Helen Woodward Animal Center

This is one of the largest animal shelters I've ever been to within even having large animals such as Horses available for adoption. I had lost my cat and wanted a replacement to keep me company. They were so kind and found me the most beautiful rag doll. It's now been over a month and while I still miss my cat, this one has been so loving and cuddly that I don't want to think about losing her. The problems with owning pets is that usually you will outlive them and a little part of your soul goes with those ones you love. The shelter is clean and there is a nice selection of animals begging to go to a new forever home. Every animal we've ever had have been rescue animals and I am so glad that there are shelters such as this to help find these animals a place to live where they will be love Read Less

The people who work here are incredibly rude and judgemental. After my horrible experience with them (two middle aged women who seemed like employees) I spoke to other people who are active in dog rescue (time and money) who have had horrible experiences with the employees. I found out that these same women have been the cause of many volunteers quiting. Spoke to another who walked out after being treated poorly by the same staff and has since pulled all her donations. My family will also no longer be donating anything here. The consensus was that the Rancho Coastal Human society is the best rescue organization in San Diego. I urge you to donate money outside if Helen Woodward. They really have become a glorified pet store. (If you see what animals they have for adoption right now, I will bet that the majority of them are extremely cute puppies with aroption fees of over $500 - $450 adoption fee + $55 for the chip). I should add that I got blamed and scolded by one of the employees when the two dogs sleeping next to each other in the picture attached started barking at another dog. I think it is pretty clear that both dogs are 100% ok with me being there, yet I get the blame when someone walks by with a dog. Read Less

~$580 for Puppy adoption. ~$120-$200 for Cat adoption. Well cared for animals. Facility is nice though the front of the dog house are not fully enclosed. If you are within 1 inch of the cage the volunteers there will they you to back away from the cage. If the dog tries to lick you the volunteers will tell you to back away from the cage. They will not allow you to interact with puppies unless you are intending to adopt it. Read Less

The most loving and warm place to get a new pet. As I understand it, the pets here go through a selection and care process that results in a very good pet. This facility is non euthanizing and they will keep a dog or cat for years if they have to. I absolutely love the pets I have got here. It really shows the care that is given to these loved ones. They won't give a pet out until you know what you are getting into. For instance there was a great looking dog called Guacamole that we liked but after we told them about our kids they said that he was not a good fit for our family as he could injure the kids (jumps a lot). Anyway, there is no better place to get a pet imho. Read Less

Absolutely love this place!...Everyone thinks that they're more expensive being in Rancho Santa Fe, but they're actually cheaper than most. I had my GSD spayed here with ZERO issues. I have also gone back for all necessary shots. Everyone here is extremely knowledgable. Read Less

We adopted a puppy (Penelope/Penny) about 2 months ago from here she is amazing, happy and healthy. They are really nice here at Helen Woodward and as you can tell all the animals are well taken care of and loved. It was about $500 to adopt her and she was worth every penny (no pun intended even though her name is penny). Read Less

Took both my dogs here last week. The staff was amazing. My dogs are big and hard to handle, one is also temperamental but the way they handled it was amazing. They do amazing discounts for military the amount I paid is the lowest I have ever paid for a trip to the vet. I highly recommend them! Read Less

Mutts rule! If you're considering adopting a dog, don't go to the local puppy mill. Use a reputable dog rescue service like this one instead.My little daschund mix is the sweetest, friendliest, most clever little pooch imaginable, and organizations like the Helen Woodward rescue group do a wonderful job. My local vet has pronounced my new puppy to be healthy and she's certainly happy! Read Less

Club Pet is a place where I know my lovely dog Mango will be well taken care of and nurtured. I adopted Mango at Helen Woodward and have been sending her to doggie day care and for boarding since she was 6 months of age. Everyone at Club Pet really loves the animals and I feel like she is at home when she is there. I also boarded all my guinea pigs there before they passed and nothing but super attentive care. The fact that the vet is right next door is terrific and there is dedication to making sure your pet is treated with care and love. I would be hard pressed to go anywhere else. It is like being part of a great community and family.  See for yourself and you will be delighted. Read Less

