Anonymous donor sponsors tough-to-adopt dogs in San Luis Obispo County

SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. - An anonymous donor has been covering shelter fees at the Woods Humane Society for a couple years, starting a chain of giving.

Shelter staff say the man visits a couple times a month.

He talks with staff about which dogs are having trouble getting adopted. Then, he donates the adoption fee for those dogs.

"If he can help get them into that home quicker, it really does help cut down on the stress and the animal's length of time that they're here in a shelter," said Robin Coleman, adoption & volunteer program manager for the shelter.

Coleman said that the donor will sometimes donate money for obedience training when the dogs need a little extra behavioral help for getting adopted.

Donor Engagement Officer Emily L'Heureux said that the man has donated thousands of dollars and sponsored hundreds of dogs.

L'Heureux also said several families who come to adopt pay those fees forward or make other donations.

"It kind of inspires a little bit of an act of kindness," said Coleman." I would say they're touched about it."

Coleman said the shelter cares for upwards of 100 animals at a time. About half of them are dogs and the other half cats. They adopt out around 3,000 animals a year.