Adoption Windows

When Jackie left home this morning, she little realised love would be in the air.

She was only going to do a few errands, but instead there was a match that could have been made in heaven. For in Macy's, Jackie
met Clifford.

And soon, with a few formalities completed on paper, Jackie and Clifford were going home together, if not hand in hand, then hand in paw.

For Clifford is a beautiful white and ginger kitten who was nestling on his ownsome in a cage - until Jackie came along.

Inside Macy's the SF SPCA - Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals - are administering the adoption of kittens, puppies, cats, and dogs, alongside their showcasing of pets in the much-viewed Christmas Adoption Windows.

'I came out to do errands and walked by to see the cats. Unfortunately, I fell in love!,' said Jackie, an older lady who preferred not to have her photo taken. 'I'm always falling in love with cats. And dogs!' she added.

So much so, in fact, that Jackie offers free dog-walking services to her neighbourhood.

Isn't Clifford a rather big name for a little kitten? I ventured.

Jackie agreed. 'I won't keep the name,' she said. 'Maybe I'll call him "Cliff".'

As Jackie sat completing the adoption process, Joan, the Outreach Coordinator who was helping her, said Clifford was two-months-and-one-day old.

His adoption is one more in a very successful Christmas event. Already numbers at the beginning of the day had totalled 289, surpassing last year's total of 277. This included 282 kittens and seven puppies.

People were continually walking by the adoption desk, making inquiries or popping into the small room nearby to see the pets in cages. 'It's been a really crazy day for a Monday. We didn't expect!' said Joan.

Of the numbers she said, 'We're absolutely pleased, especially with the economy!

'We're hoping to break the 300 mark and I think we will by Thursday - New Year's Day when the Windows close - but not our all-time record which is just a little over 300,' she said.

When people like Jackie adopt, they fill in a survey which aims to assess the type of home environment a cat will be going into. One of the questions caught my eye....'I would consider my household to be like.....A library...Middle of the Road...A carnival'!!!

Once the paperwork has been done, though, kittens are lovingly placed into cardboard carriers and are free to go to their new home, but with dogs more time is needed to match them with families. Hence the adoption numbers show that of the 289 adoptions, only seven are for puppies or dogs.

Today's windows had the most appealing triplets of chihuahua 'mixes'. Named Millie, Maggie and Missie, they are one month and 28 days old.

'I've met the mum, she's a chihuahua mix, she was very tall, very leggy for a chihuahua,' said Joan who is hoping to have more idea of the missing breed as the pups get older.

pics show: Joan reaching out a hand to Clifford in his box; Abigail, one of the SF SPCA helpers giving Clifford a final cuddle before sending him to his new home; Santa Claus announcing the latest tally; Millie, Maggie and Missie

Macy's Christmas Windows are Alive!

Macy's Christmas windows are alive - literally!

Puppies and kittens, viewed by thousands of adoring shoppers, are having a Christmas adventure in festive, miniature gardens - all in the hope that they will be adopted and one day have a real Christmas home and family of their own.

This is the 22nd year the San Francisco Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals have done Christmas Adoption Windows, and their fourth in Macy's at Union Square.

Judging from the crowds outside over the last week, they are the 'show of the month!'

So it is not surprising that these heart-touching pets who playfully rumble and tumble, stretch and snooze under public gaze are flying, if not off the shelves, then out of the windows!

To the delight of the SPCA, adoption numbers are so far higher this year than last despite the credit crunch.

By Wednesday of last week, 144 kittens and cats, and three dogs had been adopted compared to last year's 109. Santa on his daily bulletin was posting 165 by Friday, and following a busy weekend at midweek the number topped 200.

Yesterday that number had climbed to 208.

'I think there is a lack of feel-good stories out there and so much negative press going on with the struggles with the economy,' said Kiska Icard, Public Relations Officer.

'It is wonderful that people are coming out and adopting. It really seems to me people are getting back to the basics, spending time with family and animals.'

Other factors in adoption levels, she said, might be the use of live webcams, now in use for three years, and more publicity through news stories, the internet and word of mouth. The webcams have been upgraded this year to give quicker feeds and clearer pictures.

