The outreach and dedication I have seen from Jo Barnhart is truly inspiring. Her commitment has motivated my family and me to become involved with the shelter. Jo’s passion for animal welfare and her willingness to go above and beyond make a profound impact on both the animals and the community. We are incredibly grateful for her and the volunteers/staff incredible kindness and hardwork.
It started as a slow day at work and grabbing two dogs that could use a day away from the shelter. McKenna suggested Bessie and I’m so glad she did! She bonded to me instantly. No matter where I went she was right next to me. I knew this dog needed me and my home. So I applied to foster her. Got a phone call right away and was able to pick her up two days later and bring her home. She took on to my three pittys very quick. I couldn’t be more thankful for McKenna suggesting her. It was such an easy/fast process. If all goes well she will be a foster fail! I can’t get over her short stubby legs and big block head.
We have adopted 2 dogs from this shelter! They explained as much as they could the history and before we could fully adopt They had to be cared back to appropriate weight and health. It took a little bit with the conditions they were in by the time animal welfare could rescue them. Animal welfare (especially McKenna) was extremely helpful. You can see her passion for the animals! She kept tabs on them until she was completely satisfied with their current status. Animal welfare goed above and beyond for animals, adoption homes and their foster families! We're very lucky to have this group in our town!
I have been volunteering with AWF for almost 2 years and it’s such an amazing organization! They care so much for animals and really work hard to get animals in foster care as well as adopted.
AWF supported a foster who hand raised these orphaned kittens into well socialized sweet babies that are now thriving as members of my neighbors family. The cats were used to dogs and kids and comfortable being handled all thanks to the love and support of the AWF volunteers. All the kids in the neighborhood love these kittens.
The volunteers with this organization truly care and want the best for the animals. Everything they do, is in the best interest of the animal- and they really do make sure it’s the best fit for the animal and the family. Proud to have an organization like this in our community.
We recently adopted our buddy Ranger (formerly Gold), and not only are we very happy together, I was really impressed with the people I met and the facility as a whole. They seem to have found a sweet spot of genuinely caring for the animals/ wanting them to be placed well and efficiency. From what I saw they do really good work there.
We adopted our new fur friend, Tex (formerly known as Oasis) two weeks ago and couldn’t be happier! its obvious how much AWF works tirelessly for the animals in their care. Sometimes a thankless job, I’m sure, but you are doing the work of angels. Thank you for all you do and the burden you carry to have a place where helpless animals can be rescued!! It’s inspiring
This is one of the greatest shelter/rescues I’ve ever seen. It’s absolutely incredible that they run on very few employees (basically just Sydney and Makenna), and animal loving volunteers. We rescued our wonderful baby Finn (new name) from AWF and as you could tell they were absolutely SLAMMED, but still tell they cared so much about each and every animal, and made sure each animal went to a loving home. Sydney helped us the day of adoption, and I met Makenna a few weeks later when dropping off supplies. Sydney was so helpful with the transition of our new baby as he was recently transported in from Texas. Makenna was excited to see my growing pup when I dropped off supplies even when you could tell she was so so so busy on a Saturday. And she remembered my sweet baby boy weeks later when he had only been at AWF for 3 days total.
ANYWAYS basically what I’m saying is this is one of the greatest rescues ever, and everyone should adopt one of their babies. PLUS so much care is included in the cost of adoption. ADOPT DONT SHOP !!!!
I fostered twice and failed twice. AWF has the best dogs and the best staff. They are helpful every step of the way and put their heart and souls into what they do. I am in constant awe of the lives saved and the energy they put forth to make the world a better place one adoption at a time. We are so grateful to have them in our community.
Adopted Bowzer who is now Mac Jr. He is a joy. We have a cat stand and he always has to go to the top. Does the racing of course in the early evening. Is a little piggy I put the dish down and he's right there.
Thank you so much....we love him.
We came to Animal Welfare Friends to look at a completely different pup. But fate put Rylie (Monkey was her shelter name) literally into our laps. She's been an absolute joy and our Heeler cross has been thrilled to have a little sister after our older dog had passed earlier this year. She's learning to do all the farm things and getting plenty of love. We can't thank the staff enough for their help and encourage people to make the drive to see the facility in and the animals.
