Education and Community: The Future of Animal Welfare with AWA

Clarabell pops up to say hello while she hangs out with staff. Photo by author.  

When considering the role of animal shelters, we often address housing, adoption services, medical care, and euthanasia. Rarely do we consider the educational aspect of animal welfare and how much more could be done to improve it.  

Through no fault of their own, many shelters lack the bandwidth to create educational programs and events for their communities. Traveling a little beyond Philadelphia into Voorhees, New Jersey, I was able to speak with Laura Houston, Executive Director of the Animal Welfare Association (AWA). AWA has mastered the care of its animals, providing low-cost veterinary services and informing and engaging with its community.  

“In the last two years, we’ve made a concerted effort to expand that education reach,” Houston said. Through educational visits and lessons, AWA believes the way to prevent animal homelessness in the future is to teach children responsible pet ownership and empathy.  

“We had a whole STEM day where our vets and behaviorists worked with kids,” Houston explained. "We taught them how to use microscopes and wrap bandages on stuffed animals.” These activities help to instill the concept that animals are just like us. AWA hopes that a prioritization of teaching empathy for animals will extend community-wide.  

“To prevent animal homelessness, one of the things we felt was important was to create a partnership with and presence in the community. But we also believe in supporting members of the community,” Houston said. In the spirit of festivities, AWA hosted a Trunk or Treat event for families to join close to Halloween. They also hosted the Pawliday Market in early December, providing a fun gathering for people to shop, eat, and hang out with animals.  

Houston explained that AWA invests in these community events because “we want people to know about the resources we have. The more we can get this out in the community, the more we can help people not only adopt animals but keep their own animals healthy.”   

Part of AWA’s success was its move to a new location, allowing for increased medical care, community services, and physical space for the animals to decompress. According to Houston, it allows them to "better manage shelter-related illnesses and stress that could lead to more adoptions." Another part of their success is their dedicated staff, who not only focus on increasing adoptions but also creating relationships in the community, which has helped them be more successful in providing services.  

“Our average stay is about five or six days,” Houston said. But for animals with a longer stay, it’s about ensuring they have the best enrichment” to prevent decline while there. “Our dogs are walked four times a day. They’re given enrichment three times a day,” Houston stated proudly. AWA even dabbles in using aromatherapy and classical music to soothe the animals. “We work very hard to try to prevent the decline that happens in shelters that can lead to euthanasia.” 

Despite their handle on things, AWA still faces some challenges ahead. “There’s a national vet shortage,” Houston explained. AWA and other facilities are battling the same issue of finding adequate veterinarian care on top of the national decline in dog adoptions. According to Houston, while cat adoptions have steadily increased, the decline of dog adoptions has been “dramatically affecting their bigger dogs,” who often face the most challenges in placing for adoption.  

Overall, AWA has been doing well in championing the rights and care of animals. Houston wants people to know, “We’re so much more than a shelter. We offer education, the clinic and various events for the community. We don’t see the shelter as a sad place… once [the animals] get here, we do everything we can to change that narrative and create happiness.” Houston believes that sad narrative is one of the many barriers to adoption and says that it’s time that society focuses on the health and happiness animal shelters strive to provide. 

An important takeaway from my conversation with Houston was the importance of educating communities on animal rights issues, serving and engaging the community you want to work with, and helping people to help animals. Impactful change starts with understanding and encouraging empathy for our pets and neighbors alike.