The San Francisco SPCA is getting ready to receive 30 dogs and cats from Southern California shelters that have been impacted by the wildfires there, and they are hoping to get more dogs adopted this week to make space.

As part of the response from California's network of animal shelters to the emergency situation in Los Angeles, dozens of adoptable shelter pets are being transferred to San Francisco in order to provide relief to over-capacity shelters in the crisis zone that are taking in lost animals whose humans may still be looking for them.

"During emergencies, animal shelters become vital community resources, and we're seeing that play out right now," says Dr. Jennifer Scarlett, CEO of the San Francisco SPCA, in a statement. "Many shelters in the affected areas were already over capacity before the fires began. In San Francisco, we're able to transfer their existing shelter animals to our shelter, so that they can maintain space for displaced pets closer to home, maximizing the chance of reunion with their families."

The SPCA launched a promotion last weekend, like they had around the holidays, offering fee-free adoptions of puppies, which resulted in 25 puppies getting adopted — along with 46 other animals. Puppy adoptions typically come with a $400 fee.

In order to make room for the incoming animals from Los Angeles, the organization is also seeking volunteers, in particular those willing to foster dogs, and if you're interested you can apply here. No prior training is necessary.

Additional transports from Los Angeles, which are happening through the nonprofit Amelia Air Rescue, are expected in the coming the weeks, so the SF SPCA says they need as much extra space as they can get.

If you want to see some of the animals available for adoption now, go to the website or drop by the SF SPCA shelter at 250 Florida Street, Tuesday to Sunday before 6 pm. They open at 1 pm Tuesday, and 11 am Wednesday to Sunday.

Photo via Amelia Air Rescue

A Chihuahua mix by the name of ‘Bark Purdy’ hails from Sacramento, and he’s hardly Mr. Irrelevant as he heads to Animal Planet’s Puppy Bowl XX. But sorry suitors, he’s already been adopted.

The fiercely adorable Puppy Bowl is now heading into its 20th year. And many of you will find it more interesting than the upcoming February 11 Super Bowl, even though the 49ers are in the Super Bowl, because you’re more into puppies than football. For people like you, the Puppy Bowl is also on February 11, starting at 11 a.m. PT, on the basic cable channel Animal Planet.

And there is also a local NorCal hero competing in the Puppy Bowl. As KPIX reports, a Chihuahua mix from the Sacramento SPCA will be in the Puppy Bowl, and his name is Bark Purdy.

“As a member of Team Ruff, this Chihuahua mix comes from the Sacramento SPCA in Sacramento, California,” according to the Puppy Bowl website. “Bark Purdy is just as mighty as his namesake. He is small but mighty; don't underestimate this player!”

And the competition will indeed be "ruff." According to KPIX, there will be 131 dogs overall featured in this year’s Puppy Bowl, some with names like “Patrick Mabones” and “Levi.”

But if you can’t get enough of Bark Purdy, we’re sad to say he’s off the market. KPIX describes Bark Purdy as being “recently adopted from Sacramento SPCA.”

Related: Reporting Live From The Puppy Bowl Cafe, Just Open In SF [SFist]

Image: Animal Planet

The San Francisco SPCA is fur-nishing cocktails, bites, and DJ dancing at Tuesday night’s Late Night Wooftop Party at Dandelion Chocolate Factory, with animal therapy pets on hand to greet you.

You may know the SF SPCA for their annual Union Square Macy’s holiday window display crawling with live puppies and kittens up for adoption. What you may not know is that the SF SPCA facilitates a staggering 4,500 pet adoptions every year, and moreover, they've been at it for 155 years, and are the fourth-oldest animal rescue society in the U.S. They’ll be celebrating that 155-year legacy Tuesday night, and raising funds for the next 155 years of pet adoptions, at the Late Night Wooftop Party from 8-11 p.m. at Dandelion Chocolate Factory (2600 16th Street).

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A post shared by San Francisco SPCA (@sanfranciscospca)

The party promises “an evening filled with bites, cocktails and dancing” (the bites are not from a dog, but from the Vegan Hood Chefs). But there will be dogs for petting, as the SF SPCA says that “Animal assisted therapy pets will be there to greet you.” There will also be raffle prizes up for grabs like a Klay Thompson-autographed Golden State Warriors Basketball, a helicopter bay tour, and a pair of field-level tickets to two Giants games at Oracle Park.

