Helen Woodward Animal Center

Helen Woodward Animal Center Pet adoption, animal hospitals, pet boarding, teaching children to love animals and more can be found at www.animalcenter.org .
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Helen Woodward Animal Center is a unique, private non-profit organization in San Diego County that has been committed to the philosophy of people helping animals and animals helping people for over 40 years. Located on 12 acres in Rancho Santa Fe, California, our nationally recognized Center provides a variety of services that benefit the community through educational and therapeutic programs for

people, and humane care and adoption for animals. We are a no-kill facility that receives no government funding and relies heavily on tax-deductible contributions from private donors to continue our life-saving mission.

Today marks the one year anniversary of Papaya being available for adoption. While Helen Woodward Animal Center will alw...
08/09/2025

Today marks the one year anniversary of Papaya being available for adoption.

While Helen Woodward Animal Center will always take care of an animal until they find their forever home, it still breaks our hearts to see a perfectly healthy and loving dog live in the kennels for so long.

Papaya is a 15-month-old Terrier-Labrador Retriever blend. Sometimes he can be a bit of a sassy and assertive boy, but he really is a lover at heart and isn’t afraid to cuddle up by his humans’ side. Papaya LOVES his toys. When he’s chewing one of his toys he’s a happy little boy. He plays in the yard REALLY well with other dogs so those looking to give their canine companion a furry friend are welcome!

Papaya can be a bit selective and react to strangers, but he is a peaceful boy for the most part, who just longs to relax in the shade of a backyard and not be in a small kennel.

Help us share his story to find him a loving home soon! Come by the Center and see if Papaya is the right dog for you. We are open Monday to Thursday from 12 to 6 pm and Friday to Sunday from 10 am to 6 pm. 🧡🐶🐾

SUCCESS STORY: Chocolate 🍫😻🖤When tiny Chocolate arrived at Helen Woodward Animal Center in March, our team feared the wo...
08/09/2025

SUCCESS STORY: Chocolate 🍫😻🖤

When tiny Chocolate arrived at Helen Woodward Animal Center in March, our team feared the worst. Our typical intake process was interrupted by an emergency. One of the kittens had arrived from our rescue partner in Long Beach with what looked to be dislocated rear legs. "When you held him, his legs just flopped around like noodles," Adoptions Director Kendall Schulz said.

The Center's Medical Team was concerned that the two-and-a-half-week-old kitten, named Chocolate, had severely atrophied legs. They worried that the lack of development in his legs would prevent him from having normal mobility for a feline. They worried they might have to amputate.

The first few days Chocolate was in our care did little to alleviate the anxieties of our medical team. Whereas his siblings started to walk on all four legs, Chocolate crawled. His front legs would drag him places his rear legs could only flail to. As always in special cases like this, we called upon our extensive Foster network to take care of Chocolate in a low stress environment.

In the relaxed environment of foster care, Chocolate began to feel more comfortable using his rear legs. At first, they still bowed out a little. But over time, Chocolate built the strength and confidence to be able to keep up with all of his siblings. After a little over a month, he was running around like a healthy kitty cat!

By the time June rolled around, the Medical Team felt Chocolate had grown enough to look for his forever home. The search didn't take long; Chocolate was adopted the day after he became available.

Because of supporters like you, kittens like Chocolate get the second chance they deserve. 💛 Want to help more pets like him? Consider donating at animalcenter.org/

Happy International Cat Day 😻💗 Celebrate with us by stopping by to adopt one! Cats may be known to be more independent t...
08/08/2025

Happy International Cat Day 😻💗 Celebrate with us by stopping by to adopt one!

Cats may be known to be more independent than dogs, but they are just as loving and deserving of a second chance! There are many beautiful things about having a cat in your life, but the most impactful one is the life you are saving when you choose to adopt.

Many cats are available for adoption starting today, like Sprite, Pibb, Cinnamon, and Toast! 💗 But we also have other cats that have been waiting a long time to find a loving home, like Gumdrop, Tina, and Louise. Make today the day their lives change by offering one (or maybe two) of them a chance at a forever home.

