News Item: In 2025, the San Diego City Council passed a final budget that reduced the San Diego Humane Society’s SDHS) annual animal services contract by $1 million. While the city initially proposed a more devastating 20% ($3.5 million) cut, the compromise forces the organization to evaluate fee increases and operational adjustments while facing critical shelter capacity issues.
By Debbie L. Sklar
Public discussion has included questions about the San Diego Humane Society, including shelter capacity, animal control responsibilities, and executive compensation. San Diego Humane Society President and CEO Dr. Gary Weitzman is compensated at more than $500,000 annually, according to publicly available IRS Form 990 filings.
Records published through ProPublica’s Nonprofit Explorer list total compensation of approximately $509,396 in the most recent reporting period, including salary and other reportable compensation. The filing also lists approximately $72.8 million in annual revenue and more than $100 million in net assets.
Weitzman has served as president and CEO of the San Diego Humane Society since 2010.
Executive compensation within nonprofit organizations is determined through internal governance processes, typically reviewed by a board of directors and informed by
comparative data from similar-sized organizations in the animal welfare and nonprofit sectors. Public filings provide one element of that broader oversight framework.
Compensation structures in large nonprofits are generally designed to reflect organizational size, operational scope, regional cost of living, and responsibilities
associated with managing substantial budgets, staff, and multi-jurisdictional contracts.
In organizations of similar scale, compensation packages may include salary, benefits, and other reportable forms of compensation disclosed through annual filings. The San Diego Humane Society is a regional nonprofit that provides animal sheltering, veterinary services, wildlife rehabilitation, humane investigations, and contracted animal services for multiple jurisdictions throughout San Diego County.
The organization operates multiple campuses across the county and serves both municipal contracts and privately funded programs. In addition to direct animal care
services, it also oversees enforcement-related functions in participating jurisdictions, placing it in a broader role than a traditional shelter model.
Public attention to the organization increased following a 2025 San Diego County grand jury report on animal control enforcement, including concerns about leash-law
compliance and coordination among agencies responsible for animal services. The report focused on the county’s animal services system and raised questions about how responsibilities are distributed between agencies and jurisdictions, contributing to renewed discussion about coordination and service delivery across the region.
Additional reporting by the San Diego Union-Tribune in 2025 documented municipal discussions regarding funding and service levels, including proposed adjustments and subsequent agreements between city officials and the organization. Those discussions occurred in the context of ongoing negotiations between local governments and contracted service providers as jurisdictions balanced budget considerations with animal care and enforcement responsibilities.
The organization has stated publicly that it continues to experience increased demand for services, including higher intake numbers, medical care needs, and expanded
regional responsibilities following the consolidation of animal welfare services.
More broadly, the issue reflects ongoing public interest in how large nonprofit organizations structure leadership compensation while managing public contracts, private donations, and regional service obligations. These organizations operate under governance models that include board oversight, audits, and federally required disclosures such as IRS Form 990 filings, which allow for public comparison across similarly sized nonprofits.
Sources:
- IRS Form 990 filings via ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer
- San Diego County Grand Jury Report (2025)
- San Diego Union-Tribune (2025 coverage on animal services and municipal funding discussions)
- San Diego Humane Society public organizational materials and leadership disclosures
- Reader emails
