Helen Woodward Animal Center, established in 1972, is an organization where “people help animals and animals help people.” This unique nonprofit organization benefits the community by providing educational and therapeutic programs for people, as well as humane care and adoption for homeless animals.
ADOPTIONS
Although we are located in San Diego, the Center rescues pets from close to 50 organizations all over the United States, particularly the Southwest. Cats and dogs who are out of time and options and would not have a second chance if it were not for the safe haven provided by Helen Woodward Animal Center. As a no-kill animal center, 95% of our animals come from other shelters which are not able to keep all the animals they receive. We save the lives of more than 3,700 orphan animals each year, some as close as San Diego County and others as far away as Hawaii.
ANIMEALS
Provides meals for the pets of homebound and low-income seniors, as well as disabled military members with service dogs. The program services close to 700 companion animals throughout San Diego County. AniMeals has been shared internationally and currently more than 60 cities are implementing the program for their senior populations.
HOME 4 THE HOLIDAYS
Beginning in 1999, this international adoption program has helped place more than 16 million cats and dogs alongside our 4,000 shelter and rescue partners. This year, Helen Woodward Animal Center not only offered a wealth of marketing ideas and tools for our shelter partners as part of Home for 4 Holidays, but we also provided a contest for any participating shelter to submit their best marketing idea for holiday adoptions and become eligible to receive a brand-new van for adoption transfers or a check for $25,000. The check will be presented to the winning shelter at the Humane Society of the United States Expo in April 2019.
REMEMBER ME THURSDAY
Remember Me Thursday raises awareness of the plight of shelter pets to promote adoptions. This past year, it was supported by more than 75 celebrity luminaries, including Carrie Ann Inaba, Katherine Heigl, Diane Keaton, Wynonna Judd and Kristin Chenoweth. It has received more than 1 billion social media impressions since it began with online participation from close to 200 countries.
Our Mission
Helen Woodward Animal Center’s passionate belief that animals help people and people help animals, through trust, unconditional love, and respect, creates a legacy of caring. Sharing this philosophy with others, the Center inspires and teaches, locally and globally, the importance of the animal-human bond.
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 45 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.