City Sees Slow Rise in Pet Adoptions as Cost of Care Increases

BY JESSICA ZIMMER

Fewer animals are being adopted from San Francisco Animal Care & Control (SFACC) since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2021 and 2022, 1,354 and 1,248 found a home, compared to 1,761 in 2019. The number of animals brought to SFACC has also declined, to 4,391 in 2021, 5,257 in 2022, compared with 5,608 in 2019.

SFACC takes in animals as strays, owner-surrenders, and through assumption of custody. Custody is triggered by a variety of situations, including the owner dying or the creature being termed a threat to public safety. Most animals coming into SFACC do so as strays, predominately cats. SFACC also receives birds, reptiles, amphibians, fish, rabbits, and small mammals, such as guinea pigs.

Adoption rates may be muffled by increasing costs for food, veterinarian care, and grooming, in part due to a

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