The Animal Welfare Society of Howard County

02/02/2025

🚨🐶 Transport is coming-- Sponsor a Ride! 🚨

Every year, countless dogs in overcrowded shelters face an uncertain future. Next weekend, we are teaming up with to give at-risk pups in Texas a second chance at life.

✨ $50 Sponsors a Freedom Ride! ✨
Your donation helps cover transportation, food, vetting, and medical care—everything these pups need to start fresh in loving homes.

💌 Give & Get: Every sponsor receives a personalized message with a photo of the dogs they helped save!

📲 How to Help:
✔ Donate now: https://givebutter.com/0olTEa
✔ Text CHARM to 53555 to sponsor a rescue ride

Together, we can make a life-changing difference—one ride at a time! 🐾💕

02/01/2025

🚗✨ 𝗡𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗙𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗱𝗼𝗺 𝗗𝗮𝘆: 𝗔 𝗡𝗲𝘄 𝗕𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗢𝘂𝗿 𝗣𝘂𝗽𝘀!✨🚗

Today we’re celebrating 𝙉𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙖𝙡 𝙁𝙧𝙚𝙚𝙙𝙤𝙢 𝘿𝙖𝙮! in the best way possible—by giving deserving dogs a second chance at life. ❤️

This weekend, pups from 𝐁𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐂𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐭𝐨 𝐖𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐕𝐢𝐫𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐚 will be taking their **𝑭𝑹𝑬𝑬𝑫𝑶𝑴 𝑹𝑰𝑫𝑬𝑺** to safety—𝙗𝙮 𝙡𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙖𝙞𝙧! Thanks to our incredible volunteers, fosters and supporters we’re giving dogs in need a second chance, no matter where they come from. Every rescue is a step toward a brighter future. Because of you, we can open our arms—and our homes—to dogs in need.

🐾 A devoted mama and her precious pups are taking a freedom flight to safety in Frederick!

🐾 An owner surrender from Baltimore is getting a fresh start.

🐾 Dogs from overcrowded shelters are finding hope.

🐾 And every single one is on their way to love, care, and a forever home.

Every freedom ride is a story of resilience, a journey to healing, and a chance for a brighter future. 𝙒𝙖𝙣𝙩 𝙩𝙤 𝙗𝙚 𝙥𝙖𝙧𝙩 𝙤𝙛 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙣𝙚𝙭𝙩 𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙘𝙪𝙚 𝙢𝙞𝙨𝙨𝙞𝙤𝙣?

➡️ 𝗕𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝗮 𝗳𝗼𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿: https://new.shelterluv.com/matchme/foster/AWSH/Dog

https://new.shelterluv.com/matchme/foster/AWSH/Cat

➡️ 𝗢𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝟭𝟴? 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗹𝘆 𝘁𝗼 𝘃𝗼𝗹𝘂𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗲𝗿: https://awshc.org/volunteer

📢 𝗙𝗼𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿. 𝗔𝗱𝗼𝗽𝘁. 𝗩𝗼𝗹𝘂𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗲𝗿. 𝗦𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗲.
Because together, we’re the difference between heartbreak and hope. 💕

01/31/2025

🏒🎟️ Washington Capitals Raffle Alert! 🎟️🏒

Calling all hockey fans! 🎉 We’re giving you the chance to win TWO tickets to see the Washington Capitals face off against the Calgary Flames on Bobblehead Night 🧢 at Capital One Arena! Plus, you’ll also snag an amazing Caps Swag Basket—including some cool Caps-themed goodies! 🐾❤️

🗓️ Date: Tuesday, February 25, 2025
⏰ Time: 7:00 PM
📍 Location: Capital One Arena, Washington, DC

🎟️ Raffle Ticket Prices:
$5 for 1 ticket
$20 for 5 tickets
$50 for 15 tickets (USE PROMO CODE CHARM FOR $5 OFF THIS BUNDLE)

🗓️ Tickets for the raffle on sale through 2/17
Drawing: February 18 (winner announced LIVE on Facebook!)

