Fuzzy cuteness returned to downtown late last week for the 39th annual SF SPCA Holiday Windows at Macy’s Union Square. The beloved annual display brings adoptable puppies and kittens to the storefront windows at the corner of Stockton and O’Farrell streets. The windows debuted Friday and will run through December 31st. The live displays will be viewable Wednesday through Sunday, from noon to 5 p.m., except for Thanksgiving and Christmas.
Indiana (blue collar) and Indigo (red collar) are the first pups to grace the windows this year. |Photo: Cheryl L. Guerrero/Hoodline
The San Francisco SPCA is an independent, community supported non-profit organization dedicated to animal welfare, “saving, protecting, and providing immediate care for cats and dogs who are homeless, ill, or in need of an advocate.” They also have community outreach programs for things like spaying and neutering, volunteer supported Animal Assisted Therapy, and the popular literary program Puppy Dog Tales. They team up each year with another San Francisco staple, Macy’s Union Square, to promote holiday animal adoptions and help families add a new member to their households.
Passersby stop to look at the kittens. | Photo: Cheryl L. Guerrero/Hoodline
This year, the goal is to help 500 animals find their forever homes. To help achieve this, the SF SPCA will offer “Name Your Price” adoptions for all animals over 5 months old throughout the holiday period.
“By offering Name Your Price adoptions,” SF SPCA CEO Dr. Jennifer Scarlett said in a statement, “We’re removing barriers and making it possible for more families to experience the unconditional love of a pet this holiday season.”
Delia Lyon of Sonoma had the honor of making the first puppy adoption of the season. "I had my eye on this little pup," she said of Teddy, "He’s adorable…I’m just in love." | Photo: Cheryl L. Guerrero/Hoodline
For those unable to visit in person, there will be online Holiday Live Cams streaming daily on the SF SPCA website. Additionally, the organization will host a special Shelter Animal Toy Drive in partnership with KTVU and FOX LOCAL at Macy’s on Saturday, December 13th. The organization said the toy drive offers the chance to “bring holiday cheer” to the shelter animals.
Finding animals their forever homes is always the goal each year. “Every adoption creates space for us to save another life,” noted Scarlett.
Here are more scenes from this year’s Holiday Windows debut:
Curious kittens hang out in the windows facing Stockton Street.
Indigo and Indiana take center stage after the unveiling.
Otis and his handler Joanna along with Zay and his handler Anne supported the Windows debut. They are volunteers with the SF SPCA Animal Assisted Therapy program.
The littermate of Teddy, the first puppy adopted this season ,was also at the event awaiting adoption.
(l-r) Macy’s Store Manager Jonathan Davis, Mayor Daniel Lurie, Senator Scott Weiner, CEO of the SF SPCA Dr. Jennifer Scarlett, and District 3 Supervisor Danny Sauter were all present for the event.
Daisy, a senior rescue dog, took in the windows with her person.
The puppies looking out at the crowd after the unveiling.