If you’ve never seen the SF SPCA shelter at 250 Florida Street, the animals’ quarters are really something to behold. And that’s no accident, as the SF SPCA considers itself the “founder of the no-kennel movement” (as well as the “no-kill” shelter movement.”) The SF shelter was the first cageless SPCA shelter in the U.S., as not all SPCA chapters in the country are the same.  

“We’re all separate entities,” SF SPCA chief advancement officer Brandy Vause told Hoodline in January. “SPCAs and Humane Societies, although we have similar names, we’re not actually affiliated.”

“We partner with four counties in the Central Valley,” Vause added. “So if you adopt an animal from us, that frees up space in our shelter, so we can bring in another animal from another shelter, which frees up space in that shelter. So if you adopt one, you basically save three animals.”

The SF SPCA has a summary of its 155-year history of facilitating animal care and adoptions. And even if you’re not able to adopt a dog or a cat in one of those 4,500 pet adoptions they facilitate every year, the SF SPCA is always looking for pet foster parents, or people who can volunteer at the SF SPCA in their spare time.

The SF SPCA Late Night Wooftop Party is Tuesday, April 18 from 8-11 p.m. at the Dandelion Chocolate factory, 2600 16th Street (at Harrison Street). $155, tickets here

Related: Video: East Bay SPCA's 'Uptown Funk' Parody Will Bowl You Over With Cuteness [SFist]

Image: SF SPCA

Adoption fees are being temporarily waived at the San Francisco SPCA for older dogs and cats, and doggos 30 pounds or heavier, through the middle of August.

Pet shelters have had it ruff during COVID-19, as animals need temporary homes offsite, and once restrictions lifted, many people abandoned their pets in “owner-surrenders.” But it’s always been difficult for shelters to find homes for the unfashionable senior animals, and larger dogs in this small-dog town of San Francisco. So the San Francisco SPCA is offering a temporary promotion, according to KPIX, where you can adopt older pets and large dogs for free.  

Coulson had a lovely field trip with Volunteer, Valentina! 🥰 It's great to see this boy slow down to sniff some flowers and relax in the grass

Psst he's available for adoption 😁
Check him out: https://t.co/tBiPQ5Ttlg#WednesdayVibes 🐾 pic.twitter.com/sKAH4ur4xz

— San Francisco SPCA (@sfspca) July 29, 2021

Most of the furry friends embedded in this post meet the criteria, and are still listed as available on the SF SPCA website. So if you’ve been considering getting a pet, these next two-and-a-half weeks may be the ideal time.

Dizzae wants to bounce into your arms and home! 🐶 She's a super affectionate girl who just wants to be by your side. She's still working on her doggy manners, but she's eager to learn from positive guidance!

👉 Check out her profile: https://t.co/3IHuLvQsv7#AdoptDontShop 🐾 pic.twitter.com/ppde7RSLbi

— San Francisco SPCA (@sfspca) June 16, 2021

Cats and dogs seven years old and older are free to adopt under the “older pet” criteria. The criteria for “large dog” means 30 pounds or larger, and that’s a responsibility in our crammed city of San Francisco, where smaller dogs are more convenient to manage.  

Macaroni needs a forever home! 🐶 He enjoys cuddling, sunbathing, and playing with puzzle toys. He's a sharp cheddar, learning to be a mellow mozzarella. With patient guidance he'll be worthy of a Michelin star! 🤗

👉 Check him out: https://t.co/FREo6Qwran#AdoptDontShop 🐾 pic.twitter.com/x8sabtnwMI

— San Francisco SPCA (@sfspca) July 27, 2021

According to KPIX, “All animals offered by the SPCA are spayed or neutered, microchipped, and go through medical and behavioral screenings before being adopted.” You still have to go through the SPCA adoption process, but the $175 dog adoption fee and $125 cat adoption fee will not apply.

