As SDHS warns of dogs in the streets and gutted enforcement, critics reveal a nonprofit empire built on fear, bloated salaries, and a war against transparency
Outstanding expose of massive grift and tactics to extract taxpayer and donor funds while abandoning commitments to the detriment of animals and communities.
Phoenix Maricopa County is similar. Arizona legislators are inert, incompetent, submissive and can't perform OVERSIGHT on AZHS and pass basic corrective legislation on uncontrolled breeding and s/n funding. Bloated overpaid AZHS execs (CEO 397K +++annual compensation) catering to Scottsdale elite fundraisers while Maricopa County Shelters a widely acknowledged humane catastrophe with exploding stray populations in other counties also.
This is another bullseye article with important documentation needing broad exposure. Thank you Ed and contributing critics!
We'll make contact with authorities and good luck in Sacramento....we'll be watching from Arizona!
Thank you, Carmen—I really appreciate your passion and perspective. The parallels with Arizona are striking and reinforce how widespread these issues are when oversight breaks down. Grateful to stand alongside advocates like you who are pushing for real reform and keeping the spotlight where it belongs.
We are heading to Sacramento tomorrow with our animal loving lobbyist to head these shysters at the pass. They have been LYING AND FEAR MONGERING to legislators too, too long.
But no more. They are going to hear from the taxpayers and animal advocates. We want a seat at the table! These fake “experts” are going to be exposed for their greed and lies.
That’s powerful—thank you, Christine, for taking the fight straight to Sacramento. Lawmakers need to hear from those who truly represent the animals and the public. Wishing you strength and clarity at the Capitol—your voice is exactly what’s needed at the table.
Thank you for summing up all of the misdeeds of the San Diego Humane Society. I didn't know that their spay/neuter program only had 20 slots per month!!!! Spay/neuter is the obvious answer to pet overpopulation. With $91 million in reserves, they can't fund more slots? A former coworker had a female pitbull mix puppy she got from her friend (out of a litter of 13). She ended up with an unaltered male dog too. She couldn't afford to get them fixed (no availability at SDHS) and just keeps them apart in a tiny apartment when the female goes in heat. Of the 13 puppies given away in the original litter, how many were fixed? Probably none. I have a friend who also has a female pit-bull mix. She tried to get it fixed at the SDHS and was unable to get an appointment. She takes the dog to a dog park and lets it run free. This is why the San Diego Humane Society is full of dogs. So many unaltered dogs having accidental litters owned by people who make less than $38K a year...
Thank you, Suzanne. You’ve illustrated exactly why limited spay/neuter access is such a critical—and overlooked—part of this conversation. Stories like the ones you shared make the consequences real. With the resources SDHS has, there's no excuse for not investing meaningfully in prevention.
$38,000 PER MONTH salary??? That's insane, even in San Diego! (I live 60 miles from NYC, so I'm very familiar with high cost-of-living.) How many people in San Diego area make that kind of monthly salary working paid & unpaid overtime, 2 or 3 jobs, etc.? When so much animal rescue is carried out by unpaid volunteers who spend their own money to do it? Cut all those executive salaries by 2/3 to start with. Then put that money toward compensating vet staff at market rates to do spay-neuter!
he got about 60 vets to sign a letter last year…saying we shouldn’t pass a “spay/neuter - shelter transparency bill AB2265. Because in part there is a shortage of vets? Anyone see the irony of this? These are NOT PROBLEM SOLVERS. He also claimed in writing - that staff would be bullied if a transparency bill was passed ( I have copies.. they were posted on the SD Humane website)
Then, after posting that…he and 4 or 5 of his pals (staff paid by tax and donor $$$) trotted themselves to Sacramento to perpetrate the same lie along with some added fear mongering… to legislators to KILL AB2265. We paid for that pack of liars to stay in hotels, eat, drink and travel to LOBBY AGAINST ANIMALS! This collusion runs deep and wide 👿
Get the BFS OUT of animal control and the shelter scam industry! KCMO did right by kicking out its incompetent pitbull pushing KCPP ACO and we will now move to ACO run by the police department which will now focus on actually removing dangerous animals from the community they should prioritize protecting instead of “live release” statistics!
