Valley Shore Animal Welfare League

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Westbrook, CT
Valley Shore Animal Welfare League

Valley Shore Animal Welfare League (VSAWL) is a non-profit animal shelter established in 1972

11/14/2024

Valley Shore Animal Welfare League is excited to share the following announcement:

TWO CONNECTICUT ANIMAL WELFARE ORGANIZATIONS UNITE TO STRENGTHEN ANIMAL RESCUE SERVICES

WESTBROOK, CT, Nov. 13, 2024 — In a shared commitment to advancing animal welfare in Connecticut, Valley Shore Animal Welfare League (VSAWL) and Army's Legacy Animal Rescue and Sanctuary (Army's Legacy) today announced plans to combine their organizations' resources. The combined resources, which will operate as Army's Legacy, will create a stronger, more comprehensive animal rescue organization, enhancing and expanding services to the shoreline community and its animals.

The joint effort would unite VSAWL's established facility at 647 Horse Hill Road in Westbrook with Army's Legacy’s extensive foster network and rescue expertise. Following board approval from both organizations, Army's Legacy will begin a careful transition process, including obtaining necessary additional licensing and completing all required operational steps before assuming full operations at the Westbrook facility.

"This represents a transformative opportunity to expand our impact and save more lives," said Amanda Armstrong, Founder of Army's Legacy. "By combining VSAWL's excellent facility and supporting community with our network of supporters and volunteers, we can create a more robust organization capable of serving more animals in need. Our shared commitment to providing second chances for abandoned and neglected animals makes this a natural fit."

"For over 50 years, VSAWL has served the shoreline community with dedication and compassion," said Dottie Wells, Interim President of the VSAWL Board. "Army's Legacy will ensure that our mission continues and grows stronger. Together, we will be better positioned to serve both the animals in our care and our community's needs."

Key benefits include:

• Enhanced capacity to serve animals through Army's Legacy's established foster network and VSAWL's physical facility

• Expanded volunteer and donor base to support animal care operations

• Combined expertise in animal welfare and shelter management

• Strengthened ability to provide comprehensive animal welfare services to Connecticut’s shoreline region

• Additional resources and support for the community beyond traditional rescue services

The transition will be supported by VSAWL's current leadership team, including Board members and volunteers, working closely with Army’s Legacy to ensure continuity of operations and preservation of VSAWL's community relationships.

About Valley Shore Animal Welfare League

Founded in 1972, Valley Shore Animal Welfare League has served as a cornerstone of animal welfare along Connecticut’s shoreline for over five decades. Operating as a no-kill nonprofit shelter in Westbrook, VSAWL has provided humane shelter and care to abandoned, abused, and homeless companion cats and dogs, offering them love, care, and a second chance at life through adoption into forever homes.

About Army's Legacy Animal Rescue and Sanctuary

Based in Bristol, CT, Army’s Legacy Animal Rescue and Sanctuary is a leading nonprofit organization dedicated to saving neglected, abused, and discarded animals. Founded by Animal Control Officer Amanda Armstrong, Army’s Legacy provides comprehensive care through its foster network while working toward establishing Connecticut's first true dog sanctuary. The organization is committed to creating positive change in animal rescue through organized, effective, and compassionate care for every pet, including those with special needs or challenging histories.

Media Contact:

Amanda Armstrong
Founder, Army’s Legacy Animal Rescue and Sanctuary
[email protected]
(203) 915-4722

11/09/2024

To Our Valued VSAWL Volunteers,

It is with deep gratitude that we write to you today. Over the years, you, our amazing volunteers, have selflessly dedicated your time, energy, and compassion to making our animal shelter a true haven for the creatures in our care, as well as a welcoming space for our community. Your unwavering commitment has changed countless lives, both animal and human, and for that, we are forever thankful.

As you know, the VSAWL board is currently working diligently to ensure that our organization remains vibrant and able to fulfill our mission of connecting animals with loving forever families. While we undertake this crucial work, it was necessary for us to temporarily re-home some of the animals in our direct care. These animals have been placed with other community shelters where they will continue to receive excellent care, and we are hopeful that exposing them to new audiences may also lead to additional opportunities for them to find their forever homes.

