‘Paws for Patriots’ Event Covers Adoption Fees for Military Members

Military families in San Diego are invited to meet some fuzzy recruits at Helen Woodward Animal Center’s ‘Paws for Patriots’ event this Memorial Day weekend.

Thanks to donor KayBella Cares, the Helen Woodward Animal Center is offering sponsored pet adoptions to thank military members and their families for their service beginning Saturday (May 27) and continuing through Memorial Day.

Fees for approved adopters (while supplies last) will be covered from Saturday through Monday. (Adopters pay only a $36 microchip fee.)

Center officials said the special adoption promotion is “dedicated to bringing smiles to military heroes while also saving orphan pets in need.”

Helen Woodward Animal Center has seen the healing power of animals and facilitates a number of programs dedicated to serving the 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.

Thanks to a partnership with the natural pet food company Blue Buffalo, the Center’s AniMeals program also regularly assists Wounded Warriors, providing pet food to wounded military clients with service dogs. Working through the Recovery Care Coordinator Office (RCC) and the Navy Marine Corps Relief Society (NMCRS), the program ensures that food costs are not a factor in keeping these beloved friends by the sides of the soldiers who depend on them.

Helen Woodward’s Companion Animal Hospital Military Pet Program also supports our military by offering free wellness-checks, spay/neuters, and vaccines to pets of 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 Pet Program, please contact VP of Development Renee Resko at (858) 756-4117 x 347 or donate on-line at www.animalcenter.org.

“It’s moving to see love blossom between an orphan pet and a servicemember,” stated Kendall Schulz, Adoption Services director. “We know that the pet and the military family will benefit from the bond and we are so grateful to KayBella Cares for helping us unite these deserving hearts.”

For more information, please contact Helen Woodward Animal Center Adoptions Department at: 858-756-4117 ext. 1.