We adopted Koda a couple months ago from Animal Welfare Friends and she has been an absolute joy. We are so thankful that this organization brought her from Texas so she could have a chance at a good life. She is very intelligent and such a love bug. Koda has fit in very well to her new life in Minnesota.
Animal Welfare Friends does an amazing job of fostering their animals to ensure they continue to get the love and socialization they deserve! A close friend of mine has personally fostered multiple different pups, helping them find their next fur-ever home! They truly want to help make a difference in these animals lives and will do whatever it takes to make sure our furry friends find their next happy home!
Had a great experience when adopting my pup from this shelter. Clean, friendly and all the animals there are taken such great care of. Top notch facility.
Such an amazing place. Never have I seen such an animal shelter that has done such wonderful things and is so backed by the community. They truly care and are continually looking to help and aid in animals that need it.
AWF is a shelter that truly "walks the walk“ when it comes to saving animals and finding them their forever homes! I can't say enough good about the staff and their true passion and dedication to not just the animals there, but to all the animals they save from other shelters that are so over-populated that the animals wouldn't have gotten a second chance to find a home without the efforts of Makenna at AWF! ❤️ She doesn't just look for adopters for the animals; instead, she looks for a true connection between the animal and the adoptee, which gives both of them a better chance at having the best outcome with a happy ending!! ❤️
Upon visiting numerous times, the shelter has always been very clean and well maintained. The staff is always very welcoming, as are the pups who are 'tail wagging' and excited to see anyone who comes in to visit. ❤️ For the cat lovers ... You could spend hours deciding on which lap cat is the best fit for you. They were so friendly and affectionate, purring the whole time they were sitting in my lap! ❤️ If you are thinking of adopting a pet, you will not be disappointed in anyway choosing Animal Welfare Friends!
❤️ We chose to foster first and are in the process of adopting our new member of our family 'Mariposa', and we couldn't have been more pleased with our experience from visiting, to fostering, to adopting! Thank you, Makenna and your staff, for making our experience there beyond amazing and helping us find our perfect addition!! ❤️
Makenna & other staff are amazing to work with! They work so diligently to make sure every animal that comes into their care has the best possible care. I also appreciate Makenna’s skill for matching each pet to the perfect family. You can tell just by walking around the shelter that these animals are being loved and cared for as they wait for their furrrrever homes, and it sure is refreshing! If you plan on adopting, or have even thought about fostering this organization makes it a breeze!
Exciting to be a citizen in this community that does such amazing work! I have two grand dogs from this organization and they are the best! Animal Welfare is making a positive impact for all fur friends and their new families.
Being a new board member for AWF I can see the passion that Makenna and her team bring every day to the dog and cats in the shelter. Her and her team have saved hundreds of lives and have rescued hundreds of dogs from kill shelters in other states. I highly recommend AWF if you're looking to volunteer, donate, or rescue your own furry freind!
I have been on the fence for months about adopting an animal due to several reasons and one day I decided just to "glance" on the website. I went to dogs section and the first sweet face that came up was Jo. My name is Jo too lol so I sent in a request to visit her. Talked to my landlord and got his approval then I went straight to the shelter. They had her ready to meet. She was all cleaned and happy. She adored the employee there and I found it sweet that she was so comfortable to roam around the office freely. I brought her home that day and in order to adopt her fully She needs spayed. So I immediately scheduled an appt for her so we can complete the adoption process. Since I've brought her home she has adjusted wonderfully. She has met so many other dogs and is always so welcoming to new friends. Her ultimate favorite thing to do at night is cuddle while watching TV. Which is also my fav thing lol she has brought me out of a gray time of my life. Walks daily am and pm. She insists :) goes with me almost everywhere. Just completely mellow in the car. She's the best! Went from street dog to my better half and I know alot of work was put in by this amazing shelter! Thank you!
My doggo is a huge fan of dog parks and Animal Welfare Friends has a wonderful one. You can definitely tell that the board members are committed to this organization, to the Monticello community and the animals they serve.