Despite the hardships of last year, we found homes for over 3,700 animals. 🥳 This wouldn't be possible without the support of our community and @maddiesfund. Thank you for your ongoing belief in our mission and help in bringing joy to thousands of families 🥰#ThanksToMaddie 🐾 pic.twitter.com/Yc0ZA9vlzN

— San Francisco SPCA (@sfspca) July 23, 2021

The SF SPCA is currently operating by appointment only. There are two locations, in the Mission at 201 Alabama Street, and in Pacific Heights at 2343 Fillmore Street.

Related: Bay Area Animal Shelters Worth A Follow On Social Media [SFist]

Image: @sfspca via Twitter

The annual tradition of seeing adoptable puppies and kittens in the windows of Macy's in Union Square, courtesy of the SPCA, will be more of a virtual affair this year.

In the interest of protecting staff members and the general public during the pandemic, the SPCA will not be bringing live animals to Macy's this year, as the Chronicle reports. Instead, the traditional holiday window displays will feature video screens showing adoptable pets instead — with the occasional "pop-up" adoption event onsite.

For the past 18 holiday seasons, the windows at Macy's Union Square have featured bedecked playpens for furry friends, including model trains that kittens liked to intentionally derail. But this is actually 34th year that the SPCA has partnered with a store for a holiday window display in San Francisco in order to encourage pet adoption.

"We wish we could bring our wonderful live animals into Macy’s Union Square today, but this year you will see them on screens throughout the store and here on our website," the SPCA says in a statement.

Adopting pets has been a major trend of this pandemic year, in this city and elsewhere, and the SPCA tells the Chronicle that they've received 3,000 applications per month from would-be pet parents since March — far exceeding the number of available pets. In a normal year, the organizations adopts out about 4,000 animals, and this year they're on track to find homes for 4,500, with another month left to go in the year.

The SPCA has been posting photos of newly adoptable animals every morning on their website, leading to a rush of applications for each one. Prospective adopters are first screened in a phone interview, and then possibly permitted to come meet the animal by appointment.

With the puppies and kittens in the Macy's windows, wrapping around the corner at Stockton and O'Farrell, along with an adoption center inside the store, the SPCA says it typically adopted out 200 to 300 onsite over the holidays. That tradition will continue with a few "pop-up" days with onsite adoptions for a handful of animals, but otherwise people will need to go through an online application process and wait for a possible phone interview — and the animals seen in the featured videos this year won't necessarily be the ones available in a given week.

And, if you just need a moment of delight in your day, you can tune into the live feed, which will alternately feature kittens and pups through the end of the year.

Here's a video promoting volunteering for the 2016 holiday windows:

You've likely seen prong collars (like the one pictured above) on dogs in San Francisco — perhaps you've even used one yourself! (On a dog, jeez, what you do in private is your business.) But now SF's SPCA is taking a stand of the controversial devices, by refusing to allow animals wearing them to set foot on their campuses.

As described by the US Humane Society, in a prong collar, "the loop that fits around your dog's neck is made of a series of fang-shaped metal links, or prongs, with blunted points. When the control loop is pulled, the prongs pinch the loose skin of your dog's neck."

According to the Humane Society, "These collars rely on physical discomfort or even pain to teach the dog what not to do. They suppress the unwanted behavior, but they don't teach him what the proper behavior is. At best, they are unpleasant for your dog, and at worst, they may cause your dog to act aggressively and even bite you." However, a quick cyberspace search will show you plenty of presumable dog lovers who are all about prong collars, like this trainer who says "There are very few dogs that I would not train with a prong collar" and this dog rescuer who says that "of all the tools used in dog training, perhaps none is more widely misunderstood and maligned than the prong collar."

Like I said, it's controversial. And now San Francisco's SPCA (which is an independent, community-supported, non-profit animal welfare organization, not to be confused with the city-run Animal Care and Control) has come down on the "against" side of the controversy, and has banned the collars from both of their locations in the city.

It's all part of "a new education campaign about the harm caused by prong collars," SF SPCA spokesperson Krista Maloney says via email.

"Prong collars cause injuries and behavioral problems," the SPCA says in their announcement of the ban, arguing that "prong collars are designed to inflict pain and discomfort and can cause serious physical, behavioral, and emotional damage."