I had high expectations for the center. The kennel area  was clean, spacious, and nicely laid out out. Mostly puppies in the dog area. I was sharply told by a volunteer not to put my hand so close to the cage.....overzealous rudeness is the way I would describe the volunteer. I saw a puppy I was interested in and asked to take him out of his cage for more contact. Well....they said I had to complete an application and be ready to adopt TODAY. I told her I could not commit before I had more time to check the dog out, outside of his cage. Again the pressure was applied and the TAKE HOME TODAY statement was affirmed. I have never seen such sales pressure tactics from an animal rescue facility.I was forwarned about Woodward being a bit expensive, but did not expect $425 plus $55 for a chip. This place is located in a very upscale area of San Diego called Rancho Sante Fe and they play to the residents with their nice looking office and premises and all their caring loving talk, but behind the facade I found the operation is hard core and over zealous about their protective rules. They seem to get all excited when they can enforce a rule. IMHO they have a good facade if you don't look too close, but it is a business model that turns me off. I won't go back because I don't think it is any more than a fancy talking animal sales operatiion trying to appear to be the elite animal rescue. The Humane Society shelters in San Diego, have cleaner indoor private rooms for the dogs, no phoney sales pitches or sales pressure, and agreeable to taking the dog out of its room and spending time with the dog in a large yard or even just walking around with a friendly volunteer. Oh yes, adoption fee is usually about $95, (free for seniors) and they have all their shots up to date. Sorry Woodward. you remind me of lipstick on a pig. Read Less

We boarded our dog there for 4 days.  She came home with a horrible Urinary Tract Infection, which she has never had before at 9 years old.We paid for senior services, which meant taking them to the potty more, looks like that was not honored.  Holding their urine for long stretches is a prime reason for a urinary tract infection,as explained by our Vet.Never will board there again! Read Less

We just adopted our new puppy, Francisca, about a month ago.  She is a precious lab/collie mix that we feel so lucky to have found.  It was our first time adopting at HW and we found the process very straightforward and the staff extremely easy and professional to work with.  This is our first dog after living a life full of cats and so we had lots of questions.  The young woman who worked with us in the kennel took her time to educate us and answered all of our questions.  Why would anyone ever go to a breeder when you can save a beautiful baby right here?  Please adopt rescue pets! Read Less

Two of my dogs were trained here. I was awed but the loving respect each person shows to the animals here. In the training classes I was taught to teach my dog to go to the bathroom descriptively upon command. I m the envy of all of my friends. This is a place to fully respect for the treatment of animals and their vast compassionate knowledge.Read Less

My husband and I must have come on a good day, everyone who helped us out were very nice and helpful. We went in looking to see one dog, unfortunately he was already adopted by the time we got there. Which turned out to be a blessing because we were able to adopt Lovey. We were not fond of that name at all, and changed it to Luna. She is now 5 months old and loving life! Read Less

I had been looking for my furry soul mate in several shelters before I met my little guy Maui at the HWAC, a cocker spaniel poodle mix. For the past couple months, my husband and I searched  the Oceanside and Escondido shelters, but most of their dogs were pit mixes. I've always had good experiences with pits but I had my heart set on a poodle mix as my mother once had one that my family and I loved very much. I googled other nearby shelters and stumbled upon the HWAC! This place is located in an affluent area in rancho santa fe. It is a very well-kept facility, filled with a variety of adorable breeds with plenty of space. Lots of puppies, which is what originally caught my eye about this place. During my first visit, I did not see any poodle mix pups. A week later, my husband and I came back and noticed a volunteer walking a cheerful cream colored curly haired cockapoo back to its kennel. The info on his kennel said he was 2 yrs old and therefore less expensive than the younger pups. The price didn't matter to me, if he was $500 I still would have brought him home with us. I was ready to adopt! The volunteer had just been playing with him for a while out in one of the socialization play areas which are each as big as an average backyard! He still had lots of energy to burn so the volunteer reciprocated by playing one last game of fetch with him in the kennel. I was impressed that their volunteers spent so much time with the dogs. I watched them play and asked the volunteer questions about him and about her dogs. She was very sweet and talked to me for a while. She asked me if I wanted to meet Maui in the play area. "Yes absolutely!" I responded. We were directed to the front desk and filled out an application asking about our living arrangement and also about how we would deal with socially unacceptable dog behaviors, if they arose. Once they looked it over, they informed us that he had food aggression and asked us if we would be willing to work on that with him. "Yes of course!" (And we have been...And it's not easy...But it's worth it). She okayed the interaction and we got to play with the little guy. The staff member who showed Maui explained the food aggression happened once when she used a fake hand to play with his food as he was eating. However, he had never tried to bite another dog or person. I liked their honesty and straightforwardness. He played fetch with us during the interaction and laid down on my feet while he took a break. I knew he would be worth the work and effort from that point on. I called our landlord to let them know the HWAC would be calling them to ask if we were allowed to have a dog in our apartment complex and then we would officially be approved to adopt. We were redirected back inside to fill out paperwork and the HWAC staff and volunteers were more than helpful and congratulated us on adopting Maui with a huge round of applause by all staff which I found endearing and extremely heartwarming! The paperwork took about a half hour then we had to go to the pet shop inside the center to buy a collar and leash. We also bought a crate which was only $40. Total out the door price for the adoption plus microchip fee and supplies was about $400. As a part of the adoption, we were given a free initial vet examination within 30 days of having Maui. We went to the HWAC vet after about a week of having him and she said he was perfectly healthy!  Overall I feel extremely lucky to have stumbled upon this resource and all of the amazing animal lovers who work selflessly to bring people and animals happiness. Thank you so much to the Helen Woodward Animal Center.  I highly recommend adopting a doggy from HWAC instead of buying from a backyard breeder or puppy mill. Good luck and happy wishes to all you animal lovers and your furry friends. Read Less

