Cute cat and dog snuggling

Resources for Pet Owners and Animal Lovers

The University of California recognizes pets are an important part of many people's lives. Please see below for the programs the university offers for pet owners as well as local pet adoption resources and UC San Diego's policy about pets on campus.

Local Pet Adoption Resources

Interest in adopting a pet? See below for some local pet adoption resources:

The Animal Rescue Resource Foundation (AARF) is an organization with years of combined experience in rescue, spay/neuter and support of people that are helping animals get a better deal. They are a 501 (c) (3) Non-profit organization working to assist the rescue community, educate the public, and support low cost spay/neuter efforts.

Pet adoption is also available at Helen Woodward Animal Center. Helen Woodward Animal Center, established in 1972, is an organization where “people help animals and animals help people.” This unique nonprofit organization benefits the community by providing educational and therapeutic programs for people, as well as humane care and adoption for homeless animals.

The San Diego Human Society allows member of the public to adopt pets via their adoption process. Visit their site to see available now.

Second Chance Dog Rescue is one of San Diego’s largest non-profit 501c3 organizations dedicated to saving homeless dogs. They are not a shelter but a dog rescue, and all of their dogs are housed in private foster homes until they are adopted.

Wee Companions Small Animals Adoptions, Inc. specializes in rescuing and re-homing small furry exotics, including guinea pigs, rats, hamsters, mice, rabbits, and chinchillas. Wee Companions has been helping animals in need since 1998.

Local Policy about Pets on Campus

See the PPM 270-5 Dog Control Regulations for rules about dogs on campus.

Love on a Leash Finals Week Fluffies Therapy for Your Students

The Zone at the Price Center partners with Love on a Leash to provide certified therapy dogs during their Therapy Fluffies program. If you would like to request pet therapy visits from Love on a Leash follow the instructions below:

To request pet therapy visit for finals week, please contact the Love on a Leash Visit Captain, Andra Lew, at kalanilew@yahoo.com with the Pet Therapy Visit Request Form information below. Please DO NOT add as PDF or Word Doc, just email the information from request form.

DESCRIPTION: The event and any activities should be about stress relief for the participants.
LENGTH OF OUTREACH: 1 hour max, to be determined by the LOAL Visit Captain and the event coordinator (while it may not look like it's a lot of work, the dogs get tired after 1 hour).
NUMBER OF PARTICIPANTS: The event should have at least 80-100 participants.
LOCATION OF EVENT: Event area must be at least 22 ft. x 16 ft. Therapy dogs must be able spread out in the event area and have space for 4-5 people around each dog.
COST: The Pet Therapy Teams are volunteers, there is no charge for their visits.
PARKING: Therapy dog volunteers will need free reserved parking provided near the event location, along with driving/parking directions to campus and to the event. This will be requested if your Request for Pet Therapy Fluffies is approved.
TIME OF VISITS: Requests must be for programs during Week 1-8 only. LIMITED evening visits to be worked out with requesting organization and LOAL Visit Captain.

UC Provided Preferred Pricing on Nationwide Pet Insurance

UC is offering a new option for your family — preferred pricing on pet insurance through Nationwide. Nationwide has two benefit options designed for the pets of UC faculty, staff and retirees — coverage for accidents and illness or more comprehensive coverage that also includes preventive care and wellness services. Plans are available for dogs, cats, birds, small mammals and exotics (such as reptiles); animals categorized as livestock (including horses) are not eligible.

You can enroll in pet insurance at any time — not just during Open Enrollment — and your coverage will be effective approximately 14 days after your application is approved by Nationwide. Premiums vary depending on your type of pet and where you live, and you’ll pay your premiums directly to Nationwide.

Learn more and enroll on the Nationwide website at petinsurance.com/uc. To enroll in coverage for your bird, small mammal, reptile or other exotic pet, or to speak to a representative, call Nationwide at 877-738-7874.

If your pet is currently insured by Nationwide

If your pet is currently insured with Nationwide in a plan other than UC’s, you will need to wait until your pet’s current policy is up for renewal to apply for enrollment in the UC-sponsored group plan. All requests for enrollment are subject to underwriting approval by Nationwide.