During this transitional period, it is necessary for us to pause our volunteer opportunities as well. Please know that this decision was not made lightly. The board is working tirelessly to evaluate all options, forge strategic partnerships, and develop innovative ideas to strengthen our presence and reach. Our goal is to emerge from this pause as an even more impactful and sustainable organization, better positioned to serve our furry friends and the community.

We appreciate your patience and continued support during this time. We will be sure to keep you updated on our progress and look forward to welcoming you back to the shelter soon. Your dedication to our mission is invaluable, and we are deeply grateful for all that you do.

Sincerely,

The VSAWL Board

10/19/2024

We are excited to announce that, after waiting for a long time, Alice Dog has found her forever family! Her new home has a beautiful fenced in yard where she can run and play and chase. She’s getting walks and cuddles and belly rubs and making herself right at home. Her new family can’t believe how lucky they are to have her. She has been spending her time sniffing, laying on the sofa, and squeaking all her new squeaky toys. We are thrilled that Alice is so happy and wish her a wonderful new life with her new family!!🧡🧡🐾🐾🍞🍞

10/17/2024

A message from the Board of Valley Shore Animal Welfare League.

Like many of you who have been expressing concern online, we are volunteers - volunteers on the VSAWL board and volunteers at the shelter itself, working directly with the animals at our weekly shifts. Nothing is more important to us than the health, safety, and best interest of the animals in our care. Additionally, we care passionately about our staff, volunteers, and donors.

The shelter is going through a transition. Various information that has been circulating online IS NOT CORRECT. The shelter board has made no decision to close the shelter. We have not contracted to sell the organization to anyone, let alone a high-kill shelter. This information is simply NOT true.

The board has been meeting regularly and working with staff to tackle the issues before us as we consider all of our options to move forward in the best interest of VSAWL.

We appreciate all of the concern from our local community. We are happy that so many of you have had wonderful experiences volunteering with us or adopting from us. As we move forward, we are grateful for your patience and support as we implement the necessary steps to do what’s best for our animals and for the organization.

Please be careful about what you believe and spread online. We board members are regular people like anyone else, with families, jobs and “other lives” away from our volunteering. Spreading and believing false information can lead to catastrophic results. Please, in your desire to help the shelter, don’t lose sight of the truth or the effects of spreading false information.

Thank you.

10/03/2024

Everyone welcome Jack! Jack is a gorgeous, sweet 10 year old male who wants all the love and pets! He came to VSAWL from a home that loved him so much but had to give him up because of a family member’s health. Jack is up to date on vaccines and neutered. Please fill out an application and come meet this boy❤️

https://www.valleyshoreanimalwelfareleague.org/

10/01/2024

Happy adoption day Billy and Bobby! Thanks for stopping by on your way to finding your forever families!❤️

09/29/2024

Our volunteers can make even a rainy day feel bright! Bambi and Timber-Lynn went cruising today! It’s so good to see the dogs get a break from the shelter! Thank you Tara, Sydney and Alexa for loving all the animals❤️

Please go to our website to adopt these cuties! https://www.valleyshoreanimalwelfareleague.org/

09/28/2024

The face you make when you clearly ordered steak but your staff brings you kibbles!!

09/27/2024

Zoe is so excited that it's Friday!! She wanted to wish everyone a Happy weekend!

09/26/2024

Bobby is just hanging out patiently waiting for his forever home.

09/24/2024

Cinder has left the building!! Cinder the mayor of the cat room has been adopted by the sweetest couple, we could not be any happier for her and her new family! Congrats to all!

09/23/2024

Welcome to VSAWL Baxter and let the healing begin!! Someone abandoned this sweet little man at Homonasset! Thank goodness Madison CT Animal Control took him in and then got him to us. Baxter is so sweet and makes friends with everyone he meets. He wants to be with people all the time so we cant imagine how scared he was out in this big world all alone. Baxter has a vet appointment at the end of the week and then he will be available for adoption!

09/22/2024

Happy Sunday! VSAWL is appreciative of all of our hard working volunteers! It definitely takes a village to keep the shelter going! Today we would like to shine the spotlight on Linda and Sue, they love all of the animals so much and make sure everyone gets walked, loved and plenty of treats. When asked what their favorite part about coming to the shelter is they said, that they loved giving back to the community, want every animal to feel loved and that after a long week they find solace and peace here. Thank you both for your support and love.