Not only, says the SF SPCA, can prong collars lead to injuries "from skin irritation and punctures to spinal cord problems," but they "often lead to long-term behavioral problems," as "if pain is experienced during everyday activities, like walks and vet visits, dogs can begin to associate an owner's presence, and other harmless stimuli encountered while wearing the prong, with fear and discomfort."

And yet, Dr. Jennifer Scarlett, SF SPCA co-president says, they are still commonly used, as "there's a huge need for community education."

Part of that education will be ending their use on SF SPCA land, as their campuses in both the Mission and Pacific Heights "will become prong-collar-free environments in the coming months." Visitors who arrive with dogs in prong collars will be required to remove the devices while on campus and "instead use flat collars, which will be provided free of charge," the SPCA says.

In addition to the issues Scarlett says the collars cause dogs, they are "a safety concern for our medical staff. Veterinarians and technicians can easily harm themselves while trying to examine a dog who's wearing a prong collar," she says.

It will be interesting to see how this plays out, as even Scarlett admits that use of prong collars is widespread, and "We continue to regularly see prong collars on dogs throughout San Francisco." And many dog guardians that use the collars are passionate proponents, like this one who says that "The very people that speak poorly of prongs are the people that have never actually used them. Isn’t that amazing that they’re so unwilling to leave their comfort zone they’d rather sentence the dog to death by labeling it 'aggressive' than try something that actually works?"

For their part, the SF SPCA appears stalwart in their opposition to the devices. "Despite what some trainers or pet store employees might say, prong collars are not safe or humane," they write on their website.

"There’s no good reason to use them when many humane, effective alternative walking equipment options exist...These collars do nothing to train your dog what behaviors to perform, they only tell him what not to do, using pain and fear."

People, you would not believe the sheer level of joy and delight being unleashed down at the Puppy Bowl Cafe, just outside Gott's Roadside at SF's Ferry Building on Thursday afternoon. The puppies just arrived at this full-scale replica of Animal Planet's now annual Puppy Bowl, set just behind Super Bowl City, and SFist was on hand to get exclusive pics and video of the puppies populating their positively pawsome playspace.

Two dozen puppies from San Francisco Animal Care & Control and the East Bay SPCA will take turns in shifts for regulation play between 11 a.m. and 8 p.m. every day through Saturday, and til 3 p.m. on Sunday. And yes, all these puppies are all available for adoption.

For the most squee-worthy and adorable thing you will see all day, the video above shows a puppy pile-up being enjoyed by a human baby with a choice front row seat.

SFist captured the first four minutes of live regulation play, right as the puppies took the field for a fierce competition of chasing tennis balls, playing tug-of-war with the Lamb Chop toy and sniffing one another's rear ends.

Image: Joe Kukura

"There's a lot of unnecessary ruff-ruff-roughness that I'm going to throw flags for," ruffaree Tommy Gimler told SFist. "And excessive cuteness [penalties]. The puppies know what they're doing. They're all looking for forever homes. This is like a scouting session out here."

Image: Joe Kukura

In honor of Super Bowl 50, all of the pups are available for 50 percent off their normal adoption fees (about $87.50 after discount). The little lovelies are under contract to play through Sunday afternoon, and will be available for pick-up Sunday (for East Bay SPCA dogs) or Monday (for SF Animal Care dogs). Gott's Roadside, which is hilariously themed-out in Puppy Bowl decor, will make a $1 donation to the cause for every "Tailwagger Burger" sold between now and Sunday.

Image: Joe Kukura

Even the police and paramilitary security officers are getting their hearts melted by the puppies playing "wide retriever."

Image: Joe Kukura

Other attractions at the Puppy Bowl Cafe include a Puppy Bowl virtual reality experience, with goggles provided onsite for 3D virtual reality encounters like "Three Dog Tug-of-War." If you have the Google Cardboard headset, you can download it and play at home.

Image: Joe Kukura

Do not expect to immediately get close to the puppies at the Puppy Bowl Cafe. Expect to see crowds of this size around the attraction, and bring your patience and persistence if you aspire to get up front to see the puppies.

