The Walnut Creek-based animal shelter formerly known as Animal Rescue Foundation (ARF) announced a new name Wednesday, relaunching as Joybound People & Pets.
The shelter and foundation was originally founded by Major League Baseball manager Tony La Russa in 1991, but La Russa severed ties with the foundation in March 2023 after expressing dissatisfaction with its leadership. The foundation said at the time that the decision was mutual, but La Russa disputed this.
The shelter marked its reopening Wednesday with an event featuring local elected leaders to commemorate the introduction of the new name.
Another celebration will be held at the shelter on Saturday, with an adoption event hosted by several Northern California adoption organizations from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
The shelter is located at 2890 Mitchell Drive in Walnut Creek.
CEO Susan Lee Vick said in a statement: “The Joybound name represents our commitment to forming and supporting strong human-animal bonds to bring greater health and happiness to dogs, cats and their human families. “This reflects our long-standing efforts.”
Saturday's event will include music, face painting, food trucks, ice cream and more. Your first 100 pets, whether adopted at an event or brought in by an existing owner, will receive a free microchip.
In addition to adopting rescue pets, Joybound also offers training, veterinary care, assistance with meals and necessities, therapy, and service animal programs.
The nonprofit plans to expand outside the Bay Area and begin offering job training programs for careers in pet grooming, dog training and veterinary nursing, according to a news release from the nonprofit. It's planned.
Since its founding, Joybound has placed approximately 50,000 pets into new homes, according to the organization. State Sen. Steve Glaser (D-Orinda) wished the organization every success in a statement. “We congratulate Joybound on this milestone and look forward to hearing about even more lives enriched by pet adoption,” Glaser said.
Joybound has also migrated its online presence from arflife.org to Joybound.org.
The organization was originally founded as the Tony La Russa Animal Rescue Foundation in 1990 after a coach discovered a stray cat on the field during a game at the Oakland Coliseum.
He and his wife, Elaine La Russa, started ARF the following year and remained affiliated with the organization until last year, when a dispute arose involving a dog that ran away during the adoption process and the termination of a longtime volunteer. LaRussa's family sent the group a cease-and-desist letter restricting the group's use of his and his family's name and likeness. The group claimed the board had already voted to sever ties with the Hall of Fame manager.
