It’s hard to imagine a world without compassion. For me, the most important thing in the world is to treat all living creatures the right way—compassionately, humanely, and with the utmost kindness.
This issue of San Diego Pets Magazine celebrates those local individuals and businesses that live with compassion in their hearts and business models—those that through extraordinary acts or everyday actions demonstrate the good that exists in this world when people do the right thing for the animal kingdom.
most of those who do incredible things for animals also do wonderful things for people
This year’s third annual San Diego Humane Society Compassion Awards recognize these champions for kindness. You’ll read about a SWAT officer’s startling crime-scene discovery and the rescue that followed, as well as a safe haven for unwanted horses. Elsewhere in this issue, you’ll meet San Diego Padres pitcher Tyson Ross, whose compassion for a stray pit bull resulted in a smiling sidekick of seven years. And you’ll read about ways to be kind to your animals by keeping them healthy and well.
One of my favorite things about the Compassion Awards is discovering that most of those who we recognize for doing incredible things for animals also do wonderful things for people, and that’s what San Diego Humane Society is all about. It validates my belief in humanity, and I’ve not seen another city exemplify this belief as much as San Diego. In fact, this month, San Diego reaches an amazing milestone, joining other progressive communities across the nation in “getting to zero”—eliminating euthanasia of adoptable animals. It’s just another reason why San Diego is the pet-friendliest city in the nation, and I’m proud to be here.
Gary Weitzman, DVM, MPH, CAWA
President and CEO
San Diego Humane Society