Silicon Valley Pet Project
Community Compassion Life
Programs and results
What we aim to solve
Silicon Valley Pet Project (SVPP) is working to redefine what animal rescue is and its evolving role within the community. SVPP provides a variety of services and opportunities to educate, support and allow for greater interaction with rescue cats and dogs. SVPP partners with the local municipal animal shelter to rescue vulnerable shelter pets who need medical care and time in a foster home as well as program development to include taking dogs out of the shelter for a day to decrease their kennel stress and provide them more exposure to the community so they can find a permanent home. SVPP also educates the community about pet adoption, pet guardianship and animal welfare topics such as community cat care and the importance of spay/neuter. SVPP offers rehabilitative services thru our foster home network and educates our public thru innovative initiatives such as The Dancing Cat (2016 - 9/2018) and Pup Plaza, our dog community center (10/2018 - present).
Our programs
What are the organization's current programs, how do they measure success, and who do the programs serve?
Adoption and Placement Services
Silicon Valley Pet Project is a foster based animal rescue organization whose primary goal to rescue at risk pets from Silicon Valley's largest animal shelter and to place them in loving, adoptive homes.
Golden Paws Program (Seniors for Seniors)
The companionship and devotion of a pet is something that brings joy to life. Golden Paws Program is designed to give our older animals the opportunity to be placed in a loving home by matching them with senior citizens who are 65 years +. An older animal would be a great choice for an older person that needs a buddy! Adoption fees are discounted 50%
Pets for Vets Program
All U.S. Veterans are eligible to adopt a pet at the reduced fee. Adoption fees are discounted 50% with military ID.
Pup Plaza, Silicon Valley's First Dog Community Center
Our new popup space in San Jose allows dog lovers to celebrate, bond and learn with their dogs, or maybe find a dog to join their family. Our one-of-a-kind community space will host adoption events where you could meet your future best friend and offers many opportunities to get involved in animal welfare in our community.
All proceeds from our various programs at Pup Plaza benefit homeless dogs we rescue from the shelter, and we hope to have a positive impact on the community by providing resources and support for dogs and their people.
Where we work
External reviews

Photos
Videos
Our results
How does this organization measure their results? It's a hard question but an important one.
Number of animal adoptions
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
Adults
Related Program
Adoption and Placement Services
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
Pet adoption is a core aspect to our mission. SVPP rehabilitates homeless pets in foster care, and matches them with loving families. We strongly advocate and educate the public about pet adoption.
Number of animals rescued
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
Adults
Related Program
Adoption and Placement Services
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
SVPP is a rescue partner with the San Jose municipal animal shelter. We rescue dogs and cats from the shelter, place them in foster care and provide them with necessary medical and behavioral support.
Number of dogs walked daily by our volunteers
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
Adults
Related Program
Pup Plaza, Silicon Valley's First Dog Community Center
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
Shelter Dog Day Out is a weekly program held at Pup Plaza . Volunteers provide shelter dogs exercise and enrichment outside the shelter environment to improve dogs' wellbeing and adoptability.
Number of public events held to further mission
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
Adults
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
Community outreach is a core aspect of SVPP's mission. SVPP creates public spaces hosting events that engage and educate the pet-loving community about animal welfare.
Goals & Strategy
Learn about the organization's key goals, strategies, capabilities, and progress.
Charting impact
Four powerful questions that require reflection about what really matters - results.
What is the organization aiming to accomplish?
Silicon Valley Pet Project takes a creative approach on problem solving by investing in a sustainable organization of professional and business minded community members who are committed to improving animal welfare in Santa Clara County.
Silicon Valley Pet Project (SVPP) works with the entire community (including shelters and other rescue organizations) to put an end to the problem of homeless pets. Our goals include:
Partner with the San Jose shelter in creative ways to promote adoption and fostering of homeless pets in the community;
Increase awareness of adoption options and value of rescued pets thru partnerships with other animal welfare and community organizations/businesses who share the goal of #adoptdontshop;
Partner with community businesses and organizations to celebrate pets through sponsored activities and events and facilitate fun new ways for the community to learn about and interact with adoptable dogs;
Provide an inclusive and positive community space for interaction with pets and other like-minded people in addition to providing guidance and ongoing support for education and training that help set up adopters, fosters and volunteers for success;
Create a social space(s) and community resource for meetings, educational events, workshops and animal centric activities for animal lovers in Silicon Valley.
What are the organization's key strategies for making this happen?
