SAN FRANCISCO, CA- On June 30th, Pets Unlimited (2343 Fillmore Street), San Francisco's oldest non-profit animal shelter and veterinary hospital, will receive a generous endowment of $1 million dollars in honor of the late Sergeant Darryl Tsujimoto, 41, who was the leader and guiding light of the San Francisco Police Department's Canine Unit until he died of a heart attack last May during training exercises. The endowment is being established by San Francisco philanthropist Nina Ireland who has long admired the work of the SFPD's K-9 unit. A formal presentation will take place at 1 p.m. outside Pets Unlimited (Washington St.) during the Fillmore Street Jazz Festival and a plaque will be presented in Sergeant Tsujimoto's honor. Specialized members of the K-9 Unit of the San Francisco Police department will demonstrate several of the exceptional skills and techniques used by their department. Members of Sergeant Tsujimoto family will also be in attendance.
"Pets Unlimited is honored to be associated with Sergeant Tsujimoto, who was a true humanitarian and a pillar of the San Francisco community, "said Joe O'Hehir, Executive Director at Pets Unlimited. "With this generous endowment, we'll be able to continue our charitable work in emergency care and treatment of animals, and to forever honor the many contributions Sergeant Tsujimoto made to our community."
The $1 million dollar endowment will help fund many aspects of animal care including: the medical care of retired police dogs, San Francisco animal victims of fires, animals in need of medical care brought to Pets Unlimited for adoption by San Francisco Animal Care and Control , and animals referred by Veterinary Street Outreach Services (Vet SOS) a part of the San Francisco Community Clinic Consortium to help the homeless.
Police Chief Heather Fong will attend and deliver a proclamation from the Mayor's office, along with ten members of the SFPD K-9 unit.
Celebrating its 60th anniversary this year, Pets Unlimited is the city's oldest non profit animal shelter and veterinary hospital, and the city's only 24 hour emergency care facility. In November 2006, Pets Unlimited opened their new Winnie's Center for Holistic Veterinary Medicine. For more information, visit www.petsunlimited.org
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