About AWA
Before the Animal Welfare Association started in 1991, the campus grounds were overpopulated with cats. Under the university policy at that time, the cats were mass exterminated periodically creating a population vacuum. This allowed more cats to move and later to be born into the area, causing an population explosion, after which another mass extermination would be executed.
Then a group of students, faculty, and staff decided to try an alternative to control the cat population, by trapping and spaying and neutering all the cats on campus. During their first year, the volunteers for Animal Welfare Association placed over one hundred cats for adoption. Today, there are only around forty cats living on campus.
When we are informed of the presence of a new cat on campus, a team of volunteers goes and try to trap the cat. We use safe, cruelty-free traps and after the cat is caught, a blanket is put over the trap to reduce anxiety from the cat. We take the trapped cat to a veterinarian as soon as it is caught. If the cat is determined to be free of FIV or FIP, it is spayed or neutered and monitored to determine if it is placeable in a home. If the cat is tamable, it is put in a foster home. If the cat is feral, it is released back to the same area and at the same time of the day where and when it was trapped, so that it will become familiar with the area faster.
Although we deal mostly with cats on UCLA campus, AWA has also helped to place several dogs found on campus, and we also assisted injured opossums and birds. Please contact us if you think you encountered a new cat, stray dog, or other injured animals on campus.
Unfortunately, the UCLA Animal Welfare Association is unable to help if you have a pet to give up or if you have rescued/found an animal off-campus and need to find him or her a home. However, you can try contacting one of these other rescue organizations listed on the Animal Rescue Organizations section. Some organizations also have adoption shows at pet supply stores or various other facilities where you can show your dog or cat on weekends and try to find him or her a home. Please contact the organizations for more details.
If you want to make a donation to help with the medical expenses for the campus animals, please email us at AWA@ucla.edu. The donation is tax-deductible.
Information about Policies:
- Home
- Important Notice: Abandoning Animals
* UCLA's Official Policy for Pets on Campus
General Info about our Programs:
- AWA Meeting Minutes
- Speakers and Events
- Feral Cat Management
- Foster Care & Adoption
- Work with Other Organizations
Extra:
- Immediate Volunteers Needed
- Photo Archive
- Vegan Recipes
- Links to Programs at Other Colleges
- Links to Animal Rescue Organizations and Resources
email: awa@ucla.edu
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