Category: Uncategorized

A First Step Toward a Bigger Future: SAF Funds Pilot Spay/Neuter Clinic

Posted on by Michaela Berendt

This summer, the Seattle Animal Foundation took a bold step toward reducing pet overpopulation – and changing countless lives before they even begin.

We’re proud to announce our first external grant, a $20,000 award to Doney Coe Pet Clinic, to launch a pilot spay/neuter clinic serving pet owners in Seattle who would otherwise go without access to this vital care.

The program, scheduled over four weeks this summer and expanding to eight weeks this fall, will offer free spay and neuter surgeries during dedicated event days. Clients will be selected from existing waitlists compiled by a coalition of trusted animal welfare partners.

“It’s gratifying to see a team come together around the most urgent issue confronting animal welfare providers today, overpopulation. Collaboration is how we create sustainable solutions that reach the animals and people who need them most.” said Doney Co President Marti Casey

The Power of Prevention

Why is this so important?

Because  every spay or neuter surgery can prevent hundreds – sometimes thousands – of births over time.

  • One unspayed female dog and her offspring can produce up to 25,000 dogs in six years.
  • One unspayed female cat, birthing multiple litters annually, and her offspring can produce up to 200,000 cats in just seven years.

These numbers may seem staggering, but seen in the light of exponential reproduction, they’re real – and represent the incredible impact prevention can have on animal shelters and communities.

A Coalition for Change

The pilot clinic is the result of collaboration among some of the 25 animal welfare organizations that gathered at the Seattle Animal Foundation’s April 2025 symposium. Doney Coe emerged as a leader in this space, bringing together groups to share resources, vet waitlists, and provide coordinated outreach.

There are a total of five groups supported in the SNAPS’ (Spay Neuter Access Program Seattle) program:

  1. Doney Coe Pet Clinic
  2. One Health Clinic
  3. Rainier Animal Fund
  4. Seattle Veterinary Outreach
  5. Washington Health Outreach

This program isn’t just about surgeries – it’s about access and compassion.

With this first grant, SAF is planting the seeds for a future where free or low-cost spay/neuter care is a permanent fixture of the greater Seattle area.

Want to support this work?
Your donation helps us fund life-saving programs like this one. Together, we can change the future for animals in our city.

A Garden Party to Remember: $11,000 Raised for Animals!

Posted on by Michaela Berendt

A Garden Party to Remember: $11,000 Raised for Animals! On July 20th, the Seattle Animal Foundation hosted its inaugural Garden Party – and what an unforgettable evening it was! Over 100 guests gathered under perfect summer skies to enjoy an intimate night of music, community, and compassion for animals.

The highlight of the evening? Cathy Jordan, Ireland’s Folk Singer of the Year, delivered a performance the audience won’t soon forget. Her soulful voice and heartfelt storytelling were the heartbeat of the night, creating memories that will be cherished for years to come. Said Justin Taft, SAF board President and host of the evening, “Hosting the event in my back garden was a joy. Watching it come to life with the voices, laughter, and spirit of our supporters, that was unforgettable.” 

Thanks to the incredible generosity of our guests and supporters, we raised over $11,889 to fund our programs that save and improve the lives of animals in Seattle. Every ticket purchased, every glass raised, and every note sung helped make this success possible.

We’re grateful to everyone who attended and shared this special night with us.

Rescue Symposium Brings Together 25 Animal Welfare Organizations

Posted on by Michaela Berendt

On April 2, 2025, the Seattle Animal Foundation hosted their inaugural Rescue Symposium – bringing together over 25 animal welfare organizations from across western Washington for a day to discuss sharing, collaboration, and forward-thinking solutions.

The symposium was created to bring leaders together, spark innovation, and drive real solutions to the most pressing challenges in animal welfare. With expert-led sessions and collaborative working groups, the event delivered actionable ideas, forged new partnerships, and reaffirmed our shared commitment to building a more compassionate future for animals and the people who care for them.