09/21/2024

Two great guys adopted these two great guys!! Calvin and Hobbs we will miss your silly antics in the cat room!! Have a wonderful life and we are all so happy that we got to be part of your journey!!

09/20/2024

Willow is officially adopted!! Willow came to VSAWL skinny, incredibly anxious, and absolutely untrained. She was lucky enough to be fostered by an incredible person that not only took her in along with her own two hounds but also put Willow through training camp, and diligently continues to train her daily. Willow is so loved, healthy and now has a beautiful life with her two brothers! Not only is Willow grateful but so is the shelter!

09/19/2024

Everyone please welcome Ivy!! Ivy was found tied to a pole in New Britian, thankfully one of our VSAWL angels got in touch with us and here she is. Ivy is so trusting and loving even though she has been through a lot. She is around 8 months old and is the epitome of a velcro dog, she gets along with other dogs, is very interested in cats but no aggression at all... oh and she snores like a freight train! Call us today to meet this peach of a girl!

09/15/2024

Hello, VSAWL Team! We bring to you, Snake Charmer Sunday! These girls will absolutely hypnotize you! Their application for a loving home includes ballerina spins, tug of war champions, and snake charming. They are the goofiest duo and sweet as can be. They come with s***k and energy, ready for any adventure! Who will bring them home?

If you’re interested in adoption or fostering please head to our website, https://www.valleyshoreanimalwelfareleague.org/adoptions

If you can’t adopt or foster but want to help, please consider making a donation.
**Donate**
Venmo:
PayPal: [email protected]

09/13/2024

Happy Foster Friday! River and JoJo, and our sweet Alice are still in foster looking for their furever homes. They are flourishing with the kind humans that took them in, but it’s not forever. We would love to see them all adopted before year end! If you, or someone you know is interested check out our website and fill out an adoption application! From there we can set up a meet and great with our wonderful pups!

If you’re interested in adoption please head to our website, https://www.valleyshoreanimalwelfareleague.org/adoptions

If you can’t adopt but want to help, please consider making a donation.
**Donate**
Venmo:
PayPal: [email protected]

Address

647 Horse Hill Road
Westbrook, CT
06498

Telephone

+18603997561

Website

http://www.valleyshoreanimalwelfareleague.org/

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Videos

The cats were wanting extra love this morning! If you’re interested in adoption or fostering please head to our website, https://www.valleyshoreanimalwelfareleague.org/adoptions If you can’t adopt or foster but want to help, please consider making a donation. **Donate** Venmo: @vsawl1972 PayPal: [email protected] #cleartheshelters #animalrescue #animalshelter

Hello, VSAWL Team! We bring to you, Snake Charmer Sunday! These girls will absolutely hypnotize you! Their application for a loving home includes ballerina spins, tug of war champions, and snake charming. They are the goofiest duo and sweet as can be. They come with spunk and energy, ready for any adventure! Who will bring them home? If you’re interested in adoption or fostering please head to our website, https://www.valleyshoreanimalwelfareleague.org/adoptions If you can’t adopt or foster but want to help, please consider making a donation. **Donate** Venmo: @vsawl1972 PayPal: [email protected] #cleartheshelters #animalrescue #animalshelter

These clowns need a little practice before they’re ready for the circus! Timber-Lynn and Bambi are just the goofiest gals around! They are oh so excited for Halloween so they can show off their tricks for treats! We hope to find them a loving home before Spooky Season officially begins and just in time for woof-o’-lantern carving! We wouldn’t say it’s witch-ful thinking, these pups will absolutely bewitch you given the opportunity. For now they’ll just be creepin’ it real, waiting for a puppy-kin spice lover. If you’re interested in adoption or fostering please head to our website, https://www.valleyshoreanimalwelfareleague.org/adoptions If you can’t adopt or foster but want to help, please consider making a donation. **Donate** Venmo: @vsawl1972 PayPal: [email protected] #cleartheshelters #animalrescue #animalshelter