The Puppy Bowl Cafe remain open today through Saturday from 11 a.m.- 8 p.m. and Sunday, February 7 from 11 a.m.- 3 p.m. The actual Puppy Bowl TV broadcast begins at 3 p.m. PST Sunday on Animal Planet.

Ugh. Last week six border collie puppies were found abandoned in a Merced dumpster. After being discovered by a hair salon worker in the process of taking out the trash, the 4-month-old puppies are now in the care of San Francisco's SPCA. The puppies had been placed inside a trash bag, and the bag had been tied shut, explains the SPCA.

“It’s incredibly cruel,” SPCA spokeswoman Krista Maloney told the Chronicle. “There are so many alternatives, and it’s never excusable.”

Maloney explained that the dogs appear to be healthy, and the organization is asking for donations to help the animals out before they're (hopefully) placed with adoptive families.

Officials at the animal shelter/clinic/hospital named the puppies Taavi, Tabbee, Tadder, Tabo, Taddy and Tadek.

Take a moment to stare into these wonderful eyes as you remember that, sadly, dumping puppies in the garbage is not a new phenomenon. Just this past November Santa Rosa Junior College facilities and operations groundskeeper Syda Khaleck discovered a tiny Chihuahua with two broken legs that had been left to die in a dumpster. And remember the case of Gem, the insanely cute puppy pulled from a recycling conveyor belt at the city dump by Recology staffers in 2013.

Anyway, love your animals is what we're saying — and for the love of god, do not throw them in the garbage. If you're looking for a way to get a lovely critter in your life, all cat and dog adoptions at the SFSPCA are free from from February 12 through February 14 as part of the Lonely Hearts Adoption Party.

Related: Bay Area Animal Shelters Worth A Follow On Social Media

The East Bay Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals is hoping the public will help them track down a dog named Daisymae, after she was stolen from a volunteer at their Oakland campus Sunday.

Bay City News reports that "a bearded black man in his 30s wearing blue and white track pants and a blue shirt" showed up outside the animal rescue organization on 8323 Baldwin Street at 10:50 a.m. Sunday, and began asking a volunteer about the dog she was walking in the SPCA's play yard.

The dog, a two-year-old black and white pit bull mix named Daisymae, is a stray who arrived at the shelter last November. After the volunteer answered the man's questions, NBC Bay Area reports that he "threw Daisymae into his car and sped off with her."

Neither the man nor his vehicle, described by BCN as "a brownish gray sedan," have been seen since.

While every stolen animal case is urgent, Daisymae's one is particularly so, as she was scheduled for surgery to remove a mass this week, an SPCA spokesperson says.

Unlike the photos you see above and below, Daisymae was wearing an orange collar and a black and tan harness when she was taken, the SPCA says. She also has several distinctive markings, including a "punch" on the tip of her right ear, black coloring on her snout, ears and "goatee;" a mark in the shape of a "one-shouldered evening gown" that extends from her throat past her nose to the top of her head; and four white feet, with the white on her left foot extending to 1/3 of her leg.

She can be "reactive" with other dogs, the SPCA said in a Facebook posting.

"We're worried for this dog's safety and would appreciate any tips if anyone has seen Daisymae," East Bay SPCA president Allison Lindquist says.

If you've seen Daisymae or know where she might be, please call Oakland's SPCA at 510-563-4603.

In some (house) breaking news that might be the first thing you’ll like about having the Super Bowl in San Francisco, the Puppy Bowl is bringing a live version of the adorable and doggone legendary Animal Planet program to the downtown Super Bowl City area next week. Real live puppies up for adoption will do a puppy takeover at the Puppy Bowl Cafe, a replica of the Puppy Bowl set from the beloved annual Super Bowl counterprogramming show. We’ve got advance photos of several of the pooches you’ll see at this puppy proceeding that opens Thursday, February 4 and runs through Super Bowl Sunday, February 7 at the notoriously dog-friendly Gott’s Roadside at the Ferry Building.