Great shelter! The staff is so friendly and easy to work with. They have a beautiful dog park as well. :)
Beautiful facility. Staff are very warm and welcoming! The dog park is such a wonderful addition to this facility and to Jones co.
The best part of this shelter is it is a "no kill shelter."
Every animal deserves a home and this shelter does everything possible to give our fur babies the homes they deserve.
John W.
Anamosa IA
What an amazing and necessary facility, showing such love and care to every vulnerable creature they care for. Being a no kill shelter that operates on donations, the board and staff are always brainstorming new ways to make things work with limited funds. The recent grand opening of the beautiful and spacious dog park brought many happy wagging tails from successful adoptions. The facility is clean and welcoming with knowledgeable staff and volunteers waiting to show you the next love of your life. Come out and meet some new furry friends, volunteer or donate to put a smile on many faces and a thankful wag on many tails.
Animal Welfare Friends is a wonderful facility. Their staff is dedicated to the wellbeing of each animal in their care. Their facility is clean with a spacious dog park. I hope the public continues to support their efforts.
The shelter and staff are a huge asset to the community. The staff at AWF give loving care and socializing to the animals until they find their forever homes. The two dog parks are simply amazing. A place for anyone to go exercise their dog in a secure environment. I have been on the Board for several years and have adopted two awesome dogs from the shelter during that time. If you have never been there it is worth your time to go check it out.
Animal Welfare Friends has a great facility and faculty. Every animal’s needs are met by extremely loving staff and volunteers. Not to mention, the amazing small and large dog park. The large dog park is greatly focused on helping tap into a dogs natural needs to explore and socialize.
I joined the AWF board last fall and it has been a wonderful experience. My fellow board members are committed to the mission of our shelter. Our shelter staff are organized and dedicated. Our volunteers are helpful and loving. And of course... the animals we are helping are sweet. We recently had a dog park opening and I was pleased with the number of people who attended. I think it's important to remember that AWF is the ONLY animal shelter in Jones County and we operate on donations alone. Our little furry friends are counting on us! Looking forward to continuing to be a part of this wonderful organization and to helping save many, many animals now and in the future.
I can't say enough wonderful things about this shelter! Not only did we adopt a very special member of our family from AWF, but our family is always welcomed back with open arms whenever we stop by for a little playtime with the animals. We don't live in Monticello, but our kiddos always have AWF on the "to do" list when we are in the area because it is such a positive experience!
I will give this place a 5 Star rating.
We ending up having to put our four legged child Kenzi down after rehoming her for 7 plus years.
She was 14 yrs. old and developed health issues that we could not cure with meds or anything we tried.
We decided that Kenzi would want her food/treats and toys to go to other dogs. We could have picked any shelter, but I have seen and heard great reviews on this one. We decided to pay a visit and drop off the much needed things. This is so clean and the staff is so welcoming and friendly. They always have some of the dogs/cats out in the front lobby walking around to greet you. It was so rewarding to drop this off and get to meet some of the furry babies. It help with the sadness we were feeling that day. They all gave us a hug once they found out what happen. When it's time we will be looking here first for our next fury child.
What a beautiful place for our furry friends to feel safe until they find their forever homes. Staff is so friendly. Best part this facility it is a "no kill shelter"! In addition the new dog park is a must see if you are in the Jones Co. area.
The White's
I have been associated with AWF for many years, first as a board member and now as a volunteer. We do our best to give our animals a clean and safe environment as they await their forever families, but most of all we give them love. Lots of love. That's what it's all about!
I have been a volunteer for AWF for years and have adopted several dogs from AWF. This is a wonderful organization with committed employees and volunteers - all of which have a clear passion for the mission and a love of animals.
So happy we joined the board of this nonprofit, no kill animal shelter in Jones Co, Iowa. The staff, the president and the rest of the board are all fantastic to work with. We love animals and watching Kate, Shelter Manager, and Candy, the primary volunteer, work with the animals is truly a joy. Their love for each animal shines through. So many success stories come out of this shelter!
