Humane Animal Welfare Society of Waukesha County

Early this year, a stray dog was brought to the Humane Animal Welfare Society of Waukesha County (HAWS). The staff took him in, gave him the name Papa D, and helped nurse him to health. To address his injuries, he needed an $1,800 surgery, which HAWS paid for. Papa D now requires continued monitoring by HAWS, as future surgery or other medical procedures may be necessary for his injuries to fully heal.

“That’s what it means to be an open-admission, no-kill shelter,” says Maggie Tate-Techtmann, HAWS’ executive director. “It means we accept animals regardless of health, breed, temperament.”

HAWS is the only animal shelter in the metro Milwaukee area that is both open-admission and no-kill, and it boasts a 97% return-to-community rate, meaning that nearly all the animals it cares for end up in homes. The shelter has robust training and behavior programs in place to ensure that its animals are prepared to return to the community, including the Canine Task Force that helps dogs with greater needs. A nationwide trend of animals staying in shelters longer also means HAWS’ programs are that much more crucial.

The shelter’s mission extends to education as well – over 12,000 adults and kids participate in HAWS educational programming every year. HAWS’ second location, the Schallock Center for Animals in Delafield, now hosts camps, field trips and classes.

“Our youth programs really cultivate compassion, respect and empathy,” says Tate-Techtmann. “When kids work with shelter animals, what they learn extends into how they interact with each other as they grow into adults and leaders in our community.”

This year, HAWS’ board, led by Betsy DeJaco, approved a new strategic plan that focuses on responsiveness to community needs, including supporting older animal owners, promoting animal welfare and more.

“We shelter not only within our four walls, but also outside as well,” says Tate-Techtmann. “We support our community and are a resource for everyone, to ensure that all the animals in the community are getting the care they need.”