WOODLAND – The Animal Welfare Council (AWC), a non-profit animal welfare group in Woodland, is celebrating its 10th anniversary of helping animals in central Pennsylvania with an open house.
The open house will be held from 6 p.m. – 8 p.m. Dec. 1 at the Allegheny Spay & Neuter Clinic, 1380 Shawville Hwy., in Woodland, and is open to the public.
There will be tours, door prizes, refreshments, opportunities to meet the staff and board and Santa will be available for free photos of pets with owners’ cell phones and cameras. Plus, there will be gifts to all pets attending.
The Animal Welfare Council began in 2006 when a small group of individuals who were passionate about animals joined together to try to find ways to help local animals.
The group initially worked with others in the area to try to assist them in their work with animals. They also held discussions with various groups and individuals who were knowledgeable about animals and the issues plaguing them to determine where the needs were and what activities they should focus on.
In addition to needs identified, such as pet care, education, a pet food pantry to help struggling owners and warm housing for outdoor pets in the winter, it was quickly apparent that low-cost spays and neuters were needed.
The group then set out to accomplish these goals, the most important being to lessen pet overpopulation and euthanasia of unwanted pets. From there, in 2009 the Allegheny Spay & Neuter Clinic was born.
It started out small with a part-time vet and a couple staff members in a rented building in Clearfield. Today the clinic owns its own building in Woodland; has 19 staff members; and partners with 20 shelters/rescues from Clarion in the west to McAlisterville in the east.
The clinic is not owned by individuals, but by the Animal Welfare Council non-profit organization. It has a board of directors who serve as volunteers and govern its operation.
Current volunteer AWC board of directors include: President Nina Davis, Vice President Cathy Kassab, Secretary Nancy Myrter, Treasurer Stacy LoCastro, Sonya Petro, Terri Cunkle, Jennifer Tresp, Judy Dugan and Sonya Johnston.
Many changes and improvements have occurred over the past 10 years, and the key milestones are outlined below.
- 2006 – AWC was formed.
- 2009 – AWC became a 501(c)3 (a tax-exempt non-profit organization in the United States).
- 2009 – AWC started the Allegheny Spay & Neuter Clinic in Clearfield for spays/neuters/vaccines/dog licenses/pet food pantry.
- 2010 – AWC started using the animal transport bus to bring animals to the clinic and several years later purchased a second transport van.
- 2012 – AWC purchased its own building for the Allegheny Spay & Neuter Clinic in Woodland.
- 2012 – AWC started Fundraisers, such as 5K and mystery dinner.
- 2014 – AWC started first membership drive .
- 2014 – Allegheny Spay & Neuter Clinic started providing affordable grooming.
- 2015 – Allegheny Spay & Neuter Clinic hit 20,000 spays & neuters.
- 2015 – Allegheny Spay & Neuter Clinic opened up Centre Hall satellite office for shelters/rescues/the public in partnership with Pets Come First and the Hundred Cat Foundation.
- 2016 – AWC marked its 10 year anniversary.
The Animal Welfare Council credits the original passionate individuals from 10 years ago who formed the idea for this group, which materialized into the services that are offered today.
Even though the Allegheny Spay & Neuter clinic is the most important service, the AWC also still has other missions and services, one of the most important being education to the public about good pet care.
It is the AWC’s belief that pet owners generally want to provide good care to their pets but may not always know how or have the necessary funds.
Education to children was also paramount and by reaching them at a young age, they believe it is the best way to instill respect and kindness toward animals.
Another mission is warm good housing/straw in winter for animals that will never see the inside of a house.
More than 30 community events are attended and held each year by the AWC to do outreach, education and fundraising, and most importantly, to promote spaying/neutering.
The main dream of the AWC is to continue this important work into the future so that every animal has a home and is cared for. For more information about the Animal Welfare Council or the Allegheny Spay & Neuter Clinic, call 814-857-5280.