Thanks, Robin. It’s encouraging to hear about communities like KCMO taking bold steps toward real public safety and accountability. Shifting the focus back to responsible enforcement and away from metrics games is exactly what more cities need to consider.
Dare I say "corrupt" comes to mind when I read this article. This is the type of organization that gives others a bad name; and their peers who do operate ethically and responsibly should all call them out. I was disgusted when I read the details, knowing how animals suffer while admin is grossly overpaid. These folks are worse than animal abusers because they betray and exploit the very beings whom they have been tasked to help.
Thank you, Annoula. Your passion for accountability in animal welfare comes through loud and clear. It’s heartbreaking when those entrusted with protecting animals instead prioritize image and influence. I hope this piece encourages more voices—especially from within the industry—to speak up and demand better.
This is a fantastic, well-researched piece and you've woven clarity, authority, and compassion throughout. San Diego needs more journalism like this.
Have you considered pitching this to the Union-Tribune or a local news outlet? This story deserves wider attention to spark reform in how San Diego handles animal welfare.
Thank you so much, Marc—that means a lot. Animal Politics is LA-based but reaches an international audience, and we’re definitely exploring ways to broaden the reach of this piece. I agree: San Diego deserves transparency and real reform when it comes to animal welfare. Appreciate you being part of that conversation.
The news media is incredibly biased in San Diego (not that we are alone in this). NBC in Tucson and Riverside have been examples of true reporting. Sharing facts, not fearful of advertising funding cuts, and asks hard questions. We do not have that in San Diego but we desperately need it. The UT is the closest we come to non biased and they still write fluffy pieces but Emily Alveranga did do a great job asking questions about the 318 and reporting on it. That is why people like Ed are so desperately needed. Word has to get out about the corruption.
Thank you for sharing your thoughts, Kelly. I agree—independent, fact-based journalism is essential, especially on issues as important as animal welfare. I appreciate your kind words and support, and I’m grateful for reporters like Emily Alveranga who ask tough questions and dig deeper. The more we can encourage honest reporting and open dialogue, the better chance we have of creating real change. Thank you for being part of this effort!
New fluffy piece in Saturday's UT. SDHS & the Del Mar fair are pairing up for Super Adoption themed fair. No mention that all of the cute farm animals on display in the barns are going to be auctioned off for slaughter to applause for the kids who raised them. Nothing about the turkey legs grilling on giant smokey BBQs and the human barbarians chomping on them...of course they will do the yearly article on the chicken sandwich served on doughnuts, wrapped in kool-aid flavored churros and bacon, etc...
I volunteered at two dog adoption events at the Del Mar Fair (which the fair holds every year in the petting zoo area). One year we adopted out zero dogs. The other year we adopted out two. Good luck with that.
Yes, please! So many people are hoodwinked by the "no-kill" designation. There is currently a post on Nextdoor about the Humane Society "going away" due to budget cuts. The poster encouraged everyone to go to the City Council meeting to complain. The San Diego Union Tribune and local news does so many puff pieces on the SDHS.
Thank you for bringing this up, Suzanne! You’re absolutely right—there’s a lot of confusion around what “no-kill” really means, and unfortunately, the label is often used for PR while the real issues go unreported. It’s so important for people to look beyond the headlines and ask tough questions about where the money goes and what’s actually happening to animals in our community. I appreciate you helping to spread awareness and encourage more honest conversations about these critical issues!
The amount of fear mongering SDHS puts out is ridiculous. They have the funds to do right by animals and solve the problem. They simply don’t want to give up their cash cow because nothing opens pocket books like a crisis and seeing sad dog and cat eyes staring at you. They have not one, but two, VPs of Philanthropy and Communications, which is how they control the narrative and rake in millions a year. The fact to no one lost their job over the small pet transport tells you who they are and what they are trying to protect. If anyone did their job as incompetently as Jessica Des Lauriers Sales, they would have been fired. One of the commitments they made after learning the animals were “frozen off” was to end the sale of small pets in pet stores. When asked about that recently they said “we will share and promote but we are not doing any of the heavy lifting.” Of course they won’t because they have a PetCo area on their main campus. They will take PetCo Love’s money while making empty promise just to look good. It’s all smoke and mirrors. Protect the empire and funds at all cost should be their mission statement because compassion for animals is a lie. Their board of directors supports them blindly (or maybe they are as complicit) and refuses to engage with the public. Zero transparency with our tax money.
