How the San Diego Humane Society Spun a Loss Into a Lie
SDHS Misled the Public—Again. Here Are the Facts.
“We believe our Community Cat Program complies with California law and benefits our community and cats alike.”
— San Diego Humane Society to CBS 8 (June 10 2025)
Screenshot of CBS 8’s now-removed post mischaracterizing the court’s ruling as a win for SDHS.
🔎 *Note: Since this article was prepared, CBS 8 has removed their original reporting on the court's decision. The takedown raises questions about transparency and public accountability in reporting on shelter policies.*
Let’s get something straight:
The San Diego Superior Court did not validate SDHS’s prior Community Cat Program.
It found it unlawful.
Specifically, the court ruled that SDHS:
Used an overly strict definition of ownership
Wrongly released cats with sterilization scars and unregistered microchips
Failed to protect kittens, violating their duty under California law
These actions were found to be in violation of Civil Code §1816(c) and Penal Code §597s.
So What Actually Happened?
Only after the trial, and after this ruling, did SDHS revise its policy—on February 12, 2025.
That new version included broader ownership indicators and more humane protections. The court approved that policy—not the one used before.
They did not comply until they were forced to.
They did not reform until they were exposed.
And now, they’re rewriting history.
📢 What SDHS Told the Public
In their interview with CBS 8, SDHS offered a vague “we comply” statement—implying that the court upheld their long-standing approach.
That is false.
They withheld the fact that the court found their original program unlawful, and that the legally compliant version was only adopted after the lawsuit concluded.
This kind of language is not a misunderstanding.
It’s a calculated deflection.
📣 Help Correct the Record
If you care about animal welfare, legal truth, or basic accountability—share this.
We don’t fix broken systems by letting institutions rewrite the story.
We fix them by telling the truth and refusing to look away.