Rancho Coastal Humane Society
Every Animal Deserves a Tomorrow®.
Programs and results
What we aim to solve
Mission: Rancho Coastal Humane Society (RCHS) is dedicated to saving lives of abandoned companion animals, promoting adoption into loving homes and offering education programs and support services that inspire and strengthen the human-animal bond.
Our programs
What are the organization's current programs, how do they measure success, and who do the programs serve?
Animal Safehouse Program™
The Animal Safehouse Program (ASP) is a unique program offering safe harbor to the pets of those in crisis. Unlike other similar programs, RCHS does not act as a referral organization as it boards or fosters each animal in ASP care.
Whether it’s someone escaping domestic abuse, a military veteran undergoing treatment with the VA or a senior receiving emergency medical care, RCHS strives to keep pets and people together. Helping to maintain this vital bond for the long term, supporting an improved quality of life for both.
By providing temporary boarding or arranging foster care and veterinary services to pet parents, these owners can focus on their needs without worrying about their pet’s care.
Humane Education
Animals are a source of great fascination for children of all ages. Rancho Coastal Humane Society (RCHS) always encourages children to explore and share their passion for animals. Our humane education programs focus on teaching the importance of proper care and compassion toward the animals that share our world. RCHS education programs are geared towards embracing a child’s natural love and curiosity about animals, while fostering a sense of respect and kindness for all living beings.
These programs include:
Spring/Fall Animal Camps
Kids Community Service, volunteer program
Hosted birthday parties at the shelter
Classroom visits and community presentations
Friends of County Animal Shelters
The Friends of County Animal Shelters (FOCAS) program was started in 1998 when Rancho Coastal Humane Society (RCHS) developed a partnership with the County of San Diego Department of Animal Services. RCHS takes dogs, cats and rabbits from county shelters (and other municipal shelters) that are over or nearing capacity.
As a limited admission shelter, RCHS can keep adoptable animals longer. That means these animals are given a "second chance" for adoption, and are given a new opportunity to find a loving home.
RCHS Pet Food Bank
The cost to care for a companion animal can reach hundreds if not thousands of dollars annually. This includes food and other supplies along with recurring medical costs, not taking into account unexpected expenses. For pet parents on a fixed budget or going through tough financial times, covering the cost of their best friend can be challenging. Unfortunately, this can sometimes lead to the tough decision of relinquishing a pet.
Rancho Coastal Humane Society wants people and their pets to stay together. The Pet Food Bank program provides food and supplies to those in need. Along with several community partners, RCHS provides thousands of pounds of wet and dry pet food monthly and operates nearly a dozen community food banks.
Volunteer Program
Volunteers are the heart and soul of Rancho Coastal Humane Society (RCHS). RCHS offers a flexible and fun volunteer program. With a wide array of opportunities, from pet therapy to on-site animal companionship, there is something for almost everyone who wants to make a difference in the lives of companion animals.
RCHS relies on more than 400 volunteers to help operate our many programs and services. Collectively, RCHS volunteers donate about 36,000 hours of time per year across all programs.
Foster Program
The Rancho Coastal Humane Society (RCHS) Foster Volunteer Program is an invaluable asset that enables the care for additional animals beyond what shelter space allows. This also provides for the care of animals that become overly anxious in the shelter environment, or may be in need of medical supervision or specialized behavior training.
In addition, RCHS fosters take on litters of puppies and kittens, which need more hands-on socialization and attention prior to being made available for adoption.
RCHS has about 100 active fosters in the Foster Volunteer Program. In FY2017 – FY2018 RCHS launched a Teen Foster Program. With a parent’s oversight, teenagers who are at least 15-years old, can foster an animal. All fosters are provided with supplies including food, blankets, training pads and medical supplies.
Rancho Coastal Humane Society Thrift Shop
The Rancho Coastal Humane Society Thrift Shop has been a dedicated source of funding for the shelter for more than 50 years. Located a few miles away from the main shelter, the Thrift Shop resales gently used merchandise ranging from clothes, books, toys, housewares, furniture and a host of unique items. On average, the shop sells 91 items per hour.
Adoption Services
At Rancho Coastal Humane Society the focus is on strengthening the human-animal bond through programs and services that serve the community and adhere to our mission. RCHS’s in-depth adoption process equally considers the needs of the pet with the desires of the family to ensure a compatible and long-term match.
It’s important to note that animals at RCHS are NEVER euthanized for time or space. This often means taking more time to rehabilitate a rescued animal to achieve adoptability and find a suitable adoption match.
RCHS has achieved a 100 percent live release rate, which is the percentage of animals that are either adopted or transferred to our rescue partners.
