San Diego Humane Society

Apollo came into our care in April of 2022. Initially shy, Apollo slowly began to come out of his shell with the support of our team. Over time, he made incredible progress building confidence. And on Jan. 17, all that hard work paid off. A family came in specifically to meet him to adopt!

When we rescued 40 dogs from an apartment in La Mesa, 3 of them were puppies just over a week old. They were placed in a foster home for around-the-clock care. Shortly after, as our teams completed examinations of all the dogs, we were able to identify their mother and reunite her with her puppies!

From the moment Pips was adopted, it was clear he was ready to settle in and start her new life. Her adopter shared: "Just wanted to say thank you for rescuing Pips she is so happy in her new home! She’s been sweet, playful & curious. Thank you for all the care you gave her. She’s already so loved!"

We’ve got an unusual crew in care right now — three baby desert cottontails! This tiny crew was found last month and brought to us for care. Because our team doesn't typically see babies this young this time of year, their arrival was quite the surprise!

If you need a little joy today, check out these clips from our first raccoon release of the year! Our PW team recently released these rehabilitated raccoons to Los Peñasquitos Preserve, and watching them return home is impossible not to smile at.

Our ERT was called to Alpine to assist in a technical rescue for a horse named Jasmine after she went down and was unable to get back up on her own. Our team worked tirelessly to stabilize and lift her safely, giving this senior horse a second chance!

We're stepping into the new year with a VERY special new beginning! After nearly a year in our care, our beloved Dingo has finally found his home.

YouTube video by NBC 7 San Diego New animal-protection laws starting in California in 2026 | NBC 7 San Diego

@sdhumane.bsky.social led the charge for animal protection laws

youtu.be/mU0cvmTsqNo?...

If you need a reason to start your new year with a smile, please enjoy adoptable Apollo (821763) dressed up as a ladybug.🐞

Your donation at sdhumane.org/YErescue will go 3X as far to care for the dozen of dogs coming through our doors right now.

They will be triaged and receive medical exams and vaccinations.

Right now our Humane Law Enforcement is rescuing more than 50 dogs from a home in La Mesa. Officers discovered the dogs and puppies had been living in feces and unsanitary conditions.

The moment you’ve all been waiting for is finally here: Our Top 10 Most Popular Names of 2025! Did your pet’s name make the list, or are they about to claim the coveted title of Most Original?

The holidays can be wonderful … and they can also be a lot. So here’s a moment of pure seasonal joy: a handful of curious kittens discovering festive décor for the very first time. May their tiny paw-bops and big bright eyes lift your spirits today.

Fargo’s facial expressions never fail to make us laugh but what we can’t quite pin down is what’s going on inside his head. Did he forget to take the laundry out of the washer before leaving the house? Is he trying to remember where he knows you from? Is he attempting to process some strange news?

The face you make when you're surprised with a bag full of Christmas toys 🥹

We have VERY specific taste 👀

We will never get over the joy of seeing a shelter pet thriving in their new home. Bubba Barx’s new family shared: "We wanted to let you know that Bubba Barx is the sweetest boy ever! My family and I are so in love. He truly is the sweetest boy. Thank you all so much for all the work you guys do!"

Please enjoy some ASMR courtesy of our wildlife residents!

Christmas came early for pets at our Escondido Campus as Santa Claws (or should we say, Santa PAWS) stopped by to spread some holiday cheer! They proudly told him they’ve been exceptionally good this year … and that their only holiday wish is a home for the holidays.

Well, this is a first for our Project Wildlife team! We recently released a hoary bat back into the wild, but before saying goodbye, we fitted him with something pretty special: a lightweight Motus tracking transmitter. Basically, a tiny backpack… or as we like to call it, a BATpack.

Pumpkins may be a fall décor staple for humans, but for our Escondido Campus farm crew? They’re more of a smash-and-snack situation. Our staff surprised our adoptable pigs and roosters with a fun-filled, pumpkiny treat while they await their new homes —and let’s just say…enthusiasm levels were high.

She was so excited 😭

The last one though…

#shelterpuppy #shelterpuppies #funnydogs

It's Black Friday and offers are coming at you from every direction, but we have the best deal of all! Your gift at sdhumane.org/GivingTuesday will be DOUBLED to make twice the impact! Thanks to a matching gift of $50,000 from The JEM Project, you’ll save the lives of 2X as many pets & wild animals.

Fifty-two and feelin’ brand new! It’s not every day we get to throw a hippo-sized party, but when it’s Hannah Shirley’s birthday, we have to go BIG! To honor our beloved queen in the best way possible, the team at our Ramona Wildlife Center put together a Hungry Hungry Hippos-themed celebration.

Everyone stay calm ... actually, wait - DON’T. THIS IS NOT A DRILL. We are experiencing massive amounts of joy because after more than 400 days in our care, our beloved Cooler has officially been adopted!

No thoughts, just vibes.

What an unBEARlievable moment! The bear cubs at our Ramona Wildlife Center were gifted an enormous 120lb pumpkin thanks to a generous donor — and it's safe to say they were thrilled to take on the world’s most adorable demolition project. 🐻🎃

Give a shelter pet your heart and you won’t regret it 🥹