To view all our available cats, visit animalcenter.org/adopt-a-pet/adoptable-cats/

Surf & Turf for a Cause🏄‍♂️🌊💚We’re thrilled to announce a special summer partnership that’s making waves! US Turf has jo...
08/06/2025

Surf & Turf for a Cause🏄‍♂️🌊💚

We’re thrilled to announce a special summer partnership that’s making waves! US Turf has joined forces with Helen Woodward Animal Center to support rescue pets in a fun and impactful way!

Throughout the month of August 2025, US Turf will be donating $50 from every job they complete to help support orphan pets and lifesaving programs at the Center. It’s all part of a shared mission to give animals a second chance, and the timing couldn’t be more perfect as we have Surf Dog Surf-A-Thon coming up Sunday, September 7th, in Del Mar! 🐶🏄‍♂️

This family-friendly event brings together the community, four-legged athletes, and local businesses for a day of fun and fundraising by the sea. Now, with US Turf’s generous support, every lawn installed in August will also help orphan pets find loving homes.

We’ll be celebrating the partnership all month. Be sure to follow along, and if you’re thinking about upgrading your lawn, there’s never been a better time. Thank you, US Turf, for bringing their big hearts to this summer’s Surf Dog season. 💚🐾

Check out Teddy Graham, who is available for adoption and looks like he would love to go surfing with you!

For a free estimate, you can call US Turf San Diego at 858-333-4001

A silly goose named Moose is on the loose at Helen Woodward Animal Center. Moose isn’t obtuse nor a recluse. He can be p...
08/06/2025

A silly goose named Moose is on the loose at Helen Woodward Animal Center. Moose isn’t obtuse nor a recluse. He can be profuse with his loyalty and footloose when he’s happy – at least, that’s his excuse when you abduce his toys.

Moose can be shy and needs time to educe his personality onto one who might try to vamoose after being introduced. Once you win him over he’ll effuse with love and devotion for you. The 4-month-old hound shepherd blend will produce smiles as long as you don’t traduce him under a flag of truce.

Pups like Moose aren’t mass produced so come meet him before he finds another veilleuse.

Charleston was adopted from your facility back in May 2018 for a special military event. She was just six months old wit...
08/03/2025

Charleston was adopted from your facility back in May 2018 for a special military event. She was just six months old with the biggest ears you’ve ever seen (and yes, they’re still stealing the show)!

We couldn’t imagine life without her! 💛

In mid-February, a blind, two-year-old terrier blend named Hashbrown arrived in San Diego after a 2,500-mile journey fro...
08/02/2025

In mid-February, a blind, two-year-old terrier blend named Hashbrown arrived in San Diego after a 2,500-mile journey from Maui. Found alone and blind since birth, Hashbrown had been taken in by Maui Humane Society, but low adoption rates after devastating wildfires left him with little hope of finding a home.

Helen Woodward Animal Center stepped in, arranging for his transfer to the mainland. Once here, he was placed in foster care to reduce stress and get the love and attention he needed. Despite outreach efforts, including posters and a TV appearance, Hashbrown received no adoption applications in three months.

When his foster family had to leave temporarily, Special Events Manager Eva Lagudi-Devereaux took him in nightly to keep him out of the kennels. Still, no one came forward to adopt him until board member Ruth Parnell saw his story. She flew in from Texas, met Hashbrown, and knew he belonged with her. She then drove 1,200 miles home to ensure his comfort.

Today, Hashbrown lives happily on a ranch, finally home and surrounded by love.
To read his full story, visit https://animalcenter.org/success-stories/blind-boy-finds-forever-family/

We're in need of puppy and kitten fosters! This includes help with bottle babies, nursing moms, and pregnant pets who ne...
08/01/2025

We're in need of puppy and kitten fosters! This includes help with bottle babies, nursing moms, and pregnant pets who need a safe, quiet place to rest and grow.

Fostering helps save lives by giving them the care they need and opening up space for more animals in need.

If you’ve got a little extra time and a lot of love to give, apply online to become a foster. It’s one of the most impactful ways to help. Visit https://animalcenter.org/get-involved/volunteer/foster/

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Rancho Santa Fe, CA

Telephone

(858) 756-4117

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