Rancho Santa Fe, Calif. (Mar. 27, 2026) – In early February, Helen Woodward Animal Center introduced the public to a 1-year-old boxer-blend named Gertie. With all the signs of being used in the illegal world of dog-fighting, the docile canine had survived one of the worst abuse cases witnessed at the Center in years. Today, after nearly two months of rehab and recovery, Gertie is ready to find her loving, forever family.
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Helen Woodward Animal Center received a call from a rescue partner in California’s Central Valley in the final week of January. Struggling with overburdened kennels, the group was in desperate need of help to assist a female dog found dumped on the side of the road. Initially believed to be dead, a medical exam revealed extreme abuse, consistent with being used as a bait dog for dog fighting. Severely emaciated, covered in scars, with torn ears and a mutilated muzzle that had been bound shut, along with open wounds around her mouth, Gertie would die without proper care. The Center immediately agreed to take her in.
Despite her suffering, Gertie remained gentle, affectionate, and trusting. In fact, she responded to each act of kindness the Helen Woodward Animal Veterinary staff gave her with overly enthusiastic tail wags, a condition known as “happy tail” – a syndrome that causes breaks and splits to the tail when slapped against walls and hard objects with immense force. Gertie’s broken tail was a desperate and heartbreaking sign of her relief and gratitude.
For the last two months, Gertie has been provided loving care by the veterinary team at Helen Woodward Animal Center, along with the kind assistance of foster families who have opened their homes to her during her recovery. Major dental work to remove her broken and decaying teeth, concentrated nutrition, antibiotics, vaccines, a spay surgery and an introduction to such simple luxuries as an indoor bed and gentle touch have all been part of Gertie’s healing.
“Gertie is ready to find the forever family that will give her the beautiful life she deserves,” said Helen Woodward Animal Center Adoption Services Director Kendall Schulz. “Even though she is physically transformed, she is as gentle and sweet as she was the day we met her. It’s so important that we find a family that understands that she is still learning that she is finally safe and will never experience abuse again.”
For more information, or to donate to rescues like Gertie, please click here: https://animalcenter.org/Gertie
If you would like to adopt Gertie, please reach out to the Helen Woodward Animal Center Adoptions Department directly at: 858-756-4117 ext. 1, visit https://animalcenter.org or stop by at 6461 El Apajo Road in Rancho Santa Fe.
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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.