I have been a volunteer for Animal Welfare Friends for years. It is a pleasure to work with loving shelter staff members and other volunteers who are committed to finding forever homes for shelter dogs and cats.
Love this place. The staff is amazing and easy to work with. The dog parks are amazing and such a great addition to Jones County.
Me and my family absolutely love going here to see the animals. We started making it a tradition to go there every week to visit the cats. The people are wonderful and you can tell in just the first few minutes of being there how much the staff care about their animals. If we ever decide to adopt in the future this would be, without a doubt, the first place we’d look.
Love everything about this place from the care and kindness they give their animals to the amazing dog park! This is Winston (and his brother, Ricky) who we got here 3 years ago ❤️❤️
My son and I started volunteering there. My husband would come visit while we were working. He fell in love with a labradoodle named Cooper. We brought pur dogs to make sure Cooper and them would get along. The adoption process was easy with Kate walking us through it. We highly recommend AWF and it's staff to anyone looking to adopt.
Started as a volunteer 4 years ago. The care that is taken with each animal shows. It was not long before I had adopted a cat, followed by a dog, followed by a foster dog that I adopted, followed by another foster dog that I adopted. I would take them all home but I know they will be cared for while they wait. The dog park is a great addition and is used daily.
Previous Stories
I adopted my dog from Animal Welfare Friends 3 years ago, and she is my best friend! I originally found her in a ditch and brought her in because she was in such bad shape, and I didn’t know what to do to help her. Animal Welfare Friends took her in and nursed her back to the healthy, happy dog I was able to adopt a few weeks later. We are grateful for the kindness they showed our girl in her biggest time of need when we were unsure what to do. Thank you so much!
I came from a different animal rescue organization where the best way to describe it was cold and unwelcoming. Animal Welfare Friends is about as far from that as you can get! The first time I walked in, the staff and volunteers talked to me like I was an old friend, sharing silly animal stories and telling me about all the wonderful animals they had. They treat their animals as their own, celebrating in their successful placements and finding heartbreak in the not so successful ones. Overall, I’ve been amazed by their positive impact on every person and animal that I’ve seen come through their doors (including myself) and I am so thankful they are right here close in Monticello, Iowa.
We adopted our kitty, Simba, from Animal Welfare Friends in December of 2019. They were wonderful to work with and take very good care of the animals at the shelter. Monticello is extremely lucky to have this facility. We love our Simba, who is quite a character.
Our 14 year old son began volunteering this summer and was welcomed with open arms by the staff. He thoroughly enjoys his time and is also so very appreciated whenever he can come.
We visited the shelter after he came home from volunteering and fell in love with two of the kittens in the care of the shelter. Having come off of a very stressful year, my husband and I are both essential workers, and we lost two pets in five months’ time-we weren’t sure we were ready to open our heart again. Now, we realize we needed our cats as much as they needed us.
The process was amazing, we couldn’t be happier with our new family members ❤️
My granddaughters and I have volunteered at Animal Welfare Friends. The highlight was when we helped process more than 40 dogs from a hoarding situation and then watched as they all found forever homes! Sept 23 2020, I was asked to foster 6 abandoned 1 day old kittens! They weighed 2-3 ounces each. AWF supplied me with the supplies, milk replacement and tons of encouragement!! 12 weeks later, I reluctantly returned 4 kittens to find their forever homes. The other 2 found their forever home with me! My experience fostering gave me a new appreciation for the hard work, cost and love that AWF puts into caring for these vulnerable creatures. Every time I see a posting showing that another animal has found their home, I am reminded how important AWF is to our community. If I ever forget that, I only have to look over at my two new best friends and feel how happy my heart is!
Animal Welfare Friends helped us to find the perfect addition to our family during the beginning of the pandemic! They had safety procedures in place and were very knowledgeable about the dogs we met. In no time at all we found our new friend and family member. They gave us all of his information and made the adoption process go smoothly. We would recommend this organization to anyone interested in adopting a pet.
Our latest adoption was a bit over a year ago from Animal Welfare Friends. I went there with the intention of adopting a different kitty. The volunteers were so knowledgeable of the personality of each kitty and any background information that they knew and were more than happy to share it with me. I spent at least a couple of hours talking and learning who would be the right fit for our family. We decided on Shay and he has fit in perfectly in our house. Love this shelter and their caring way.