Expanding Foster Opportunities

Vickie Ramirez from the University of Washington’s Center for One Health Research opened the day with a discussion on fostering—especially in crisis situations involving owned pets. The group identified common challenges, including the difficulty of placing large dogs and limited capacity for urgent intakes. Promising ideas emerged, including the concept of a centralized foster databases, expanded telemedicine for foster families, and exploring partnerships with boarding facilities for emergency care.

Increasing Access to Spay & Neuter

Shaunessy Jones of Pasado’s Safe Haven led a session focused on increasing access to high-quality, low-cost spay and neuter services. Organizations shared resources already making a difference—such as Fixers Collective’s high-volume clinics and Feral Cat Project’s services for both owned and community cats. Participants envisioned a future with state funding for public education, legislation to remove income-based restrictions for nonprofit veterinary services, and expanded training for high-volume spay/neuter surgeons.

Strengthening Collaboration for Greater Impact

Seattle Animal Foundation Vice President JJ Lee facilitated a session exploring how to maximize impact through coordinated action. Attendees discussed shared barriers—from lack of affordable veterinary care to housing restrictions and information gaps. Many emphasized the need for centralized resources, such as a statewide shelter/rescue directory, and the power of collective advocacy.

During a working lunch, participants formed small groups to design impactful $100,000 grant proposals and state legislature policy recommendations. Ideas included:

  • Fix-Fest: A five-day mobile vet event in Eastern Washington
  • Resource-sharing networks for high-volume spay/neuter staff
  • Legislative advocacy to lift income restrictions on nonprofit vet clinics
  • Compulsory breeder licensing paired with public education on the need for spay and neuter statewide
  • Creation of Animal Care Districts to ensure equitable service access
  • Public education around the origin of pets and the impact of buying behavior on animal welfare

Looking Ahead

‘It was an incredible day and inspiring to have all the groups together at the same time working towards a common goal. Everyone is there to be supportive and we’ve already seen examples of collaboration following the event.’ said Jim Cox, SAF Executive Director.

The symposium sparked new connections, bold ideas, and a shared vision for a more humane and equitable animal welfare system across Washington. Seattle Animal Foundation is committed to continuing this momentum by supporting working groups, sharing learning, and championing collaborative initiatives that drive measurable change.

Attending Organizations – Forgotten Dogs Rescue, Resilient Hearts, Seattle Area Feline Rescue, Feral Cat Project, Humane Society of Tacoma/Pierce County, Seattle Humane, Pasado’s Safe Haven, Joint Animal Services, ASPCA Northern Tier, Doney Coe Memorial Clinic, Homeward Pet Adoption Center, Pawsitive Alliance, Old Dog Haven, Emerald City Pet Rescue, NOAH, South County Cats, Washington Health Outreach, One Health (UW/WSU), Seattle Veterinary Outreach, Dog Gone Seattle, Saving Great Animals, Seattle Animal Shelter, Seattle Animal Watch, Fixers Collective, Ranier Animal Fund

Welcome to 2025

Posted on by Emily Wyatt

New year, fresh approach, greater impact

The past year has been one of amazing growth and change at Seattle Animal Foundation, and we’re looking forward to even more in 2025.

Banner image with three separate pictures; one of dog and a cat, one of a Guinea pig, and one of a cat

As we enter the new year, we’re most excited to lean into our new identity and increase our outreach across the Seattle animal welfare community. Our transition from the Seattle Animal Shelter Foundation means that we can not only continue our strong commitment and support of the Seattle Animal Shelter, but partner with other local animal welfare organizations.

This change brings a new chance for us to get creative about our programs. We can look beyond our traditional fundraising platforms and pull together our community of changemakers to see what opportunities there are to try something new.

A first step toward this is going to be a roundtable of leaders and experts from animal welfare organizations around the area to discuss recent trends, collaboration opportunities and community engagement. The goal will be to generate actionable takeaways to fundraise.

Our new Board President, Justin Taft, will lead this effort. Justin brings a strong background in operations, strategy and community engagement, and is moving into the role recently vacated by Julia Alegre, whose solid leadership supported the foundation through its transition in 2024. Julia is a Seattle tech professional certified in Applied Animal Behavior who was an active volunteer at the shelter for many years and a lifelong animal lover and advocate.