All puppies on hand will indeed be puppies, 4 months old and younger. They’re all abandoned pups in desperate need of adoption, and these little pooches have had ruff upbringings. But in honor of Super Bowl 50, the little nippers at this pop-up pup-up will be available for 50% off of their normal adoption fees (about $87.50, after discount) courtesy San Francisco Animal Care & Control and the East Bay SPCA.

HEY HANDSOME! Dave is a 3-month-old Chi/Shiba Inu Mix who will be available for adoption next week at the Puppy Bowl Cafe. Image: SF Animal Care & Control

“The Puppy Bowl is legendary in animal circles,” SF Animal Care & Control spokesperson Deb Campbell told SFist. “We’re the city’s only open-admission animal shelter, so we’re honored.”

AWWW, LITTLE PEANUT! Peanut is a 4-month-old Chihuahua/Doxie Mix who will be available for adoption next week at the Puppy Bowl Cafe. Image: SF Animal Care & Control

It should be noted that this is not the Puppy Bowl that you will see on Super Bowl Sunday. That show was recorded months ago at a studio in Manhattan, with an entirely different litter of little poocheroos. But these Puppy Bowl Cafe participants are are all legit, local rescue pups playing for keeps in hopes of finding a new home.

WHO WANTS THE BALL? WHO WANTS THE BALL? Rudy is a 2-month-old Cairn Terrier Mix who will be available for adoption next week at the Puppy Bowl Cafe. Image: SF Animal Care & Control

Should you choose to adopt, you don’t get to take the puppy right there on the spot. These little divas are under contractual obligation to play publicly at the Puppy Bowl Cafe until February 7 at 3 p.m. Adopters can then pick up these little scamps beginning at 12 Noon on Monday, February 8.

AWWW, WHISKERS! Kukla is a 9-week-old Chihuahua who will be available for adoption next week at the Puppy Bowl Cafe. Image: East Bay SPCA

To whet your pup-pitite, Animal Planet has a live Puppy Bowl Puppycam (the puppies mostly just sleep and poop) and a Puppy Bowl virtual reality experience for anyone who has the Google Cardboard headset. If you don’t have a headset, the Puppy Bowl VR experience will be available at the Puppy Bowl Cafe.

SLURRRP! Chellie will be available for adoption next week at the Puppy Bowl Cafe. Image: East Bay SPCA

SFist will have live coverage of the opening of the Puppy Bowl Cafe on Thursday, February 4 at 11 a.m., and the puppies remain on dis-”play” Thursday, Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m.- 8 p.m. and Sunday, February 7 from 11 a.m.- 3 p.m. All these little yelpers come courtesy the East Bay SPCA and San Francisco Animal Care & Control, so check them out... on Yelp.

One way to cure the winter blues, and improve the life of one lonely, furry creature, would be to adopt a pet. But, of course, if you are too busy these days and non-committal and/or lazy for pet ownership, you could just follow one or all of the local animal shelters below on Instagram, Facebook, or Twitter, and occasionally share a cute a puppy photo, thereby improving that puppy's chances of finding a home, maybe.

Or you could just enjoy the photos, and the stories of happy pets getting adopted.

The San Francisco SPCA

SF Animal Care & Control

East Bay SPCA

Furry Friends Rescue

Humane Society of Silicon Valley

Hopalong and Second Chance Animal Rescue

KitTea Cat Café

Marin Humane Society

Oakland Animal Services

Peninsula Humane Society / SPCA

Petaluma Animal Services

Rocket Dog Rescue

Wonder Dog Rescue

According to AAA, this holiday weekend is set to have the highest rate of travel since 2010. But travelers passing through San Francisco International Airport might have a little less stress than folks elsewhere, as a special team of therapy dogs is being deployed to help everyone keep from spazzing out.

And spazzing out is definitely possible this weekend, with projections of an 1.8% increase in air travel over 2014's busy July 4th weekend. As if packed cabins weren't stressful enough, fliers can also expect to pay 6% more than they did last year, AAA says.

But as you make your way through the crammed and now-poorer masses at SFO this weekend, there'll be some four-legged friends eager to help you feel better. According to Bay City News, this weekend the Burlingame-based Peninsula Humane Society & SPCA will send handlers and certified therapy dogs to SFO to "interact with airport passengers to create a more calming environment."