Thank you, Kelly—your insight and detail are powerful. You’ve highlighted exactly why transparency and accountability matter, especially when public trust and animal lives are at stake. It’s voices like yours that help cut through the smoke and push this conversation forward.
Just to clarify—my concerns aren't directed at the staff or volunteers at MCACC or Arizona Humane. From what I've seen, many of them genuinely care and are deeply passionate about helping animals. It's all the other systemic and bureaucratic issues that are frustrating.
Thank you for clarifying, Tina. I completely agree—many staff and volunteers at MCACC and AZH are incredibly dedicated and do amazing work for the animals. The real frustration is with the larger systemic and bureaucratic challenges that make their jobs harder. I appreciate you highlighting that distinction!
Wow, sounds just like AZ Humane and MCACC in many respects. It's just awful that these organizations never do right by the animals or the animal welfare advocates.
For me, It is beyond obvious at this point they will DO WHATEVER IT TAKES to keep their jobs. For just one single example: not spaying/neutering animals continues to feed the pipeline.
The California shelters are managed by glorified dog catchers without any integrity. Paid for with our tax dollars. It’s time for a seat at the table and to wrestle back CONTROL. I don’t want my tax dollars feeding this beast any longer. SD Humane had $ 91,000,000 in reserves at the end of 2023 on their 990’s. Hoarding cash.
Don't forget that SDHS recently gloated in one of their many, many fundraising emails that they had nearly reached their $250 MILLION fundraising goal. You read that correctly: $250 MILLION!!! And, yet, Weitzman, Dougherty and teams of PR and communication personnel are crying crocodile tears over their lack of resources.
It's been my observation during the 30 years that that I've been volunteering that animal welfare has never been the priority at SDHS. The mission has been about amassing dollars and building a behemoth organization through gaslighting, lobbying and lawyering. It's well past time for transparency and accountability. Now is the time for the City of San Diego to establish a forensic audit and find out where and how our taxpayer dollars are being spent. And, bring back the County to provide animal care and control. They did a much better job PLUS they understood that prevention of pet overpopulation is the solution. It would be interesting to compare how many spay/neuter rebate vouchers were distributed by the County compared to what SDHS has distributed during its reign. I developed and urged adoption of the voucher program with the Board of Supervisors. The SD Vet-Med Association was on board and it was very successful with the community - providing an incentive plus educating the public about responsible pet care. There were no strings attached to the vouchers - you just needed to be a resident served by the SD County Department of Animal Services.
Thank you, Candy—your long view and direct experience bring vital context to this conversation. That contrast between fundraising success and on-the-ground impact is exactly why we need transparency, audits, and a return to prevention-based solutions. Your leadership on the voucher program is a reminder of what real community-focused animal welfare looks like.
Thank you, Tina. You’ve captured exactly how disillusioning this system can be—especially for those who’ve spent years trying to make it better. The burnout is real, but your voice still matters. Naming these patterns and pushing for truth is what keeps the pressure on. You’re not alone in this.
It’s so disheartening the amount of money put into animal sheltering and have the outcomes we have. AZ Humane had 2 large hoarding cases of rabbits prior to the 318. The guy (Colten Jones) HSSA gave the small pets to commented about the rabbit hoarding “they found my stash house.” While others in his circle made crude comments about wanting them as feeders. A few of us tried to follow up on that and were told they were sent to rescues and the medical assistant program. The numbers didn’t add up and some of the rescues they claim to have sent them to were no longer in operation. I would bet anything AZ Humane also supplied Jones with animals to feed to snakes.
That’s deeply disturbing, Kelly. Thank you for staying on top of these details and pushing for truth. When organizations dodge accountability and the numbers don’t add up, it’s a red flag—and voices like yours are essential in making sure those red flags don’t get ignored.
These are SAME TACTICS Gary Weitzman used on the legislators in Sacramento to kill a “shelter transparency and spay/neuter “ bill last year- AB2265. FEAR MONGERING!
He is using the Cal Animals (that dangerous, power hungry shelter directors of organization of which he is a board member) playbook.
