Animal Welfare Association

Just had my Siberian husky neutered here today. Overall it was a pretty good a experience a little long of a wait for him to go back but overall ok. The staff was very friendly and helpful. When I picked my dog up though it appeared he pooped himself while there and had poop all over him. Wish they would have cleaned him up before giving him back to me. But he’s doing great so far he even start playing with his toys, chewing on a bone and ate a whole meal.

I had emailed them asking to meet a particular cat. They responded that the cat was available and that I could come in and meet him.
After work, I drove right over there only to be told that the cat was sick. When I told the girl at the front desk that they had just emailed me and told me he was available, she checked her system and said «oh yeah, you’re right, he’s in cat room 1.»
I went to cat room 1 and after about 5 minutes of searching, it was evident he was not there. Another woman asked if I needed help, she never heard of the cat, asked someone else and low and behold, the cat was sick and in isolation for two weeks.
I understand they have a lot of animals but the communication at this establishment really sucks.

Very frustrated with my experience. Went in on Sunday and saw a dog that had just gotten there. My husband and I were very excited. They told us he wasn’t available for a meeting because they needed to evaluation him, had us fill out an application and told us we were the first application in. Then they said to call Wednesday morning to set up a meeting. I called today and they told me that the dog had been reclaimed from its family. Then on Facebook posted that he was adopted to a new home today. I was told the manager (who never met us) just puts all the applications together and picks one. So we never got a call that we weren’t picked, never got a call they chose someone else, not an apology, nothing. Thanks for treating people this way! I’m so turned off now I’m done with this disorganized shelter.

DEFINITELY a fan of this non profit veterinary services clinic that is also home to the largest (?) no kill animal shelter in SJersey.
Check their website for info on when services are available, but I believe every Monday from 10 to 2 is the day. You can get your critters spayed or neutered, vaccines and meds, chip implanting and cats can get their claws trimmed. Prices were way lower than any other vets, and this translated to a very busy visit.
There are walking trails to take your pet or prospective pet on. We had to use them when Fido was getting too rambunctious during his visit. The staff was really nice considering how many clients they are seeing. The check in system was nicely organized and the line to see the vets or assistants moved pretty quickly.
If you have need of a pet in your life, do come here first. Their adoption center is in need of good homes for their guests. And from what I hear there are many to chose from. 4.5 animal lovers rock Unilocal

I’m torn between 3 — 4 stars w/​this one. What they are all about — giving back and sliced pricing pushed it to the 4!
We took Jack for a heart worm check and new supply of pills. I was #40 for my, well, my dog’s turn (ie — ticket on my clip board) and they were on #25 — a looong wait, esp w/​lil Mister who was on barking patrol this particular day.
I enjoyed looking at the variety of dogs that came in for their vaccines, micro chips and other services that the AWA provides but overall, it’s like a chop shop in there and my head was spinning.
Props for having paper towels and lots of sanitizer on tap!
We walked out of there spending $ 50 for Jack’s heart worm test (negative — whew!) and a 6 mo supply of the h.w. pills. (the same visit to a vet would’ve cost $ 70+).
I hope the AWA opens up another day besides Monday’s in the future for the services they provide to perhaps cut down on the wait time!
Lastly, the adoption center, that we didn’t check out, is a literal stone’s throw away.

I love the animals here

We have adopted a puppy and young cat from the AWA in the past 6 years. Both times we had a fairly positive experience. It can be a bit hectic, but it seems like the place is staffed largely by volunteers.
Haven’t used the clinic services, so can’t comment on that end.
What I like most is that they let you spend as much time as you need to pick the right animal. This includes bringing the animals out of the cages, letting you spend time alone with the dogs in a designated room & giving you as much background information as possible.
Staffers last weekend on a very busy Saturday went out of their way to help us decide which cat would do best in our multi-​child/​large dog household. They even pulled a paper file to look up foster notes on our eventual pick to make sure Rainy would be a good fit and vice-​versa.
The interview process was a bit disorganized, but they were so busy that you couldn’t really complain.
Plus in June & July, the cat adoption fees were half-​price, including spay/​neuter and all shots etc.

I JUST visited AWA today (Sat, Jan 24 2015) and everyone was friendly. The clinic was crowded and loud with all different types of dogs and puppies, but I expected that since it’s a clinic. WELL, I didn’t expect for my 5 month puppy to take 1 minute to get his bordetella and distemper shots. I felt like I just walked in waited and as they collect my money the vet tech just walked back with my puppy and walked back out. So I wonder did he really get his shots? Why isn’t he drowsy and calm like he was when he went to the vet for his other vaccinations? Is the vaccinations aren’t that strong so that’s why they’re cheaper then the vet? Hmm. I don know if I’ll bring my puppy back there. I am the type of customer that likes to know all the details and see how my money is being used.