I had the best experience at Animal Welfare Friends. I went over to look at kittens to adopt, and before I even got the chance, they took me in the back room for a kitten that had just been brought in. He was so sweet, and I knew instantly that he was meant to come home with me! It's been a year since, and I couldn't be happier!
Due to Health reasons I surrendered three cats to this shelter. Upon doing that I decided it would be right for me to volunteer my serves. In doing so I learned this is a very kind and caring facility. They work hard to take all the pets they can and look after them well.
My husband and I adopted 3 kittens in October 2020. After doing weeks of research on the computer, we came across AWF. It was a 4 hour drive from our home. The customer service was wonderful and the whole process went smoothly. The kittens were born in August 2020. Beautiful white kittens with blue eyes. One of the female kittens likes to give hugs. They get along very well with our 2 dachshunds. They are all doing wonderful and are living a very “spoiled life”. Thank you AWF.
In January of 2019 I moved from Massachusetts to Iowa, all by myself. Over the next few months I established a work space and a home life for myself, but something felt incomplete. I decided in late 2019 that a companion would probably fill the void I felt since leaving my home state. I traveled to Animal Welfare Friends and was met with such friendliness that I knew I had come to the right spot. It was there I had found my good guy Chucky, a young cat looking for his forever home. The moment I came into contact with him I knew we could both make each other as happy as can be. It is now July 2021, and my bond with Chucky has only grown stronger. I am forever grateful to Animal Welfare Friends for assisting me and Chucky into our transition, as well as giving me pointers on how to make him comfortable with his life changing move. I couldn’t have asked for a better facility to help not only my boy Chucky, but any other animal in need.
At first i went to simply walk dogs when i saw them advertising for it. I had lost my 14 y/o best friend and missed the companionship. next thing i knew, they had a litter of puppies that i of course had to play with. i fell in love with one and knew she needed to come home with me. they made the process so easy and answered all my questions. i’ve had Piper(formally libby) now since May 1st. Piper was 4 pounds when we adopted her and is now 15!! she loves bones and any toy that squeaks or crinkles. so very happy i adopted through animal welfare friends!!
The wonderful folks running this shelter are tireless when it comes to working for the welfare of animals--they truly are friends of the animals, and are willing to love and nurture fur babies of all ages and abilities. They go above and beyond to take in pets from kill shelters elsewhere, animals who have been injured, and strays who have never known a loving home. They are so deserving of support!
AWF is a great shelter! I am a teacher and I volunteered there for 2 summers. It was so much fun caring for the animals! All of the volunteers really want the best for the animals. I also took my class to volunteer there twice and my students thought they were a fabulous experiences!
More importantly, however, is I adopted my cat, Sylvia, from AWF. I met her volunteering when she was just a small kitten. She is the love of my life. I can't thank AWF enough for introducing us!
Previous Stories
I applied to adopt a beautiful puppy three years ago. I was six hours away and they called me at 10am on a Saturday and told me they would stay late for me. They were an amazing shelter to deal with! Our 70lb pooch is our three year old baby! We love him!!
I am proud to be a volunteer and former board member of Animal Welfare Friends in Monticello, Iowa. We have come a long way since the days we began as a small group of animal lovers finding foster homes for lost or abandoned dogs and cats until we could find them their forever homes, saving as many as we could from euthanization simply because they had no place to go. Now we have our small but mighty shelter after many years of fundraising. We continue our work of saving as many animals as we can. Our building is small and our budget is tight. We wish we could do more than our limited resources allow. One of the things I like best is that we are a no-kill shelter; our animals stay with us as long as it takes to find them their best forever home. Some of them have been with us two years, three years, but it is all worth it on that joyful day when they finally connect with the right family and get to "go home".
We work to make our shelter to be a happy, hopeful place. All of us love the animals here. We get to know them as individuals and want the best for each of them. We are the only animal shelter in Jones County, and the homeless dogs and cats who end up here are actually the lucky ones. I support this shelter whole-heartedly with my time and donations. Come visit us!