Can't say enough great things about this place. Dr. Carter and her staff were amazing. Staff is nice, polite and they care about you and your pet. My dog wasn't feeling good and we didn't have an appointment, but they were able to fit us in. They went above and beyond to help us and we decided we will no longer go back to our old vet. We truly appreciate the attention given and the great service provided! Read Less

Our new puppy came down with diarrhea and vomiting. I called around but other places were booked. Glad I called them, they got Our dog in right away. We hardly waited even though we were a last minute appointment. They examined our Jayde and took her temperature to make sure no fever. They gave us antibiotics and assured us she just had a bad reaction to new bones we gave her. They gave us options and suggestions for her. One day after taking medicine Jayde is much better. No diarrhea or vomiting. Yes it's a bit of a drive for us but so worth it. And the price for her visit and medicine was lower than I expected. Definitely appreciate the vet and staff for helping our Jayde and calming my nerves. Read Less

I have recently just adopted my first fur baby from Helen Woodward. The facility is a farther drive for me but they had a wide selection of breeds available. I looked at their website the night previous and picked out 3 puppies I was interested in. I went the next day right when they opened. I had a nice volunteer show me around their facility (which was very well kept). I found the three puppies I wanted to visit with. I only ended up playing with two because I knew right away I found my baby when she can into my arms. The adoption process was easy and quick (I was one of three people there). I have had my baby a little over two weeks and we are both adjusting to our new routine. I can't get over how nice and helpful everyone there was. I highly recommend this place for adopting your new baby. Please adopt! Read Less

Just wanted to add to the 5 star reviews - we adopted a kitten from Helen Woodward a few weeks ago, and we couldn't be happier with the staff and the process - they allowed us some time to be with the kitten alone, allowing the kitten to get comfortable with us, before we made our decision.  In addition, about 5 years ago, we adopted a puppy from Helen Woodward, and had a similarly positive experience - it is obvious how much their staff cares about their animals! Read Less

Took my cat here because his tail was off center.  The vet told me it was sprained but if a proper exam had been done the vet would have felt a tumor that was pushing his tail to the side.  I waited for the sprain to go away and in the meantime the tumor grew.  When I took him to a competent vet a few months later he felt it right away.  The prognosis was not good and started to block his colon.  Sadly, I had to put my cat down.  Obviously, will not be returning to this vet with my other pets. Read Less

I came here to look for a young dog after being bit by a 150 pound great Pyrenees that I rescued from a high kill shelter.. I was pretty nervous because my dog bite left me with 10 staples in my arm and some pretty serious scars. I explained the situation and they assured me that there dogs were all evaluated for aggression! I looked around and instantly fell in love with a 4 month old puppy that they had! I adopted her that day and she is absolutely perfect! She is now 11 months old and still the love of my life Read Less