Pet Loss Support Program
The Pet Loss Support Program helps pet owners through the difficult time of losing a beloved pet. Our support groups provide a safe space to share feelings of loss and the variety of emotions that are experienced during times of grief. RCHS offers meetings twice a month, facilitated by a team of grief counselors.
Veterinary Care Program for Seniors
The Rancho Coastal Humane Society (RCHS) Veterinary Care Program provides financial assistance and support to senior pet parents facing economic hardship in providing veterinary care for their pet(s).
These expenses include quality of life medical issues and emergency veterinary care.
Applicants must be on a fixed or limited income based on established criteria. Financial documentation is required as well as a written estimate and treatment plan from a licensed San Diego County-based veterinarian.
All applications will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.
Where we work
External reviews
Photos
Videos
Our results
How does this organization measure their results? It's a hard question but an important one.
Number of animal adoptions
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Related Program
Adoption Services
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Number of animals spayed and neutered
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Related Program
Adoption Services
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Average number of days of shelter stay for dogs
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Related Program
Friends of County Animal Shelters
Type of Metric
Input - describing resources we use
Direction of Success
Holding steady
Number of pets boarded through the Animal Safehouse Program
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Related Program
Animal Safehouse Program™
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Number of bags of pet food distributed to households
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
Adults
Related Program
RCHS Pet Food Bank
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
More than 100,000 tons of pet food was distributed to our nonprofit animal rescue partners. Nearly 14,000 pounds was distributed through the public Community Pet Food Bank.
Goals & Strategy
Reports and documents
Download strategic planLearn about the organization's key goals, strategies, capabilities, and progress.
Charting impact
Four powerful questions that require reflection about what really matters - results.
What is the organization aiming to accomplish?
Serving the San Diego County community since 1960, RCHS is best known for companion animal rescue, care and adoptions; however, our mission extends beyond adoption. At RCHS we believe in keeping pets and their people together, especially during times of crisis. Our programming is designed around teaching future generations and people of all ages the care, respect and understanding for the animals that share our world.
Programs and services that offer critical support include the Friends of County Animal Shelters transport program, Animal Safehouse Program for victims of domestic violence, seniors and military veterans, Humane Education and Youth Programs, the Community Pet Food Bank, Pet Assisted Therapy, Pet Loss Support Program and the Veterinary Care Program for low-income seniors.
What are the organization's key strategies for making this happen?
Program Growth
Recruit and train additional foster volunteers to allow the intake of more animals beyond current shelter capacity.
Expand the reach of the FOCAS (Friends of County Animal Shelters) transport program into areas of Southern and Central California that have not yet reached ZERO or NO-Kill status.
Increase the number of animals in ASP through targeted outreach to the victims of domestic violence, military veterans, seniors and other pet owners in crisis.
Increase the number of adoptions through regular incentives and promotions to encourage people to adopt a homeless shelter animal.
Process Improvement
Implement innovations that create more operational efficiencies so RCHS can spend more time saving animals by finding forever homes.
Consistently evaluate and update adoption protocols and standards, as needed.
Philanthropy
Partner with community members, corporations and foundations to inspire support for animal welfare-related causes.
Continue to grow the Legacy Giving program.
Recruit additional Board members with strong community ties and beneficial expertise.
People Development
Grow and attract top talent while building an inspiring employee culture.
Ensure that RCHS compensation is on par with industry standards for similar nonprofit organizations.
What are the organization's capabilities for doing this?
Financial stability: RCHS has served the San Diego County community for 61+ years. The organization is financially stable with capital reserves that ensure long-term stability. In 2019, RCHS achieved a perfect 100-point score on Charity Navigator, the largest charity evaluator in the United States. A perfect score is a rare achievement and those on the list are noted for executing their missions in a fiscally responsible way while adhering to good governance and sound ethics. RCHS is the only animal charity in Southern California to receive this recognition and is among the top five in the nation.
Staff: RCHS is supported by a dedicated staff (full and part-time) who every day promote the well-being of animals in our care. They also work directly with the community whether that’s caring for a pet whose owner is in crisis, disturbing pet food and supplies to owners in need, teaching children kindness towards animals or helping someone find a new four-legged family member.
Volunteers: RCHS is supported by more than 350 volunteers. They are the heart and soul of the organization. Volunteers walk dogs, snuggle kittens and play with our rabbits. They support our programs and services by volunteering at community events, caring for litters of puppies and kittens in their home, sort merchandise at the Thrift Shop and assist the front desk staff.
Upgraded security protocols. RCHS recently upgraded its IT infrastructure to support the growth of the organization and ensure computer data integrity and protection.
