Helen Woodward Animal Center Joins #GivingTuesdayNow Movement
Rancho Santa Fe, Calif. (May 4, 2020) – Tomorrow, #GivingTuesdayNow (a global day-of-giving sparked by the current COVID-19 crisis) is activating citizens, businesses and communities to come together to give back in all ways. Since mid-March, when the pandemic first made headlines, Helen Woodward Animal Center kept its doors open to become a safe haven for more than 400 orphan dogs, cats, puppies and kittens transferred to the Center in great need. Now, the non-profit dedicated to the mission of ‘people helping animals and animals helping people’ is joining the #GivingTuesdayNow movement and inviting the San Diego community to make an impact in order to continue its life-saving work.
With the rapid global spread of the virus, followed by the required “stay in place” orders, many smaller foster-based and rescue animal groups across the country have been forced to close their doors, leaving orphan pets with no place to go. Aware of the consequential expanded need, Helen Woodward Animal Center has dramatically increased the number of dogs and cats transferred to the Center from these overburdened shelters and rescue groups. In just the first quarter of the year, more orphan pets have arrived at the Center via van transport, from places like Louisiana, Texas and California, than would normally arrive throughout an entire year.
In the strange climate of the pandemic, families at home are seeking more joy, heart and warmth in their days and the arriving transports have been a true gift to the community. The orphan pets, arriving from areas where their chances were slim-to-none, have found their forever homes in record numbers. In just the month of April, 340 pets found families of their own, and increase of over 140 pets from April 2019!
The community’s support on #GivingTuesdayNow makes it possible for Helen Woodward Animal Center to continue to respond to the growing need. Every dollar makes a difference in the lives of orphan pets on #GivingTuesdayNow, thanks to the generosity of Gwendolyn M. Sontheim and the Aqualia International Foundation who is matching donations on May 5 up to $50,000.
#GivingTuesdayNOW is a chance for people to come together and use their individual power of generosity to collectively make a difference. Donations can be made at https://animalcenter.org/angel
For more information on Helen Woodward Animal Center visit www.animalcenter.org.