SVPP strives to create and support innovative ways to positively impact the local animal welfare landscape. We believe that our ongoing work is best served by providing a permanent venue to deliver innovative and progressive solutions that connect people with homeless pets through venues that serve to unite pet lovers, celebrate pet adoption, and educate the public about pet guardianship to improve animal welfare in Santa Clara County.
Launched in May, 2016, Silicon Valley Pet Project successfully operated San Jose’s first cat adoption lounge, The Dancing Cat. The Dancing Cat is a unique adoption venue for SVPP that focuses its efforts on finding loving homes for adult cats. Over 300 adult cats (many senior and special needs) have been adopted from this venue. The Dancing Cat also provides a creative space for educational activities and community-building events that are open to the public. To date, over 7,000 members of the community have come to spend time at the lounge or attend over 70 events.
In an effort to create a similar environment to benefit dogs and the dog lovers in the community, SVPP has recently opened a pop up dog community center called Pup Plaza. The goal of this initiative is engage the community to advance dog adoption efforts, local animal welfare activities, education and celebration of dogs; combining an adoption center venue with dog-friendly events, classes and a small retail operation.
We will continue to build a sustainable organization staffed with business professionals and powered by talented volunteers with the goal of making a significant impact on the community for years to come.
What are the organization's capabilities for doing this?
Silicon Valley Pet Project was founded in November of 2014 and over the past 5 years, we have built the following capabilities:
Rescued and rehabilitated over 1200 cats and dogs from the local animal shelter, many special needs pets
Forged important partnerships with City of San Jose, local business associations, other animal welfare organizations, corporate and community organizations
Demonstrated strong leadership and cultivated a professional business-minded board, with a wide range of mentors in all areas of business, including a veterinarian
Successfully executed over 400 community events
Launched and operated The Dancing Cat, San Jose's first cat adoption lounge for two years (May 2016 - September 2018)
Built a strong base of dedicated volunteers
Invested in technology (accounting and donor database) to streamline practices and to be better positioned for growth
What have they accomplished so far and what's next?
As an innovative, business and people minded organization with significant impact in the local animal welfare landscape in the past 5 years:
1600+ lives saved (many special needs and elderly)
Innovative adoption programs, such as Golden Paw adoptions for senior citizens, Healing Paw adoptions for people affected by cancer
Opened and operated San Jose’s first cat adoption lounge, The Dancing Cat for two years
First San Jose based Best Friends Animal Society Network Partner
Vibrant volunteer workforce of 200+ in all areas of the organization
Runner-up for “Best Rescue Group, South Bay” in Bay Woof’s 2016, 2017 Beast of the Bay Awards
Created and launched Silicon Valley's first dog community center, Pup Plaza (www.pupplaza.org) in October 2018 to present
Financials
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Operations
The people, governance practices, and partners that make the organization tick.
Connect with nonprofit leaders
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- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
- Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
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Connect with nonprofit leaders
SubscribeBuild relationships with key people who manage and lead nonprofit organizations with GuideStar Pro. Try a low commitment monthly plan today.
- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
- Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
- Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations
Want to see how you can enhance your nonprofit research and unlock more insights? Learn More about GuideStar Pro.
Silicon Valley Pet Project
Board of directorsas of 4/19/2022
Maureen Cunningham
Bank of America
Term: 2020 - 2022
Lisa Guadagna
OConnor Hospital
Maureen Cunningham
Bank of America
Stacy Hare
VCA Blossom Hill
Melissa Lisbon
Silicon Valley Pet Project
Cathy Minshall
Andrea Lee
Board leadership practices
GuideStar worked with BoardSource, the national leader in nonprofit board leadership and governance, to create this section.
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Board orientation and education
Does the board conduct a formal orientation for new board members and require all board members to sign a written agreement regarding their roles, responsibilities, and expectations? Yes -
CEO oversight
Has the board conducted a formal, written assessment of the chief executive within the past year ? Yes -
Ethics and transparency
Have the board and senior staff reviewed the conflict-of-interest policy and completed and signed disclosure statements in the past year? Yes -
Board composition
Does the board ensure an inclusive board member recruitment process that results in diversity of thought and leadership? Yes -
Board performance
Has the board conducted a formal, written self-assessment of its performance within the past three years? Yes
Organizational demographics
Who works and leads organizations that serve our diverse communities? GuideStar partnered on this section with CHANGE Philanthropy and Equity in the Center.
Leadership
The organization's leader identifies as:
Race & ethnicity
Gender identity
Sexual orientation
No data
Disability
No data