5 Things I Loved About Building a Website for a San Diego Dog Rescue (from a Web Developer in San Diego, CA)
Hello, my name is Miguel Garcia, I was born in Santa Rosa, California and grew up in Eureka, California. As a Web Developer in San Diego, CA, I’ve had the opportunity to work on a wide range of projects—but few have been as rewarding as developing a full-featured website for A New Life Charitable Foundation (anlcf.org). This incredible non-profit is dedicated to rescuing and rehoming dogs across the San Diego area, and I was thrilled to contribute to their mission through custom web development, branding, and automation.
When I was a kid I grew up loving pets and over the course of my life I’ve had various pets. I’ve always had a lot of empathy toward others but especially cute innocent pets because often times they can’t defend themselves. When this organization reach out for help with their marketing and branding I was thrilled at the opportunity to help them develop a professional presence. Since I helped create their marketing and brand the organization has grown immensely and I am grateful to have helped them.
Here’s a closer look at what made this project both technically challenging and personally fulfilling.
1. Creating Smart Intake Forms That Worked for Everyone
One of the first priorities for the team at A New Life Charitable Foundation was to streamline communication with potential adopters, fosters, and volunteers. I built multiple custom WordPress forms that allowed users to:
These forms weren’t just static; they were built with conditional logic to provide a tailored experience and reduce unnecessary follow-up. Everything was optimized for mobile users as well, which made a huge difference in accessibility.
2. Automating Real-Time Dog Listings via API Integration
To ensure the website always reflected the latest available dogs and their health status, I implemented custom API integrations that pulled live data from the foundation’s internal system. This meant:
- Dog profiles were automatically created or updated
- Health records, age, and adoption status stayed accurate
- Adopted dogs were moved to a “Happy Tails” archive automatically
This automation saved the team hours every week and allowed them to focus more on helping animals rather than managing spreadsheets or manually editing web content.
3. Designing a Brand Identity with a Heart
Beyond development, I had the pleasure of creating a custom logo design that captured the spirit of A New Life Charitable Foundation. The design focused on warmth, renewal, and connection—core values of the organization.
To ensure consistency, I also designed a unified theme throughout the website that incorporated their color palette and vision, from button styles to banner images. This branding work helped establish trust and credibility for first-time visitors and donors.
4. Handing Over the Reins—Empowering the Team
After the site launched, the team expressed a desire to manage the site on their own. Because the WordPress backend had been built with usability in mind, it was easy to transition responsibilities over to them.
I provided documentation and training so they could confidently make daily updates—adding new pets, adjusting events, or updating health records—without needing to call a developer every time.
5. Giving Back as a Web Developer in San Diego, CA
While most of my work is commercial, this project reminded me of the power of technology to do good in the world. As a Web Developer in San Diego, CA, contributing to a cause so close to home—and seeing the impact it had on rescue animals—was truly fulfilling.
It wasn’t just about code or design. It was about helping dogs find homes, helping people connect, and helping a passionate team extend their reach.
If you’re a non-profit, small business, or organization looking to build something meaningful—I’m always up for projects that make a difference.
Want to chat? Drop me a message.
