About Hooksaurus
Our Mission
Every fall, thousands of pumpkins end up in landfills across San Diego County. Hooksaurus was founded to change that story. We collect used and imperfect pumpkins from grocery stores, farms, and residents — and deliver them to farm animal sanctuaries where rescued cows, goats, pigs, sheep, and other animals enjoy them as a seasonal treat.
Since 2016, we’ve diverted over 48,000 pounds of pumpkins from landfills and fed more than 2,400 animals annually through our network of drop sites and sanctuary partners.
Our Story
Hooksaurus started in 2016 when a local San Diego woman, a long-time volunteer at local farm animal sanctuaries noticed the large volume of pumpkins being thrown away after Halloween and Thanksgiving.
She knew from volunteering that sanctuary animals loved to eat whole pumpkins and that pumpkins will stay fresh for a long time.
What began as a handful of volunteers dropping off pumpkins at one sanctuary has grown into a county-wide program with 24 drop sites, 8 sanctuary partners, and hundreds of dedicated volunteers.
Our Sanctuary Partners
We work with eight accredited farm animal sanctuaries across San Diego County:
- …todo…
Our Values
- Animal welfare first — Every decision we make centers on the well-being of rescued farm animals.
- Community-driven — We’re powered by volunteers, drop site hosts, and generous donors.
- Environmental stewardship — We believe in keeping organic waste out of landfills and closing the loop between communities and sanctuaries.
- Transparency — We publish our annual impact report and welcome questions from the public.
Get in Touch
Have questions about our program, want to host a drop site, or interested in partnering with us? We’d love to hear from you.