Rancho Coastal is best known for companion animal rescue, care and adoptions through our Friends of County Animal Shelters (FOCAS) program; however, our mission extends far beyond adoption. We believe in keeping pets and their people together and thriving, especially during times of crisis.
Programs and services that support to pet families include the Animal Safehouse Program for victims of domestic violence, seniors, and military veterans; the Community Pet Food Bank; Pet Assisted Therapy and the Pet Loss Support Program; Community Medical Programs including quarterly free vaccination clinics; and assistance programs for the underserved members of our community, including the Veterinary Care Program for seniors.
We teach future generations care and compassion for animals through our Humane Education and Youth Programs.
Just down the street from our campus is the Rancho Coastal Thrift Shop, which supports our programs and has become a destination for shoppers all over the region.
Founded by animal advocate Maria K. Lloyd in 1960, Rancho Coastal began with a few small cottages and barns. Today, our campus has transformed into a modern hub and community resource that continues to welcome all with the same warmth and kindness that have been our hallmark.
Rancho Coastal Humane Society 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.
When you donate to Rancho Coastal, you save the lives of abandoned companion animals, supporting pet families in need, and teaching future generations respect for all living beings.
Animal Care Manager
(Binx)
DVM – Veterinarian
(Pixie)
Thrift Shop General Manager
Foster Manager
DVM – Veterinarian
(Joey)
President and CEO of Rancho Coastal Humane Society
Judi Sanzo was appointed President and CEO of Rancho Coastal Humane Society in May 2018 after serving on its Board of Directors for nearly five years. Judi received her Bachelor of Arts in American Studies from Mount Holyoke College and her Juris Doctorate in Law from Suffolk University Law School. Judi retired from a 30-year legal career, where she advised numerous nonprofits to dedicate herself to animal welfare. Her role at RCHS allows her to pursue her passion and leverage her expertise in social service organizations to further RCHS’s mission of providing compassionate care and finding loving homes for animals.
Under Judi’s leadership, RCHS embarked on a significant campus expansion involving the construction of four new buildings – Charlotte’s Medical Center, Vivian’s Learning Center, Brock’s Community Pet Food Bank, and Behavior & Training office – and a renovation of the FOCAS Adoption Center. Throughout the campus expansion project, Judi also led the organization in launching new adoption and foster initiatives, funding the Veterinary Care Program for Seniors, and expanding the outreach of critical programs such as the Pet Food Bank and the Animal Safehouse Program for pet owners in need.
The proud dog mom of three rescue terriers, including a pet-assisted therapy canine, Judi believes that fostering stronger connections between humans and animals will create a more compassionate and enriching community for all of us.