According to their IRS returns, Weitzman signed in April of 2024. San Diego Humane had HOARDED away $91,000,000 in their bank accounts.
Weitzman has used his non profit status as a shield to avoid sharing documents after he sent 320 rabbits, guinea pigs, pocket pets to their deaths on a transport to Arizona. The “largest ever” he boasted. Most (over 200) were frozen and fed to reptiles. Sent to Arizona crammed into a truck on a day it was 102 degrees in Arizona. Then engaged in a MASSIVE COVER UP THAT GOES ON EVEN UNTIL TODAY.
Weitzman also sanctioned the ILLEGAL abandonment of 18,000 friendly, tame kitties on our streets to die. Fought for his right to do that for nearly FIVE YEARS in court. Still fighting the injunction TODAY. Funny how we NEVER SAW WEITZMAN'S FACE IN COURT. Sent goons to do the dirty work.
This man claims to love animals, HE IS A VETERINARIAN who has violated his oath to care for animals.
He has LIED ON THE CONTRACTS with nearly a dozen San Diego county cities - saying he would help orphaned animals find homes. Yet he closed the CAT ADOPTION CENTERS. Systematically tossed tame, friendly adoptable cats out the back doors of our shelters… using VOLUNTEERS- armed with “scripts” (heard this in court) to read if they were caught by neighbors.🙀
We need to run this scam artist and bully out of town - PRIVATIZING IS NOT THE ANSWER!
You can call them SDHS 619. 299. 7012 to hear the script yourself when you ask about that "community cat dumping scheme" and PUSH BACK. It’s ALL ABOUT THE “BENJAMINS” WITH THEM.
We heard in court, Brian Doughtery the “donor dude”. (Paid about the same salary
as our CA Governor) that people were upset about the illegal cat dumping. He said fashioned yet another SCRIPT for staff to read to concerned callers and donors. Why is their board letting this go on?
This article really lit a fire in me. If anyone is in San Diego, we are going to protest at the San Diego Humane Society's "Walk for Animals" on May 3rd at Liberty Station from 8:00-9:30. The website shows they are halfway to their fundraising goal of $250K. Last year the stage was not covered in the back and it was the perfect opportunity to stand behind the stage and hold up protest signs while Gary Weitzman gave his speech.
Thank you for your passion and for sharing this, Suzanne! I’m inspired to see the community coming together and taking action for greater transparency and accountability. Wishing you and everyone at the protest a safe and impactful event—your voices are making a difference for San Diego’s animals. Please keep me posted on how it goes!
Thanks, Marc. It’s important to note that Koret is actually part of the Consortium, which is why we need a truly independent audit of how these grant funds are being used. Accountability is long overdue.
What about reporting to them to the state vet board? What about escalating federally? Lastly, where is the Union Tribune at on reporting this insidiousness?
This is alarming. If UC Davis and the Koret Shelter Medicine Program are responsible for administering and overseeing these funds, yet remain silent while grant money is misused or withheld from actual spay/neuter work — then we’re not just looking at local failure, we’re looking at institutional complicity. The media should be asking hard questions, and the public deserves real answers. At this point, we need oversight from outside the UC Davis Consortium. Should we escalate this federally?
Hi again Ed! I wanted to share my video I uploaded where I share my thoughts AND read your article. It’s going on FB, LinkedIn, Instagram, Tik Tok, X and here it is on YouTube for your review https://youtu.be/Bf-UYB1whg4?si=MCDF4ZoJHE4Pt5ob
Thank you so much, Marc! I really appreciate you taking the time to read my article and share your thoughtful video across so many platforms. I'm deeply humbled and honored.
I’m looking forward to watching it and hearing your perspective. Thanks again for helping to keep this important conversation going! (BTW: My last name is pronounced with a long o - Boks rhymes with Spokes... ;-)
BULLSEYE article!!! Very important documentation.
Outstanding expose of massive grift and tactics to extract taxpayer and donor funds while abandoning commitments to the detriment of animals and communities.
