Partner Spotlight: Animal Welfare Association (AWA)

The Animal Welfare Association (AWA) is a nonprofit organization in Voorhees that is committed to saving animals’ lives across the country. As a pillar of the South Jersey community, AWA emphasizes that connection between people and animals. In addition to providing services beyond adoption such as foster opportunities, veterinary services, pet therapy, and low-cost neutering and spaying, AWA hosts events and educational opportunities to further their support of dogs, cats, rabbits, Guinea pigs, and of course, the people who love them.

AWA’s vigorous efforts and ceaseless compassion are why AAA South Jersey is proud to have the organization as a partner. As an added perk for anyone who adopts a new companion from AWA, AAA offers a free, one-year membership that includes 24/7 roadside assistance along with other services and savings designed to benefit any member of the family.

AAA South Jersey Spoke with Jaime Moore, AWA’s marketing and communication manager, for information about the variety of opportunities AWA offers: from nurturing cats’ social development, to participating in a 5k to raise awareness and fundraising, and so much more.

Click here to watch our video interview and tour, plus meet some adoptable animals!

AAA South Jersey: What inspired you to work at AWA, and how has the experience been?
Jaime Moore: I've been at AWA now for a little over a year, and it has been just a wonderful, wonderful journey. I love getting to come to work every day and being around the animals, helping them find their forever homes. I have always had a passion and a love for animals, so, being able to work with them every day and help them out is really just a true passion of mine.

AAA: Why did AWA decide to partner with AAA?
J.M.: We have had a great relationship with AAA over the last few years. AAA has been a really great sponsor to a lot of our education programs. So, we have been able to provide a lot of students to be able to go to our summer camps and different programs because of our partnership with AAA. It has been a great opportunity for children to be able to learn, get to be encouraged, and be surrounded by animals—even if, you know, we need a little help getting there. Our summer camp is pretty amazing.

AAA: How can adopters access their free membership?

J.M.: Any adopters who come in and adopt an animal will receive a pamphlet in their adoption packet with information about AAA, so they can just contact the information on that pamphlet to be able to get their free year of AAA.

AAA: Can you describe the process of how AWA receives new animals and helps them find homes?

J.M.: We are a transport shelter, so what that means is that we work with shelters around the country, even in Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands, to help to close their life-saving gap. So, we work with these shelters to bring up animals, who might otherwise not have the best opportunity for adoption, to move them out of overcrowded shelters and up to the north where they would have a better chance of adoption. We have many—I think 18—different partners that we work with throughout the country, working with cats and dogs. Dogs, we work with a little bit more down south, and up north, we work with our local shelters to help to close their life-saving gaps as well.

AAA: What volunteer opportunities does AWA offer?
J.M.: We have a ton of different volunteer opportunities: anything from being able to walk dogs, socialize cats, we even need help with our admin work as well—shredding paper in our clinic, different things like that. Basically, if you have a skill, we can probably find a way to use it in our volunteer program.

AAA: How can someone interested in fostering get started?
J.M.: We have a really great foster program here, and we really rely heavily on our fosters—especially with kitten season that’s coming up soon. Anyone that is interested in fostering can either go to our website, or they can email fostercare@awanj.org to get more information.

AAA: Does AWA have any upcoming events?
J.M.: We have a lot of events throughout the year. We have a great events team that puts on some really, really fun events. One big one coming up is our Paws & Feet 5k and Doggie Fun Day; that’ll be May 30 at Cooper River Park. That is our big fundraiser for the year, so we’re looking for anyone who might be interested in running or walking, or even just coming out to check out the different vendors and food trucks. It’s family friendly and dog friendly, so anyone can join.

AAA: Do you have any animals personally?
J.M.: I currently have two animals; I have Meatball and Skettis (like spaghetti, how a kid would say it). They are a dog and a cat; Meatball is a Staffordshire terrier, and Skettis is a tortoiseshell tabby mix. Meatball came first, and then we found Skettis, and decided to give Meatball a kitten. They are a very unlikely pair; they don’t always get along.

Animal Welfare Association (AWA)
509 Centennial Blvd, Voorhees, NJ 08043
Click here to visit AWA's Website
Visit https://www.awanj.org/adopt-a-pet/ to view the most up-to-date list of animals currently available for adoption.