The Helen Woodward Animal Center in Rancho Santa Fe debuts a welcome addition to our critter community with its Companion Animal Hospital. The 10,000-square-foot facility offers treatment for cats, dogs, and other animals with nine exam rooms, surgery rooms, a dental ward, a natural healing center, a comfort area for owners who have lost pets, and more. Among the staffers of the new facility is Fallon Sheridan, who as a medical technician describes herself as “basically a nurse for animals.” Sheridan, who has lived in Encinitas for 17 years, assists veterinarians, monitors animals during surgery and post-op, handles front office duties, and works with animal owners, among other responsibilities.
What are your favorite features of the new facility: The Companion Animal Hospital is a brand-new, state-of-the-art facility with top-of-the-line equipment available for animal care. The best part of the hospital is the layout and the large amount of space the facility has to offer. It was truly designed with the idea of proper animal care in mind.
Favorite meal at a local restaurant: My favorite meal is spaghetti with meat sauce at with, of course, a salad with their famous Italian dressing!
Last purchase made in Encinitas: I actually bought pasta last night for dinner with my family.
Ideal Encinitas day: My ideal day in Encinitas is going to breakfast at on the 101 and then spending the day at with my friends and family.
Favorite civic organizations: As a recent college graduate, I am involved in my sorority’s San Diego Alumni Chapter committed to assisting the ladies at UC San Diego, Cal State University San Marcos, and San Diego State University to fight against domestic violence.
Favorite local business: My family and I have spent almost every Sunday during football season at the We would spend hours there eating amazing food, talking to the owners, and cheering on our favorite teams. It’s truly a great place for locals to spend a wonderful afternoon with friends and family while watching the game.
Favorite Encinitas event: My favorite Encinitas event is I love seeing all the vintage woodies and cruisers from the ‘60s and ‘70s. The live music is always fun to hear, too.
Best thing about living in Encinitas: The endless days of blue sky and sun; even in the middle of February it can be 75 degrees with not a cloud in the sky. You can’t get that living anywhere else in the United States.
The one thing she’d like to change about the city: There isn’t really anything I would want to change. I love Encinitas as is, and would do almost anything to keep Encinitas as it was always meant to be — a small beach town.
A place in Encinitas more locals should visit: . It doesn’t matter if you are visiting the gardens for a school field trip, a wedding or just for a stroll through the gardens, this place is amazing! I think because of its hidden location many locals forget about the beauty the gardens have to offer no matter what time of year it is. I love the bamboo tree section where you almost can’t see the top of them and are amazed about the wide variety of plant species. It has always been a must-see place when friends and relatives come to visit.
How would you dress up the Cardiff Kook: I would dress it up as a cow with black and white spots, ears, a tail and udders!
Best place in the city to watch the sunset: The best place to watch the sunset is at the top of sitting on the benches with a good California burrito in hand.
The Companion Animal Hospital is open for a community preview tour at 1:30 p.m. Feb. 25 and will be open for business March 5. 6461 El Apajo, 858-756-4117, extension 325, animalcenter.org.
