AWPA’s Secret Santa for a shelter dog or cat

December is here and it is the season for giving. While most of us focus on helping other people in need we appeal to those with a soft corner for animals – to think about our voiceless best friends. Santa Claus tends to visit the domestic pets in our homes but it would be nice if he can visit the street pooches who live in shelters awaiting their forever home. 

The Animals’ Welfare and Protection Association (AWPA) established in 1963 is one of the oldest animal welfare associations in the country and has a heritage of 55 years. This charitable organisation has been in the forefront of rescuing abandoned or injured dogs or cats, rescuing and rehoming abandoned or dumped puppies and kittens, and conducting sterilisation campaigns, immunisation programs or treatment camps for low income families with pets. 

The AWPA consists of 16 committee members who volunteer their time and effort for this cause amidst their busy careers, family and personal life. They have a group of volunteers who support during their fundraising activities and community campaigns. 

The AWPA runs two shelters in Dehiwala and Kahathuduwa where over 450 dogs and cats are fostered. These are street rescues, who have been abandoned by their owners, adult dogs and cats, puppies and kittens waiting for their forever home and former injured rescues who are now recovered or recovering from past accidents or human inflicted trauma or injuries. Some of their rescues are paralysed, blind, and at their shelters they have a refuge.

In order to help these shelter animals feel the love the AWPA is introducing a Secret Santa program where donors can contribute the following items to these shelter animals. Dog and cat food, milk, Marie biscuits, rice, chicken, fish, vitamins and other over the counter treatments for ticks, skin conditions, dog shampoo, toys, old chairs or tables (plastic or wooden), and old towels and sheets to name a few. Monetary donations are welcome and can be directly deposited to the AWPA account or cheques written in favour of the AWPA handed over to the shelter. Account details are as follows: 

Account name: Animals’ Welfare and Protection Association

Account number: 0001629496

Bank name: Bank of Ceylon

Bank code: 7010

Bank branch: Kollupitiya Super Grade 034

Swift code: BCEYLKLX

You can also contribute to the Secret Santa box kept at Bark & Bling 258B, Hospital Road, Kalubowila (contact 0772391520) or at the Best Care Animal Hospital Pet Shop in 43, Pagoda Road, Nugegoda by purchasing an item from these outlets and donating it to the box kept for this purpose. Bark and Bling has committed to donate 10% of its sales to the AWPA as well. 

For more information contact the AWPA on their Facebook page on https://www.facebook.com/awpasl.org or Instagram profile @info.awpa or email them at [email protected]. You can contact the AWPA on 0112587210, 0773450031 or 0773106176 for further details.