Phoenix Maricopa County is similar. Arizona legislators are inert, incompetent, submissive and can't perform OVERSIGHT on AZHS and pass basic corrective legislation on uncontrolled breeding and s/n funding. Bloated overpaid AZHS execs (CEO 397K +++annual compensation) catering to Scottsdale elite fundraisers while Maricopa County Shelters a widely acknowledged humane catastrophe with exploding stray populations in other counties also.
This is another bullseye article with important documentation needing broad exposure. Thank you Ed and contributing critics!
We'll make contact with authorities and good luck in Sacramento....we'll be watching from Arizona!
Thank you, Carmen—I really appreciate your passion and perspective. The parallels with Arizona are striking and reinforce how widespread these issues are when oversight breaks down. Grateful to stand alongside advocates like you who are pushing for real reform and keeping the spotlight where it belongs.
GREAT ARTICLE ED ❤️
Tina! I know. Well said!!!
We are heading to Sacramento tomorrow with our animal loving lobbyist to head these shysters at the pass. They have been LYING AND FEAR MONGERING to legislators too, too long.
But no more. They are going to hear from the taxpayers and animal advocates. We want a seat at the table! These fake “experts” are going to be exposed for their greed and lies.
That’s powerful—thank you, Christine, for taking the fight straight to Sacramento. Lawmakers need to hear from those who truly represent the animals and the public. Wishing you strength and clarity at the Capitol—your voice is exactly what’s needed at the table.
❤️
Good luck, Christine! Keep us posted.
Will do!
Thank you for summing up all of the misdeeds of the San Diego Humane Society. I didn't know that their spay/neuter program only had 20 slots per month!!!! Spay/neuter is the obvious answer to pet overpopulation. With $91 million in reserves, they can't fund more slots? A former coworker had a female pitbull mix puppy she got from her friend (out of a litter of 13). She ended up with an unaltered male dog too. She couldn't afford to get them fixed (no availability at SDHS) and just keeps them apart in a tiny apartment when the female goes in heat. Of the 13 puppies given away in the original litter, how many were fixed? Probably none. I have a friend who also has a female pit-bull mix. She tried to get it fixed at the SDHS and was unable to get an appointment. She takes the dog to a dog park and lets it run free. This is why the San Diego Humane Society is full of dogs. So many unaltered dogs having accidental litters owned by people who make less than $38K a year...
Thank you, Suzanne. You’ve illustrated exactly why limited spay/neuter access is such a critical—and overlooked—part of this conversation. Stories like the ones you shared make the consequences real. With the resources SDHS has, there's no excuse for not investing meaningfully in prevention.
$38,000 PER MONTH salary??? That's insane, even in San Diego! (I live 60 miles from NYC, so I'm very familiar with high cost-of-living.) How many people in San Diego area make that kind of monthly salary working paid & unpaid overtime, 2 or 3 jobs, etc.? When so much animal rescue is carried out by unpaid volunteers who spend their own money to do it? Cut all those executive salaries by 2/3 to start with. Then put that money toward compensating vet staff at market rates to do spay-neuter!
Weitzman is one con artist:
he got about 60 vets to sign a letter last year…saying we shouldn’t pass a “spay/neuter - shelter transparency bill AB2265. Because in part there is a shortage of vets? Anyone see the irony of this? These are NOT PROBLEM SOLVERS. He also claimed in writing - that staff would be bullied if a transparency bill was passed ( I have copies.. they were posted on the SD Humane website)
Then, after posting that…he and 4 or 5 of his pals (staff paid by tax and donor $$$) trotted themselves to Sacramento to perpetrate the same lie along with some added fear mongering… to legislators to KILL AB2265. We paid for that pack of liars to stay in hotels, eat, drink and travel to LOBBY AGAINST ANIMALS! This collusion runs deep and wide 👿
Get the BFS OUT of animal control and the shelter scam industry! KCMO did right by kicking out its incompetent pitbull pushing KCPP ACO and we will now move to ACO run by the police department which will now focus on actually removing dangerous animals from the community they should prioritize protecting instead of “live release” statistics!
Thanks, Robin. It’s encouraging to hear about communities like KCMO taking bold steps toward real public safety and accountability. Shifting the focus back to responsible enforcement and away from metrics games is exactly what more cities need to consider.
