San Diego Humane Society entered Giving Tuesday facing one of its most challenging years in recent memory — with adoptions dropping, fewer stray pets being reunited with their owners, and shelter populations continuing to rise. This year, the organization has operated at roughly 167 percent capacity for dogs and 125 percent for cats, a slight increase over last year.
Adoptions have fallen by about 10 percent, owner reclaims are down 4 percent, and animals are staying in care longer, particularly large dogs whose average stay has climbed to 57 days.
San Diego Humane Society raised $186,576.95 on Dec. 2. With a $50,000 match from The JEM Project, the total climbed to $236,576.95 — a 27 percent increase over 2024. The number of individual donations also grew, with a 20 percent jump and 213 more donors participating than last year.
Nina Thompson, media spokesperson for SDHS, explained the impact of Giving Tuesday contributions.
“San Diego Humane Society cares for about 40,000 animals each year, and Giving Tuesday contributions directly support that work. The funds help provide medical treatment, daily care, food, enrichment, supplies, and safe housing, as well as the ongoing maintenance of our campuses and facilities. They also allow us to serve as a critical safety net for local pet families by offering pet food, low-cost veterinary assistance, and other community support services to those who would otherwise struggle to afford care.”
Thompson also described the challenges facing the organization: “Like many organizations, we are facing significant increases in the cost of supplies, veterinary care, and staffing. At the same time, pets — especially large dogs — are staying in our care longer as adoptions have declined about 10 percent. Longer stays require more resources, from food and enrichment to medical care. As a result, every dollar simply does not stretch as far as it once did, even as the needs of the animals remain high.”
She detailed some of the unseen operational costs: “Being over-capacity for three consecutive years has created significant challenges. We are constantly rearranging temporary housing solutions for large dogs. Some kennels we initially expected to use only short-term have become permanent out of necessity. Maintaining strict cleanliness is essential for disease management in a high-population shelter. That requires proper drainage and dedicated spaces that serve as ‘clean breaks’ for animals. With an increased length of stay for our large dogs (57 days on average), we must invest more in enrichment to ensure their well-being and prevent decline while they remain in our care.”
One example of the impact of donor support is Tim Tim, a 13-year-old Shih Tzu with serious health issues found abandoned in a bathroom. After receiving medical care — including multiple dental extractions, removal of a mass, and treatment for a heart murmur — Tim Tim recovered and was later adopted into a loving home.
The JEM Project provided the matching gift. Founder Jessica Manning said her support stems from personal values: “Animals have always been a constant in my life and bring a huge sense of joy. A belief of mine [is] that it should be the rule, not the exception, for us to help and give back where we can. How we treat our animals, and the pets and people who are vulnerable, says a lot about our society. Helping to fund the More Humane for the Holidays campaign allows San Diegans’ generous contributions to be doubled for San Diego Humane Society.”
Manning added: “When I started my foundation, I wanted a more personal connection with the charities we support. I love San Diego Humane Society because they set the standard. One of my favorite programs at SDHS is community services like affordable vet care and the community pet pantry. They make sure people don’t have to surrender their pets, who are family members, just because they need help with food or medical care. I encourage other organizations and individuals to join me in supporting these vital programs in San Diego.”
San Diego Humane Society says community support remains critical as it continues to navigate growing needs, rising costs, and increasing animal populations across multiple campuses.
San Diego Humane Society currently has 822 pets available for adoption. To learn more about them, visit sdhumane.org/adopt. Or, if you would like to contribute to San Diego Humane Society, visit sdhumane.org/donate.
