Helen Woodward Animal Center Offers Warmth and Wellness to the Pets of San Diego’s Homeless Population…
Rancho Santa Fe, Calif. (Feb. 14, 2022) – Helen Woodward Animal Center’s Pets Without Walls is undoubtedly a heart-warming campaign, but for the fourth year the program is taking steps to provide literal warmth to the pets of San Diego’s homeless population. This Wednesday, approximately 100 of these pets will receive new sweaters and toasty blankets to battle the evening winter temperatures. Helen Woodward Animal Center’s Pets Without Walls program will be on site at Alpha Project (located at 1575 Newton Ave, San Diego, CA 92113) Wednesday, February 16th at 8:00 a.m. with a cozy gift distribution for both people and pups.
Launched five years ago with the support and kindness of Pat and Stephanie Kilkenny and the Lucky Duck Foundation, Helen Woodward Animal Center’s Pets Without Walls has been honored to join efforts to assist homeless families by keeping their furry companions fed and healthy. Before the pandemic, the program made regular bi-weekly visits to shelters headed by Alpha Project, Father Joe’s, Interfaith in Escondido and Family Health Center in San Diego, providing health checks, microchipping, preventative medical care, important vaccinations, flea and tick medication, and pet food (through an extension of its AniMeals program), as well as human clothing and blanket donations from the Center’s Orphaned Object resale store. Although COVID restrictions have made regular Pets Without Walls visits more difficult over the last two years, Helen Woodward Animal Center has continued to facilitate program visits, assisting hundreds of pets.
Now the Center is thrilled to announce the return of the Cozy Critter distribution because despite last week’s odd warm spell, the city’s brisk evening temperatures have remained in full swing. With evening lows hitting 42 degrees and below, the Center’s Pets Without Walls program is happy to provide pet supplies specifically aimed at keeping the beloved pets of the city’s homeless population protected from the elements. At the “Cozy Critter Drop-Off” event, scheduled for Wednesday, February 16th, Helen Woodward Animal Center will be passing out approximately 100 pet sweaters, along with coats, sweaters and blankets to human friends in need.
“The pets of our homeless clients are often a true lifeline, providing unconditional love and friendship,” stated Helen Woodward Animal Center VP of Development Renee Resko. “Being able to gift something cuddly and beautiful to these beloved furry babies does something for both the pets and their owners.”
Members of the media are invited to the Pets Without Walls “Cozy Critters” Visit – Wednesday, February 16th beginning at 8:00 a.m. at Alpha Project (located at 1575 Newton Ave, San Diego, CA 92113).
