No-kill animal shelters transform the lives of animals around the country. Philanthropist Michael Hsu of Santa Monica volunteers for the Arizona Animal Welfare League (AAWL), the state’s oldest and largest no-kill animal shelter. He recently discussed how this organization promotes humane values that benefit the people and animals of Arizona.
What Is a No-Kill Shelter
Some animal shelters around the state of Arizona and across the country euthanize animals when they reach capacity. No-kill shelters reserve euthanasia only for animals that are dangerous to the public or terminally ill. They never kill treatable or healthy animals, even if the facility is at capacity.
What Does the AAWL Do
The AAWL’s mission is to offer care, protection, and love to all the animals that enter their doors. They also work as leaders to implement humane values that benefit people and animals alike.
The AAWL seeks to become Arizona’s top source for affordable veterinary care, pet adoption, dog and cat welfare expertise, humane education, and volunteer opportunities. Michael Hsu of Santa Monica was a volunteer for this organization for six months and remains a loyal supporter.
The AAWL has already reached many goals but has many more on its list of to-dos. It is the oldest and largest no-kill animal shelter in Arizona. The organization rescued, rehabilitated, and rehomed over 4,000 abandoned or surrendered cats and dogs. The shelter generally houses 190 dogs and 140 cats at any given time. That’s 330 animals that would otherwise be living in an unsafe environment.
Connecting Humans and Animals
One of the greatest benefits offered by the AAWL is that the organization connects dogs and cats with their forever homes. These animals provide as many benefits for their owners as their owners do for them.
All pets adopted by the AAWL are spayed or neutered and microchipped. They enter homes entirely up-to-date on their vaccinations. Pets that need further medical treatment can undergo surgery, evaluation, and more at AAWL. These additional perks take a lot of the stress out of new pet ownership, so owners and their new pets can focus on forming long-lasting bonds.
Benefitting the Community and State
The AAWL has been benefiting the city of Phoenix and the state of Arizona since 1971. In 50 years, the AAWL grew into an animal welfare organization fighting for the rights of animals and educating the public on humane behavior toward animals. They offer innovative medical care, training, community outreach programs, and more. The organization now serves as a kennel, dog training center, veterinary clinic, adoption center, and more.
Michael Hsu and the AAWL
Michael Hsu of Santa Monica chose to volunteer with the AAWL because he believes in the organization’s mission to improve the lives of animals in the Phoenix area and beyond. He also donated thousands of dollars to the Best Friends Animal Society and plans to continue working toward superior animal welfare.
