Woods Humane Society - North County

Founded in 1955, Woods Humane Society is a nonprofit organization which receives no tax funds, but is supported by donations, grants, bequests, fundraising events and fees for services. Woods is independent of San Luis Obispo County Animal Services, but works in close cooperation with them and other animal groups in the county for the welfare of all animals.

Woods now cares for over 3,000 cats and dogs each year at our facilities in San Luis Obispo and Atascadero until they can be united with loving forever families. We bring in animals from other shelters where they are less likely to be adopted and from individuals who are no longer able to care for their pets. Woods is committed to finding loving homes for all healthy and treatable pets, no matter how long it takes. With our behavior and veterinary resources, we are able to go the extra mile for animals in need.

Founded in 1977 by Atascadero residents Daphne Fahsing and Kate Johns as “Action for Animals’ Rights, the organization’s first goals were to address local animal over-population and homelessness. They began the first local spay/neuter program which worked so well they later received generous county funding to manage and distribute spay/neuter vouchers for that purpose.

In 1993 our first cat rescue and adoption center was opened in a store-front office in downtown Atascadero which included a shelter, general office and thrift store. Its first project was a hoarding case including almost 40 cats which were rescued, treated, and eventually adopted into new, loving homes.

Then in 1997 we purchased the famous Dome House on 3 acres north of town, and our rescue and adoption numbers soared with the addition of full-time staff and larger quarters.

In January 2017 we merged with Woods Humane Society in San Luis Obispo, CA to form one unified agency providing sheltering and adoption services to the entire San Luis Obispo County from two locations.

We gratefully depend upon the monetary, time, and in-kind support of donors, sponsors, and affiliates for our funding and look forward to continued success and community support for the future well-being of this community’s felines.