This is THE BEST place to adopt an animal. I met and adopted The MOOSE a little under two years ago and Miley a year ago. We had a pitbull mix that lost her life long buddy, a boxer named Tonka. After we felt she was done grieving we wanted to get her a new friend. The people at HWAC were extremely helpful in matching people with the perfect dog. We wanted to go small as Koda was more comfortable with smaller breeds after losing Tonka. It was love at first sight for Koda, me and my husband. They were buddies immediately. Unfortunately we lost Koda suddenly to an illness a few months after getting The MOOSE. I am a firm believer that dogs are happier when they have a friend so back to HWAC we went. We found another perfect match, Miley. We now have two chihuahua mixes that we love and that love each other. We have back to HWAC for special fund raising events (puppy prom was adorable) All the dogs came in their formal wear ADORABLE! King and queen of the prom were crowned lol my two went as security! Thank you HWAC Read Less

My wife and I went here after being pretty disappointed in the condition of a city run shelter. Initially we just wanted to take a look and my wife was interested in possibly volunteering. This animal center is well run, clean, has great employees and because they are privately funded they can pick and choose the animals they take and have available for adoption so you will generally find a great selection of pets to choose from. We ended taking home 2 kittens (they were running a 2 for 1 special around Halloween) They pets are vaccinated, spayed or neutered, checked for worms and feline aids and you get a free vet visit also. Plus we got 2 ticket to Sea World. I can't say enough good things about this Shelter. Read Less

Best hospital ever! Dr. Carter is great! Prices for neutering are unbeatable - 5-times lower than in other hospitals (at least for large dogs). Dr. carter took her time to explain surgical procedure, she is very knowledgeable, friendly, they even called next day after surgery to check on my dog. The place is immaculately clean and friendly. Could not expect better service and prices - go there! Read Less

We visited this location today with our kids in hopes of adopting a puppy. Where we live there is a percentage breed restriction, has to be less than 50% pit bull. We fell in love with a puppy, a terrier mix, but were told we would have to adopt in order to do a DNA test. The adoption fee is $425 with microchip additional $30 something.They keep the fee if we would have to return the dog because of breed. Guess We'll be going to somewhere that can either do a DNA test or can guarantee breed (for that price probably a breeder).Very disappointed, they were going to take our money and not look out for the puppies best interest. I would have paid for the DNA test up front , but they only do 3 hour holds! Read Less

I assumed that they would help me but they rather talk among themselves! I feel so bad for the animals at this shelter they seem so sad and depressed! The rescue them just to keep them at this facility! I'm writing this review because I accidentally circled   Declawing ( I wasn't even aware what that was) and they told me they would not be able to adopt a cat to me ever!! Wow an honest mistake and it's policy you are banned! First let me say this I went home and looked it up and if I had known I would of put NO I have a heart and I love animals and I think it's just so messed up how they don't actually care to have a proper interview so these animals can find loving homes I was really excited about this place and when we arrived we even found a cat that my kids loved and we immediately fell in love. We walked around and looked at every other cat but we felt a connection. We took a long time to decide on adding a cat to our family because we've only owned a dog. This would of been our first time as a cat owner The staff is not informative at all, they just tell you to sign in and look around. I was standing at the counter waiting to be helped and they completely ignored me. We were really looking forward to taking THOR home! I hope he gets adopted by a wonderful family soon since we were turned away for an honest mistake, my daughter cried after we left and it broke my heart! This place SUCKS ! Come up with a better policy that puts these animals in loving homes!!! Read Less

I have to give Dr Carter 5 stars. I took my Sphynx in for. Dental and her heart rate was elevated. Dr Carter did an ultrasound and the walls in her heart looked thick. This could have been indicative of heart disease (which is common with the breed), so Dr Carter was not comfortable moving forward with the procedure. I went in and picked her up and made an appointment with a cardiologist at UC Davis in Sorrento Valley. Today she had an echocardiogram done and all is well with my girls heart. I'm so thankful that Dr Carter was so vigilant and I'll be taking Patootie back in a couple weeks to have her teeth done! Read Less

I love Helen Woodward & my sweet sweet puppy I adopted a few weeks ago. But I feel the need to share this to help future adopters know to have their pets double checked. When adopting my puppy, they said she came in with a parasite called Giardia. They also said she had kennel cough and was treated for BOTH. They showed me her medical paperwork that they treated her for both and then tested her fecal matter and that everything came back clear. The next day I took her to the vet because she still had a cough. They tested her poop again and the giardia is still positive. So Helen Woodward said they treated her, & they may have- but they definitely didn't make sure that it was gone. Poor thing! Glad my vet caught it and now I can have her treated for real this time. I called Helen Woodward to let them know- and the lady was rude to me and didn't seem to care. I wanted them to know because I'm worried other puppies were sent home with unfixed problems & that maybe they should be a little more cautious when checking out the dogs and claiming them as healthy! But no one seemed to care. Glad I care and glad the Drake Center caught it! Still love Helen Woodward and what they do but it's pretty sad if they don't care enough to really make sure they are properly treating dogs. Read Less

