Helen Woodward Waiving Pet Adoption Fees For Military Families

SAN DIEGO, CA — In celebration of the Fourth of July, Helen Woodward Animal Center will waive pet adoption fees for military families through Independence Day.

The Paws for Patriots event is made possible, thanks to donor KayBella Cares.

"The sponsored military adoptions are such a clear example of people helping animals and animals helping people," said Kendall Schulz, adoption services director for Helen Woodward Animal Center. "These pets are so happy to find their new homes and then go on to provide so much comfort to these families who deal with extreme worry, stress and fear when their loved ones are deployed."

Helen Woodward Animal Center has offered sponsored pet adoptions since 2014.

The nonprofit organization also oversees other military-related programs, including the Pet Encounter Therapy program, which uses therapeutic animals to help lower blood pressure, regulate breathing and improve memory for wounded soldiers; AniMeals, which provides pet food to wounded military members with service dogs; and the Companion Animal Hospital Military Fund, which provides free veterinary services for active-duty or disabled military and their immediate family members.

Helen Woodward Animal Center is at 6461 El Apajo Road in Rancho Santa Fe. The center is open for adoptions from noon to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday and from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on weekends. The center will be open from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on the Fourth of July.