Our Founding Story

After a successful career serving various roles in the veterinary field: as a professor, surgeon, managing partner, medical director, and Chief Strategy Officer, Julie Smith, DMV, DACVS, CCRT, MBA took what she’d learned and made the decision to pivot to the non-profit side of animal care.

In 2019 Julie began the work to form Sage Compassion for Animals (SAGEC4A). She brought together a stellar Board of Directors from the San Francisco Bay Area that brings a wealth of experience and diversity to the organization. Timing is everything, and in our case, Julie and the Board had the task of getting the non-profit up and running during COVID-19. 

Julie served as Executive Director for the first four years, creating systems for stability, strong veterinary partnerships, and an intense understanding of the field from the perspective of animal caretaker, lover, and medical expert. Coupled with a love of data, and science, and with a strong value system, Julie has paved the way for the future of Sage Compassion for Animals.

Having hired a new Executive Director in 2024, Julie now works closely with the animal grant program, and our veterinary partners, and serves on the Board of Directors.

Our Mission

We work at the intersection of Animal and Human Welfare. 1.5 million families in the Bay Area live in low to very low income households and care for at least one pet.

We understand that some people are severely limited by finances, and this can adversely affect the animal, the families and the veterinary care team (through compassion fatigue).

We prevent suffering and euthanasia by providing financial assistance for veterinary care to help companion animals in crisis. We educate communities about preventing and reducing illness. We ensure that all the pets we help are spayed or neutered. We serve all nine counties that comprise the SF Bay Area.

Our Impact

We save lives and make the world a better place by improving the lives of pets and their guardians. We have saved over 280 pets since 2020!

We reduce the financial burden of pet care on families. We have given out more than $765,000 in grants since 2020. 90% of each dollar we raise is given as a grant to a pet family in need.

We mitigate compassion fatigue in the veterinarian community. We have over 44 veterinarian partners helping us to save lives. Veterinary medicine faces one of the most severe job shortages in decades. We give our veterinary hospital partners the opportunity to say “YES!” to pets whose only barrier to survival is finances.

We lessen the financial burden on families. We award financial assistance grants based on income, employment, household size, geographic location, pet prognosis, and estimate of costs.

Our Vision

We believe animals are amazing and that you love them as members of your family. We envision a world where you can have access to the health care and education you need to give them their best lives possible.

We recognize and acknowledge that compassion fatigue in the veterinary team is compounded when financial resources are limited.

We help individuals and families experiencing high social vulnerability to keep their companion pet if faced with a medical crisis. This includes older adults, Veterans, those with fixed and limited incomes, persons with service and emotional support animals, those with special needs, and people with limited English proficiency.

Meet the Team

Lisa Coscino, Executive Director

Lisa is an experienced non-profit leader dedicated to championing change, helping organizations to grow and stabilize, and promoting educational excellence. She has served as Executive Director at The San Francisco School of Needlework and Design and New Museum Los Gatos and as Creative Director for the SF Boys and Girls Clubs.

Currently, Lisa serves on the Board of Trustees at Occidental College where she Chairs the Student Life and Enrollment Committee. She is the Founding Supporter of OXYLive! and is a member of Chief, a leadership network supporting female executives. Lisa is also the proud pet parent of a puppy named Shmoopy, who keeps her on her toes.

Elizabeth (Lizz) Varela, Admin Assistant

Lizz is the Administrative Assistant for Sage Compassion for Animals. She has 10 + years of experience in the Veterinary field and is excited to be a part of our amazing organization. Her goal is to help SAGEC4A grow into a highly successful non-profit. She is currently working on her Business Administration degree, is bilingual, and applies these skill sets to her role. 

Julie D. Smith, DVM, DACVS, CCRT, MBA Founder, Veterinary Liaison, Board Member

Julie, a U.C. Berkeley and U.C. Davis School of Veterinary Medicine alumna, became a board-certified surgeon in 1997 and co-owner of Veterinary Surgical Associates in 1999. With an MBA from Saint Mary’s College, she managed SAGE Veterinary Centers, serving as Medical Director until 2018. As a SAGE Board Member and Chief Strategy Officer, she guided growth. Julie is the ACVS Treasurer, a Collaborative Care Coalition Past President, and a member of the AVMA’s VESC. A certified coach, she founded Sage Compassion for Animals in 2019, leading as Executive Director for four years and now contributing to the Board of Directors.

