Whenever & wherever there is a "no photos" and/or a "no videos" policy, you can bet abuses of trust are occurring, & probably atrocities. The San Diego Humane Society has had a poor record for years, in part because the city, ever since returning animal control duties to the humane society, has pursued policies that enable ineptitude.
The SDHS continually loses credibility and appears to have betrayed those whom they are supposed to help and protect. These revelations deserve to be further investigated and exposed in the media (i.e. television channels and major newspapers). Thanks for this eye opener, Ed. After what happened in AZ, I can't say I'm surprised to be reading about more failures on the part of the SDHS. They seem to be dysfunctional and disconnected; at this point, they're also failing the donors who are still supporting them and who need the wakeup call.
Thanks, Annoula. I couldn’t agree more—SDHS needs to be held accountable for these failures. Hopefully, the more light we shine on these issues, the harder it will become for them to ignore. Appreciate your support in getting the word out!
This makes me so sad. Your solutions are spot on. Too bad the homeless folks can't afford to go to Gary Weitzman's Furball fundraiser. Those folks in their tuxedos and ball gowns, with their big fat wallets, are the only people who count when it comes to the San Diego Humane Society.
I hear you, Suzanne. It’s heartbreaking to see resources go to glitzy fundraisers while the animals who need help the most are overlooked. Real change starts with holding SDHS accountable and demanding they prioritize the welfare of all animals—not just the ones that fit their image. Thanks for your support!
“Treated like objects” is the problem. Even the AKC lobby has blocked bills meant for providing water to breeding animals etc. Why we still have breeders in this day and age is beyond me!
Absolutely, Aimee! Too many animals are seen as commodities rather than living beings deserving of care and protection. The fight for stronger protections continues, and voices like yours help push for real change!
Amanda, I'm not away of any proposed protest, but you can certainly let your concern be known by contacting the SDHS CEO and/or better yet, their Board of Directors. https://www.sdhumane.org/about-us/leadership/
Setting the Record Straight on San Diego Humane Society’s Commitment to Animals
Ed Boks’ blog post, The Forgotten Pets of San Diego’s Safe Lots, is inaccurate and misleading about San Diego Humane Society (SDHS) and our work to protect animals. We would like to share a different perspective of our work and the impact we are making for animals and the people who love them.
Misrepresentations and Misinformation
Community Cat Program: Boks claims our program was “ruled illegal” for releasing adoptable cats into the community without proper care. This is misleading and inaccurate. While the judge issued a tentative ruling in December, a final ruling has not been issued. For now, the Court has preliminarily approved SDHS’s recent protocol changes and issued an injunction requiring these protocols remain in place until the final ruling — reinforcing their lawfulness. We continue to operate legally and ethically, ensuring community cats receive the care they need.
Capacity Issues: Boks accuses SDHS of misleading the public about shelter overcrowding while a whistleblower found our facility nearly empty of cats. Last year, SDHS admitted 13,993 cats. The number of felines in our shelters increases during the annual kitten season from April to November. Despite the thousands of cats and kittens we care for, our capacity crisis has specifically been related to dogs, not cats, and has been communicated to the public as such.
Pet Transfers: The claim that SDHS transferred small pets to a reptile breeder is demonstrably false. In August 2023, SDHS transferred small pets to a trusted partner — the Humane Society of Southern Arizona (HSSA). Unfortunately, a former employee of HSSA in an unprecedented breach of trust transferred these animals to an organization known for reptile breeding. SDHS remains heartbroken over this situation, and by those who continue to exploit it by spreading mistruths about it.
Emphasis on Live Release Rates: Boks’ statements that SDHS has created policies to focus on increasing live release rates “incentivizes SDHS to obscure neglect” are also demonstrably false. SDHS has helped San Diego become the largest city in the country to have zero euthanasia of healthy or treatable shelter pets, but achieving this goal has nothing to do with Best Friends Animal Society or live release rates as Boks states. Our driving goal is to save animal lives, and we develop innovative and nationally leading programs to do just that. SDHS is committed to full transparency in all that we do, and our lifesaving and financial data is available on our website.
The Reality of Safe Lot Support
Boks’ central claim — that SDHS neglects pets in Safe Lots — is misleading and inflammatory. The reality is more complex. We must acknowledge that the challenges around housing instability, mental health and other correlating factors are complex, deep and difficult to solve. Issues surrounding pet ownership and animal welfare laws are similarly complex. There are no easy solutions on either front.
