Rancho Santa Fe, Calif. (Feb 14, 2025) – Helen Woodward Animal Center is celebrating this national day of romance with a love story a bit more special than your average pet adoption. Today, February 14th, Los Angeles Fire Captain Chris Sebourn (along with his wife and kids), welcomed their newest family member, an orphan pup who had arrived to the Center via Rescue RV after the tragic Los Angeles County Fires. Named Charger – in honor of the LA team – the match is truly one of the heart.
Just last week, Helen Woodward Animal Center introduced the world to a beautiful Blue Heeler Cattledog, named Riley, and her ten puppies. The family of eleven were part of thousands of orphan pets displaced after the devastation that ravaged Los Angeles County in early January. With hundreds of homes destroyed in the wake of the LA fires, lost and injured animals by the hundreds (labeled “community animals”) were taken in by area shelters waiting to reunite them with their families, while pet owners dealt with catastrophic losses. The unfortunate outcome, an absolute lack of available kennels to welcome orphan pets who, with no shelter space to turn to, risk facing euthanasia. SPCA LA asked for assistance and on January 23rd, Helen Woodward Animal Center was honored to take in 18 orphan pups in need, including this family of 11.
Renamed, Riley RUFFeree and her football puppies (Bengal, Raven, Charger, Ram, Eagle, Buffalo Bill, Lion, Buccaneer, Chief, Steeler and Viking), the mama dog and her family immediately went into loving foster care and began receiving treatment for parasites, all needed vaccines, and regular check-ups from Helen Woodward Animal Center veterinarians. A press release announced their arrival and a chance for the public to meet the adorable crew at the Center’s Puppy Bowl TAILgate Party. As fate would have it, KTLA ran the story and Los Angeles Fire Captain Sebourn saw the pups. He immediately fell in love with one “racoon-eyed” female who, coincidentally, had been named Charger.
“We received a call from Fire Captain Sebourn, asking about when the puppies would be available for adoption,” said Helen Woodward Animal Center Client Services Manager Rachel Hollenbeck. “He had been touched by their story and wanted to drive down from LA to bring one home as a Valentine’s Day gift for his family. He needed to plan his work around it and I found out that he had been a part of the incredible efforts to fight the Palisades fire.”
This morning, as a thank you for the selfless dedication Fire Captain Sebourn made to the fire efforts, Helen Woodward Animal Center covered the cost of the adoption fee for Charger. Additionally, Blue Buffalo not only gifted an incredible gift basket but will be providing three months of dog food to the new family.
“The terrible events that occurred in LA last month will take many months and even years of recovery,” said Hollenbeck. “I’m sure the firefighters who witnessed it, head-on, still carry it with them. But this adoption is just the most beautiful bit of healing in what will be a lifetime of love.”
Helen Woodward Animal Center thanks those who risk their lives on the frontlines of tragedies and disasters this Valentine’s Day and every day. For more information on adopting, please contact the Adoptions Department at: 858-756-4117 ext. 1, visit www.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: www.animalcenter.org.
