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 Olaf's adoption status with email updates.
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Photo of Olaf

Olaf

Mixed Breed (Medium)

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

Wallace

Mixed Breed (Medium)

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

Olivia

Mixed Breed (Medium)

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

Mixed Breed (Medium)

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

Glitz

Mixed Breed (Medium)

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

Sullivan

Mixed Breed (Medium)

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

Sled

Mixed Breed (Medium)

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

Roman

Mixed Breed (Medium)

Male, 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

The Rescued Pup

123 Foster Based Rescue,
Ramona, CA 92065

Glad to be saved rescue

Santee, CA 92071

Smittens Rescue

San Diego, CA 92104

We'll also keep you updated on Chicles's adoption status with email updates.
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Chicles

Boxer/Beagle

Male, 2 yrs 11 mos
Carlsbad, CA
We'll also keep you updated on Street dogss's adoption status with email updates.
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Street dogss

Catahoula Leopard Dog

Female, Young
Cardiff, CA
We'll also keep you updated on Lola's adoption status with email updates.
Photo of Lola

Lola

Labrador Retriever/Mixed Breed (Medium)

Female, 2 yrs 2 mos
San Diego, CA
We'll also keep you updated on 563265's adoption status with email updates.
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563265

German Shepherd Dog

Male, 6 yrs
Wildomar, CA
We'll also keep you updated on Loopy Johnson's adoption status with email updates.
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Loopy Johnson

Domestic Shorthair

Female, 1 yr 6 mos
Imperial Beach, CA
We'll also keep you updated on Tuck's adoption status with email updates.
Bonded Pair
Photo of Tuck

Tuck

Domestic Shorthair

Male, 4 mos
San Diego, 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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