Got our furever friend today. Her name was Holly but we changed it to Lola <3 this place was incredible with how they constructed the adoptions. We initially wanted our puppys brother but he got taken but the one person in front of us who got there at 730! They didn't open until 10 so when they said early I didn't realize they meant that early! Definitely get there way earlier than you would expect and have your adoption forms filled out prior to arriving. Otherwise, this place has the best puppies in the area for adoptions. We looked eveywhere and these were the cutest and not too expensive. Read Less

Been here twice now and have had a good experience each time.  I am surprised to see so many puppies here on both visits.  After reading a few of the reviews, it looks like this facility is able to pick and choose their animals?  Not sure how that works, but it would explain things.From what I could tell, the grounds look well taken care of and the animals look to be getting constant interactions from the volunteers/workers which is always nice.  Finally, I do agree that the stories of how people have been rejected are pretty ridiculous.  I understand wanting to perform due diligence here but it doesn't look like they look at the overall picture or analyze differentiating situations against their black and white rules.  With their higher than average fees, choosiness of their animals, overly judgmental methods and unwillingness to work with adopters (especially when the animal turns out sick), it gives me enough pause to think about adopting elsewhere. Read Less

A very professional environment with knowledged staff. The best part being, I wasn't charged both legs and both arms for my dogs to be examined, and meds they needed were purchased on location, and this cost didn't cost me my torso ... Lol Read Less

Lovely place, amazing vets and assistants. They're all professional and nice. My dog will never sit in a strangers lap, let alone go near a stranger. The vet sat on the floor and my dog instantly walked up to her and sat in her lap. I had my dogs teeth cleaning and polishing since it had been years since I got it done. He had to get a lot of extractions, while it was pricey, I knew it had to be done. They give you a detailed breakdown. Spent around 500, but it was worth my dogs health. Plus the facility and staff was superb. If I ever need anything medical done for my dog, I will definitely be back and would recommend anyone to these caring professionals! Read Less

I support the mission of this place but just had a terrible experience with the adoption center. My sister and her boyfriend recently lost a dog and were finally ready to adopt a new dog today. They had a terrible vetting process and refused to believe they would let out the puppy over lunch and therefore got denied. Avoid Jessica, she was extremely condescending and should not work in a customer service role. Read Less

This is a fantastic shelter! Our most recent family member was adopted from Helen Woodward almost three years ago now, and everything about the experience is still impressive. I only wish I could post a photo here! I would recommend adopting from and donating to the Center - the adoption is well worth the fee and the drive into Rancho Santa Fe :) Keep up the amazing work you do with all kinds of animals!! Read Less

My dad and I went for a "look around" to see the kittens but they were just so cute that we had to adopt two! the adoption process was a breeze and everyone there was so nice. You could also see they they cared for each and every single animal there. Read Less

They have taken care of my boxer many times. He was neutered and it was involved. They did a great job. They treated him for several other issues. They have always explained everything fully. They did not order test after test, as many vet offices do. And everyone is so kind. Read Less

Wonderful and knowledgeable staff of volunteers, amazing facility! They are dedicated to helping you find the right pet for your family not just getting them out the door. The animals are well cared for and socialized. Thank you for all you do! Read Less

Our 5 year old love dogs and he wanted to adopt one, our first dog. Through our good friend, we came to know about Helen Woodward. Why I am Giving 5 stars? * Best Staffs (also the volunteers) * Regularly updated website, which correlate to current count at Kennel * Nicely maintained yet very friendly atmosphere. Cat is one of the Staff who helped us, she was very sweet and helped us to great measure. The staffs here, they really care about the animals there. All the pets here are very well take care of. Also pets are spayed and well vetted, with regular check up and vaccinations. Why I took off One star? * Adoption cost is super expensive are not cheap, it costed close to $500 by the time we stepped out. We are happy and we will suggest this place to our friends. Read Less

