St. Mary's Animal Welfare League

The St. Mary's Animal Welfare League has come a long way in just a few years. We were established as a non-profit organization in 1990. We set about on our mission to educate the public on the benefits of spaying and neutering. Under founder Shirley Cobb, past Presidents Rosalind Tyler, Lorraine Greenleaf, John Baggett, and our current President Trish Cole the mission was expanded to include the creation of an animal shelter. One way to gauge the success of an organization is to take a look at its mission statement and then see how well that mission is being carried out. The mission statement of SMAWL says: "To rescue, find temporary shelter, care for (including alter, vaccinate and worm) and adopt unwanted animals in Southern Maryland and to promote responsible pet ownership to reduce their numbers."

To achieve the mission SMAWL has five stated goals: (1) Create a humanely run animal shelter and expand number of other foster-care locations; (2) Increase the number of adoptions to qualified homes; (3) Expand low-cost services such as spay/neuter and rabies clinics; (4) Promote humane education and responsible pet ownership; (5) Maintain a lost-and-found hotline.

Our volunteers receive thousands of calls each year, which need to be handled one at a time. We return all calls. The Lost and Found Hotline has a number of spotters to assist in reuniting owners with their lost pets. People know that when they call us they will get prompt, efficient, professional service, even though we operate out of our own homes.

What about the number one goal of establishing an animal shelter? Fundraising is a key component. Persons with fundraising skills and experience are at the very top of our wish list for volunteers. Of course every organization, which rescues animals, has an ongoing need for foster homes. So if you can fundraise, foster or would just like to be put to work saving animals and helping people... ...call SMAWL at 301-373-5659. You won't regret it!

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