The national program, which is hash tagged #UnitedPaws, "aims to show the public the unique value of interacting with dogs in stressful environments and realize the soothing benefit of canine companionship, even if it’s just 15 or 20 minutes before a flight," PHS says.

This isn't the first time destressing dogs have roamed SFO's halls: Back in December 2013, the SF SPCA had a similar SFO program called the "Wag Brigade," in which canine graduates of the SF SPCA’s Animal Assisted Therapy training program offered themselves up for the petting.

This time around, the pups will be at the airport from Friday through Sunday. If you see one, give him or her a chin scratch from us!

A necropsy performed by a Peninsula Humane Society & SPCA veterinarian has shown that a young Bichon Frise died of starvation before it was stuffed in a shoe box with a small plush toy and a towel and dumped near Palmetto Avenue in Pacifica. 26-year-old San Francisco man Kun Sun has been charged with felony animal cruelty as he was tracked down as the dog's owner, its original owner having moved to China six months ago.

The severely underweight corpse of the dog was suspicious, and a sample of the animal's femur was sent to a lab for bone marrow fat analysis. Though normal bone marrow fat content is 59.4% or higher, the sample from contained just 1.2% fat. Nothing was in the dog's stomach, and it was concluded that it had been confined denied food for up to two weeks.

A microchip implanted in the dog indicated its name was “Penny” and had an owner living in San Francisco, which led police to Sun. The Peninsula Humane Society & SPCA presented its materials and findings to the San Francisco District Attorney’s office, who brought the charges against Sun.

“Complete disregard for the health and wellbeing of an animal is criminal,” District Attorney George Gascón said in a release. “If you cannot care for a pet you have an obligation to contact authorities and ensure the animal does not suffer.”

“We cannot begin to imagine the suffering this dog experienced,” said Peninsula Humane Society & SPCA President Ken White. “The only positive we can take from this is knowing the San Francisco District Attorney’s Office treats animal abuse cases as seriously as we do.”

Sun has pled not guilty and been released on his own recognizance. However, the court has required him to report to Supervised Pretrial Release twice weekly, and at the request of ADA Christopher Nemetz, Sun can't possess any animals.

Two separate reports — one of a potentially poisoned meatball found by a dog owner on the street near Potrero Hill and another of an alleged "eight pounds" of chopped onions found scattered in the sand at popular dog run Fort Funston — have surfaced in recent days raising fears that an evil dog killer is back on the attack. This would mark the first reports since February of the as yet unidentified meatball poisoner who has struck in different neighborhoods over the last year and a half, and was responsible for the death of at least one dachshund in July 2013.

As CBS 5 reports via Redditor Bargain Manatee, a large quantity of chopped red onions were found scattered at Fort Funston on Sunday, some of which can be pictured here. As you may know, onions contain a substance, thiosulphate, which is fatal to dogs in large quantities. The dog owner writes, "What you see here was just what could be seen without moving the sand around," adding that the amount he found "would be enough to kill quite a few dogs."

Then on Tuesday both CBS 5 and the Bold Italic got a separate report of a potentially poisoned meatball being found "on the overpass at Highway 101 near Portrero Hill." That meatball has been sent for testing.

This is the first return of what could be one or multiple dog-hating suspects putting out poison-laced treats for curious canines since May of this year, when dog trainer Shura Kelly stumbled upon a plate of pill-studded meatballs (along with a candle and some quarters, bizarrely) in the Outer Sunset.

Dozens of poisoned meatballs were initially found in the vicinity of Twin Peaks, Glen Park, and Diamond Heights in July 2013, which led to the untimely death of a dachshund named Oskar despite heroic efforts to save him.

More meatballs were then found in a similar location near Twin Peaks, in the vicinity of Crestline Drive and Parkridge Drive, in February of this year.

The reward for nabbing this despicable dog-killer was upped to $25,000 this year with the help of Yelp CEO Jeremy Stoppelman, as the Chron reported, yet still no suspects have been found.

So, a warning to all dog owner to keep tight leashes on your pets and a vigilant eye on where they're sniffing.