Adopt

Helen Woodward Animal Center

Animal shelter in Rancho Santa Fe, CA

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 40 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.

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.

Contact
Address
6461 El Apajo Road
Rancho Santa Fe, CA 92067
Address Map

Meet their adoptable pets

6461 El Apajo Road

Rancho Santa Fe, CA 92067

See every new pet that comes to this shelter!

Create an alert, and we'll notify you every time a new pet comes in who meets your criteria.

Adoptable pets at Helen Woodward Animal Center

We'll also keep you updated on Harvest's adoption status with email updates.
Photo of Harvest

Harvest

Mixed Breed (Medium)

Male, Puppy
Rancho Santa Fe, CA
We'll also keep you updated on Heather's adoption status with email updates.
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Heather

Mixed Breed (Medium)

Female, Puppy
Rancho Santa Fe, CA
We'll also keep you updated on Saint Nick's adoption status with email updates.
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Photo of Saint Nick

Saint Nick

Mixed Breed (Medium)

Male, Puppy
Rancho Santa Fe, CA
We'll also keep you updated on Solstice's adoption status with email updates.
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Photo of Solstice

Solstice

Mixed Breed (Medium)

Female, Puppy
Rancho Santa Fe, CA
We'll also keep you updated on Evergreen's adoption status with email updates.
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Photo of Evergreen

Evergreen

Mixed Breed (Medium)

Male, Puppy
Rancho Santa Fe, CA
We'll also keep you updated on Toffee's adoption status with email updates.
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Photo of Toffee

Toffee

Mixed Breed (Medium)

Female, Young
Rancho Santa Fe, CA
We'll also keep you updated on Aspen's adoption status with email updates.
Photo of Aspen

Aspen

Mixed Breed (Medium)

Female, Young
Rancho Santa Fe, CA
We'll also keep you updated on Aspen's adoption status with email updates.
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Photo of Aspen

Aspen

Mixed Breed (Medium)

Female, Young
Rancho Santa Fe, CA

Shelter FAQs

San Diego County and beyond

Additional adoption info

If you are looking for a certain type of pet, first check our website (it is updated every time a pet becomes available or is adopted) or come down in person to browse through the kennels and cattery. When you see an orphan pet you like, you can proceed to the front desk to receive more information on your selected dog or cat and fill out an adoption application. Your pet application will be reviewed by one of our Adoption Counselors and the potential pet will then be taken out so the two of you can interact. If you decide you’d like to adopt your new furry friend, and your application shows you to be a good match, you’ll be able to pay the adoption fee and begin life with your newest family member.

Pets at shelters & rescues near Helen Woodward Animal Center

Second Chance Dog Rescue

2801 "B" Street #55,
San Diego, CA 92102

Crossing Guardians

P.O. Box 210505,
Chula Vista, CA 91921

Paradise Valley Rescue

San Diego, CA 92115

We'll also keep you updated on Cactus Pups - Ocotillo's adoption status with email updates.
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Cactus Pups - Ocotillo

Pointer/Labrador Retriever

Male, Puppy
San Diego, CA
We'll also keep you updated on Fifi's adoption status with email updates.
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Fifi

Domestic Shorthair

Female, 2 yrs 7 mos
Hemet, CA
We'll also keep you updated on Lolo's adoption status with email updates.
Photo of Lolo

Lolo

Domestic Shorthair

Male, 4 mos
Fallbrook, CA
We'll also keep you updated on Fran's adoption status with email updates.
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Fran

Domestic Shorthair

Female, 2 yrs 7 mos
Hemet, CA
We'll also keep you updated on Callie's adoption status with email updates.
Photo of Callie

Callie

Labrador Retriever

Female, Puppy
Dana Point, CA
We'll also keep you updated on Sebastian's adoption status with email updates.
Photo of Sebastian

Sebastian

Pit Bull Terrier

Male, 3 yrs
Chula Vista, CA

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Animal Charities in Rancho Santa Fe, CA

HeARTs Speak

HeARTs Speak develops resources that help shelter animals to be seen and find homes, ultimately transforming public perceptions of pet adoption, shelters, and animals in need. Each year our work helps nearly 1 million pets in your community and beyond.

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Alliance for Contraception in Cats and Dogs

There is a tremendous need for new methods of sterilization that are faster, easier, more accessible, and less expensive than surgery. ACC&D works tirelessly to bring together key stakeholders to advance this field.

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Animal Legal Defense Fund

Every day, Animal Legal Defense Fund works to enact tougher animal cruelty laws, provide care and legal assistance for animal victims of cruelty, offer rewards to bring abusers to justice, and provide free legal assistance to prosecutors and law enforcement to put abusers behind bars.

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