THERE are many rescue groups and shelters striving to save every life possible, and the AWL is no different, except that it prides itself on its creative approach. Our primary focus is on finding loving, caring homes for animals either surrendered or transferred to us from council pounds. Educating the community and actively promoting and assisting with desexing programs are also very important elements of what we do, as they are essential ingredients for achieving a zero euthanasia future for all companion animals. However adoptions are even more essential; because we don’t place time limits on animals’ lives, we are nearly always at capacity.
As you can imagine, this places an enormous amount of pressure on our staff, foster carers and volunteers, but we are dedicated to finding homes for as many abandoned animals as possible. The AWL Qld believes 90% of animals arriving at shelters and pounds are rehomable – even those some other groups may turn away (or worse) due to lack of resources. We believe any animal, whether they be ill, injured, aged (or too young), timid, shy, badly trained or socialised, or even just an unpopular breed or appearance – all deserve a loving home. These animals are our responsibility as a community and we must recognise this by ensuring they do not lose their lives simply because their appeal has worn off.
One of the AWL’s key principles is innovation; to try things differently while challenging pre-conceived notions and entrenched attitudes. But we don’t go about this in a haphazard way, at least, not when it can be helped. Admittedly, AWL offices and boardrooms were commandeered on occasion this summer to help temporarily house kittens and puppies while foster homes were found, but with hundreds of animal available to adopt at any one time most days, some concessions had to be made. The alternative simply does not bear thinking about, but luckily for those animals, at the AWL there is no alternative but to save lives in any way possible. The AWL’s pre-adoption interview process (along with surrender interviews) not just help us ensure the best home can be found for that animal, it also enables us to gather evidence to support our adoption strategies.
For example, for many years there has been a common conception that shelters are inundated with puppies and kittens post-Christmas as the result of the impulse buying of animals as gifts. It seems this may no longer be the case, as for the past two years, our records show that only 1 animal was returned in the month of January as unwanted gifts. It’s worth noting none of those had been obtained from the AWL originally, as our interview process means we are able to educate those people on the appropriate way to give an animal as a companion, not a surprise.
The good news is this seems to indicate that responsible pet care messages are getting through to the community (another reason we have such a strong focus in education). Sadly, some rescue groups feel differently, and will even cease adoptions (sometimes for the whole month of December) in order to avoid the chance of one of their beloved charges being abandoned again. We believe by closing your doors to those people who do genuinely want to do the right thing, you are only helping to promote sales at pet shops, and through newspaper ads and giveaways, as your animals are no longer available to adopt. Those people who visit a shelter to adopt have already made that first important step when selecting a pet; where to responsibly source an animal from. We recommend you always first visit your local shelter, pound or rescue group, as you will be helping save lives, or alternatively find a reputable, registered breeder.
The AWL also embraces new strategies to help promote our animals, often holding special events at the shelter to encourage visitors, and holding themed appeals to coincide with holidays and special dates. World Blessing Day was celebrated last year in October, and was a heart warming and atmospheric evening for our loyal supporters, who were able to help us celebrate the joy our cats and dogs bring to our lives each and every day.Most recently we held an Easter SEL Appeal to find homes for the 80 or so adult Gold Coast cats being cared for in foster homes as there is no room for them at the shelter (see poster) and managed to find homes for 21 SEL cats, plus 63 other dogs, kittens, cats and puppies over the Easter long weekend (Saturday-Monday).
We have an active online presence; attracting supporters from all over the world with just a few mouse-clicks and daily updates, and we are also prepared to try new sale techniques to increase adoptions. Even the way we promote our animals is different to many other groups; as we take pleasure in highlighting out furry friends’ best attributes, not their worst. Some in the industry believe it’s best to be brutally honest, sometimes outright blunt, in order to avoid returns when things don’t go perfectly right. Instead, we are able to discuss these issues and offer advice; both during the interview process and also through post-adoption support from our education team.
Sadly, some people still think of the AWL, or perhaps shelters in general, as distressing places to visit. This is understandable, as any animal lover must find it hard to leave without taking all our beautiful souls with them, but what visitors to the AWL need to remember is our zero euthanasia policy means once an animal has been cleared for adoption and has entered the sale pens, their life has already been saved. Sometimes it can take a while to find each animal their new forever home; but rest assured we will do everything in our power to do so.