Pets in Safe Lots belong to their owners, and under California law, they are considered personal property. SDHS cannot seize animals unless there is clear evidence of abuse or neglect that meets legal standards. While we all want the best for these pets, the law sets the requirements that must be met for intervention.
SDHS responds to every reported case of animal cruelty, and our Humane Law Enforcement team received more than 103,000 calls last year alone — nearly 300 per day. Calls are triaged by urgency, not income level, and officers are dispatched accordingly. Animal lovers, like the employees and volunteers of the Safe Lots and of San Diego Humane Society, have high personal standards for how we care for our pets. However, the standards of the law are routinely not as high, and San Diego Humane Society must work within the bounds of the law.
Our Commitment to Helping Pets and People
Despite these legal and logistical challenges, SDHS is a steadfast supporter of pets in need throughout San Diego County:
Food and Medical Resources: We provided over 2 million free pet meals, 49,000 low-cost vaccinations, and 4,800 veterinary clinic visits last year.
Safety Net Programs: Temporary fostering for owners experiencing homelessness, fleeing domestic violence or facing other crises.
Community Outreach: Ongoing collaborations with Safe Lot partners to expand access to pet care and resources.
Moving Forward — Together
Boks’ portrayal of SDHS ignores the reality of animal welfare work: It is complex, constrained by law and requires partnership, not division. No single organization can meet every need, but we are committed to doing everything possible to support vulnerable pets and people.
We welcome collaboration with all who care about animals — because making San Diego a more humane place requires all of us working together.
Where was the due diligence on Jessica Des Lauriers Sales part when she got to a closed humane society where she was met by the grounds keeper and former DOC crew overseer to unload animals in 106 degree heat while Christian was yet to arrive? Why were questions not asked about why the 323 animals were not going into the humane society but loaded onto one vehicle when you claim you never knew it was one rescue partner? Did she really think HSSA was going to drive around and just ask the one random rescue to take what they could and go to schools at 7pm like you claimed in the 8/11 email to drop off animals? Sorry, but your story has never added up yet you deflect and call private citizens such as myself to admonish them for speaking out. You may have a gag order on your employees and volunteers but not advocates who can and will speak out. The truth and transparency would have went a long way but you chose deflection and lies.
Whenever & wherever there is a "no photos" and/or a "no videos" policy, you can bet abuses of trust are occurring, & probably atrocities. The San Diego Humane Society has had a poor record for years, in part because the city, ever since returning animal control duties to the humane society, has pursued policies that enable ineptitude.
That certainly seems to be the case. Of course, transparency is key, and policies like these only serve to shield neglect and wrongdoing.
SDHS should be ashamed of themselves. Your Call to Action is exactly right, as usual.
Thank you, Yvonne!
The SDHS continually loses credibility and appears to have betrayed those whom they are supposed to help and protect. These revelations deserve to be further investigated and exposed in the media (i.e. television channels and major newspapers). Thanks for this eye opener, Ed. After what happened in AZ, I can't say I'm surprised to be reading about more failures on the part of the SDHS. They seem to be dysfunctional and disconnected; at this point, they're also failing the donors who are still supporting them and who need the wakeup call.
Thanks, Annoula. I couldn’t agree more—SDHS needs to be held accountable for these failures. Hopefully, the more light we shine on these issues, the harder it will become for them to ignore. Appreciate your support in getting the word out!
This makes me so sad. Your solutions are spot on. Too bad the homeless folks can't afford to go to Gary Weitzman's Furball fundraiser. Those folks in their tuxedos and ball gowns, with their big fat wallets, are the only people who count when it comes to the San Diego Humane Society.
I hear you, Suzanne. It’s heartbreaking to see resources go to glitzy fundraisers while the animals who need help the most are overlooked. Real change starts with holding SDHS accountable and demanding they prioritize the welfare of all animals—not just the ones that fit their image. Thanks for your support!
“Treated like objects” is the problem. Even the AKC lobby has blocked bills meant for providing water to breeding animals etc. Why we still have breeders in this day and age is beyond me!
Absolutely, Aimee! Too many animals are seen as commodities rather than living beings deserving of care and protection. The fight for stronger protections continues, and voices like yours help push for real change!
Thank you for writing this article. People don't know this. I did not. I am willing to join a protest.
Amanda, I'm not away of any proposed protest, but you can certainly let your concern be known by contacting the SDHS CEO and/or better yet, their Board of Directors. https://www.sdhumane.org/about-us/leadership/
Setting the Record Straight on San Diego Humane Society’s Commitment to Animals
Ed Boks’ blog post, The Forgotten Pets of San Diego’s Safe Lots, is inaccurate and misleading about San Diego Humane Society (SDHS) and our work to protect animals. We would like to share a different perspective of our work and the impact we are making for animals and the people who love them.
