SANTA MARIA VALLEY HUMANE SOCIETY
Since February 2020, now a part of Santa Barbara Humane
Programs and results
What we aim to solve
Pet overpopulation has declined every year since 2013 in Santa Barbara County. In 2017, only 547 homeless dogs and cats were euthanized in Santa Barbara County. Those pets were not adoptable due to untreatable medical conditions or uncorrectable behavior issues.
Animal shelters in neighboring Kern, Ventura and Los Angeles Counties continue to euthanize tens of thousands of adoptable pets each year simply because there are too many animals and not enough homes for them.
The vision of Santa Maria Valley Humane Society is to create a Central California where every dog and cat has a home.
Our programs
What are the organization's current programs, how do they measure success, and who do the programs serve?
Rescue
Serving the Central California communities of Santa Maria, Guadalupe, and Orcutt as well as Santa Barbara County, the Santa Maria Valley Humane Society rescues dogs and cats at risk from euthanasia in area animal shelters. Our organization also serves as safe refuge for animals in crisis when their human families can no longer provide them a home.
Shelter
Every dog and cat in the care of Santa Maria Valley Humane Society learns basic manners, housetraining and social skills to become a successful new family member. Our shelter serves as a learning center for the human community, too, as our state-of-the-art facility is a pleasant, friendly, quiet place for people to go to see animal interactions and positive behaviors modeled in the daily routines.
Heal
Quality, affordable medical services and spaying or neutering of dogs and cats in the community through our modern veterinary clinic is a critical part of the Santa Maria Valley Humane Society mission. Keeping animals who have homes healthy, through preventative veterinary care, helps those animals stay in their homes and out of the shelter. Our highly skilled veterinarians and specially trained support staff have spayed or neutered 33,604 animals since 1982, preventing hundreds of thousands of homeless puppies and kittens from being born.
Adopt
Since 1982, 11,985 homeless dogs and cats have found new loving homes through the Santa Maria Valley Humane Society.
Nourish
Thousands of healthy meals are provided to animals in income-qualified families. Providing pet food directly to needy animals ensures that no animal goes hungry and keeps them safe and in their homes.
Volunteer
Supported by 10,565 hours of service last year, more than 250 active volunteers are the life blood of caring, compassion and hope at the Santa Maria Valley Humane Society. Volunteers help to enrich the lives of shelter animals, foster special needs dogs and cats in their homes, support special community events, and are the cornerstone of our community education and outreach efforts.
Train
Inappropriate behavior is the number one reason dogs are relinquished to shelters. Santa Maria Valley Humane Society trainers teach dogs and cats good manners and social skills in the shelter making homeless animals more adoptable. For animals already in homes, public training classes can correct undesirable behaviors keep those animals safe in homes and out of the shelter.
Where we work
Affiliations & memberships
Association of Animal Welfare Advancement 2018
External reviews
Videos
Our results
How does this organization measure their results? It's a hard question but an important one.
Number of animals surrendered by their owner
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Related Program
Shelter
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Holding steady
Context Notes
The Santa Maria Valley Humane Society is a managed admission shelter, working with families to rehome pets that will become model dog and cat ambassadors in the community.
Number of animals rescued
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Related Program
Rescue
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
The majority of animals cared for by Santa Maria Valley Humane Society are rescued from government animal control agencies where those pets are at risk of euthanasia.
Number of animal adoptions
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Related Program
Adopt
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
The Santa Maria Valley Humane Society has an average "live release rate" of 98%.
Number of animals returned to their owner
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Related Program
Shelter
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
Strays in our care that were reunited with their owners.
Average number of days of shelter stay for animals
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Related Program
Shelter
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
The average length of stay for an adult animal in our shelter is 28 days.
Number of animals receiving subsidized or free spay/neuter services
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Related Program
Heal
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
Total spays / neuters performed by our veterinarians.
Number of volunteers
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Related Program
Volunteer
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
Number of active volunteers at Santa Maria Valley Humane Society.
Total number of volunteer hours contributed to the organization
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Related Program
Volunteer
Type of Metric
Input - describing resources we use
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
Total number of volunteers service hours contributed to the Santa Maria Valley Humane Society.
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?
Animal Shelter: The Santa Maria Valley Humane Society rescues dogs and cats at risk from euthanasia in area animal shelters. Our organization also serves as safe refuge for animals in crisis when their human families can no longer provide them a home. Our shelter serves as a learning center for the community as our state-of-the-art facility is a pleasant, friendly, quiet place for people to go to adopt pets and to see animal interactions and positive behaviors modeled in the daily routines.
