Pet Rescue of the Month: Woods Humane Society
“Opening Homes and Hearts to Homeless Pets in San Luis Obispo County since 1955.”
Woods Humane Society has been dedicated to the care of homeless animals, dogs, and cats for nearly 65 years. Based in San Luis Obispo, California, they use a multi-focus approach to end pet overpopulation in shelters and adoption centers. Being a non-profit organization, they have a small staff and rely on donations, grants, fundraising events, adoption fees, and caring volunteers to provide for the animals and outreach to the community. They recently merged with the North County Humane Society and now use that facility as their north San Luis Obispo County animal services operation.
What They Do
Woods, as the locals fondly call them, is a full-service Humane Society. The SLO animal shelter relieves other central coast pet shelters when overburdened with an increase in dogs or cats at their facility. Additionally, they take in animals from individuals that are no longer able to be responsible for their pets. Last year over 1,500 pets passed through their doors and were provided care until they found their forever homes. All dogs and cats received medical care, spay or neuter surgery, housing, grooming, food, and love.
Woods offers the best SLO animal services. As part of their commitment to ensure pets remain in their adopters homes and reduce pet overpopulation they:
- Employ a full-time Trainer Behaviorist who works to ensure dogs are ready for adoption into a new home
- Offer dog training and obedience classes to the public to help keep pets in their current loving homes
- Ensure every pet adopted from Woods is spayed/neutered and up to date on vaccines
- Provide spay/neuter services to the San Luis Obispo County Animal Services’ adoptable dogs and cats
- Offer low-cost spay and neuter procedures to the public and other animal rescue organizations
Making Rescue Fun
Woods is serious about what they do, but they also have fun! A variety of fundraisers held year-round rally the community around their mission. A couple of the largest are:- Wine 4 Paws held in April 8-9 this year. This event involves people tasting wine at many of SLO County wineries. A portion of the proceeds on that weekend and all donations go directly to Woods.
- Wiggle Waggle Walk held in October, around Halloween. Individuals and teams raise money by pledging to walk their dogs through a route in downtown San Luis Obispo. Festival atmosphere with dogs dressed in outrageous costumes, musical entertainment, an obstacle course for dogs, and several vendors.
Woods on Education
The San Luis Obispo animal shelter also offers humane education programs and outreach to the communities’ youth. They realize that the future is in their hands. Kids learn how to responsibly and humanely care for pets and ways to prevent pet overpopulation. Youth outreach is done through the following programs:
- Youth Volunteer Programs (age based)
- In-School Programs which are available for all grade levels and usually involves a visit from a shelter dog - always a favorite
- Shelter Tours, which are a private field trip for classes, clubs, and Scouting troops
- Camps and Workshops during some holidays and most of the summer
Sales & Customer Service Manager
CAT & DOG PERSON🐱🐶
Pets: My best pal, my sidekick: Louie. We adopted him at 11 months old, he's almost 5 years old now. He loves life; all people, other dogs and even cats. You need to go somewhere, he's ready to accompany me which makes him the best travel companion I've ever had.
Fun stuff: I love hiking and wine tasting. For me, they're polar opposites. One takes me into nature and a peaceful state. The other is interacting with people and socializing.
I adopted both my Pups at Woods. Buck and Finn are the light and laughter of my life. Over whelming thanks to Woods!