Laramie Animal Welfare Society

Our Mission

The Society’s mission is to enhance the welfare of the animals in the Albany County community, primarily through our trap, neuter and return (TNR) program; foster and adoption program; pet rehoming; and funding medical care, including spay and neuter for animals at the Laramie Animal Shelter.

 

LAWS Board of Directors

Lindy Johnson, President

Amy Williamson, Vice President

Kris Slyman, Treasurer 

Billie Slyman, Secretary

Board members: Doris Bollinger, Sierra Guzman, Shelby Kappler, Kelli Decora

Our Story

History

In 1998 the staff of the Laramie Animal Shelter received a bequest from the estate of Nancy Mabie Harrington, a long-time animal advocate, with which they formed The Laramie Animal Shelter Foundation, Inc. (LASF, Inc.), a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, with a mission to provide supplemental funding and support for a program of spay/neuter coupons to encourage local pet owners to spay and neuter their companion animals and thus cut down on unwanted kittens and puppies.

In 2004 the building in which the Laramie Animal Shelter is housed needed extensive repairs, and the Foundation undertook to raise enough money to pay for some additional remodeling. By 2006 we had raised enough money to contribute $250,000.00 to the project, and we also paid for interim housing for the shelter animals while the building was being renovated and enlarged. It opened in 2007, and we had enough money left over to continue to provide spay/neuter coupons. Also, with the cooperation of local veterinarians, we paid for the spay/neuter of any animal adopted from the shelter, and if that animal needed surgery, we assisted with the cost of its medical care.

In 2012 we began to see that there were other needs in the community which the city shelter, by its nature, could not address and which were not being met by any other group. We decided to change our name and expand our mission statement to allow us to try to meet some of those needs, and in 2013 we became The Laramie Animal Welfare Society.

Today

We are the same 501(c)(3) corporation, and we continue our support of the Laramie Animal Shelter in the same ways as before, but we have also expanded what we do to include:

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Compassionate Care Program

This program provides short-term care for pets with owners who are dealing with a crisis (i.e. death in the family, medical emergency, etc.) and have no funds or means to arrange for pet care. Check out our Compassionate Care Program page!

 

Low-Cost Micro-chipping

Micro-chipping greatly increases the chances that a lost pet will be found and returned to its owner! These low-cost clinics are offered two to four times a year for both dogs and cats. 

 

Provide Resources

Through our website, we offer links to rescue and humane organizations nationwide, educational material concerning pet health and care, a link to the Laramie Animal Shelter’s list of adoptable animals, and general and statistical information on pet overpopulation and animal welfare. We are also happy to answer any questions you may have about pets in Laramie and our organization. Just contact us!

 

 

 

 

Trap, Neuter & Return (TNR)

LAWS volunteers manage colonies of feral cats outside Laramie by trapping them to be spayed/neutered and vaccinated. After which, the cats are given an identifying mark and returned to the colony, or re-homed as working cats.  Visit our TNR page!

 

Foster

Due to a lack of resources or space, it is often impractical for shelters and rescue facilities to house every homeless pet. Fortunately, animals that would otherwise be euthanized due to lack of space can be saved through caring people who are willing to open their home and hearts to a shelter pet in need. LAWS provides training to these individuals on how to prepare for the special care and handling that foster animals require.  More on becoming a foster here.

 

Medical Care for Shelter Animals

We assist in medical care for animals at the Laramie Animal Shelter, including dental and any other care needed to ensure that the animal is healthy enough for adoption. We also provide care for injured or sick animals brought in by Animal Control or surrendered by owners.