Dare I say "corrupt" comes to mind when I read this article. This is the type of organization that gives others a bad name; and their peers who do operate ethically and responsibly should all call them out. I was disgusted when I read the details, knowing how animals suffer while admin is grossly overpaid. These folks are worse than animal abusers because they betray and exploit the very beings whom they have been tasked to help.
Thank you, Annoula. Your passion for accountability in animal welfare comes through loud and clear. It’s heartbreaking when those entrusted with protecting animals instead prioritize image and influence. I hope this piece encourages more voices—especially from within the industry—to speak up and demand better.
This is a fantastic, well-researched piece and you've woven clarity, authority, and compassion throughout. San Diego needs more journalism like this.
Have you considered pitching this to the Union-Tribune or a local news outlet? This story deserves wider attention to spark reform in how San Diego handles animal welfare.
Thank you so much, Marc—that means a lot. Animal Politics is LA-based but reaches an international audience, and we’re definitely exploring ways to broaden the reach of this piece. I agree: San Diego deserves transparency and real reform when it comes to animal welfare. Appreciate you being part of that conversation.
The news media is incredibly biased in San Diego (not that we are alone in this). NBC in Tucson and Riverside have been examples of true reporting. Sharing facts, not fearful of advertising funding cuts, and asks hard questions. We do not have that in San Diego but we desperately need it. The UT is the closest we come to non biased and they still write fluffy pieces but Emily Alveranga did do a great job asking questions about the 318 and reporting on it. That is why people like Ed are so desperately needed. Word has to get out about the corruption.
Thank you for sharing your thoughts, Kelly. I agree—independent, fact-based journalism is essential, especially on issues as important as animal welfare. I appreciate your kind words and support, and I’m grateful for reporters like Emily Alveranga who ask tough questions and dig deeper. The more we can encourage honest reporting and open dialogue, the better chance we have of creating real change. Thank you for being part of this effort!
New fluffy piece in Saturday's UT. SDHS & the Del Mar fair are pairing up for Super Adoption themed fair. No mention that all of the cute farm animals on display in the barns are going to be auctioned off for slaughter to applause for the kids who raised them. Nothing about the turkey legs grilling on giant smokey BBQs and the human barbarians chomping on them...of course they will do the yearly article on the chicken sandwich served on doughnuts, wrapped in kool-aid flavored churros and bacon, etc...
I volunteered at two dog adoption events at the Del Mar Fair (which the fair holds every year in the petting zoo area). One year we adopted out zero dogs. The other year we adopted out two. Good luck with that.
Yes, please! So many people are hoodwinked by the "no-kill" designation. There is currently a post on Nextdoor about the Humane Society "going away" due to budget cuts. The poster encouraged everyone to go to the City Council meeting to complain. The San Diego Union Tribune and local news does so many puff pieces on the SDHS.
Thank you for bringing this up, Suzanne! You’re absolutely right—there’s a lot of confusion around what “no-kill” really means, and unfortunately, the label is often used for PR while the real issues go unreported. It’s so important for people to look beyond the headlines and ask tough questions about where the money goes and what’s actually happening to animals in our community. I appreciate you helping to spread awareness and encourage more honest conversations about these critical issues!
The amount of fear mongering SDHS puts out is ridiculous. They have the funds to do right by animals and solve the problem. They simply don’t want to give up their cash cow because nothing opens pocket books like a crisis and seeing sad dog and cat eyes staring at you. They have not one, but two, VPs of Philanthropy and Communications, which is how they control the narrative and rake in millions a year. The fact to no one lost their job over the small pet transport tells you who they are and what they are trying to protect. If anyone did their job as incompetently as Jessica Des Lauriers Sales, they would have been fired. One of the commitments they made after learning the animals were “frozen off” was to end the sale of small pets in pet stores. When asked about that recently they said “we will share and promote but we are not doing any of the heavy lifting.” Of course they won’t because they have a PetCo area on their main campus. They will take PetCo Love’s money while making empty promise just to look good. It’s all smoke and mirrors. Protect the empire and funds at all cost should be their mission statement because compassion for animals is a lie. Their board of directors supports them blindly (or maybe they are as complicit) and refuses to engage with the public. Zero transparency with our tax money.
Thank you, Kelly—your insight and detail are powerful. You’ve highlighted exactly why transparency and accountability matter, especially when public trust and animal lives are at stake. It’s voices like yours that help cut through the smoke and push this conversation forward.