It’s back to school time! This weekend we celebrated with coffee and munchkins! Not only was this a celebration, but a special see you later to one of our volunteers, Mason! He’s starting college this week and we are so excited for him! Just look at Zoe, she can barely contain her excitement😂! We wanted to say thank you to Mason for his dedication and love for VSAWL, and good luck! You know what would help out your favorite student? Someone to blame for eating their homework! Check out our website, we know a few dogs that won’t really eat their homework but will run home with them from the bus stop, or greet them at the door!If you’re interested in adoption or fostering please head to our website, https://www.valleyshoreanimalwelfareleague.org/adoptions If you can’t adopt or foster but want to help, please consider making a donation. **Donate** Venmo: @vsawl1972PayPal: [email protected] #cleartheshelters #animalrescue #animalshelter

It’s time for another Spotlight Sunday!! Here at VSAWL we would love to applaud the efforts, success, and dedication of one of our volunteers. This spirited, joy of a human being is Sam! She has spearheaded lots of our recent events for the shelter including Trivia Night at Cuckoo’s Nest, and the raffle event at Bonafide pets. With the looming threat of closing our doors Sam has really stepped up to raise money for our lovely VSAWL Community. Sam thank you so much from the bottoms of our hearts! We love you and appreciate everything you do. Our fur friends are so lucky to have you, as are we! To thank Sam for all her hard work please consider helping with her fundraising goals! Check out the live raffle event from Bonafide Pets in store and online! There are raffle baskets in store that have things like local artist made stained glass, a gift certificate for a pet portrait, a gift certificate for a facial, cigars, dog treat/toy basket, cat treat/toy basket, hair care and gift card, and more. Remember, those baskets are only in store at Bonafide Pets in Clinton. Online we have ten other gift certificates going for raffle as well. This event runs until August 31, be sure to get your name in the hat and be a lucky winner! The link is below! https://go.rallyup.com/vsawlpawsandprizesraffle/Campaign/Details

Please welcome Happy to VSAWL! Happy is a 7 month old border colllie/cocker spaniel mix who has been through a lot in her short life. We will spare you her heartbreaking story, all that matters now is that she is safe and loved! It took Happy a couple of hours and lots of cheese to warm up to staff, but now she is a staff and volunteer favorite! She loves attention, belly rubs, and she will literally hold on to your leg while looking up at you with those sweet puppy dog eyes so you wont leave. Happy gets along with other dogs and doesn’t seem to even notice the cats. Can you give Happy a chance for the happiest life? https://www.valleyshoreanimalwelfareleague.org/adoptions If you can’t adopt or foster but want to help, please consider making a donation. **Donate** Venmo: @vsawl1972 PayPal: [email protected] #shelterdogsofinstagram #shelterdogs #cleartheshelters #animalrescue #animalshelter

Charlie’s Foster Home!

Sorry the text didn’t attach to the original video! Charlie is in a foster home with his very own foster brother, Jasper! His foster mom says he’s adjusting very well. He loves to cuddle with her and his new brother. Loves to play in the grass, get messages from his momma and loves his long brushing sessions! He’s living the life and we couldn’t be happier for this special boy!

Meet Cinder, She is our new door greeter, she also follows staff and volunteers around everywhere! Wherever you are is where you can find her! Cinder came to VSAWL after her mom passed away, she had Cinder since she was a kitten, she is now 16 but you would never guess that! She is still full of energy and love, If you want a lap cat that craves attention, and pets Cinder is your lady! To fill out an application please click on the link below. https://www.wagtopia.com/search/pet?id=2122204&name=Cinder **Donate** Venmo: @vsawl1972 PayPal: [email protected] #shelteranimals #shelterdogs #sheltersofinstagram #southernconnecticut #cleartheshelters #animalrescue #westbrookct #clintonct #animalshelter

Alices’s Play date with her lab friends

Alice had a great time with her visitors!! (the black labs are NOT up for adoption just friend that came for a visit). Alice we are cheering you on!! Let’s find this girl a home this summer. She’s really ready!!!

Miss Priss on TikTok

Willow had her spay last week and hasn’t been feeling herself. Look at that face!!!! If you are interested in helping with her vet care costs you can donate with the information 👇🏽 **Donate** Venmo: @vsawl1972 PayPal: [email protected] #shelteranimals #shelterdogs #sheltersofinstagram #southernconnecticut #cleartheshelters #animalrescue #westbrookct #clintonct #animalshelter #willowsspay #poorgirl