Our 5 year old love dogs and he wanted to adopt one, our first dog. Through our good friend, we came to know about Helen Woodward.Why I am Giving 5 stars?* Best Staffs (also the volunteers)* Regularly updated website, which correlate to current count at Kennel* Nicely maintained yet very friendly atmosphere.Cat is one of the Staff who helped us, she was very sweet and helped us to great measure.The staffs here, they really care about the animals there. All the pets here are very well take care of. Also pets are spayed and well vetted, with regular check up and vaccinations. Why I took off One star?* Adoption cost is super expensive are not cheap, it costed close to $500 by the time we stepped out.We are happy and we will suggest this place to our friends. Read Less

I got our little love Buddy at Helen Woodward and he is SUCH an amazing dog! He is working on being a service dog but is a HUGE love bug and we can't imagine life without him! Thanks for all you do! xox Allie Read Less

We are expecting to adopt one or two kittens from here. My daughter has gone to camp here and loved it! My daughter's friend's have also adopted from here and love their pets! They are playful and loving so whatever you do adopt from HWWC! Read Less

I've had my dog Jacey for 16 great years, then went to the shelter and picked out the best cat to share our house with, Jewel, who has brought so much fun and cuddles to all who enter. For me the shelter is one of the best places to find your next best friend,Read Less

Like everyone else here, my experience here is mixed.When I went on a Sunday to try to adopt a kitten, they were super hands on. When I went in on a Saturday? I had to go to the front desk three times.The adoption experience was painless for a kitten, only cause I got her during kitten season so I'm sure they knew they had to make room for more. I just had to show that I could have a cat at my apartment. That's why I went in two times because the first time they couldn't reach my landlord (which I don't have, I go through a property management company that's not open weekend so I had to get prior authorization during the week.)They were really good about letting my husband and I meet with potential kittens. As someone else noted here, I do think they pick and choose who to "save" from overflow shelters because my kitten is super cute compared to the ones you get at the SDHS. (I'm not just saying that, I really do think so)Also. Pretty pricey because the adoption few doesn't include the chip few compared to the SDHS but again, I think they try to pick and choose what they know will go through the door.Will I go here again? Maybe, but they weren't horrible. Read Less

This is definitely the best animal hospital in San Diego.  I have been a part of Helen Woodward Animal Center for many years' and am so happy I can take my new 5 year old girl cat Mia (that I adopted at Helen Woodward this year) to them for her check ups, etc.  The vet was so professional and so were the staff, so friendly, what a great facility.  This is a great place and always has been. Read Less

Amazing place! I got my dog Jackson here and I couldn't be happier. This is an amazing facility, you can really tell that they care about the animals. They spend a lot of time making sure that the family and pup are right for each other. And I have to say, they did a great job for me! Read Less

I would never recommend adopting here! It has been the worst experience. I adopted two puppies that were suppose to be a very small breed (under 15lbs). 5 months later both pups are over 35lbs and are too large for my home. When I went back they couldn't have been more rude and I was told the dogs were too shy (after a 10 minute evaluation) and they wouldn't help me find them a new home.Read Less

Fantastic place to adopt. We adopted a Jesper 6 months ago and he was so well taken care of at Helen Woodward. He's been a great dog for us and we are grateful. They are strict with potential adopters to keep the animals safe. My son has also done the camp and enjoyed it.Read Less

I had to put my friend of 13 years down, he couldn't walk anymore so it was time. We called to see if they could fit us in, was not really expecting to wake up and do that. They were busy with another but said they would squeeze us in when they had a chance. 20 min. later we got a call, Dr. Lauren Colson was coming in just for us to help. They came out to the car to help bring him in( my puppy was a big guy). They took everything slow and explained what they needed to do. They gave us all the time we needed to say good bye. I never felt rushed, they all were very very nice and I think was the best it could be in that situation.. thank you everyone! Sammy,newfie, 13yrs, I miss you buddy! Read Less

The Helen Woodward Animal Center is a very special place that will warm your heart if you care about the well-being of dogs, cats and other animals. The shelter takes in unwanted dogs and cats and finds outstanding forever homes for them. We adopted our first dog from the Helen Woodward Animal Center and we were so pleased that the center was committed to finding a great match for us and our beloved dog. The staff is excellent and demonstrates their passion and commitment to the mission of the center. We also used the boarding services for our dog and the facilities and care were excellent. Read Less