I adopted my dog from her and that was process was great. They answered my million+ questions and everyone was friendly. It was a bit crazy and slightly unorganized but they do a lot so I thought it was understandable.
I took the same dog to the clinic for a wellness check and was quite disappointed. Everyone was friendly enough, but the check took a whole 2 minutes. I honestly thought they were just playing with my dog until they checked her heart rate. I knew it wouldn’t be a thorough exam but for $ 75 ($ 30 exam + $ 45 heartworm treatment) I should have skipped it and just went to the vet. Since it’s a clinic the different treatment fees are low. But you’re getting you pay for.

This Saturday I visited the Animal Welfare Association to look at some of the dogs from the website.
When I arrived the front desk people were friendly and pointed you towards the animals you wanted to look at, either dogs, cats, or small animals. The staff gives you some space to look around by yourself and isn’t pushy at all. But they did make themselves very available for questions. Volunteers are all over the facility and can give you additional details on the pets you are looking at.
All of the dogs have an inside/​outside area and visitors are allowed to walk inside and outside to look at the dogs. Each cage has a summary of the dog attached, giving the age and a personality description.
After I found the dog I wanted, I asked a staff member for a meet and greet, which they were happy to do. They also mentioned that there were no strings attached, and I did not need to feel obligated to adopt. The meet and greets were held in a caged outside area, and the dog was allowed to roam free. The staff member does stay with you.
The actual adoption process was very simple. The AWA required that you have a collar, leash, and tags– you can buy all of it there for about $ 20. The adoption fee for my dog was $ 150 because she was older than six months. After filling out some paper work, the staff preps the dog and answers any questions you might have. The process takes about 45 minutes and was very easy.

AWA is okay. It’s cramped, a little over crowded but that’s most shelters. They had a variety of cats and kittens to choose from but due to surgery, some I was not allowed to pick up or hold. Although, the staff were encouraging me to place a hold on an animal. The staff were very polite but a little disorganized and very unmotivated to assist myself and my friend. I have to say despite having a large population of kittens, I found my kitten match elsewhere. However, I would explore AWA again as an option if I were to adopt another pet.

Clean shelter with a dedicate staff that truly loves the pets in their care. I have adopted 3 dogs from the awa over the last 10 years. The staff is knowledge and will help you find the best dog/​cat that suits you. Pets are well taken care of. They play classical music, hang treat buckets on the outside of crate to reinforce positive interaction w visitors and each kennel has a comfy bed. Truly a first class shelter

5 stars all the way! I adopted my dog Bruno from the AWA at the Mega Adoption Event in June 2013. A lot of different shelters were at this event, and many dogs and cats were available for adoption. We circled the ring a few times, and met a few dogs we didn’t click with. As we were about to leave without a dog, the AWA brough out a group of older puppies, all between 5 – 7 months. We took a look at all of them, but only one seemed to have a personality that matched ours. One of the girls, I think her name was Dara, but I am not sure, she had blonde hair and was really cool, took Bruno (shelter name Riley) out for us, and allowed us to sit with him to see if we were a good match. She stayed with us too and went over some basics about training and care, and gave us some really helpful advice that we still use today. After about 40 minutes, we knew we had met our dog. Bruno is a beagle/​shepard mix and was taken care of by the AWA’s foster program before coming home with us. He was already housebroken, and partially crate trained. He had also seen a vet with them, so he was already nuetered, microchipped, and had all of his shots. I guess you could say he came fully loaded! Since adopting through them, I have started following them on Facebook, and am amazed at how many animals they save and how much hard work they do. This is a truly incredible organization and I highly recommend following them on Facebook if you are looking to adopt. You will be able to see all the new animals they bring in and follow some of their stories along the way.

