By ELAINE ALFARO

Contributing to the canines and learning from humanity’s best friend.

Whether they are in an educational setting, walking their four dogs, or interacting with their neighborhood, the act of giving is not solely found within money but manifests itself in time and community, according to Francine Deutsch and Carole Leland (pictured above L-R).

As residents of Del Cerro for 37 years, Deutsch and Leland have applied and shared a lesson that Deutsch learned at an early age from her great-grandfather.

“Save a third, spend a third, and give away a third,” said Deutsch. “That philosophy translated my whole life.”

Their contributions to Del Cerro and beyond began with a philosophy that permeated into their actions and relationships.

They’ve recently committed to a large 10-year pledge to the San Diego Humane Society (SDHS). Their upcoming philanthropic commitment will endow the new Dr. Francine Deutsch and Dr. Carole Leland Community Veterinary Services (CVS) Veterinarian position at SDHS. Additionally, another portion of their contribution supports San Diego Humane Society’s Behavior Center.

Their heart of giving began not only with dogs but with the goal of developing accessibility to resources and support for a variety of groups (from animals to women to students).

Specifically, as retired educators, their time within university settings impacted their outlook on philanthropy, according to Leland.

“Schools have a lot of impact on what both of us have become,” said Leland. “[Syracuse University] has a long tradition and commitment to service and giving. I think a lot of roots of my own commitment come from that — a sense of obligation and responsibility to the community and giving beyond what it is you are achieving and succeeding. We come from backgrounds that emphasize that.”

During her time as the San Diego State University (SDSU) Department Chair of Child Development and Family Studies, Deutsch also was driven to form lasting partnerships and institutes within the program which encouraged advocacy, research and community in SDSU.

“I look at my career in decades,” said Deutsch.”The first couple of decades really had a focus on child development, advocacy, and social policy. That was a major emphasis when I was at SDSU and then I started to ween away focusing on developing educators of kids and social policy work.”

As their involvement in San Diego grew, their lifelong commitment to education connected with their love of canine companions led them to the SDHS.

“I started out as a volunteer shoveling poop,” said Deutsch. “I would volunteer that way and then decided I’d try another kind of impact and served on different committees (the advocacy committee and the philanthropic committee). It was always about how one could have a bigger impact.”

That goal for a big impact stems from their outlook which was shaped by personal hardships and experiences.

“I am a 21-year lung cancer survivor. Carole is a 15-year breast cancer survivor,” said Deutsch. “Both of those things in our lives just really made us realize life is not a dress rehearsal. If you have an idea about something, put it into action. If you express your interest in something, someone will help you to figure out how to make your contribution.”

They agree that giving to the SDHS is not only about helping dogs but also supporting people.

“We hope people have the opportunity to know and observe their dogs so that they don’t see them as just something ‘for them’ but rather see them as a reality they can connect with,” said Leland. “I think this is the education part that the humane society really has picked up on so appropriately. It helps with the discipline and understanding of being able to contribute to another person or animal in that sense.”

Specifically, Deutsch and Leland see animals as a means for developing children’s education on healthy and respectful relationships and eradicating bullying. Their own dogs Duet, Tempo, Jazz, and Mezzo, have imparted lessons within the youth of their neighborhood, according to Deutsch.

“We have one rescue dog and she was so abused and threatened that she has PTSD,” said Deutsch. “Her response is to bite. I am dealing with it and working with her. With children in the neighborhood, she’s the ‘look at dog’ [Look don’t touch]. You don’t pull the tail because it’s just sitting there. You don’t a pull an ear because it’s just there. It’s an element of, ‘Don’t bully a dog.’”

Through their contributions to the SDHS, Deutsch and Leland are advocating for a present and future that fosters healthy animal (and human) relationships in the community of Del Cerro and broadly in the county of San Diego.

“I think about how many people really are left alone and suddenly an animal becomes the reason for being,” said Leland. “An animal becomes a connection so meaningful. That’s what we’re hoping for with the support of the community.”

“We believe in endowments,” said Deutsch. “We believe legacy lives on. The SDHS worked with us so that our pledge could be extended over a long period of time and we could have the pleasure and the joy of that giving while we’re alive. It’s kind of fun to participate in trying to inspire others.”

To learn more about the SDHS or ways to get involved visit https://www.sdhumane.org/.

– Elaine Alfaro is a journalism student at Point Loma Nazarene University and a former intern for the La Mesa Courier.

Photo courtesy of San Diego Humane Society