Marin Humane Society Celebrates 100 Years of Helping Animals
Public Invited to Enjoy Centennial Festivities!
(NOVATO, CALIF., January 24, 2007) — It was 1907, Teddy Roosevelt was president and San Francisco was rebuilding from the huge earthquake of the year before. Across the Bay in Sausalito, 16 determined people sat together talking about animal cruelty and neglect and, by the end of the evening, they had formed the Marin Humane Society. Led by Ethel H. Tompkins of San Anselmo, a shy but formidable 31-year-old woman, this group formed one of the first charitable organizations in Marin County, and one of the earliest and most influential humane societies in the entire United States.
This year, the Marin Humane Society (MHS) is celebrating its Centennial and inviting the public to join in the year-long festivities. In honor of its big “birthday,” MHS has also published a coffee-table book telling the humane society’s compelling story: Making Tracks: The Marin Humane Society Celebrates 100 Years.
A leader in animal welfare
The Marin Humane Society is nationally recognized for its pioneering programs, which include the following historic “firsts”:
1913 Began a public school humane education program
1969 First shelter in the nation to hire a full-time humane educator
1973 First shelter on the West Coast to open a low-cost spay/neuter clinic
1982 Began one of the first dog behavior & training programs in the nation
1988 First shelter to microchip all adopted cats and dogs to get more lost animals home
1988 Started the SHARE program to help elderly and disabled people keep their pets
1996 Began early spay/neuter of shelter animals at eight weeks to stem overpopulation
1997 Began the Pet Partnership Program, transferring animals from overcrowded shelters to Marin for adoption
2005 Founded the Pen Pals of San Quentin program
2005 Led the first-ever pet airlifts after Hurricane Katrina
A strong voice for the animals
Starting with Ethel Tompkins, who would block livestock haulers trucking cattle through Marin on the long trip to the Central Valley and force them to water their animals, the Marin Humane Society is the rare humane society that speaks out on behalf of all animals. Over the years, MHS has spoken out against fur trapping, coyote poisoning, factory farming, and the use of animals in entertainment. Marin County was the first California community to enact a law to ban loose dogs in the back of open pick-up trucks, and we enjoy one of the toughest animal protection ordinances in the nation. Marin County was also the first in California to ban public funding of lethal predator control.
“Animals can’t speak for themselves, so it is our job to speak for them,” says Diane Allevato, executive director.
Rescue, rehabilitate and rehome
Twenty-five years ago, MHS took in 15,000 animals per year. Most did not find new homes. Thanks to cutting-edge spay/neuter, microchip, education and behavior programs, that number has been reduced to 2–3,000 per year, enabling MHS to reach out to overcrowded shelters through its Pet Partnership Program to rescue and rehome hundreds more animals each year. Last year, MHS brought more than 1,000 animals to Marin where they received a second chance for a new home. More than half of all of the dogs and cats at MHS receive some kind of medical or behavioral rehabilitation before adoption through in-house or foster-care programs.
“Our community has done such a good job of reducing the number of homeless pets that we are in a position to go outside our area to save even more lives, and to provide the incoming animals with lifesaving care as well,” says Allevato.
MHS’ rescue efforts extend far beyond the Pet Partnership Program and the work its animal services officers do every day to help animals in the community. In 1991, MHS rescued animals from the Oakland Firestorm; in 1993, the humane society accepted and rehomed 232 Beagles from a University of California research lab; in 1995, MHS rescued and sheltered animals from Marin’s Mt. Vision fire; and in 2005, along with rescuing 800 battery-cage hens from slaughter, MHS led the first-ever pet airlifts after Hurricanes Katrina and Rita to save the lives of 2,500 dogs and cats.
“Animal shelters reflect their communities and, in Marin, that means we get to be compassionate and informed,” says Allevato. “People here understand animal issues better than in most places, and that translates to a humane society that takes the protection of animals very seriously.”
New book tells all about MHS’ first 100 years
With a forward by Isabel Allende and vintage photographs from the early years, the newly published Making Tracks: The Marin Humane Society Celebrates 100 Years, is an attractive coffee-table book that all animal lovers will enjoy. This 96-page hardcover, filled with color photographs of animals and Marin residents through time, tells the MHS story from its ambitious beginnings in 1907 to the progressive, full-service shelter of today. Making Tracks retails for $24.95 and is available at Animal Outfitters (MHS pet supply store) and by mail. For more information and to order, call (415) 506-6257. All proceeds benefit the shelter animals.
Centennial activities
Centennial activities will take place throughout the course of the year and everyone is invited to join in the celebrations! Look for a daylong birthday bash and dog walk, fashion show, speaker forum, workshops, and much more.
Mark your calendars:
February 9
Stage Dor Centennial Fashion Show Benefit
A new breed of supermodel will walk the runway at PUPPY LOVE, a fashion show benefit hosted by Stage Dor Dance Studio (10 Liberty Ship Way, Ste 340, Sausalito) on Friday, February 9 at 7 pm. MHS adoption dogs will accompany fashionably dressed models outfitted by Rumors and Gene Hiller. Entertainment will be provided by The Don’t Quit Your Day Job Dancers and cocktails and hors d’oeuvres will be served. Cost is $50. Space is limited. For tickets and information, call (415) 339-1390.
June 3
MHS Birthday Bash & Dog Walk, Novato
This birthday party will start off with a dog walk around Bel Marin Keys in Novato followed by a day full of activities, food and fun for all ages. There will be a children’s area with jumpy jumps, games, art projects, and more. Adults can enjoy flyball and frisbee dog demonstrations, tasty local food, exhibits, vendors, shelter tours, and more. This event is free and open to the public, and is an excellent way to learn more about the Marin Humane Society.
Additional Centennial events will be scheduled during the year and listed on our Web site.
More MHS Centennial information available here
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