Short story: I adopted a pup from this group eight days ago. She is wonderful and sleeping next to me in her crate right now, and is a total handful in a good way. Great experience.
Long story: At the beginning of the month, I moved into a new apartment along a beautiful river in Collingswood. An apartment complex that allows dogs. And dogs they have — everywhere. All sizes. All breeds. All ages. Puppy fever hit hard. Soon, I was on PetFinder. Fast forward to eight days ago, and my boyfriend had a Living Social to use in Marlton. Knowing that the AWA wasn’t far, I suggested we make a stop.
There, we looked at some dogs, gained some info, and were told about the Mega Adoption event going on in Plymouth Meeting at the PetSmart that day.
Just for kicks, I suggested we stop down the street at the Animal Orphanage. Looked around, didn’t make the «connection» with any dogs, and quickly suggested we take a road trip to Plymouth Meeting.
Once at the PetSmart, we walked around a little bit. I saw the AWA’s section there, and thought it strange that they had a carpet of fur in one cage. Nonetheless, I circled back around, and then realized (as someone was holding her), that the fur-​thing was, indeed, a puppy.
As if fate intervened, the lady placed the pup back in the pen, and I quickly asked if she was adopted yet. No. She wasn’t. I then picked her up, and she nuzzled into my arms and looked into my eyes, and, well. I *did* just say that she’s laying next to me, so you should know the rest.
The pup is a 9-​week-​old terrier mix with unclear heritage. She was rescued from an overcrowded shelter in the South, and is the sweetest little girl. Sophie is her name.

Just had my puppy spayed here. $ 100 for the procedure, amazing price even compared to other clinics. Staff was informative and helpful. They did a great job.

We recently adopted our puppy this was a very positive experience. The puppy was up to date on all shots and microchipped
They do a fantastic job, save a puppy or cat and give it a new home. GiGI

I’m so grateful to my puppy trainer for having recommended AWA to me. AWA neutered my 9 month old puppy, and the experience from beginning to end (at least for me!) was painless.
I would recommend completing the request form for spay/​neuter services online as the AWA is difficult to reach by phone. I filled it out and within 48 hours had my appointment date & time confirmed.
As previous reviewers have mentioned, there is a bit of a wait to drop off & pick up your pet. But I found the staff to be very accomodating and so gentle with the animals. Not to mention, it was only $ 90 for my puppy’s procedure.
They really have everything down to a science here. They do a great job of informing the pet parents about pre & post op instructions, and genuinely care about the animals they help. I would recommend their services to anymore.

I feel really really bad about writing this. The AWA is a great no-​kill shelter from what I hear, and they just received a grant that provides free spay/​neuter services for residents of Camden county, Voorhees, Lindenwold, Bellmawr and Gloucester Township. Many animals have been adopted from here and it’s great that lower income households can get affordable spay/​neuter services here. But after taking my cat to the clinic for spaying, I can’t say it was an enjoyable experience.
The clinic itself appears very overcrowded and dirty; the floors aren’t clean, the waiting area is dirty and the office reeks of animal waste. I found the employees to be brisk, gossipy and rough with the animals. All animals to be spayed/​neutered are dropped off at the same time and can be picked up at the same time. The problem is that the clinic does so many operations a day, there are 30 people cramming in at once — with cats and dogs of various sizes — with no clear order about who comes and goes first. During drop off, you are asked to sign a paper and then wait in the crammed waiting room, with everyone else who is scheduled for that day, until your name is called. Pick up is worse; there is no sign-​in sheet, so pet owners simply cram back into the lobby or form a loose line out the front doors, then wait for AWA employees to call out «next!» and hope everyone adheres to the honor code of first-​come-​first-​served. That doesn’t always work.
My cat reacted very poorly to the amount of anesthesia used and could barely walk or stand up for more than 48 hours. It was terrifying. I think if the shelter scheduled fewer animals each day, the level of care would be greater and perhaps the facility wouldn’t be as filthy.

I have been a huge admirer and I donate on a regular basis to this awesome shelter. I worked there briefly in 2010 and getting to see the inner workings of this great shelter was such a treat. The people that work there really care about the animals that they are helping to save. AWA is a no kill shelter which means they don’t euthanize pets because of space. They are privately funded (by people like you and me). They don’t get state funding so they’re able to call the shots. They have a very professional, caring and knowledgeable staff, both in the kennel area and the clinic. If want to see them in action, go check out the Kennel, the cat room and the small animal area. And if you have it, drop a few bucks in their donation can or bring some pet food up there too. They can always use it :)

I’m a proud cat-​owner and have brought home both of my cats from AWA without any regrets. My first trip (3 years ago) was outstanding because they screened me thoroughly, the cats were kept in clean conditions and all seemed to be healthy.
My 2^nd trip (3 – 4 months ago) was great but I noticed that the floors were not clean and there seemed to be a bit of overcrowding. The staff is extremely well-​trained and friendly but a little gossipy towards one another. There was a follow-​up call for my kitten to make sure she was in a great home, which I love. I have no plans of having any more kittens but would recommend this shelter to another person.