Helen Woodward Animal Center (‘HWAC’ or ‘the Center’) is located on 12 acres in Rancho Santa Fe, California. The Center was established in 1972 as the San Dieguito Animal Care and Education Center with its primary focus on pet adoption and on-site humane education. It was renamed in honor of its founder, Helen Woodward, in 1987. Since its inception, services have grown to include an equine hospital, boarding facility, Animal-assisted therapy outreach, therapeutic horseback riding for the disabled and AniMeals food for pets of the homebound. Education services have expanded to off-site presentations and outreaches, including the Center’s mobile classroom, The AniMobile, which travels to Title I (low-income) schools throughout San Diego County.
The Center also provides three-day seminars every other month through its Animal Center Education Services (‘ACES’). The ACES seminar provides tips and techniques on managing pet adoptions, public relations, fundraising, humane education, accounting, marketing, human resources and volunteers.[1] Participants have attended from 33 states and 17 locations outside the United States including Argentina, Canada, China, Egypt, Ethiopia, India, Ireland, Iran, Japan, Kenya, Mexico and Romania.[2]
Over 2,600 dogs and cats were adopted out from the Center in 2009. Michael (‘Mike’) Arms has been the President of Helen Woodward Animal Center since 1999.
In 1999 Helen Woodward Animal Center created the ‘Home 4 the Holidays’ pet adoption campaign including 14 animal shelters in San Diego County, California. The goal of the drive is to reduce euthanasia by encouraging families to adopt a pet rather than purchase a pet from a puppy mill or backyard breeder. During the first campaign the participating shelters adopted 2,563 orphaned pets.[3] In 2000 the campaign expanded to 5 states, and then expanded both nationally and internationally over the next 9 years. Some Iams Home 4 the Holidays spokespersons include Hilary Swank,[4] Diane Keaton and the canine movie star, Benji.[5] The 11th annual Iams Home 4 the Holidays campaign of 2009 included participants from more than 3,900 animal organizations in 17 countries, and was featured on the television series The Doctors on October 23, 2009.[6] Since 1999, the Iams Home 4 the Holidays adoption campaign has adopted over 3 million animals.[7]
Helen Woodward Animal Center holds an annual fundraising event for surfing dogs and surfing people called the Surf Dog Surf-A-Thon[8] at Dog Beach, in Del Mar, California.[9] This event helps raise awareness and money for animals while promoting responsible pet ownership.[10]
Helen Woodward Animal Center had to evacuate over 400 animals from their property in the Witch Creek Fire [11] in October, 2007.
Other celebrities that support the Center are: Kristen Bell,[12] Tippi Hedren, Ryan Newman and his wife, Krissie.[13]
The Center publishes a quarterly newsletter called "The Companion."[14]