The Lanark Animal Welfare Society—better known locally as LAWS—is a community-based, non-profit animal shelter serving Lanark County and surrounding areas for over 30 years. Based in Smiths Falls, the organization provides care, shelter, and medical attention to abandoned, stray, and surrendered animals, primarily cats and dogs.
While cats stay at the shelter until adopted, LAWS strives to find foster homes for dogs as soon as possible as board chair Kathy Hoyland reports.
Community support for LAWS has been strong throughout the years and comes in many forms according to Hoyland
LAWS works to re-home animals through adoption programs while also promoting responsible pet ownership with spay and neuter initiatives, education, and outreach. They receive approximately 600 cats and 15-20 dogs per year.
Hoyland says their mission is critical to ensure the health and welfare of all the pawed-creatures that come to their home. The group relies heavily on donations, volunteers, and foster homes to operate, and often partners with municipalities and residents to respond to animal welfare concerns across the region as Hoyland notes.
You can find out more about LAWS and how to offer a foster-home to some very lovable companions at Lanarkanimals.ca or by calling 613-283-9308 or following them on Facebook. You can listen to our complete conversation with Kathy Hoyland below.
Story by Brian Turner