Third party support. As a network partner of Best Friends Animal Society, in late 2019, RCHS underwent a full shelter assessment review to learn ways to improve operations and save more lives.
What have they accomplished so far and what's next?
Fiscal Year 2020 – 2021 showed Rancho Coastal Humane Society (RCHS) to be resilient. While the previous year brought a pandemic requiring us to adapt, this year demonstrated our capacity to recover quickly and emerge stronger. RCHS took positive action, kept a realistic perspective, celebrated our successes and remained optimistic. In the face of adversity, we looked for ways in which we could become more active in the wider community.
RCHS increased our community outreach in the Pet Food Bank and Rescue Food Distribution programs We know “food insecurity” is a crisis that includes pet families. RCHS learned that grief was harder to manage, so we converted our Pet Loss Support Program to one-on-one virtual therapeutic sessions. Our Animal Safehouse Program (ASP) continued to provide a safety net for pets of victims of domestic violence, military and veterans and seniors requiring hospitalization.
For the first time, many of our loving, adoptable pets had a tough time finding forever homes. Multiple animals stayed in the shelter for a year or more! They were simply overlooked due to the health and economic challenges of the ongoing pandemic. It’s what we’re referring to as being caught in a “COVID loop.” Our dedicated staff, amazing volunteers, and YOU, our loyal supporters, kept adoptable pets comfortable, healthy and socialized with extraordinary medical care and enrichment activities.
RCHS launched a Veterinary Care Program for low-income seniors, grew the Foster Program, hosted virtual events, and our first Tees for Tails golf tournament. Finally, most promising and long-in-coming, RCHS received approval from the City of Encinitas to move forward on its building project. Soon, RCHS will be on its way to new Learning and Medical Centers and other much-needed campus improvements. There are brighter days ahead!
Thank you for believing in Rancho Coastal Humane Society and strengthening our resilience. Together We Save Lives!
How we listen
Seeking feedback from people served makes programs more responsive and effective. Here’s how this organization is listening.
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How is your organization using feedback from the people you serve?
To identify and remedy poor client service experiences, To identify bright spots and enhance positive service experiences, To make fundamental changes to our programs and/or operations, To inform the development of new programs/projects, To strengthen relationships with the people we serve, To understand people's needs and how we can help them achieve their goals
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Which of the following feedback practices does your organization routinely carry out?
We collect feedback from the people we serve at least annually, We take steps to get feedback from marginalized or under-represented people, We aim to collect feedback from as many people we serve as possible, We take steps to ensure people feel comfortable being honest with us, We look for patterns in feedback based on people’s interactions with us (e.g., site, frequency of service, etc.), We engage the people who provide feedback in looking for ways we can improve in response, We act on the feedback we receive, We tell the people who gave us feedback how we acted on their feedback, We ask the people who gave us feedback how well they think we responded
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What challenges does the organization face when collecting feedback?
We don't have any major challenges to collecting feedback
Financials
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Operations
The people, governance practices, and partners that make the organization tick.
Connect with nonprofit leaders
SubscribeBuild relationships with key people who manage and lead nonprofit organizations with GuideStar Pro. Try a low commitment monthly plan today.
- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
- Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
- Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations
Want to see how you can enhance your nonprofit research and unlock more insights? Learn More about GuideStar Pro.
Connect with nonprofit leaders
SubscribeBuild relationships with key people who manage and lead nonprofit organizations with GuideStar Pro. Try a low commitment monthly plan today.
- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
- Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
- Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations
Want to see how you can enhance your nonprofit research and unlock more insights? Learn More about GuideStar Pro.
Rancho Coastal Humane Society
Board of directorsas of 10/30/2023
Susan Howell Mallory
Executive, Global Wealth Management
Term: 2020 -
Jerry Cesak
Christopher Baker
Aine Shivnan
Lindsey Burroughs
Samantha Pate
Sylvia Steding
Vicki Armstrong
David Bergen
Nancy Heitel Malk
Board leadership practices
GuideStar worked with BoardSource, the national leader in nonprofit board leadership and governance, to create this section.
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Board orientation and education
Does the board conduct a formal orientation for new board members and require all board members to sign a written agreement regarding their roles, responsibilities, and expectations? Yes -
CEO oversight
Has the board conducted a formal, written assessment of the chief executive within the past year ? Yes -
Ethics and transparency
Have the board and senior staff reviewed the conflict-of-interest policy and completed and signed disclosure statements in the past year? Yes -
Board composition
Does the board ensure an inclusive board member recruitment process that results in diversity of thought and leadership? Yes -
Board performance
Has the board conducted a formal, written self-assessment of its performance within the past three years? Yes