Pet tips

Millions of people have seen the heart-wrenching television commercials featuring Sarah McLachlan singing "Angel” with image after image of homeless animals in cages. If you love, or even like animals, you’ve undoubtedly found yourself fighting back a tear. I do, and I see very similar faces and expressions in person everyday at our shelter in San Mateo. The commercials have been wildly successful, raising a reported $30 million for animals in New York. It’s hard for me to fathom that number because it’s many times the budget of our organization and other local shelters serving their Bay Area communities. The commercial is broadcast nationally and undoubtedly moves people from every part of the nation to pick up the phone and give their credit card number. I know, animal people have huge hearts and like to act with them. Many people viewing the commercials either believe or hope their donation to the ASPCA is going to trickle down to the shelter serving sick, unwanted and abused animals in their local community. This is not the case. Money raised from these commercials goes to the group in New York that created the commercial. It’s fantastic, of course, but primarily serves animals, people and programs in New York. Some people may know this and think this is just fine. Others may instead want to make a gift knowing it will impact animals where they live. Consider making a donation you know will help animals here — wherever you live in the San Francisco Bay Area. When it comes to animals in need, a think locally, act locally approach can be quite satisfying. I can’t sing to you (and you might make a donation if I promised to stop!), but I can show you the same faces in our kennels.