In tandem, the grants team is working on an approach to begin expanding our work with the community. SAF is focused on saving the most vulnerable animals and creating lasting change through community collaboration. The team’s priorities are to continue to support projects at SAS through ongoing grants and to expand SAF’s impact with grants to new rescue organizations operating in King County.

And as always, we will need community support to help when we are ready to execute on these ideas. We look forward to a year of partnership, collaboration and service as we continue our efforts to help animals across Seattle.

President

Posted on by Emily Wyatt

Do you love dogs, cats, and critters? Do you also have a passion leadership of passionate people? If so, we have a position for you!

The Seattle Animal Foundation (SAF) is seeking a Volunteer Board President to lead the strategy and day-to-day operations of the Seattle Animal Foundation, a 501(c)3 nonprofit founded in 2010 whose mission is to support local animal welfare organizations throughout the Greater Seattle area to promote compassion, adoption, and prevention. The position is an unpaid position and will require 5 hours of work weekly.

View the full job description (PDF).

Avery Fukeda

Posted on by Emily Wyatt
Avery Fukeda

Avery Fukeda is a seasoned fundraising professional with over a decade of experience in fundraising and events across a diverse range of organizations. His career has spanned sectors including affordable housing, children’s museums, historic performing arts venues, higher education, and social services. He has also had a love for animals and remembers his first interaction was with his grandparent’s corgi in Hawaii.

An active community member, Avery is dedicated to making a positive impact through his volunteer work and philanthropic efforts. He is involved with several organizations here in Seattle and was heavily involved in Hawaii holding various leadership positions. Avery’s commitment to service and community engagement continues to drive his work and passion for helping others.

JJ Lee

Posted on by Emily Wyatt
JJ Lee Headshot
JJ Lee

JJ Lee is a corporate affairs specialist with more than a decade of experience leading PR offices in the U.S. and overseas. She has worked with clients in the tech, philanthropies, and healthcare sectors in communicating their mission and bringing communities together through partnerships.

She is excited to join the Board as a member of the Marketing Committee. JJ has a passion for animal rehabilitation and training. She spends all of her free time gardening, crocheting (mostly likenesses of her dogos!) and discovering new places to eat.

Audrey Jennings

Posted on by Emily Wyatt
Audrey Jennings Headshot
Audrey Jennings

Audrey is a recruiting professional with over a decade of experience. She has recruited in tech, healthcare, manufacturing, aerospace and is very excited to be helping the SAF!

She moved to Seattle 15 years ago from Chicago immediately becoming a dog walker and sitter for rescues and fosters. She was most recently working with Chewy where she developed a love for pet puns and had the opportunity to volunteer with the Seattle Animal Shelter.

In her free time, she is an avid cyclist, loves cooking and is hoping to travel more. She lives in the Green Lake area where you will often find her asking if she can pet all the dogs.

Events Co-Chair (Community Events Committee)

Posted on by Julia Alegre

Do you love dogs, cats, and critters? Do you also have events and leadership expertise? If so, we have a position for you!

The Seattle Animal Foundation (SAF) is seeking a Community Events Chair to plan and execute events for the SAF and the animals we are supporting. This role has the unique opportunity to plan and coordinate events on behalf of this 501(c)3 organization. The Community Events Co-Chair will collaborate with the Furry 5K and Community Events committee members and will be a member of our 15-person board. This is an unpaid position with a 3-year term. This position will require an average of 3-5 hours of work weekly throughout the year, as we host our own and participate in a variety of community-focused fundraising and awareness events.

The ideal candidate has previous event and volunteer management experience, is willing to roll up their sleeves to plan and execute tasks and is passionate about helping Seattle’s animals and engaging with the community. This animal lover will be well-versed in planning and executing a variety of events, ranging from small tabling events to large-scale extravaganzas. In particular, this individual will also be well versed in and will take the lead on event volunteer recruitment, training, and management and should be comfortable with delegating tasks and leading a team of passionate volunteers. Attention to detail, a can-do attitude, and the ability to thrive in a fast-paced, ambiguous environment are essential elements to this role. The candidate will also work with our fundraising and marketing teams to ensure our donors are well-informed about upcoming events. 

View the full job description (PDF).