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ABOUT HELEN WOODWARD ANIMAL CENTER

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

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.
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ANIMEALS

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.
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BOARDING

BOARDING

We have a top-rated boarding facility, Club Pet.
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BUSINESS OF SAVING LIVES

BUSINESS OF SAVING LIVES

We provide three-day workshops for shelters across the country and around the world, teaching them how to run their organizations like a business -- a life-saving business!
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COMPANION ANIMAL HOSPITAL

COMPANION ANIMAL HOSPITAL

This high-tech facility provides the most modern advances in veterinary medicine.
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EDUCATION

EDUCATION

In Critter Camp, we provide humane educational outreach and on-site programs to teach children respect, compassion, empathy and an appreciation of all living things. Our mobile classroom, the AniMobile, travels to qualified low-income community schools throughout San Diego County.
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EQUINE HOSPITAL

EQUINE HOSPITAL

The state-of-the-art hospital provides much-needed services to the horse community.
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HOME 4 THE HOLIDAYS®

HOME 4 THE HOLIDAYS®

Beginning in 1999, this international adoption program has helped place more than 20 million cats and dogs alongside our 4,000 shelter and rescue partners. The Campaign also offers a contest for any participating shelter to submit their best marketing idea for holiday adoptions and become eligible to receive $25,000.
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PET ENCOUNTER THERAPY

PET ENCOUNTER THERAPY

Each year, over 10,000 children and adults confined to institutional settings receive the unconditional love and tactile benefit of our animal ambassadors.
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PETS WITHOUT WALLS

PETS WITHOUT WALLS

A mobile unit that travels with a veterinary team to homeless service sites with vaccination and spay/neuter services, as well as pet food to serve the pets of the homeless throughout San Diego.
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REMEMBER ME THURSDAY®

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.
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THERAPEUTIC RIDING

THERAPEUTIC RIDING

Specially trained horses provide unique therapy to physically and mentally challenged children and adults.
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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 50 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. Helen Woodward Animal Center is an organization in Special Consultative Status with the UN Economic and Social Council since 2022.

Helen Woodward Animal Center - 2022 Year in Review

Due to Hurricane Hilary, all  departments will be closing at 3pm today.  Stay safe!