Edwin Sayres, B.A. Psychology, 1971, M.A.
Psychology, 1972
Ed Sayres graduated from SSU with a B.A. in psychology in 1971 and
a Master's in psychology in 1972. He is nationally-recognized for
his innovation in the design and function of animal shelters. His
focus on education has brought instruction to thousands of children
on animal care and his degree in psychology has influenced his development
of pet therapy. "He is a man of great integrity, compassion
and good humor," says Gerryann Olson, SSU psychology lecturer.
"He exemplifies both community service and a passionate career,
" states Olson.
Sayres was named president of San Francisco Society for the Prevention
and Cruelty to Animals (SF/SPCA) on November 15, 1998. This organization
was founded in 1868 as a private, non-profit, animal welfare organization
and is the national leader in saving lives and raising the status
of companion animals. Their adoption program is the cornerstone
of the SF/SPCA, but the Society operates over 20 additional programs
and services including: Community Veterinary Services, Spay/Neuter
Clinic, Feral Cat Assistance Network Program, an extensive Behavior
and Training Department, a Pet Training Academy, a Law and Advocacy
Department, and Humane Education and Animal Assisted Therapy programs.
The Society also runs a Hearing Dog Program and a Doggy Day Care
Center. They employ approximately 2230 staff members and operate
on an annual budget of $14 million. The SF/SPCA has over 95,000
members and 1,200 volunteers. He is also the author of Cinderella
Dogs, a story of real-life fairy-tail adoptions from the San Francisco
SPCA.
Formerly, Sayres served as director of PETsMART Charities Inc.,
in Phoenix, Arizona, where he administered their grants program,
distributing over $3 million to local humane societies. He managed
their In-store Adoption Program in collaboration with local humane
societies resulting in the placement of over 150,000 animals annually
and development of partnerships with over 1,000 humane societies
to reduce needless euthanasia.
Sayres also served two years as director of the Animal Protection
Division at the American Humane Association. Prior to that he served
for 20 years at St. Hubert's Giralda, serving as president for 14
years of that term. St. Hubert's Giralda is a statewide animal protection
agency in Madison, New Jersey. There he organized and became the
first president of the Animal Welfare Federation of New Jersey,
an alliance of 115 agencies that came together under his leadership
to speak with one voice on animal welfare issues. He created the
largest humane society-based dog-training center in the country.
Sayres credits SSU with helping him develop interpersonal skills,
personal discipline and effective communication skills. "My
SSU experience was exceptional and guides many elements of my personal
and professional life to this day, " says Sayres. "SSU
created an environment that enabled me to realize that my choice
of profession can and should blend the heart and the mind."
He says, "specific tools of journaling from Gordon Tappen,
yoga from Eleanor Criswell and Zen meditation from Bill Kwong have
remained daily practices and serve as a portable problem solving
kit that I have used at every stage of personal and professional
challenges. I have not had another educational experience that has
given me such a tangible and relevant body of knowledge as the SSU
undergraduate and graduate experience."