My husband and I have taken our dogs to Dr. Carter for 5 years now, and she and the staff have always taken such amazing care of our babies. We recently had some complex documentation related to traveling with the dogs, and Dr. Carter's previous experience with the necessary paperwork allowed her to breeze through the process with ease! We couldn't have done it without her. Read Less

this review is for the adoption center: NEW DOGS DAILY!  amazing team of professionals providing excellent care to animals while they look for new homes.... please ADOPT a pet from Helen Woodward. Family and friends I know have had overall fabulous experiences here. Read Less

The facility had ample space in the kennels for the animals and a large play area; however, many of the animals are outside, and while there's some shade in the kennels, many of the dogs appeared to be over-heated. Additionally, my roommate and I were asking to see one of their dogs, and because we were not going to adopt that day, we were very loudly told that we could not see the dog. The woman spoke in an extremely condescending manner, and the others around us began to stare, as she explained that meeting the dogs was only for people who were "serious" about adopting. It was embarrassing and very upsetting, as we both are very excited to care for a dog and hope to do so soon. My roommate and I intend on adopting in the upcoming months, but we need to spend some time interacting with different breeds, as she has a mild allergy. We certainly won't come back here to do adopt.Read Less

This boarding facility is part of the Helen Woodward Animal center located in a separate building. They board a variety of animals; cats, dogs and birds.Helen Whittier Woodward, the Center's founder, was committed to making the world a better place for people and animals. In 1972, she and a group of friends envisioned a facility that would encompass comprehensive animal care and public education programs. Through her support and leadership, she guided the facility into one of the area's most highly regarded animal and human service programs. The California native who maintained a home in Del Mar for 40 years, Helen Woodward dedicated her life to a number of charities, including those for animals, blind people, and the elderly.animalcenter.orgRecently boarded my dog Bear (he is 2 years old) for the very first time at Club Pet. The determining factor for me was the chance to sign him up for daily pool sessions and daily play sessions. This alleviated my concerns of him being all alone in the kennel, knowing he would get plenty of attention each day. Next time I board Bear I think I may use the webcam suite so I can just have a look at him when I miss him. Plus I would probably not call as much as I did the first time! Each time I called the staff was very helpful and provided me with a detailed account of what Bear was up to each day. This was a load off my mind knowing he was having fun as well. When it was time to pick up Bear as soon as I saw him I could tell the staff really took wonderful care of him. I'd like to thank everyone at Club Pet for doing such a great job. It's obvious everyone there just loves pets. We will be back! Read Less

Oh where do I begin with this place. I dropped my precious Opie off this morning to be neutered and micro-chipped.The girls there are so on top of everything, I have called them multiple times as I am one of those dog mommies that stresses out. They gave me a quote for Mirco-chip, neuter, aftercare package and the cone of shame at a price that is pretty difficult to beat!  When I dropped him off the two women at the front desk were all about Opie and loving all over him which made me feel so comfortable as my past vet God forbid they even look at my dog. Opie will now be a full time patient at HW Animal Center Hospital because of the care and customer service they have given me. Also a special thank you to Ashley and Jessica, They are really on top of their game there! What a great employees they have. I will go through them for all my dogs needs when it comes to scheduling. Thanks guys!! Read Less

Dr. Carter is one of the best veterinarians I have ever met. She is so compassionate and one of the most knowledgeable people I know. I love how she has so much experience and is able to pin point a problem right away without unnecessary/ extra lab work. Of course rads and blood work are sometimes necessary, but I always listen to her recommendations because I know she is treating my little dog as if it was her own. I treat my dog as if she was my child and I completely, 100% trust Dr. Carter with my dog. Thank you so much for all you do for us!Woof! Read Less

Don't ever trust your GPS system when driving out to Helen woodwards!I was lost and the only directions you can trust are directly from their website.This review will be short because I find myself fighting back tears, I lost my precious Loui much too soon and there is a gold leaf in his honor at Helen woodward animal center. The staff there treated me with much kindness and respect, I support their mission and I am proud to donate and be a part of the wonderful work they do. Read Less

We adopted our dog from Helen Woodward almost 4 years ago, and actually had a reasonable experience. We love our dog and she is definitely a part of our family!We have used the boarding facility once. I really liked the kennels and the staff and liked that there were various options for inside running around and outside. I liked the layout of the kennels and it appeared to be super clean. The staff seemed to really love the animals. Each time we have needed a kennel, which isn't that often, I have often thought about going back, but then opted not to because I don't like that my dog is unattended for 12 hours. I realize it is rare to find a kennel that is 24 hours were the dogs get down time, however, I feel it is a really long stretch for them not to be checked on or let out. I would feel much happier if I knew they did a walk through later in the day/evening at the very least or had some sort of webcam monitoring. They are also super expensive once you start adding on the playtime and other options to make it more tolerable for your dog to be away from home. If they weren't left alone for so long, we would pay the money because the facility was nice, but with the 12 hours of unattended time plus the higher cost, we prefer to find other options these days. If their scheduling changed, we would most likely go back. Read Less

