9 Locations, 5 Counties, 2 Days, Over 1,000 Animals

On December 6-7 “Champions for Pet Health: Communities Partnering for Wellness and Spay & Neuter” event was held. Preliminary numbers indicate that more than 1,000 dogs and cats across the Bay Area received essential veterinary care, exceeding the goal of 600.

Thanks to the support of four national foundations — La Russa Rescue Champions, Dave & Cheryl Duffield Foundation, Maddie’s Fund® and BISSELL Pet Foundation — and the collaboration of nine animal well-being organizations, pets across Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, San Francisco and Santa Clara counties were spayed or neutered, vaccinated and microchipped in just two days.

The participating organizations delivered essential services to over 1,000 pets, including spay/neuter and vaccines and microchips. These are critical tools for preventing disease, reuniting lost pets with their families and reducing shelter overcrowding and the number of homeless animals in local communities. The event made a significant impact on the health and well-being of pets in the Bay Area, thanks to the incredible support of the community, including local media who came together to spread the word.

“Visiting all ten locations over the weekend and seeing the work happening in each one was truly inspiring,” said Tony La Russa, La Russa Rescue Champions. “It was incredible to witness pets receiving essential veterinary care — spay/neuter surgeries, vaccines, and microchips — all in one place. My family and I are so thankful for the whole team - staff, volunteers, and partners whose dedication made this event possible and ensured a real difference for pets, families, and the community that cares for them.”

“This collaboration is what meaningful access to veterinary care looks like - helping pets stay healthy, happy, and together with their families,” said Amy Zeifang, Dave & Cheryl Duffield Foundation Director and Maddie’s Fund Executive Leadership Team. “This event was also able to address the growing backlog of shelter animals waiting for spay/neuter services and provided essential care for family pets and community cats.”

Participating Organizations

• Berkeley Humane
• Contra Costa Animal Services
• Friends of The Alameda Animal Shelter
• Humane Society Silicon Valley
• Marin Humane
• Muttville (with Vets in Vans)
• Oakland Animal Services
• San Francisco SPCA
• Valley Humane Society

About La Russa Rescue Champions

Longtime Bay Area residents Elaine, Bianca, Devon and Tony La Russa have leveraged their passion for animals to inspire the animal rescue field through La Russa Rescue Champions dedicated to companion animal welfare. The family’s commitment to the cause began in 1986 when they arrived in the Bay Area and continues today on a personal level and through the new organization.

About the Dave & Cheryl Duffield Foundation

The Dave & Cheryl Duffield Foundation (DCDF) carries forward the Duffield family's legacy of supporting transformational programs and services in three core areas: pairing Veterans with Service Dogs, expanding access to care for companion animals, and strengthening local public service organizations. Founded in 2016, DCDF is part of the Duffield Foundation Family, which also includes Maddie’s Fund—a national leader in advancing the well-being of companion animals—and Liberty Dogs, a new Service Dog training facility dedicated to providing life-changing support for Military Veterans living with PTSD.

About Maddie’s Fund

Established in 1994 by Dave and Cheryl Duffield, Maddie's Fund® is a family foundation and the fulfillment of a promise to their dog, Maddie. She provided them joy for over ten years and continues to inspire us today.

Due to their generosity and vision, the Foundation has awarded over $301.3 million in grants toward increased community collaborations and live outcomes, pioneering shelter medicine education, establishing foster care as a standard across the U.S. and driving innovation in access to care. Maddie’s Fund proudly offers the industry a national voice, important funding opportunities for bold ideas, learning resources and access to collaborate and share innovative solutions.

The Foundation invests its resources in keeping with Dave & Cheryl’s promise that pets and their people would enjoy the same experience they had with Maddie. We are committed to keeping pets and people together, creating a safety net of care for animals in need and operating within a culture of inclusiveness and humility. #ThanksToMaddie

Maddie’s Fund is part of The Duffield Foundation Family which also includes Liberty Dogs and Dave & Cheryl Duffield Foundation.

About BISSELL Pet Foundation

BISSELL Pet Foundation (BPF) is a charitable 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization with a mission to help reduce the number of animals in shelters through pet adoption, spay/neuter, microchipping, and crisis and disaster response. Founded in 2011 by Cathy Bissell, BPF is an extension of her long-standing love for animals and commitment to their welfare. BPF has since partnered with more than 6,000 shelters and rescues across the U.S. and Canada to help pets find loving homes. The Foundation is supported by generous donors and BISSELL Inc. where Every Purchase Saves Pets™. To learn more visit www.bissellpetfoundation.org.

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The event made a significant impact on the health and well-being of pets in the Bay Area, thanks to the incredible support of the community, including local media who came together to spread the word.