Veterinary Care: Quality, affordable medical services and spaying or neutering of dogs and cats in the community through our modern veterinary clinic is a critical part of the Santa Maria Valley Humane Society mission. Keeping animals who have homes healthy, helps those animals stay in their homes and out of the shelter. Spaying or neutering pets prevents puppies and kittens from being born, further reducing pet overpopulation.
Animal Training: Inappropriate behavior is the number one reason dogs are relinquished to shelters. Utilizing the "Open Paw" model, Santa Maria Valley Humane Society animal behavior specialists and certified professional dog trainers teach dogs and cats good manners and social skills in the shelter making homeless animals more adoptable. Every dog and cat in the care of Santa Maria Valley Humane Society learns basic manners, housetraining, and social skills to become a successful new family member. For animals already in homes, public training classes can correct undesirable behaviors keep those animals safe in homes and out of the shelter.
What are the organization's key strategies for making this happen?
Animal Shelter: The Santa Maria Valley Humane Society is a place of refuge and safety for pets in need. To prevent euthanasia of adoptable dogs and cats, animal shelters across Central California contact our animal shelter to transfer surplus pets for adoption when those organizations are at capacity. Santa Maria Valley Humane Society also accepts pets from families when those pets can no longer be kept in their homes.
Veterinary Care: Key to the reduction of dog and cat overpopulation is access to affordable veterinary care for dogs and cats belonging to the public. Affordable spaying, neutering and preventative health care like vaccinations and flea prevention are available through wellness clinics Wednesday, Friday and Saturday. Free spaying and neutering is available for pets in income-qualified families through The Big Fix. When families in need cannot afford veterinary care for sick and injured pets, programs like Chrissie's Fund make care available.
Animal Training: In 2018, Santa Maria Valley Humane Society implemented Open Paw manners and skills training for shelter pets. Open Paw is rooted in behavioral science and involved staff, volunteers and visitors to the shelter interacting with pets, hand-feeding dogs kibble and giving a treat to every cat. In addition to socializing shelter pets, public dog training classes work with pets in homes to correct specific bad behaviors to keep those pets safe and in their homes.
What are the organization's capabilities for doing this?
Animal Shelter: The Edwin & Jeanne Woods Animal Care complex boasts a modern animal shelter facility. The 22,000 square foot animal shelter is nestled comfortable on 7 acres in Santa Maria, California. On average, as many as 100 homeless dogs and cats seek comfort and care in our animal shelter every night.
Veterinary Care: The Gary & Lyn Hock Spay & Neuter Clinic has state-of-the art facilities that include in-house laboratory and radiology. The veterinary medical team consists of specially trained veterinarians and licensed veterinary technicians who not only care for shelter pets but also provide high-quality services for animals belonging to the general public.
Animal Training: Having Certified Professional Dog Trainers and animal behavior specialists on staff are key to the success of the animal training program at the Santa Maria Valley Humane Society. 26 full-time staff, 185 active volunteers and thousands of public visitors each year help to make our robust Open Paw socialization program possible.
What have they accomplished so far and what's next?
Since 1984, the caring staff and volunteers of the Santa Maria Valley Humane Society have placed 12,985 homeless dogs and cats into new and loving homes and our highly-skilled veterinarians have helped and healed an additional 33,604 dogs and cats.
From 2017 to 2018, pet adoptions have increased from an average of about 30 per month to over 100 pets placed into new homes monthly. Spaying and neutering of pets has increased from 1,100 in 2016 to over 2,000 in 2017. With the implementation of the Open Paw manners and skills training, the return rate for adult adopted pets has decreased from over 20% in 2017 to about 10% in 2018.
Providing shelter for animals in crisis, rescue efforts, and "Pet Food Pantry" for dogs and cats in need helps thousands more animals each year. Our programs are supported entirely by donations from the communities that we serve. For more information about the Santa Maria Valley Humane Society visit www.smvhs.org.
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
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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.
SANTA MARIA VALLEY HUMANE SOCIETY
Board of directorsas of 06/02/2021
Nancy Doherty
Leadership Coach
Brooke Gerard
Assistant District Attorney
Linda Costa
Community Health Centers
Claire Sheehy
Sheehy Berries
Vonnie Stweart
A to Z Pet & Home Care
Sham Duckworth
Honda of Santa Maria
Mike Inkrott
Dell
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