Ranch & Coast Magazine

The pandemic brought a wave of both surrenders as well as adoptions due to changes impacting people's lifestyles, from working from home to housing insecurity. "Our numbers were very high for adoption during 2020 even though our intake was the highest that we've ever had; it kind of all balanced out," recalls Speece, the organization's president. "We were very busy taking in and then very busy adopting out." Then, the world opened back up. A clause in the Wee Companions adoption contract promises that if, during any time in the animal's life an adopter would like to relinquish it, it can be returned. And unfortunately, they're being returned in record numbers. According to Speece, they've had to take 135 animal returns to date in this year alone. "They are coming in droves," she laments, adding that for the first time, the organization is having to refuse requests from other shelters, from San Francisco to Los Angeles to Palm Springs, to take in animals. "We've never known this before, and I consider it collateral damage from COVID-19," she says solemnly. With roughly 250 animals in their care, Speece welcomes donations of food in addition to financial support. A store located in University City sells gently used items for small animal owners to supplement operational costs. But most importantly, says Speece, "What we're looking for are people who have the same philosophy as we do who want to give a permanent home to a small animal that they have well researched and are willing to provide the correct habitat and the correct care for their lifetime. We need committed adopters and loving homes for these animals." weecompanions.org The Quintessential San Diego In a military town known for its beach-centric lifestyle, what could be more "San Diego" than a nonprofit committed to helping injured veterans enjoy surfing? That's precisely the mission of One More Wave, an organization created by veteran Alex West that provides custom surfboards and gear for wounded and disabled veterans. "Balboa Naval Hospital does a surf clinic every Thursday morning, so many of us would volunteer while we were still on active duty at the clinic," says Rob Garnett, One More Wave's director of surf operations. "There were a couple guys who would come through with pretty several physical injuries and nobody was making boards that they could use, so that's how it started." It began with a custom board created for someone who was a below- the-knee amputee and about a year later, in 2015, One More Wave was launched as a resource for veterans with any disability to receive equipment including a board, wetsuit, and board bag, plus any repairs or replacements, at zero cost to them. With no one specializing at the time in custom boards for amputees, those with traumatic brain injuries that impacted balance, or other injuries, One More Wave partnered with trusted shapers they'd worked with for their own standard boards. "Honestly, it's been a 'learn as we go' [process], and each person is different, so it might take us three or four boards to get it right," says Garnett. "We get in the water with the person we're making the board for to see where they're at, and then we have some testing boards that we use, and then figure it out from there." Working with a partner artist, recipients can also customize their board. "A lot of them have brain injuries you can't see," says Garnett. "The art therapy can be very helpful to them. They're working through something that might be very personal to them; it's pretty impactful. We spend more time on art with those who may be dealing with these issues — PTS, anxiety, depression — as opposed to people who need a true adaptive board." In all, the cost of each package is about $2,500. "We've never known this before, and I consider it collateral damage from COVID-19" >> ranchandcoast.com @ranchandcoast RANCH & COAST MAGAZINE DECEMBER 2021 41

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