Helen Woodward Animal Center - Rancho Santa Fe, California

Phil Froloff

We saw an adoptable pup named Zoe on morning news Channel 10 where she was highlighted. She was being offered by Helen Woodward. We went to Helen Woodward where we were introduced to Zoe by very friendly staff. The facility is very clean and well maintained. All animals appeared very well cared for. The staff were truly interested in the well being of their "Guests" who were looking to find a home. Zoe found a home with us and we couldn't be happier and more pleased with our experience at Helen Woodward. Thank you to the staff for their care of animals in need of living homes

Elizabeth Virkler

My family adopted a kitten from Helen Woodward and I was impressed from the moment I walked in. I have adopted animals from other shelters, and HWAC stands out above the rest. The staff and volunteers go above and beyond to answer your questions and guide you in the adoption process. It is clear they want pets to go to loving homes with knowledgeable and committed families.

Michele Wagner

I'm deeply saddened to write this review, as we’ve found the most beautiful, sweet-natured puppy who has been with us for about eight weeks. She is approximately six months old and weighs around 50 lbs. Unfortunately, I must echo the concerns raised by others about the lack of transparency from HW. I genuinely wish I could share a positive experience, but our situation has been far from what we expected.

From the beginning, we noticed discrepancies in the information provided about the puppies. Dogs from the same litter were labeled as different breeds, seemingly to increase their chances of adoption. For instance, our girl was labeled as a Labrador, but after a DNA test, we discovered she is 0% Lab, she is 65% Great Pyrenees—a significant difference. We were also told she was 4 months old but when we took her for her "free" vet visit they said she had all adult teeth, so she was most likely 6 mos Also, our dog had a cold when we adopted her, she seemed fine when we met her but they did disclose she was treated for kennel cough but after a recheck at the HW Vet, she wasn't sick anymore, but when we got home with her, she was constantly sneezing up phlegm, so the vet at HW was not honest on the paperwork.

Shortly after adopting her, we noticed she was frequently lying down during walks and had a noticeable limp. Initially, we didn’t think much of it, assuming it was nothing serious since she is a puppy and there was no mention of this by HW or in the paperwork. We were told she had been returned for medical reasons, but no specifics were provided. At the time, we were in the midst of a critical medical situation with our 16-year-old daughter, and getting her this puppy was a life-long dream. The adoption process was happening while we were administering IV treatments to our daughter, and given the circumstances, we didn’t focus on the medical issues with the puppy. HW was aware of our situation as they saw us administering IV therapy to our daughter.

What’s puzzling is that her sister was still available for adoption on the same day. If our puppy had been returned for medical reasons, why was her sister still there after she was returned? Something doesn't add up.

Unfortunately, the situation worsened. We learned that pet insurance has a six-month waiting period for coverage and doesn’t cover pre-existing conditions. After our puppy’s limp worsened and her leg buckled during a brief walk, we had no choice but to take her to the vet for X-rays. It was then that we discovered it was the WORST CASE SCENARIO, she has a torn cruciate ligament and hereditary hip dysplasia—conditions that the vet assured us are impossible for us to have caused. There is no way the shelter was unaware of this, yet they chose not to disclose these severe issues.

The cost of the necessary reconstructive hip surgery and ligament surgery is well beyond our financial means, especially having our daughters exponential medical bills to deal with as well, it's a very very very HEAVY situation. A second opinion from another veterinarian confirmed the severity of her condition, with the vet commenting, "Oh nooooooo, her hip is trashed."

We are devastated. We adopted this precious puppy with the hope of bringing joy to our sick daughter, and now we are facing a very serious situation with an otherwise PERFECT dog.

I wish the shelter had been honest with us from the beginning. It would have saved all of us this devastation.

We are heartbroken.

Stephen burns

I had a great experience my very first visit. We were welcomed immediately and shown to the 3 kennel areas for the dogs. We made our list of ones of interest & got to meet with 3 of them & were able to walk out shortly after with our new pup! Process is seamless & easy and they make sure you’re very well informed on the history of the dogs.
This place is much nicer than many other Animal Centers in the San Diego area, and extremely clean! Definitely can recommend this place.

haley kubesh

Surprising how they have 4.4 stars with the many reviews I've seen about the RUDE staff with superiority complexes. My partner and I went in to adopt a dog today, which is something we have been discussing for over a year now. We are both nearly 23, but look younger, so we were immediately dismissed by them as adopters. They questioned our income and said we shouldn't "ask our mom for money for the dog" when we are adults and informed them we have a stable income to support the dog. BTW the adoption price for their dogs is $500, so obviously if we are willing to pay that we are serious about this decision. We already have two cats that we adopted elsewhere and know how to be amazing pet owners.
They were extremely condescending, and gave contradictory information, first saying that we would be able to take the dog we came to see home if we were both present to meet it, and then later stating that the dog could not come home with us without providing much details. Additionally, this puppy has only 3 legs, which is not listed on their website, and they said it has been in their shelter for an entire month when "usually their tripods go fast". Not sure why they would not take us seriously and consider us as adopters to provide an amazing and loving home for a four month old dog who has been stuck in the shelter for a month. Anyways, they completely demeaned us and we left feeling defeated. Would recommend going to a shelter that actually wants their dogs to get adopted and doesn't just take puppies and sell them for more than any other local shelters.

** One of the staff members did reach out to give us more explanation and apologize for the behavior of the other staff members, which we really appreciate. Self awareness and transparency when interacting with potential adopters is crucial, and we admire that at least one staff member was willing to give us clarity 🙂

Monique Ellis

Thank you so much to the whole team at Helen Woodward for all of your help, and a special shout out to Tahnee the tech who steered us in the direction of a fit that was better than we imagined.

I liked that they allowed us to spend time with each animal on our list to see which was really the best fit for our family. My daughter initially had her heart set on a tiny kitten, but Tahnee insisted that 10-month-old (Ever) was a hidden gem, super snuggly, and already past some of the kitten things we were a little nervous about. She gave my daughter plenty of time, answered questions, and gave insider perspective on the cats that was so valuable in us finding the right fit.

I also appreciated that they do their due diligence in checking with your landlord before placing the animal to ensure this is a good forever home. Additionally, the resource of a great pet insurance was there so it was a perfect one stop shop! They covered the food he was on, his previous medical history, and any exams and vaccinations that had been done, and also gave us a gift certificate for a free post-adoption pet exam so we could get him established with a vet.

All in all, I would recommend Helen Woodward Animal Center to anyone considering adopting your next member of your family!!

Sarah Twamley

We took a private tour with a group and saw how amazing the volunteers and workers are with the animals. In the canine boarding area it didn't even smell like there were dogs in the room!
Horse surgery unit is impressive!
We enjoyed hearing about the programs for comforting kids, and people. People with disabilities comforting the animals as much as they are receiving comfort.
The "Orphaned Objects Resale Store" is fun and really bringing in the funds to support the org and fostering departments.
Thank you!
P.S. It is a great place to adopt a pet and view and meet your new furry friend!

Sammy A

It was great! The environment was clean, staff were friendly, and it was overall an amazing experience.