Just to clarify—my concerns aren't directed at the staff or volunteers at MCACC or Arizona Humane. From what I've seen, many of them genuinely care and are deeply passionate about helping animals. It's all the other systemic and bureaucratic issues that are frustrating.
Thank you for clarifying, Tina. I completely agree—many staff and volunteers at MCACC and AZH are incredibly dedicated and do amazing work for the animals. The real frustration is with the larger systemic and bureaucratic challenges that make their jobs harder. I appreciate you highlighting that distinction!
Wow, sounds just like AZ Humane and MCACC in many respects. It's just awful that these organizations never do right by the animals or the animal welfare advocates.
For me, It is beyond obvious at this point they will DO WHATEVER IT TAKES to keep their jobs. For just one single example: not spaying/neutering animals continues to feed the pipeline.
The California shelters are managed by glorified dog catchers without any integrity. Paid for with our tax dollars. It’s time for a seat at the table and to wrestle back CONTROL. I don’t want my tax dollars feeding this beast any longer. SD Humane had $ 91,000,000 in reserves at the end of 2023 on their 990’s. Hoarding cash.
Don't forget that SDHS recently gloated in one of their many, many fundraising emails that they had nearly reached their $250 MILLION fundraising goal. You read that correctly: $250 MILLION!!! And, yet, Weitzman, Dougherty and teams of PR and communication personnel are crying crocodile tears over their lack of resources.
It's been my observation during the 30 years that that I've been volunteering that animal welfare has never been the priority at SDHS. The mission has been about amassing dollars and building a behemoth organization through gaslighting, lobbying and lawyering. It's well past time for transparency and accountability. Now is the time for the City of San Diego to establish a forensic audit and find out where and how our taxpayer dollars are being spent. And, bring back the County to provide animal care and control. They did a much better job PLUS they understood that prevention of pet overpopulation is the solution. It would be interesting to compare how many spay/neuter rebate vouchers were distributed by the County compared to what SDHS has distributed during its reign. I developed and urged adoption of the voucher program with the Board of Supervisors. The SD Vet-Med Association was on board and it was very successful with the community - providing an incentive plus educating the public about responsible pet care. There were no strings attached to the vouchers - you just needed to be a resident served by the SD County Department of Animal Services.
Thank you, Candy—your long view and direct experience bring vital context to this conversation. That contrast between fundraising success and on-the-ground impact is exactly why we need transparency, audits, and a return to prevention-based solutions. Your leadership on the voucher program is a reminder of what real community-focused animal welfare looks like.
Your comment mirrors what we’ve ALL BEEN OBSERVING! Thank you. I hope you’ll take also the time to reach out to city council members today.
“San Diego Humane Society EXPOSED” on Facebook has all of the email addresses.
Thank you, Tina. You’ve captured exactly how disillusioning this system can be—especially for those who’ve spent years trying to make it better. The burnout is real, but your voice still matters. Naming these patterns and pushing for truth is what keeps the pressure on. You’re not alone in this.
It’s so disheartening the amount of money put into animal sheltering and have the outcomes we have. AZ Humane had 2 large hoarding cases of rabbits prior to the 318. The guy (Colten Jones) HSSA gave the small pets to commented about the rabbit hoarding “they found my stash house.” While others in his circle made crude comments about wanting them as feeders. A few of us tried to follow up on that and were told they were sent to rescues and the medical assistant program. The numbers didn’t add up and some of the rescues they claim to have sent them to were no longer in operation. I would bet anything AZ Humane also supplied Jones with animals to feed to snakes.
That’s deeply disturbing, Kelly. Thank you for staying on top of these details and pushing for truth. When organizations dodge accountability and the numbers don’t add up, it’s a red flag—and voices like yours are essential in making sure those red flags don’t get ignored.
No surprise here.
These are SAME TACTICS Gary Weitzman used on the legislators in Sacramento to kill a “shelter transparency and spay/neuter “ bill last year- AB2265. FEAR MONGERING!
He is using the Cal Animals (that dangerous, power hungry shelter directors of organization of which he is a board member) playbook.