This is your chance to enjoy an unforgettable night of hockey while supporting CHARM Rescue and helping us save lives. Every ticket sold makes a difference for the animals in our care. 💛

💥 Enter now for your chance to win!
https://givebutter.com/enO5KM
Let’s go Caps! 🏒✨ Share with your friends and family to spread the word! 🐾

01/30/2025

🐾🥒 𝙒𝘼𝙍𝙉𝙄𝙉𝙂! 𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗣𝗶𝗰𝗸𝗹𝗲 𝗶𝘀 𝗲𝘅𝘁𝗿𝗮 𝘀𝘄𝗲𝗲𝘁! 🥒🐾

Hi friends, I’m Pickles—the goodest boy. I am a 5-month-old, 25 lb hound mix with a heart as big as my floppy ears! I’m on the lookout for a foster (or even better, a forever family!) to snuggle up with.

𝘼 𝙡𝙞𝙩𝙩𝙡𝙚 𝙖𝙗𝙤𝙪𝙩 𝙢𝙚:
🐾 I’m a pro at making doggy friends!Playdates? Yes, please!
🐾 Cats? No problem! I respect their mysterious ways.
🐾 Snuggles? Oh, I 𝙡𝙤𝙫𝙚 love. If you’ve got belly rubs to give, I’m your guy.
🐾 My hobbies include being adorable, spreading joy, and melting hearts. 💕

I promise to fill your days with tail wags, puppy kisses, and a whole lot of joy. Will you be the one to give me a soft place to land? Let’s make some memories together!

📍 Pickles is currently looking for a foster or foster-to-adopt home in Maryland or surrounding areas.

🐶 DM to learn more or apply today! Let’s make this the best pickle-perfect match ever! 🥰

01/30/2025

This Thursday, we want to highlight some amazing people who truly went above and beyond to help a pregnant dog get from Texas to Maryland before she gave birth.

Meet Pearl! Pearl 🐕‍🦺 was taken in by Drowzydawg Rescue in Texas when they discovered she was pregnant. Not just pregnant, though ⚠️ she was too far along in her pregnancy to safely join her friends on the February transport. In a truly heartwarming show of generosity, the community in Texas rallied together and found Pilots N Paws, who offered to fly 🛩️ Mama Pearl to MD, and then AWSHC would take her to her MD foster. Her fosters in TX and MD both agree that Pearl is the sweetest dog, who appears to have been used as a backyard breeding dog, and we are so happy that those days are behind her.

We can’t wait for Mama Pearl’s last litter to make their debuts, but for now, we wanted to make this post to say thank you to everyone involved in the effort to get Pearl to us - from her vet in TX, her TX foster, her pilots, her chauffeur in MD, and her MD fosters. This was such an amazing 💗 community effort.

Thank you 🙏

𝐄𝐱𝐭𝐫𝐚 𝐒𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐤 𝐘𝐨𝐮 to Kim, , and the 𝑻𝒓𝒂𝒏𝒔𝒇𝒖𝒓𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏 Program for making this incredible journey possible. Your dedication, from finding the pilots to coordinating every detail on both ends—from Texas to Maryland—gave this sweet girl her second chance. Because of you, she is safe, loved, and finally home. We are so grateful for your hearts and the lifesaving work you do! ❤️

01/29/2025

❄️ 𝗪𝗵𝗶𝘀𝗸𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗪𝗲𝗱𝗻𝗲𝘀𝗱𝗮𝘆: 𝗠𝗲𝗲𝘁 𝗡𝗼𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗲! ❄️

As January wraps up, we’re bringing the warmth with Noelle, a 14-week-old bundle of joy who’s ready to melt your heart this winter! 🐾

Noelle is everything you’d want in a furry friend: affectionate, gentle, playful, and oh-so-smart. She’s a snuggle pro who loves cuddling up after a day of chasing toys and playing with her siblings. 🐱💖

This sweetheart gets along wonderfully with cats, dogs, and kids—but she’d be just as happy soaking up all the love in a quieter home, too. Noelle is all about love, wherever she finds it!

