Woods Humane Society partners with UC Davis to strengthen animal care in SLO County

By Staff Report · Mon May 18 2026

SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTY — Woods Humane Society has announced a new partnership with the UC Davis Koret Shelter Medicine Program aimed at improving medical care, shelter operations, and outcomes for animals across the region.

The collaboration, supported through California for All Animals, will provide expert veterinary consultation to help address ongoing challenges in animal shelters, including veterinary staffing shortages, increased demand for services, and delays in spay/neuter procedures.

According to Woods Humane Society CEO Emily L’Heureux, the partnership will help strengthen internal systems, improve medical protocols, and enhance daily shelter operations.

“This collaboration will help us strengthen our systems—from medical protocols to daily planning—so we can provide timely, compassionate care to animals who need it most,” says L’Heureux.

Through the program, shelter staff will work with UC Davis veterinarians to better allocate medical and surgical resources, reduce stress and disease risk in shelter environments, and identify operational bottlenecks that delay animal placement into homes or foster care.

“Shelters across California are facing veterinary staffing shortages that affect how quickly animals, especially large dogs, can get care and go home,” said Dr. Chumkee Aziz, a UC Davis outreach veterinarian and board-certified shelter medicine specialist. "Partnerships like this show what sheltering does best—adapting and problem-solving to protect animal health.”

Woods Humane Society Director of Veterinary Services Amanda Hefner said the partnership will also support the organization’s spay/neuter capacity and ongoing medical care at its clinics in San Luis Obispo and Atascadero.

The organization highlighted the recovery of a kitten named Hippo, who was successfully treated for panleukopenia, a highly contagious and potentially fatal viral disease. After receiving treatment and foster care, Hippo recovered, was spayed, and is now available for adoption.

“Thanks to our prepared and equipped medical team, foster coordinator, and our dedicated fosters, Hippo has since recovered from this life-threatening illness, received her spay surgery yesterday, and is available for adoption today,” Dr. Hefner says. “The UC Davis KSMP partnership will help us build the conditions to make survival stories like Hippo’s possible for more animals.”

Woods officials said the UC Davis partnership will help expand the number of successful outcomes like Hippo’s by improving capacity, efficiency, and access to care for animals in need.

Community members can support the organization through fostering, adoption, or volunteering.