Helen Woodward Animal Center is helping to bring the unconditional love of pets to military families just in time for Veterans Day.
For the 9th year, the Center is proud to partner with Animals for Armed Forces Foundation, a special non-profit organization sponsoring the adoption fees of orphan pets for approved military families while supplies last. Helen Woodward Animal Center invites military families to meet potential new furry family members during a special adoption weekend, Friday Nov. 11 through Saturday, Nov. 12.
Animals for Armed Forces Foundation is a Southern California non-profit dedicated to bringing smiles to military heroes while also saving orphan pets in need. Along with Helen Woodward Animal Center, they recognize the years of comfort, laughter, joy and devotion a loving pet can provide – all crucial elements to assist military members and their families whose lives have been dedicated to serving our country near and far.
Helen Woodward Animal Center has seen the healing power of animals and facilitates a number of programs dedicated to serving our military community. The Pet Encounter Therapy program (PET) typically serves 60-70 veterans monthly (at the ICS Hawthorne Center and Veterans Village San Diego), utilizing therapeutic animals to help lower blood pressure, regulate breathing, improve memory and lift the spirits of wounded soldiers.
The Center’s AniMeals program also regularly assists Wounded Warriors thanks to a partnership with the natural pet food company Blue Buffalo. The program provides pet food to wounded military clients with service dogs through the Recovery Care Coordinator Office (RCC) and the Navy Marine Corps Relief Society (NMCRS), ensuring that food costs are not a factor in keeping these beloved friends by the sides of the soldiers who depend on them.
Additionally, the Center’s Lewyt Mobile Pet Health and Wellness Unit was honored to assist at the North County Veterans Stand Down in Vista this October. In partnership with Kahoots Pet and Feed store, Helen Woodward’s mobile visit provided checkups, routine medical care and supplies to the dogs of military families.
Helen Woodward’s Companion Animal Hospital Military Fund also supports our military by offering free services to Active Duty Enlisted Military E-1 to E-7 or Disabled Military and their immediate family members. The highly in-demand fund is consistently seeking donations to continue to provide these incredibly important services. To donate to Helen Woodward’s Companion Animal Hospital’s Military Fund, please contact VP of Development Renee Resko at (858) 756-4117 x 347 or donate on-line at www.animalcenter.org.
“It’s so heartwarming to see military families open their homes to a new furry family member,” stated Kendall Schulz, Adoption Services Director. “We’re honored to assist these families in their search for a new forever pet. Not only are they heroic for all they have given to our country, they are heroes for providing love to an orphan pet in need and we know that these dogs and cats return the love tenfold.”
Special military sponsored adoptions will take place this coming Friday, November 11th and Saturday, November 12th. Helen Woodward Animal Center’s adoptions department is open beginning 11 a.m. on Friday and 10 a.m. on Saturday. The last application will be accepted at 5:15 p.m. each day. For more information, please contact Helen Woodward Animal Center Adoptions Department at: 858-756-4117 ext. 1, visit www.animalcenter.org or stop by 6461 El Apajo Road, Rancho Santa Fe, CA 92067.
*Adoption Details:
(Pay only a $35 microchip fee.) Limit one animal per household. Family must meet adoption requirements. Subject to limitations on availability. The military adoption discount applies to active duty, reserve and veterans of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard and National Guard, and/or immediate family members. Please bring your photo ID and one of the following to receive the adoption discount: • Military ID •Dependent ID • Veterans ID • DD-214 and Driver’s License • NGB Form 22. Thank you for your service!
