Who we are

With over 200 combined years of experience in caring for animals in need, Animal Welfare League Australia has provided veterinary care to millions of animals whose owners love them but cannot afford their medical treatment and found loving homes for millions of lost, abandoned, surrendered and mistreated animals.

The national organisation is made up of a collaboration of State based Animal Welfare Leagues in New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia and Queensland.

Victoria (Lort Smith Animal Hospital)

Established in 1935 by Mrs Louisa Lort Smith, a passionate animal welfare campaigner of the time, the hospital and shelters were set up to help care for the animals of people in need.

The new state-of-the-art hospital, built in 2000, is the largest animal hospital in the Southern Hemisphere and provides veterinary care, rehoming services and emergency boarding for over 100,000 lost, abandoned, mistreated, sick and injured animals each year and our rescue shelters re-home around 5,000 animals every year.

New South Wales

Founded in 1958 by a group of people concerned with the level of animal welfare in the area and opposed to animal cruelty, the NSW site now operates two shelters that manage the surrender, care and adoption of companion animals. The sites comprise of 2 animal shelters and 14 branches of volunteer rescue groups State-wide

NSW is also an approved charitable organisation under Section 34B of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act 1979, which allows them to employ inspectors with authority and responsibility for the enforcement of animal welfare practice.

South Australia

Formed in 1964 by a very special lady - Joy Richardson, the rescue shelters originally consisted of a cottage, two shops and a large un-kept garden in Norwood. The cottage consisted of five rooms and was used for general administration and for raising the much needed funds to build more pens and exercise rows.

In 1966, the Lost Dogs Society an the Animal Welfare League began working together at Horsnell Gully, a four room cottage with 12 acres of land.

As the numbers of lost and abandoned animals continued to grow, so did the AWL, eventually re-locating to its current extensive shelter facility in Wingfield in the mid-seventies.

Today the shelter operates a busy schedule, with dedicated staff and volunteers looking after the thousands of stray and abandoned animals that come into the shelters every year.

Queensland

Dedicated to the care, shelter and re-homing of dogs and cats, Queensland AWL first opened its doors to animals in need in 1959. Today it has two re-homing centres and a fostering and rehabilitation program that’s second to none.