A Lasting Legacy of Compassionate Animal Care

Each year in the U.S., hundreds of thousands of cats and dogs are surrendered to shelters – or tragically euthanized – simply because their families can’t afford veterinary care. Treatable illnesses or injuries become heartbreaking crises. Without options, families are forced to give up their beloved companions.

That’s where Berkeley-East Bay Humane Society (Berkeley Humane) steps in and their vision to build the new Bay Area Animal Resource Center (BAARC).

For over 130 years, Berkeley Humane has been a beacon of hope in the Bay Area, offering a second chance to vulnerable animals – many from overcrowded public shelters – who are suffering from broken limbs, dental disease, and other treatable conditions. These animals receive healing, hope, and the chance to find new loving homes.

“Most families can’t afford $6,000 or $7,000 in medical care upfront. That’s where we come in,” says Executive Director Jeffrey Zerwekh. “We absorb that financial burden, so every animal has a chance – and every adopter has the opportunity to say yes.”

Berkeley Humane is more than a shelter. With advanced medical care, behavioral support, and a trusted network, they serve animals from over a dozen counties across Northern California and Hawaii. They also provide essential community services, including low-cost spay/neuter surgeries, vaccinations, pet food, training, end-of-life care, and grief counseling.

Astonishingly, all this work has taken place in a 93-year-old building, much of which has been unusable since a devastating fire in 2010.

Now, change is finally here.

BAARC will more than double their capacity for lifesaving surgeries, temporary housing, and preventive care of shelter animals. It will be the region’s most comprehensive, community-centered animal welfare hub – ensuring more pets stay in homes, find homes, and live healthier lives with the people who love them. 

“We don’t just help animals,” says Zerwekh. “We support the people who love them. That’s what this new center makes possible.”

The walls are coming down. What they build in Phase 1 will mean the difference between heartbreak and hope for thousands of pets and the families who cherish them.

With your support, they can give even more animals the second chance they deserve.

They invite you to join them in creating a more compassionate future and help build the new Bay Area Animal Resource Center.