AWASCO receives 2013 Sheltering summit

Kathy Innocente, AWASCO (left) and 
Chrissy Gaetan, Petsecure (right)

Local collaboration and shared opportunity in south central Ontario has been recognized at a national level by the Urban Animal Program. 

The Summit Award for sheltering, sponsored by Petsecure, recognizes an organization that best addresses the care of animals in shelters, pounds, retail outlets, kennels, veterinary clinics/hospitals, grooming shops and breeding facilities. In 2013, the Animal Welfare Agency of South Central Ontario (AWASCO) was presented with this prestigious award at the second of four cross-Canada stops on the 2013 Summit Award Tour in Cambridge, Ontario.

In July 2012, the Ontario SPCA Perth Branch officially merged with the Kitchener-Waterloo Humane Society (KWHS) creating the new Animal Welfare Agency of South Central Ontario. The communities of Perth County, Kitchener-Waterloo and North Waterloo Region are still served by their local shelters as well as the regional branches operating as Stratford-Perth Humane Society and the KWHS. These two branches share resources, senior staff and expertise providing new opportunities to cooperate and collaborate in providing better and expanded services to the communities within these two regions and shelter, care and protection for its animals. 

With 54% of ballots cast, AWASCO was recognized and rewarded by the Urban Animal industry for completing the amalgamation of the Perth and Kitchener-Waterloo agencies and for increasing the live release rate of the organization to 90%. As of August 31, 2013, AWASCO had reached its goal of increasing adoptions by 87% and decreasing euthanasia by 192%.