Misrepresentations and Misinformation
Community Cat Program: Boks claims our program was “ruled illegal” for releasing adoptable cats into the community without proper care. This is misleading and inaccurate. While the judge issued a tentative ruling in December, a final ruling has not been issued. For now, the Court has preliminarily approved SDHS’s recent protocol changes and issued an injunction requiring these protocols remain in place until the final ruling — reinforcing their lawfulness. We continue to operate legally and ethically, ensuring community cats receive the care they need.
Capacity Issues: Boks accuses SDHS of misleading the public about shelter overcrowding while a whistleblower found our facility nearly empty of cats. Last year, SDHS admitted 13,993 cats. The number of felines in our shelters increases during the annual kitten season from April to November. Despite the thousands of cats and kittens we care for, our capacity crisis has specifically been related to dogs, not cats, and has been communicated to the public as such.
Pet Transfers: The claim that SDHS transferred small pets to a reptile breeder is demonstrably false. In August 2023, SDHS transferred small pets to a trusted partner — the Humane Society of Southern Arizona (HSSA). Unfortunately, a former employee of HSSA in an unprecedented breach of trust transferred these animals to an organization known for reptile breeding. SDHS remains heartbroken over this situation, and by those who continue to exploit it by spreading mistruths about it.
Emphasis on Live Release Rates: Boks’ statements that SDHS has created policies to focus on increasing live release rates “incentivizes SDHS to obscure neglect” are also demonstrably false. SDHS has helped San Diego become the largest city in the country to have zero euthanasia of healthy or treatable shelter pets, but achieving this goal has nothing to do with Best Friends Animal Society or live release rates as Boks states. Our driving goal is to save animal lives, and we develop innovative and nationally leading programs to do just that. SDHS is committed to full transparency in all that we do, and our lifesaving and financial data is available on our website.
The Reality of Safe Lot Support
Boks’ central claim — that SDHS neglects pets in Safe Lots — is misleading and inflammatory. The reality is more complex. We must acknowledge that the challenges around housing instability, mental health and other correlating factors are complex, deep and difficult to solve. Issues surrounding pet ownership and animal welfare laws are similarly complex. There are no easy solutions on either front.
Pets in Safe Lots belong to their owners, and under California law, they are considered personal property. SDHS cannot seize animals unless there is clear evidence of abuse or neglect that meets legal standards. While we all want the best for these pets, the law sets the requirements that must be met for intervention.
SDHS responds to every reported case of animal cruelty, and our Humane Law Enforcement team received more than 103,000 calls last year alone — nearly 300 per day. Calls are triaged by urgency, not income level, and officers are dispatched accordingly. Animal lovers, like the employees and volunteers of the Safe Lots and of San Diego Humane Society, have high personal standards for how we care for our pets. However, the standards of the law are routinely not as high, and San Diego Humane Society must work within the bounds of the law.
Our Commitment to Helping Pets and People
Despite these legal and logistical challenges, SDHS is a steadfast supporter of pets in need throughout San Diego County:
Food and Medical Resources: We provided over 2 million free pet meals, 49,000 low-cost vaccinations, and 4,800 veterinary clinic visits last year.
Safety Net Programs: Temporary fostering for owners experiencing homelessness, fleeing domestic violence or facing other crises.
Community Outreach: Ongoing collaborations with Safe Lot partners to expand access to pet care and resources.
Moving Forward — Together
Boks’ portrayal of SDHS ignores the reality of animal welfare work: It is complex, constrained by law and requires partnership, not division. No single organization can meet every need, but we are committed to doing everything possible to support vulnerable pets and people.
We welcome collaboration with all who care about animals — because making San Diego a more humane place requires all of us working together.
Where was the due diligence on Jessica Des Lauriers Sales part when she got to a closed humane society where she was met by the grounds keeper and former DOC crew overseer to unload animals in 106 degree heat while Christian was yet to arrive? Why were questions not asked about why the 323 animals were not going into the humane society but loaded onto one vehicle when you claim you never knew it was one rescue partner? Did she really think HSSA was going to drive around and just ask the one random rescue to take what they could and go to schools at 7pm like you claimed in the 8/11 email to drop off animals? Sorry, but your story has never added up yet you deflect and call private citizens such as myself to admonish them for speaking out. You may have a gag order on your employees and volunteers but not advocates who can and will speak out. The truth and transparency would have went a long way but you chose deflection and lies.
This seems to be a chronic condition in every big city