Give your home some extra cozy vibes this winter—adopt Noelle and let her playful purrs fill your heart. Could she be your *𝐩𝐮𝐫𝐫𝐟𝐞𝐜𝐭* match? 🏡🐾

💌 𝙇𝙚𝙖𝙧𝙣 𝙢𝙤𝙧𝙚 𝙖𝙗𝙤𝙪𝙩 𝙉𝙤𝙚𝙡𝙡𝙚 𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙚: https://www.petfinder.com/cat/noelle-74848299/md/columbia/animal-welfare-society-of-howard-county-inc-md553/

😻 𝘼𝙥𝙥𝙡𝙮 𝙩𝙤 𝙛𝙤𝙨𝙩𝙚𝙧 𝙖 𝙘𝙖𝙩 𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙚: https://new.shelterluv.com/matchme/foster/AWSH/Cat

📋 𝙍𝙚𝙖𝙙𝙮 𝙩𝙤 𝙖𝙥𝙥𝙡𝙮? 𝙎𝙩𝙖𝙧𝙩 𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙚: https://new.shelterluv.com/matchme/adopt/AWSH/Cat

Spread the word and help Noelle find her forever home! ❤️

01/28/2025

Meet Tammy! 🐻

Tammy is just 15 pounds and around 3 months old and is ready to share her heart overflowing with love. After sadly being left tied up in the cold, she truly deserves a warm and caring place to call her own. Tammy arrives in February.

Apply today to give this little girl a warm bed!

https://new.shelterluv.com/matchme/adopt/AWSH/Dog

01/28/2025

Meet Levi!

Levi is an 8-week-old, 10-pound Great Pyrenees/Hound mix who’s ready to steal your heart! With boundless energy and an infectious smile, Levis favorite pastime is making everyone around him laugh with his goofy antics. He’s always ready for an adventure, whether it’s a game of tug-of-war or a trip to the park.

Apply today to foster to adopt Levi! He arrives on 2/8.

https://new.shelterluv.com/matchme/adopt/AWSH/Dog

01/28/2025

Meet Ada!

Ada is an 8-week-old, 10-pound Great Pyrenees/Hound mix who’s ready to steal your heart! Ada is sweet, friendly, and loves to play and cuddle—she’s the perfect little bundle of joy for any family. Whether she’s running around with her toys or snuggling up for a nap, Ada is sure to bring endless happiness to your home.

Ada would love to land a foster to adopt home before she arrives on 2/8. Apply today!

https://new.shelterluv.com/matchme/adopt/AWSH/Dog

01/28/2025

Meet Evergreen 🌲💚

She is a 9-week-old, 10-pound Hound/Lab mix who’s as sweet and friendly as they come! Evergreen loves to play, cuddle, and will quickly become your best friend. Her loving nature and playful spirit make her the perfect addition to any household.

Apply today to adopt Evergreen!

https://new.shelterluv.com/matchme/adopt/AWSH/Dog

01/28/2025

Meet Mocha ☕️

She is an adorable 8-year-old sweetheart and is just 6 pounds of pure joy. She's already p*e pad trained and in need of a loving home after losing her owner. Mocha walks beautifully on a leash and, while she may take her time to get to know new dogs, her gentle nature shines through.

Mocha arrives on 2/1. Apply today to adopt this snuggly girl!

https://new.shelterluv.com/matchme/adopt/AWSH/Dog

01/28/2025

Rocky, who came to us from our friends at Baltimore County Animal Services, was adopted on 1/26!

Happy Tails Rocky!! We wish you a lifetime of happiness and treats!

🐾 See our Adoptable Pets: https://www.petfinder.com/member/us/md/columbia/animal-welfare-society-of-howard-county-inc-md553/

🤗 Adoption Application: https://new.shelterluv.com/matchme/adopt/AWSH/Dog

01/28/2025

𝗧𝗼𝗻𝗴𝘂𝗲 𝗢𝘂𝘁 𝗧𝘂𝗲𝘀𝗱𝗮𝘆: 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗜𝘀 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗗𝗼𝗴'𝘀 𝗠𝗼𝘂𝘁𝗵 𝗦𝗮𝘆𝗶𝗻𝗴? 🐾

Not all open mouths are the same, and our dogs have a lot to say with theirs—if we know what to look for! Understanding the difference between a relaxed, happy pant and a stressed, uncomfortable expression is key to building trust and connection with our pups. 💕

Here’s how to decode your dog’s open mouth:

