Rancho Santa Fe, Calif. (February 11, 2025) – Helen Woodward Animal Center is excited to announce that, for the first time ever, one of our orphan pups will be an Honorary Captain for the upcoming San Diego Sockers match on Sunday, February 15 at 4 p.m. at Frontwave Arena in Oceanside. Come support healthy pet adoption and see 11-week-old brindle-terrier Wombat as she helps kick of the game as the San Diego Sockers take on the Empire Strykers.
MEDIA
It is a thrilling first for Helen Woodward Animal Center to have an orphan pup picked to be a San Diego Sockers Honorary Team Captain. Wombat, and her sister Koala, are 11-week-old brindle-terrier blends rescued from Tulare in Central California, an overburdened shelter partnering with the Center to save more lives. Even before finding her loving forever home, Wombat’s heartfelt goal will be to encourage attendees to search their local shelters for a true keeper with whom they can spend their days kicking-it. The San Diego Sockers wanted to highlight the critical need for healthy pet adoption, so they approached the Center and asked if there were any adorable pups that needed their story shared.
“It is an incredible honor to have one of our pups picked, because it truly does help combat the false narrative that an adopted rescue animal is not as good as one bought at a store or from a breeder,” explains Adoptions Services Director Kendall Schulz. “Having our pup chosen to be an honorary game captain for the San Diego Sockers is a great recognition for this little one.”
The February 15 game is one of the Community Nights in the team’s theme game series. Each Community Night focuses on a different aspect of the larger San Diego community with this one highlighting organizations and companies who add enrichment and benefit all aspects of the San Diego community.
Make sure to stop by the Center’s pop-up before the game to have a Meet-and-Greet with honorary Captain Wombat and her sister Koala. Mingle with these furry friends as you learn about the Center’s many outreach programs and other pet-friendly and community partners including Kahoots Feed & Pet, Naturally Fresh, Mitchell Thorp Foundation, Special Olympics Southern California and more! Then get ready to head inside to watch the game.
In addition to the pre-game Meet-and-Greet, there’s a chance for you to win big! Support orphan pets and pick up a $1 frisbee for the 3rd quarter break! During the break everyone in the crowd who purchased a frisbee will get the chance to toss it from the stands with hopes of landing it in the RecTeq grill courtesy of Ace Hardware located at center field. Whoever lands in the grill will get 50% of the cumulative pot, with the other 50% going directly to Helen Woodward Animal Center to help aid pets and programs.
“We are ecstatic to have pups from Helen Woodward Animal Center on the field- everyone on the team from our players, to coaches, to staff, everyone are huge animal lovers,” says Director of Sports & Youth Community Relations Chasen Eddow. “The opportunity to showcase this great organization and help support healthy pet adoptions and animals in need is a great benefit to everyone.”
Following their big game day, Wombat and Koala will be available for adoption starting Monday, February 16. For more information about Wombat or Koala, or to donate to help rescues pets like them, please contact Helen Woodward Animal Center Adoptions at: 858-756-4117 ext. 1, or visit https://animalcenter.org, or stop by in-person at 6461 El Apajo Road in Rancho Santa Fe.
Members of the media are invited to highlight the honorary pup before/at the game.
MEDIA CONTACT:
PR & Communications Manager Michael Makie at MichaelM@animalcenter.org, cell (619)884-4799
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About Helen Woodward Animal Center
Helen Woodward Animal Center is a private, non-profit organization where “people help animals and animals help people.” Founded in 1972 in Rancho Santa Fe, Calif., the Center provides services for more than 90,000 people and more than 10,000 animals annually through adoptions, educational and therapeutic programs both onsite and throughout the community. Helen Woodward Animal Center is also the creator of the International Home 4 the Holidays pet adoption drive, the International Remember Me Thursday? campaign and The Business of Saving Lives Workshops, teaching the business of saving lives to animal welfare leaders from around the world. For more information, go to: https://animalcenter.org.