Part of the success of the windows can be attributed to the artistic decking out. There are Victorian house fronts with steps leading up to garlanded doors, greenery twined around pillars, twinkling lights in the hedgerow, silver tinsel and baubles and festive fountains.

Santa, with a toy ginger kitty perched on his shoulder, is there with his toy list, no doubt for all good puppies and kittens.

He is also busy with his letters! Large red postboxes stand at either end, overhead, letters are conveyed to him on a moving string and scattered over the floor are piles of hopeful, hand-written letters from children - all carefully read first by Santa!

There is also humour with stuffed animals. Santa has three majestic-looking reindogs, Comutt, Rudog and Cupet!

Other seasonally dressed dogs hold placards such as 'On my way to Santa Fe', 'These paws were made to travel', 'Picture me in Palm Springs' and 'California here I come.'

For the real puppies and kittens, there are comfortable resting spots, toys and temperature-controlled windows. A host of volunteers constantly pop in and out to check their well-being and volunteers are also on hand in the street.

Caryn, who works for the advertising company that represents the SPCA, just happened to be standing on the sidewalk.

'I think it's a wonderful thing that they are doing. They are far ahead of where they were last year with adoptions,' she said.

Byanka, an enthusiastic photographer with metallic-blue camera, was smitten with Mimi and Mac, a pair of tiny black Chow Chows mixed with either German Shepherd or labrador.

'They're so cute,' she said, 'I just want to take them home!'

She didn't really need to be asked if this method of advertising was effective. But answering the question, she said, "Yes, it works.'

Bubbly six-year-old Charlene was one of several children standing there. 'I think they're so cute,' she said, a pink toy rabbit clutched under her arm.

Does she have dog?

'My puppy is named Lucky,' she said, Lucky being a Malti-Poo, a cross between a Maltese and a Poodle.

And what does she want for Christmas?

'I'm looking forward to a little puppy that looks like both of those cute ones!' she said, captivated by the moment and proving Byanka's point of the effectiveness of this appeal to people's hearts.

Other heart-stealing pets on Wednesday were Kipper, a one-year-old ginger and white kitten, two five-month-old black and white kittens musically called Paul and Simon, two-month-old light-ginger kitten, Buster, and 18-month-old Melanie, a chihuahua mixed with pug.

Inside the store Donna was at an SPCA information desk next to a small room where more pets were on display in cages.

She was taking details of anyone wanting to adopt although, she said, puppies like Mimi and Mac are not ready to be adopted, so for those she was only taking applications.

Mimi and Mac's breed is uncertain at the moment. 'As they get bigger we're going to see what they look like. But at this age it's ambiguous,' she said.

'They are approximately two months old. They haven't had all their vaccinations and behaviour evaluations so it will be a little while before they go to a home.'

By the time the animals are ready to go, they will have been carefully medically and behaviorally screened, vaccinated, and spayed or neutered. Adopters will also be given 30 days of free pet health insurance, an advice DVD, dog leash and collar, a gift bag from sponsors of the windows and discounts on most SF/SPCA training classes.

Last year, 277 animals were adopted through the windows and about $37,000 raised in donations.

The SPCA started their Adoption Windows in 1986 at Gump's, another gift store nearby. This year they were unveiled by Dame Edna on November 21 and will run until New Year's Day. The animals are there for viewing from when the store opens to one hour before closing time.

Kristen Green, another Public Relations Officer, said the popularity of the animals stems from them being 'a gift the family is talking about and wants to welcome into their life - it's a gift that a family will have for many years, not a toy that you can be bored of in a day!

'It's so nice to be able to work with Macy's,' she added, 'and to see people's faces glowing. And the volunteers are so happy, it's so great to have them too.'

Pictured are Kipper with a volunteer; six-year-old Charlene; the windows at night; Mimi or Mac!

For more daytime pics click here

Nighttime Christmas windows, with a few extras

To view the live webcam:
http://www.sfspca.org/adoption/macys.shtml