Previous Stories
I am a board member, long-time volunteer, and repeat "foster failure". I am so proud and grateful that after ten long years of hard work we finally made our dream come true- an animal shelter in Jones County. We love the animals who come to us for help in finding their forever homes. We get to know them as individuals and each one is precious. It's always a bittersweet moment when one of our furry friends "goes home". We take pride in making our shelter a clean, happy place. Most of our cats live in free-roaming rooms where they can sunbathe in the big picture windows or play with each other. Thanks to a very generous donor the dogs can run to their hearts' content in a fenced-in grassy play area part of the day. Come visit us- we'll be happy to see you!
We were devastated when our beloved chocolate lab Sammy Hershey came down with cancer in June of 2017. Life without him was not the same. We grieved his loss for almost 3 years when we reached out to a volunteer at AWF asking if they ever came across another chocolate we would be interested. Not much longer in April of 2020, 3 lab puppies were dumped in a ditch on Easter weekend. Two were black and one was chocolate. We visited AWF to meet the little guy who was then 6 weeks old. We loved him instantly and took him home.
We still miss our Sam but this (not so little anymore) puppy has stolen our hearts and brought so much love and joy to our home and lives. Thank you AWF for all you do for these wonderful little creatures insuring that they find good, loving and forever homes. No kill pet shelters are the best!
We got our dog almost 3 years ago now and she is our best friend. We were looking for a new dog because our beloved dog of 14 years had recently passed. Our boys were excited because they didn't choose our old dog she was already a part of our family. We did research online (looking at pictures, etc.) before visiting the shelter. Our youngest saw the picture of Allie (formerly Millie) online and said, " That's the dog I want!" I wasn't so sure because she was quite a bit larger than our old dog but she won us all over when we met her. The shelter had a wonderful play area where we were able to get to know her before making our final decision. We bought a larger kennel (our old one was too small) for our drive home and when we brought it inside the shelter she just walked right in. She was all smiles and the smiles have continued ever since.
We adopted our black cat, Loki, from the Animal Welfare League in 2016. What really impressed us was how well the cats were socialized. Loki likes people and isn't afraid of new people he meets. The staff at the shelter were great and the adoption process went smoothly. We would definitely recommend them and would adopt from there again.
Adopted 2 dogs from AWF over the last 3 years. Staff is very friendly and they care deeply about the animals. Shelter is always clean! Would highly recommend AWF to anyone who is thinking about adopting a cat/ dog.
Previous Stories
I took a stray dog I found to this shelter to see if anyone was looking for her. When no one came looking for her, I adopted her! The staff was very friendly and supportive and got my girl the help she needed to be healthy again!
We got our dog Enzo from this great organization before they had their shelter built. He has since crossed the rainbow bridge, but he was such an awesome dog and is truly missed. These people really care about their animals and making sure the pet is a good fit for the family and that the family is ready for a pet. His foster dad was great and brought along his favorite bone, his collar, and some of his food the night we officially adopted him. The process was smooth, but thorough, which gave me confidence that this really was the right dog for us. We loved Enzo and he really was a great family dog.
We got King as a kitten from Animal Welfare Friends as a Christmas gift for our daughter 5 years ago. She couldn’t take him with her to college and he got used to our home where he can go in and outside so he is a family cat. His favorite place to get some sun is on our deck, preferably on a lap. I believe he was found by an Animal Welfare volunteer at an abandoned barn, with no momma in sight. He has been a great companion to us and our other cat.
We love Animal Welfare Friends. The staff/volunteers are wonderful and the facility is clean and the animals are happily waiting for their forever home. They truly want their animals to find the perfect home and will do anything to do so. We got our girl from them and it has been wonderful!
In February 2019 I adopted Little China. For ten days after the passing of my elderly doggie, I spent hours looking online at dog photos on various shelter websites, it felt a little bit like internet dating. The online photo of Little China I must admit did not appeal to me but when I finally ventured out to the Monticello shelter and saw all the doggies, the look in Little China's eyes caught my attention. We spent some time together in the meet and greet room, and as soon as I heard her story I knew she was coming home with me, that day. The first couple of weeks were a little rough as we figured out each other's schedules but she is now the love of my life and I cherish every moment we share together. Thank you Monticello AWF. I love my Little China!
