. Learn more about our lifesaving programs.