Meet Our Board of Directors

  • Stephanie Garcia Gonzales, RVT

    Stephanie Garcia Gonzalez, a versatile Registered Veterinary Technician at SAGE Redwood City, has diverse experience in specialty departments like Neurology, Internal Medicine, and Surgery. Beyond her veterinary role, she assists a local real estate agent with administrative and marketing tasks. Formerly a Practice Manager in a Bay Area clinic, Stephanie, aware of the financial challenges in animal care, aspires to earn an MBA to bridge business knowledge and her passion for animals. She holds a Bachelor's in Business Management from Cal State East Bay.

  • Dan O'Brien

    Dan O’Brien, a founding Partner of Michael Patrick Partners in San Francisco, with a 42-year design career with numerous awards. Recognized by organizations like ADDY, GDUSA, and Graphis, he also taught advanced design at San José State University. A past board member of Rebuilding Together Peninsula and Ronald McDonald House at Stanford, Dan, recently semi-retired, dedicates time to golf, tennis, family, and travel with his wife Patricia, and his two Viszlas, Blue and Louie.

  • Katrina Warburton, Board President

    Katrina Warburton brings 20+ years of experience in Go-To-Market, and Strategy and Operations roles at Consumer and Enterprise SaaS software companies like Adobe, Intel and McAfee and most recently at VMware as the VP of Marketing, Strategy & Operations.

    Katrina is an alumni of Monash University in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, where she earned a Bachelor of Commerce degree (she is also a proud Aussie). A lifelong animal lover, she loves spending time with her 3 fur kids and you'll rarely find her without her "polar bear" sidekick. She is excited to leverage her professional experience to serve as Board President for SAGE Compassion for Animals, a cause close to her heart and one she is deeply passionate about.

  • Vanessa Wensing, DVM, Board Vice President

    Dr. Vanessa Wensing, a 1996 Colorado State University graduate, specializes in end-of-life veterinary care through her company, Heaven from Home. Offering in-home euthanasia services in the Tri-Valley. She moved to California in 1999 after practicing in Colorado and Texas. Dr. Wensing, a member of CCVMA and CVMA, has served on the CCVMA Board, CVMA House of Delegates, and the CVMA Animal Welfare Committee. She enjoys hiking and mountain biking with her husband in East Bay Parks during her free time.

  • Lissa Richardson, DVM, DACS, Board Secretary

    Dr. Lissa Richardson, a small animal surgery specialist at SAGE Concord, excels in soft tissue and orthopedic surgeries. Active in the community, she presents first aid to police dog handlers and engages with students of all ages that are interested in veterinary medicine. Dr. Richardson earned her DVM from Colorado State University, completed an internship then surgery residency at the Animal Medical Center, and played a pivotal role in the growth of Veterinary Surgical Associates, now SAGE. A Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Surgeons since 1996, she is enthusiastic about contributing to SageC4A's mission.

  • Renee Fernandez-Lipp, MBA, CEM, LEED AP, GGP, Board Treasurer

    Renée Fernandez-Lipp, a sustainability professional with 25+ years of experience, focuses on energy efficiency, water conservation, and waste diversion. Currently leading public safety and emergency response programs at Pacific Gas & Electric, she brings expertise from both public and private sectors. Renée, holding an MBA from Golden Gate University and a Mechanical Engineering degree from CSU, Long Beach, is dedicated to animal welfare, volunteering with local shelters and rescues.

  • Stephanie Boldt, BA, AS, RVT, EMT

    Stephanie Boldt, transitioned from a 17-year career as an International Lead flight attendant for United Airlines. Inspired by her Weimaraner, Beaureguard, and her own health journey in 2007, Stephanie pursued veterinary medicine. Holding an Associate of Science in Veterinary Technology from Foothill College, she brings her unique skills to guide pets and their owners through emergencies, combining her EMT training with a Bachelor's degree in Humanities from Southern Oregon University.

  • Susan Carsen

    As principal of Carsen Consulting, Susan Carsen brings more than 30 years of experience providing nonprofit management and fundraising counsel to a broad spectrum of clients, including those in health care, culture and the arts, education and human services.

    A UC Davis graduate, Susan has served on the boards of the Association of Fundraising Professionals Golden Gate Chapter and the Horse Park at Woodside, and for 20 years as a volunteer caretaker for the Barron Park Donkeys. A lifelong animal lover, Susan goes to the office each day with Etta, a working Australian Shepherd who loves her job, and together they come home to Dickon, a literary tuxedo cat.