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| ©The HSUS |
| Sea lions on San Francisco's Pier 39. |
By Rachel Querry
Dogs romping in the San Francisco Animal Care and Control's Astroturf dog park (complete with fire hydrant) joined the April 30 celebration announcing San Francisco's Humane Index ranking as America's most humane metropolitan area. Representatives from The Humane Society of the United States and Bay Area humane organizations were on hand to toast San Francisco's top ranking.
It was the good news Bay Area residents needed after a tanker truck caught fire and destroyed two of the city's major arteries.
Also on hand was California Assemblyman Mark Leno (D-San Francisco), who has championed humane public policies in San Francisco and in the California legislature for many years.
"This is a tremendous honor for the San Francisco Bay Area, which has always had a big heart when it comes to honoring and protecting the sanctity of all living beings," said Leno. "The manner in which a society treats defenseless animals who can't speak up for themselves and so willingly offer us their love and devotion says a great deal about its people. It gives me great pride to live in 'America's Most Humane City' with so many fellow animal lovers."
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| ©The HSUS |
Calif. Assemblyman Mark Leno (D-San Francisco) and The HSUS'
Jennifer Fearing toast San Francisco's compassion. |
Leno was joined by Jennifer Fearing, The HSUS' chief economist, who conceived and developed the Humane Index. Carl Friedman, director of San Francisco Animal Care and Control, and his team played host for the big announcement.
Others in attendance included Jan McHugh-Smith, the first woman to run the San Francisco SPCA in the organization's 139-year history, Ken White, president of Peninsula Humane Society & SPCA, and Glenn Howell, director of Contra Costa County Animal Services. Humane Society Legislative Fund board member Susan Atherton also celebrated the announcement.
"It should come as no surprise, perhaps, that this city named for the patron saint of animals, St. Francis of Assisi, would lead the nation in its humane sensibilities," said Fearing. "Long recognized for its compassion and proactive efforts to solve the unwanted pet problem, it is wonderful to learn that San Francisco's humane ethic is also consistent when it comes to the treatment of other species."
The Humane Index ranks the nation's largest 25 metropolitan areas according to 12 criteria. Fearing and the experts at The HSUS selected the criteria because they offered a measurable way to judge the attitudes and behavior of residents on a wide variety of animal issues, ranging from puppy mills to the welfare of laying hens confined in cages.
Reaction to the launch of the Humane Index, which appeared first in Parade Magazine, has been overwhelmingly positive.
The HSUS created a website to display the results of the year-long study.
"I think you've done a terrific job disseminating information and increasing awareness on the issues surrounding 'humanity' with regard to other living creatures," wrote one HSUS member.
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| ©The HSUS |
| Data displayed in the Humane Index website. |
Another supporter congratulated the team who created the Humane Index, writing that "this is perhaps the best designed, easiest to use and most visually appealing graphic depiction of data that I have ever seen."
Plans are already underway for the next round of Humane Index research. But for now, Fearing and the team have been enjoying the reaction from animal advocates across the country who are learning how their favorite cities ranked and who are eager to improve their city's ranking the next time around.
Rachel Querry is the senior director of public relations at The Humane Society of the United States.
