Today we’d like to introduce you to Gary Weitzman, DVM, MPH, CAWA — President And CEO, San Diego Humane Society.
Hi Gary, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
I’ve always had a passion for animals and public service, and I feel incredibly fortunate that my career has allowed me to combine the two. I started out as a veterinarian, but my journey took me beyond the exam room — first into nonprofit leadership and ultimately to San Diego Humane Society, where I’ve served as president and CEO since 2012.
Before moving to San Diego, I led the Washington Animal Rescue League in Washington, D.C., and served in the U.S. Air Force. Along the way, I’ve also hosted Public Radio’s The Animal House and written several books for National Geographic to help people better understand and care for their pets.
What drew me to San Diego Humane Society was the opportunity to truly change the landscape of animal welfare. We’re an open-admission shelter that cares for more than 40,000 animals each year — from dogs and cats to farm animals and native wildlife — and we serve as the contracted animal services provider for 13 cities across San Diego County.
But our work goes far beyond sheltering. We offer nationally recognized programs that support the entire community, including advanced veterinary care, behavior and training, wildlife rehabilitation, humane law enforcement, and safety-net services that keep pets with the families who love them. One of our proudest milestones is achieving and sustaining zero euthanasia of healthy or treatable shelter animals in our region since 2015.
Our biggest challenges today mirror what’s happening nationwide: higher numbers of animals entering shelters, fewer veterinary resources, and growing obstacles for families trying to keep their pets. But we remain committed to meeting this moment with compassion, innovation, and determination — because the animals and people in our community deserve nothing less.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It definitely hasn’t been a smooth road — but I don’t think that’s unusual in animal welfare. This work is full of emotional highs and lows, and the stakes are always incredibly high. One of the biggest challenges has been managing the sheer scale of need. Every year, we see tens of thousands of animals come through our doors, and behind every one of them is a unique story, sometimes involving crisis or heartbreak.
Staying at zero euthanasia of healthy or treatable shelter animals since 2015 has been one of our proudest achievements — but it’s not easy. It takes constant innovation, community support and a deeply dedicated team. And lately, we’re seeing challenges intensify across the country: rising shelter populations, fewer veterinary resources, and families facing mounting barriers to care for their pets.
Of course, the pandemic brought its own set of struggles. From staffing shortages to surges in animal intakes to the emotional toll on frontline workers, it was one of the most difficult periods in recent memory. But it also reinforced how resilient and compassionate our team is — and how vital this work is for the animals and people who count on us.
Through it all, I’ve learned that the road may never be smooth, but the mission keeps us grounded. Every life saved, every family kept together — that’s what makes it all worth it.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
At San Diego Humane Society, I have the privilege of leading an organization that’s redefining animal welfare on a national level. We care for more than 40,000 animals each year — not just dogs and cats, but also farm animals and native wildlife — and we serve as the animal services provider for 13 cities in San Diego County. Our work extends far beyond sheltering, encompassing everything from veterinary medicine and behavioral rehabilitation to humane law enforcement and wildlife rescue.
What really sets us apart is our focus on prevention and support. We’re deeply committed to helping people keep the animals they love by providing accessible services like pet food, emergency boarding, medical support and more. And since 2015, we’ve remained at zero euthanasia of healthy or treatable shelter animals — something I’m especially proud of.
I’ve been the CEO of San Diego Humane Society for over a decade, but my path here started in New England, where I grew up and went to school all the way through veterinary school at Tufts, with a year studying in Aberdeen, Scotland. I never thought I’d live in Southern California—too sunny for my New England personality—but I love it. In fact, I can’t imagine living anywhere else now.
After 10 years in Washington, D.C., moving here was a true breath of fresh air. The people in San Diego are kinder, nicer and more patient than anywhere I’ve ever lived, and that kindness is something I value deeply. It’s a sentiment we embrace at San Diego Humane Society, where we strive to treat our guests—both human and animal—with the very best care and respect in the world.
I live in Ocean Beach with my husband, Randy, and our two dogs Rosie and Millie, who are the real heart of our family. They’re from SDHS of course! Ocean Beach, in my opinion, is the best San Diego has to offer: the beach, the close community feel I was looking for, and a distinctive personality all its own. I never thought I’d end up in Southern California, but now I know how San Diego truly is the best place on earth.
What’s next?
We know that the key to ending pet homelessness and shelter overpopulation is a steadfast commitment to accessible spay and neuter services. Last year, San Diego Humane Society performed more than 22,000 spay/neuter surgeries — 16,285 for shelter animals, with the rest for rescue partners, owned pets, and community cats. While our medical teams perform an average of more than 60 surgeries every day, the majority are for pets already in our shelters — our first priority to make them adoption-ready. But even with that pace, it’s still not enough.
This fiscal year, our goal is to increase that number to 30,000 spay/neuter surgeries, dedicating an additional 7,000 to pets in the community. We recognize the urgent need for more services for owned pets, and establishing a dedicated hospital will be a significant step forward in supporting pet families throughout our region.
That’s why we are focused on expanding our community-based veterinary services and high-quality, high-volume spay/neuter (HQHVSN) programs — addressing the root causes of pet homelessness and shelter crowding. Our top facilities priority is to build a Community Veterinary Hospital, which will house an HQHVSN clinic for community members as well as a teaching center for state veterinarians and veterinary students. This first-of-its-kind resource will be a lifeline for families who need veterinary care and spay/neuter services but may not be able to afford private practice fees.
Building this hospital requires careful planning and permitting, and that’s the stage we’re in now — with the goal of breaking ground in mid-2026. Once open, it will strengthen the safety net we provide, ensuring San Diego remains the best place in the world to be a pet or to have one.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.sdhumane.org
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/sdhumanesociety
- Facebook: https://facebook.com/SanDiegoHumaneSociety
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/sdhumane
- Other: https://tiktok.com/@sdhumanesociety
Image Credits
San Diego Humane Society
