50 Years of Friends for Man's Best Friend

Sometimes man’s best friend needs a friend, too.

Throughout the month of March, the in San Anselmo celebrated 50 years of raising vital funds to assist abandoned and ailing dogs, cats and other critters. The shop also brought to fruition California’s first subsidized spay and neuter clinic.

And there couldn’t be a more crucial time for the thrift shop to thrive.

“The Marin Humane Society has certainly seen an increase in strays and surrendered animals during the economic downturn,” said Carrie Harrington, director of communications for the Marin Humane Society. “Every one of these animals benefits from the skill and knowledge of our veterinary clinic staff. Every animal is given a full medical assessment and is vaccinated against diseases. Last year, our veterinary staff performed 2,219 spay and neuter surgeries and microchipped 2,775 animals. We are also able to perform lifesaving rehabilitation for sick and injured animals, and victims of cruelty. Proceeds from the thrift store support this lifesaving work.”

According to Harrington, the Marin Humane Society Auxiliary was organized in 1940 and fundraising efforts were originally performed through bridge and tea parties. Much of the money raised by the auxiliary went to the construction of a new shelter in San Rafael, completed in 1952.

In 1961, the auxiliary, seeking a new revenue stream, opened the thrift shop on San Anselmo Avenue. It’s moved just once, and only down the block, but has been a mainstay in downtown for 50 years. As many local merchants are aware, the shop had to overcome some serious floods, twice bouncing back from being swamped. Over the years, proceeds from the thrift shop have supported the clinic, which includes lifesaving rehabilitation and the spaying and neutering of tens of thousands of animals. In 2010, thrift shop proceeds exceeded $80,000 for the Marin Humane Society — a record year.

“The shop offers a range of merchandise, including clothes, kitchenware, books, handmade cards, and collectables,” Harrington said. “What may surprise people about the shop are the prices. Shop volunteers try to keep them appealingly low.”

The shop hasn’t always had it easy.

“At first there was a real need for merchandise, and the auxiliary continuously ran newspaper ads looking for donations,” explained Donna Morrison, who has volunteered at the shop for five years. “That problem persisted into the early 1980s and is firmly in the memory of some of our longstanding volunteers, like Ellen Coster, who still can’t get used to the now steady flood of clothes, and kitchenware, and books, and collectables. For the last couple decades the shop has been blessed with wonderful steady donors — and customers.”

Loyalty has paid off for the shop, which is now the only remaining thrift sore in San Anselmo. “It’s a tribute to our supportive landlord, the volunteer shop manager, and the hard-working women and men of the auxiliary who give of their time for the dogs and cats,” Morrison said. “I should also mention that we have a wonderful arrangement with a professional estate liquidator whereby the shop receives terrific donations from the items unsold at his managed estate sales. And we do a very brisk business in greeting cards, both commercial — at 50 cents — and handmade-all-recycled (at a dollar) that have also become a big draw.”

And for 50 years it’s all been for the love and care of man’s four-legged friends.