This small town animal shelter/critter advocate creates some fun fund raising events, helps lost and found animals alike, finds homes for the homeless and hope for those appearing hopeless. Good job gang!!
In January 2018, I loved my beloved cat, Sassy, to a rare disease. I was 7 months pregnant. My husband traveled on the road and was gone. I was lonely and depressed. I found AWF and looked at their online gallery and found a kitten i was interested in. I went down and met this kitten and fell in love with his timid little, big ego self. I adopted him in January 2018. He has helped me overcome my loneliness. He still brings joy to my little families lives. We are forever grateful for AWF. We tell everyone about them.
I was involved in helping the shelter with one of their fund raisers last October. I was extremely impressed with the dedication and determination for good the Board of Directors showed as well as all the many hours their volunteers gave. This shelter does amazing work and is deserving of the highest praise for the service they provide for the many animals in need in Jones County.
Animal welfare friends do a great job of bringing in animals and taking care of them and training them until they are adopted!
Awesome experience!! We got our Bella girl (formally Blossom) this summer and they made it so easy! We live out of state but they worked with us and allowed my mom who lives in Iowa to pick her up and then we went and got her a few days later! I would highly recommend this nonprofit animal shelter!! Thank you!!!
Every single one of the workers here are amazing. Jones County is a rough place for a lot of dogs. Animal welfare friends also serve in an animal control role for a lot of the cities here. I've personally had them meet me at 11 pm at night to pick up a found dog on the highway, no questions or hesitation. They care for every single animal that walks through that day. They were also essential in ending BSL in a small town here. They attended and spoke at city council meetings. These guys definetly deserve recognition as one of the best places around!!!!
We decided to add another addition to our family! My daughter picked out an adorable baby brother for our cat. Very happy with our service, the girls are awesome!
Animal welfare friends is a great place that loves animals. Their workers show great care and people should know every animal in the shelter is cared for.
Last October, I apodoted a 13 year old Chihuahua . King Jack came from a kill shelter in Chicago to Animal Welfare Friends Shelter. I feel in love the moment, I seen him. He just had his 14 birthday and we celebrated w a cupcakes and lots if treats and love.
Please when looking for a new best friend, don't overlook the seniors.
They still have plenty of love togive.The staff is amazing and caring. Have told people to visit them if needing a new pet
We had lost our dog in December 2018. We started looking at shelters in March. We randomly walked in to Animal Welfare and started looking. Everyone was more than helpful! We picked out 3 possible dogs, came back a second time to have a meet and greet with our other dog. We were picky and accidentally stayed past closing, trying to make a decision. They were understanding and patient and we found the perfect fit. They do such amazing things for these animals in need and we will forever be thankful.
I have adopted three dogs through AWF and they have all been wonderful! My most recent, Gatsby, was well cared for while at the shelter (the others were in foster care prior to me adopting them). The staff and shelter volunteers made the adoption process run smoothly and were willing to answer any questions I had. Facility was clean and well-maintained.
I have adopted three animals from Animal Welfare Friends and I would never go anywhere else! The staff is super friendly and you can tell they take care of and love their animals. I recommend them to anyone I know that is looking to adopt. I'm so thankful for my pets. Spyro, Opie, and Roman.
They saved our little Bugsy from an other shelter that was over crowded. We also helped foster some from an other kill shelter till they had room open.
I want to give up and update on Jasper. I renamed him its Olaf aka baby boy. He is a bundle of energy, and a lover. I'm so happy to have him in my life. He try's to play with my other cat but she doesn't want to play. She is getting use to Olaf.
I have known about the Animal Welfare Friends for sometime but hadn't visited until our sweet Dodger passed in September this year. We took some of her things out to share with the shelter. What a wonderful place. I also volunteered to take photos for their calendar this year which was so much fun. This place was very clean and many animal loving volunteers/ employees of the shelter.
Thank you Friends for what you do for the community.