1️⃣ 𝗥𝗲𝗹𝗮𝘅𝗲𝗱 𝗗𝗼𝗴𝘀: Look for soft, loose facial muscles, ears in a natural position, and a tongue that hangs freely after play or rest. These are signs of a happy pup! 🐶

2️⃣ 𝗦𝘁𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗲𝗱 𝗗𝗼𝗴𝘀: Watch for tense or wrinkled corners of the mouth, tight lips, or ears pinned back. They might also be panting more rapidly, even without exercise. 😟

𝗥𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿, 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗲𝘅𝘁 𝗺𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀! Is your dog resting after a game of fetch, or are they in a noisy, unfamiliar environment? The situation gives you important clues about what they might be feeling.

Every dog is unique, so knowing your pup’s 𝙗𝙖𝙨𝙚𝙡𝙞𝙣𝙚 behavior —how they typically look when calm—is essential and the best way to spot when something’s off.

Have you noticed changes in your dog’s expressions during play, rest, or stressful situations? Let’s chat in the comments and share what you’ve observed! 🐶💬

Big thanks to for helping us sharpen our observation skills with their fantastic examples. Together, we can make the world a little more comfortable for our four-legged friends! 🐾

01/27/2025

🐾 ⚠️ Puppy Cuteness Ahead ⚠️🐾

Ok, you’ve been warned!

‼️ Foster or Foster to Adopt Home Needed‼️

We are about to welcome some of the cutest puppies we’ve ever seen in our upcoming transport 😍 While some of them have found families already we’re still accepting applications for the following pups from what we’re affectionately calling the Baker’s Dozen pups. 🧑‍🍳

These 9 week old Great Pyrenees mix puppies are sure to steal your heart 💜 and bless you with all the cuddles you can ask for. They’re all in the 8-11lbs range which means they should end up around medium-large sized dogs full grown.

These puppies have so much love to give, apply today to give them their own ✨ fairy (tail) ending ✨

Application: https://new.shelterluv.com/matchme/adopt/AWSH/Dog

Other 🔗 in the comments!

01/27/2025

🍫🎂 𝗛𝗮𝗽𝗽𝘆 𝗡𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗖𝗵𝗼𝗰𝗼𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗖𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝗗𝗮𝘆! 🎉 𝗕𝘂𝘁 𝗪𝗮𝗶𝘁...𝗟𝗲𝘁'𝘀 𝗧𝗮𝗹𝗸 𝗣𝗲𝘁𝘀 & 𝗖𝗵𝗼𝗰𝗼𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗲 🐾

While we humans might be celebrating with a big slice of chocolate cake today, it’s a good time to remember that chocolate is a big no-no for our furry friends. 🚫🐶🐱

Here’s some reasons why chocolate and pets don’t mix:
1️⃣ 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗗𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲𝗿: Chocolate contains 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗼𝗯𝗿𝗼𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗲 and 𝗰𝗮𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗶𝗻𝗲, which are toxic to dogs and cats. These ingredients can cause upset stomachs, rapid heart rate, seizures, or worse.
2️⃣ 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗗𝗮𝗿𝗸𝗲𝗿, 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗥𝗶𝘀𝗸𝗶𝗲𝗿: Dark chocolate and baking chocolate have the highest levels of theobromine, making them more dangerous than milk or white chocolate.
3️⃣ 𝗦𝗶𝘇𝗲 𝗠𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀: Smaller pets are at higher risk because it takes less chocolate to cause serious problems.
4️⃣ 𝗦𝗶𝗴𝗻𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗧𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗯𝗹𝗲: If your pet accidentally eats chocolate, look out for vomiting, diarrhea, restlessness, or muscle tremors. Call your vet immediately if you notice these symptoms!

𝗦𝗮𝗳𝗲 𝗖𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗯𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗧𝗶𝗽𝘀:
🎂 Keep your cake and other treats out of paw’s reach.
🐾 If you want your pet to join the fun, bake them a pet-friendly "pupcake" made with safe ingredients like peanut butter, pumpkin, or applesauce!