According to their IRS returns, Weitzman signed in April of 2024. San Diego Humane had HOARDED away $91,000,000 in their bank accounts.
Weitzman has used his non profit status as a shield to avoid sharing documents after he sent 320 rabbits, guinea pigs, pocket pets to their deaths on a transport to Arizona. The “largest ever” he boasted. Most (over 200) were frozen and fed to reptiles. Sent to Arizona crammed into a truck on a day it was 102 degrees in Arizona. Then engaged in a MASSIVE COVER UP THAT GOES ON EVEN UNTIL TODAY.
Weitzman also sanctioned the ILLEGAL abandonment of 18,000 friendly, tame kitties on our streets to die. Fought for his right to do that for nearly FIVE YEARS in court. Still fighting the injunction TODAY. Funny how we NEVER SAW WEITZMAN'S FACE IN COURT. Sent goons to do the dirty work.
This man claims to love animals, HE IS A VETERINARIAN who has violated his oath to care for animals.
He has LIED ON THE CONTRACTS with nearly a dozen San Diego county cities - saying he would help orphaned animals find homes. Yet he closed the CAT ADOPTION CENTERS. Systematically tossed tame, friendly adoptable cats out the back doors of our shelters… using VOLUNTEERS- armed with “scripts” (heard this in court) to read if they were caught by neighbors.🙀
We need to run this scam artist and bully out of town - PRIVATIZING IS NOT THE ANSWER!
You can call them SDHS 619. 299. 7012 to hear the script yourself when you ask about that "community cat dumping scheme" and PUSH BACK. It’s ALL ABOUT THE “BENJAMINS” WITH THEM.
We heard in court, Brian Doughtery the “donor dude”. (Paid about the same salary
as our CA Governor) that people were upset about the illegal cat dumping. He said fashioned yet another SCRIPT for staff to read to concerned callers and donors. Why is their board letting this go on?
This article really lit a fire in me. If anyone is in San Diego, we are going to protest at the San Diego Humane Society's "Walk for Animals" on May 3rd at Liberty Station from 8:00-9:30. The website shows they are halfway to their fundraising goal of $250K. Last year the stage was not covered in the back and it was the perfect opportunity to stand behind the stage and hold up protest signs while Gary Weitzman gave his speech.
Thank you for your passion and for sharing this, Suzanne! I’m inspired to see the community coming together and taking action for greater transparency and accountability. Wishing you and everyone at the protest a safe and impactful event—your voices are making a difference for San Diego’s animals. Please keep me posted on how it goes!
To contact UC Davis about an audit of the grant monies earmarked for spay & neuter by San Diego Humane Society - please contact:
Koret Shelter
Medicine Program
sheltermedicine@ucdavis.edu
Thanks, Marc. It’s important to note that Koret is actually part of the Consortium, which is why we need a truly independent audit of how these grant funds are being used. Accountability is long overdue.
What about reporting to them to the state vet board? What about escalating federally? Lastly, where is the Union Tribune at on reporting this insidiousness?
The State Controller should be interested in this, but given CA politics, I don't there is anyone awake at the wheel...
This is alarming. If UC Davis and the Koret Shelter Medicine Program are responsible for administering and overseeing these funds, yet remain silent while grant money is misused or withheld from actual spay/neuter work — then we’re not just looking at local failure, we’re looking at institutional complicity. The media should be asking hard questions, and the public deserves real answers. At this point, we need oversight from outside the UC Davis Consortium. Should we escalate this federally?
I tried reaching out to Koret, no response: https://open.substack.com/pub/animalpolitics/p/an-open-letter-on-the-million-cat
$38,000 a month is unbelievable!
Hi again Ed! I wanted to share my video I uploaded where I share my thoughts AND read your article. It’s going on FB, LinkedIn, Instagram, Tik Tok, X and here it is on YouTube for your review https://youtu.be/Bf-UYB1whg4?si=MCDF4ZoJHE4Pt5ob
Thank you so much, Marc! I really appreciate you taking the time to read my article and share your thoughtful video across so many platforms. I'm deeply humbled and honored.
I’m looking forward to watching it and hearing your perspective. Thanks again for helping to keep this important conversation going! (BTW: My last name is pronounced with a long o - Boks rhymes with Spokes... ;-)