Animal Welfare Society Of Monroe

THE ANIMAL WELFARE SOCIETY OF MONROE (AWSOM) PROVIDES SHELTER AND MEDICAL CARE THROUGH OUR ANIMAL WELLNESS CLINIC FOR COMPANION ANIMALS WHERE THEY ARE FREE FROM ABUSE, HUNGER, FEAR AND LONELINESS, UNTIL PLACING THEM IN APPROPRIATE, PERMANENT HOMES. ANIMALS ARE NOT KILLED TO MAKE SPACE FOR MORE INTAKES.

THE SHELTER PROVIDES 24/7 SHELTER CARE TO STRAY, SURRENDERED, SICK AND INJURED DOGS AND CATS. ANIMALS RECEIVE RESTORATIVE CARE WITH ATTENTION TO PHYSIOLOGICAL AND SOCIAL ADAPTABILITY NEEDS WITH THE GOAL OF INSURING ADOPTABILITY IN A SUITABLE HOME.ADOPTION, SURRENDER AND RETURN TO OWNER FEES ARE CHARGED TO HELP SUPPORT SHELTER OPERATIONS.THE SHELTER INCLUDES A FREE ROAMING CAT ROOM WHICH IS USED AS A LARGE FREE ROAMING CAT ROOM WHERE CATS MAY DEVELOP SOCIABILITY SKILLS WITH OTHER CATS AND THEN DEMONSTRATE THOSE SKILLS TO THE POTENTIAL ADOPTER HUMANS WHO VISIT. ADOPTIONS INCREASE WHEN POTENTIAL ADOPTERS CAN SEE THAT CATS HAVE THE CAPACITY FOR ADAPTABILITY. SHELTER OPERATIONS INCLUDE COMMUNITY OUTREACH. SHELTER STAFF MEMBERS ASSIST WITH THE SUPERVISION OF GROUPS FROM SPECIAL NEEDS AGENCIES SUCH AS VIA, DES, ACCESS AND DEVEREUX, WHO VISIT WEEKLY TO ASSIST AND PARTICIPATE IN ANIMAL AND SHELTER CARE. COMMUNITY OUTREACH PROGRAMS WITH BOY SCOUTS AND GIRL SCOUTS ALLOWS SCOUTS TO TOUR FACILITIES AS WELL AS RECEIVE HUMANE PET CARE EDUCATION. SCOUTS ENGAGED IN BADGE REQUIREMENTS OFTEN RECEIVE ASSISTANCE FROM SHELTER STAFF OR BOARD MEMBERS. COMMUNITY OUTREACH BY AWSOM ANIMAL AMBASSADOR PROVIDES BOARD MEMBERS AND ANIMAL AMBASSADOR BISCUIT TO VISIT SCHOOLS, CHURCHES AND CIVIC GROUP MEETINGS TO EDUCATE COMMUNITY MEMBERS OF ALL AGES ON HUMANE ANIMAL CARE, SPAY/NEUTER AND THE BENEFITS OF PET ADOPTION. COURT ORDERED COMMUNITY SERVICE SHELTER STAFF MONITOR AND REPORT ON THE ATTENDANCE AND ACTIVITIES OF INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE COURT ORDERED TO PERFORM COMMUNITY SERVICE. APPROXIMATELY 15 PERSONS PER MONTH WERE SUPERVISED IN OUR COMMUNITY SERVICE PROGRAM. THE MONITORING OF THESE INDIVIDUALS REQUIRES CONSIDERABLE STAFF TIME AND ATTENTION.

AWSOM OPERATES A LOW COST SPAY/NEUTER AND WELLNESS CLINIC. THE CLINIC PROVIDES SPAY/NEUTER SURGERY AND PREVENTIVE CARE TO AWSOM SHELTER ANIMALS AT COST. THE CLINIC ALSO PROVIDES LOW-COST CARE TO PETS OWNED BY MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC. CARE INCLUDES SERVICES SUCH AS EXAMS, VACCINES, SPAY/NEUTER, DENTAL CLEANING, SURGERY (WHICH CAN BE PERFORMED WITH AVAILABLE EQUIPMENT AND STAFF); AND NAIL TRIMS AND MICROCHIPPING. MANY FAMILY PETS BROUGHT BY MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC FOR VETERINARY CARE WOULD NOT BE SEEN OR TREATED IF THOSE PERSONS HAD TO PAY USUAL AND CUSTOMARY VETERINARY FEES. NECESSARY VACCINES WHICH STOP THE SPREAD OF RABIES AND OTHER DISEASES WOULD NOT BE RECEIVED BY THESE ANIMALS. SPAY/NEUTER SURGERY IS ALSO PROVIDED ON A REGULAR BASIS TO CATS BROUGHT TO THE CLINIC BY VOLUNTEER CAT COLONY MANAGERS IN MONROE COUNTY. THESE VOLUNTEERS MANAGE THE COLONIES AND FOCUS ON REDUCING THE FERAL POPULATION BY BRINGING CATS TO THE CLINIC TO BE SPAYED OR NEUTERED AS SOON AS THEY ARE OLD ENOUGH. THE REDUCTION OF FERAL CAT POPULATIONS DIRECTLY BENEFITS HUMANS, THEIR PETS AND OUTDOOR ANIMALS, NOT ONLY THROUGH POPULATION CONTROL BUT ALSO THROUGH THE RABIES AND DISTEMPER VACCINES RECEIVED BY FERALS WHEN THEY ARE TREATED AT THE CLINIC. IN ADDITION TO PROGRAM FEES, THE WELLNESS CLINIC IS SUPPORTED BY DONATIONS FROM THE PUBLIC TO CLOSE THE GAP BETWEEN THE HIGH COST OF VETERNINARY STAFF AND LOW FEES CHARGED FOR THE ANIMAL CARE PROVIDED. ANIMALS ARE FREQUENTLY SURRENDERED TO THE SHELTER BECAUSE PET ONWERS CANNOT AFFORD MEDICAL SERVICES FOR THEIR PET AND THE LOW-COST CLINIC ALLOWS OWNERS TO HOLD