Let’s make sure today is sweet for everyone—without any emergency vet visits! 💖 What’s your pet’s favorite 𝙨𝙖𝙛𝙚 treat? Share in the comments! 🐶🍪🐾

01/27/2025

𓃦♡ 𝑴𝒊𝒏𝒅𝒇𝒖𝒍 𝑴𝒐𝒎𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒔 𝑴𝒐𝒏𝒅𝒂𝒚 ♡𓃠

Animals may not speak our language, but their actions tell us everything we need to know about love. They teach us that love isn’t about words—it’s about showing up, being present, and offering care without expecting anything in return. 💖

Here, we see this kind of love every day. It’s in the wag of a tail when a once-forgotten pup feels safe again. It’s in the soft purr of a cat who finally trusts. It’s in the quiet resilience of animals who forgive the world and give their hearts so freely, even after hardship.

These gentle souls remind us to live with compassion, to act with kindness, and to embrace the power of love in action. That’s the 𝒎𝒊𝒔𝒔𝒊𝒐𝒏 𝒘𝒆 𝒄𝒂𝒓𝒓𝒚 𝒇𝒐𝒓𝒘𝒂𝒓𝒅—not just rescuing animals but building a community where their lessons inspire us 𝒂𝒍𝒍.

As you step into your week, take a mindful moment to reflect on the ways 𝒚𝒐𝒖 can embody unconditional love. Maybe it’s through adopting, fostering, volunteering, or simply being a voice for those who can’t speak for themselves. Together, we can create a world as loving as the animals we care for. 🐶🐱💞

𝑳𝒆𝒕'𝒔 𝒎𝒂𝒌𝒆 𝒊𝒕 𝒂 𝒃𝒆𝒂𝒖𝒕𝒊𝒇𝒖𝒍 𝒘𝒆𝒆𝒌, 𝒐𝒏𝒆 𝒌𝒊𝒏𝒅 𝒂𝒄𝒕 𝒂𝒕 𝒂 𝒕𝒊𝒎𝒆!

01/27/2025

🚐🐾 Help Save Lives—Sponsor a Transport Ride Today! 🐾🚐

This February, we are raising funds to bring at-risk dogs from our partner rescue Rescue in Texas to safety. Together, we can save lives and give these pups the second chance they deserve!

💛 For just $50, you can sponsor a dog’s journey to safety. Your donation will cover food, gas, vaccines, vetting, and everything needed to prepare these dogs for loving homes.

💌 As a thank you, you’ll receive a personalized message and photo of the pups you helped sponsor—so you can see the direct impact of your kindness!

👉 Donate now: Click the link or text CHARM to 53555 to sponsor a ride for a rescue dog.

https://givebutter.com/0olTEa

Your support saves lives—one ride at a time.

By Animal Welfare Society of Howard County Inc

01/26/2025

𝑯𝒂𝒑𝒑𝒚 𝑺𝒆𝒄𝒐𝒏𝒅 𝑪𝒉𝒂𝒏𝒄𝒆 𝑺𝒖𝒏𝒅𝒂𝒚!

It’s a big day for football 🏈 fans…but no matter how the game turns out, we have a winner that will warm your heart ♥️ and fulfill your life!

𝑴𝒆𝒆𝒕 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒃𝒆𝒂𝒖𝒕𝒊𝒇𝒖𝒍 𝑺𝒂𝒏𝒅𝒚! ꨄ

She is a lovable 3 year old Great Pyrenees mix with a heart of gold. 💛

Sandy is amazing with kids 👦🏼 👧🏽, other dogs 🐶,and doesn’t bother with cats at all! Another great thing about her- she’s house trained- what a gem! 💎

She is a goofy, playful, ball of love eagerly waiting for a family to call her own. 🏡

Sandy will arrive from TX on 2/8…🙏🏽please consider fostering or adopting sweet Sandy- you’ll be the real winner in Sandy’s life! 🏆🥇


🐾Sandy’s PetFinder-
https://www.petfinder.com/dog/sandy-coming-soon-74907911/md/columbia/animal-welfare-society-of-howard-county-inc-md553/

🐾Foster Application-
https://www.shelterluv.com/matchme/foster/AWSH/Dog

🐾Adoption Application
https://www.shelterluv.com/matchme/adopt/AWSH/Dog