I volunteer at AWF and I love it! Everything is always so well taken care of and clean. They truly only want the best for their animals and will do anything to find great homes for them all. Everyone works together, volunteers, staff, and community all come together and make this shelter so special and full of love.
I have followed AWF happenings since their start - back when there was no shelter and relied only on fosters to give adoptable pets homes. We adopted our sweet border collie from AWF in 2006. I have nothing but good to say about this wonderful organization.
Our 1st adoption from Animal Welfare Friends was Sept. 15, 2003. Duke was a wonderful dog who loved everyone. We lost Duke in Dec. 2016, He was able to attend the open house of the shelter.
We fostered many dogs for Animal Welfare Friends and had 4 foster failures that lived out their lives with us. Our last foster failure will be 11 years old this January. DJ was found tied to a tree the end of June with no food or water. He was 6 months old. DJ has a perfect personality.
Animal Welfare Foundation is a great service to Jones County. Many pets have found loving homes through AWF.
My son kept asking me to stop in at the cat shelter when they were located in Olin. I put him off because it breaks my heart when I see cats caged up. He would not let it go so I caved and stopped.
I was quite surprised when entering the cat room that they were free roaming! It was a tremendous relief to me. This organization definitely does its best to have the animals best interests at heart. The consistent hard work and dedication of caring for the animals coming through the shelter on their journey to their final home is literally blood, sweat and tears. Members and volunteers alike devote their homes as foster homes when needed and spend numerous hours to ensure proper care and time is spent with the animals.
I signed up that first day to be a volunteer. I feel truly blessed to be a part of this organization and experience.
The AWF has done so much for the community for years, but now that they have a permanent shelter, they are able to work on a much bigger scale! From transferring pets from overfull, out of state shelters, to working with local police departments on strays, they've come so far this past year.
I started volunteering a few months ago, and am getting to know all of these warm hearted people who do what they do soley because they want to help animals. I can't wait to be in the position to foster animals myself! They're also teaching volunteers to do MORE - signs of illness to look for, proper cross contamination practices, etc.
This is a place where volunteers cry happy tears when animals are adopted, then dig back in and find the next animal to start helping. I'm so glad to have them in Jones County!
I have volunteered with AWF for several years and it has been a fantastic experience. They are helpful and willing to share their knowledge and my girls and I learned so much about raising bottle fed kittens. My children now volunteer for them and one of them has gone onto being an employee. She LOVES her job!!!! I have also adopted animals through them and so has my Dad. They go out of their way to make sure the animal you adopt is the right animal for you and your family. I would suggest AWF be your first stop if you are looking for a pet or if you really want to make a difference by volunteering!
Adopted our cat here! A great facility and friendly volunteers made this a memorable experience for our family.
I’ve been a volunteer with Animal Welfare Foundation of Iowa for 9 years. In addition, to being a volunteer, I was also a board member for several years. During that time, the financial information provided was not very specific and how it was reported made one question how well the financials were being handled.
During my time on the board, a change in officers took place. A few members that were involved from the organization’s inception stepped down. After this occurred, an audit was conducted on the past two years financials. The new board members were saddened and upset about what was found. Personally, I was always proud to be a volunteer for this organization, but after learning the findings of the audit I was sickened and felt betrayed. I really trusted and admired the previous leaders. In addition, all of us true hardily believe this organization really did put 100% of the money raised towards AWFs pets it rescued.
In the end, the shakeup in officers has truly turned this organization around for the better. The organization now has a Board of Directors who performs random audits and the financials are taken care of in a professional manner. They also have a professional bookkeeper and a chain of command which prevents shady spending, lost records, etc. This has in turn, created a more trusting organization. One you can count that when they say 100% of the money raised goes only towards the animals, it goes for only Animal Welfare Foundation of Iowa’s animals it rescues and not for someone else’s personal gain or to take care of their irresponsibly large group of personal pets. This is a good organization who is working to better their community and change things for the better. I have no doubt when I donate money now that I’m really donating to the animals they are saving. Animal Welfare Foundation of Iowa is now truly a GREAT NONPROFIT!
Review from Guidestar