I came across the Helen Woodward Companion Animal Hospital when I was searching for low cost tooth extractions for my cat.  I could not believe it - their pricing was many hundred dollars lower than the other places I researched!  I truly appreciated being able to get my cat the best care without going bankrupt!  Sadly, the doctors and staff also supported me through my other cat's cancer diagnosis and subsequent passing away.  My cat was fairly sick at the time she was diagnosed and I appreciated that they did not push a bunch of tests or treatments on me.  They walked me through the different options and were supportive each step of the way.  Both of the doctors were very warm and understanding and helped me get through that tough time.  They called to check on us a few times.  They also sent a card after my cat passed away.  To sum it up, the prices are great, the staff is very competent, and there is not a feeling of being pressured for unnecessary tests or treatments (which I have experienced at other vet offices).  I highly recommend them! Read Less

We have boarded our african grey parrot t club pet 3 times. They have at all times been friendly and professional and look after our feathered friend as if their own. Surprisingly rasonably priced too.Nice quiet surroundings. We went to free flight firt to check it out but it was so noisy with screaming birds there was no way in hell our bird was staying there.Love club pet! Read Less

When we called about dog boarding at club pet we were told they put the dogs in their cages by 5PM, they're then fed and left in their cages until 7AM. I thought the person must be new and the information was wrong so I called another time and got the same information. That's 14+ hours that your dog has to hold it's urine and bowels. The 14 hours is a minimum that only applies IF your dog is the LAST one put away and the FIRST one let out by the staff.  Dogs who have been playing in the yard will probably drink a lot of water and will be locked up for the night. The dogs don't realize they are about to be locked up for 14 hours so I am sure they don't do their best to "Get empty" before being caged. Forcing a dog to hold it's feces or urine for 14+ hours could be physically and psychologically stressful. It may be emotionally detrimental because the dog feels it would be punished for relieving itself indoor. Those dogs who do break down andrelieve themselves indoors in such close quarters are at risk of being un-housetrained or un-crate-trained. Either way you look at the situation, it stinks. I wish instead of trying to justify this, they would just fix it. Why can't someone be there at night to keep watch over the dogs and handle late-night potty breaks? There has to be a profit of thousands of dollars per day in an operation such as this and it makes no sense to have the dogs be unsupervised and shut in cages for 14 hours. This facility has such potential. I can't wait until they put cameras in the kennel areas and have someone to tend to the dogs overnight. Then we might use them.Given the prices and the clientele, I would expect  more from this place. They should AT LEAST have someone who walks all the dogs at 10-11PM, though in an ideal setting there would be a 6PM post-dinner walk and a late night potty break.Our dogs do so much for us, why do some people think it's OK to skimp on their care? Read Less

I have nothing but good things to say about these folks. We adopted a cat, and the screening was 100% aimed at assuring that we would be loving AND protective. They were helpful in guiding us to a kitty that was a good fit for our family, and all the ""conditions"" for adoption were geared towards the best interest of the pet and the family. We had intended on having an indoor/outdoor cat, but after discussing it with staff we concluded that we wanted to keep our pet indoors. We are very happy with this decision, especially because we have since learned that some neighborhood cats have been injured or simply disappear…even longtime pets. Our cat is content to be indoors; we’ve had similar experience with our previous cat, which was also a shelter adoptee. Maybe they had enough of running the streets. Overall, a great experience! Read Less

Our dogs have been going to Club Pet for years...and they love it!   Their tails wag and they race off to play as soon as we drop them off.  It's a little expensive (but I think that's true for all boarding these days) but the service is amazing and the place is incredibly clean. Read Less

When we called the shelter they made no mention of their policy of ""indoor only"" cats. When we showed up they let us look at the cats and then while they were reviewing the paper work we filled out they said that they would not let us adopt a cat because I indicated that it would be an indoor-outdoor cat. The sad part is we ended up going to a pet store instead of adopting one of these poor kittens from a shelter. Their attitude was condescending and rude. Read Less