Lake Havasu’s Western Arizona Humane Society
by Charene Burdett
The Humane Society, which opened in 1954, is one of the largest, most effective organizations in the United States. And, one of its most successful sheltering companions is Lake Havasu’s Western Arizona Humane Society. There are many organizations out there; however, Western Arizona Humane Society (WAHS) is definitely making a difference in animal rescuing and animal population control. I had the pleasure of meeting up with Victoria Cowper, WAHS’s Executive Director and CEO of Wags to Riches, on the progress and benefits of this organization and how it affects our community.
For thirty years, WAHS has served Lake Havasu City. They work with companies like SNIP that spay and neuter cats and dogs for low income families and disabled persons. Taking the initiative and partnering up with big corporations like PETCO and PetSmart in adopting out healthy cats and dogs for our public—they truly are making a grand effort in saving lives. Moreover, WAHS makes it their mission in reaching out to the community by doing off-site adoptions. Last month, through Lake Havasu City’s Yogurt Time, seven happy and healthy dogs were adopted. With an 85% live release rate of dogs and cats combined; one can see this organization is making leaps and bounds.
Along with adoptions and off-site adoptions, Victoria Cowper and Chelsea Cappello work together building WAHS’s amazing website, www.westernarizonahumane.org, which makes it easy for potential clients to view pictures and read stories on each rescued animal. And, with the help of a phenomenal staff, clients are able to visit and get to know their new pets before they take them home. The WAHS contracts with BRAT (Behavioral Retention Adoption Training). Volunteers come in daily and play, train and work with animals on-site. In addition, WAHS is dedicated to educating our children through Critter Camp (on-site summer classes) which teaches children the values and responsibilities in animal care; and, Reading with Rover, at Starline Elementary, which teaches children confidence and literacy through reading to dogs. This newly renovated facility is open to you for personal or private reasons concerning your companion animal—if you have to surrender your dog or cat, healthy or sick, no animal is turned away.
There is a system of hierarchy which perpetuates the view as animals being a commodity or disposable. Mahatma Gandhi once spoke, “The greatness of society and its moral progress can be judged by the way it treats its animals.” And, who does this better than Lake Havasu’s Western Arizona Humane Society; who literally takes in the strays of our world and gives them a home. They clean up our mess and fight for animal welfare everyday by saving lives. For, when you choose to adopt and/or volunteer your time to Lake Havasu’s Western Arizona Humane Society, you are adding yourself to greatest of those who serve, “the underdog”.