The League for Animal Welfare (LAW) has a long and storied history. Recent chapters in that story include times of tumult and controversy, but we are confident that the new leadership and vision now guiding the organization will allow us to achieve our mission: Preserving the lives and dignity of companion animals. LAW is a no-kill shelter that provides temporary housing and care for abandoned, st
ray, or surrendered dogs, cats, reptiles, birds, and other animals. The shelter was founded in Anniston in 1984 by a group of {retired?} members of the Women’s Army Corps (WACs) as a humane alternative to other shelters in the area, which had extremely high kill rates. Initially, LAW only had the financial resources to open for adoptions on Sundays, while volunteers cared for the animals the rest of the week. Over time, though, the WACs running LAW saw that the community was in desperate need of more of its services, and in the 1990s the shelter transitioned to being open seven days a week and staffed by paid employees. Five years ago, Heather Wilson came on board as part of LAW’s kennel staff. The former corrections officer had previously taken time out of the workforce to become a full-time mom to her four children, but as they grew up and became more independent, Wilson had a revelation. “It’s my time,” she thought to herself. “Now I'm going to do something that I’ve always wanted to do.” Wilson grew up surrounded by animals—her mother owned a pet store—and a new direction for her life seemed obvious. “Animals are my passion,” she says, “so I found an application for the League and applied for a job.”
Wilson’s passion and commitment quickly became obvious to LAW’s board, who named her interim director of the facility when that position became open in 2020, eventually making the appointment permanent. It was a challenging time to assume oversight of LAW, with COVID-19 raging. Adoptions could only be conducted by appointment and donations dried up. “They were almost non-existent,” recalls Wilson, “but we managed to stay afloat.”
As the COVID-19 pandemic eased, donations to LAW improved. In 2021, 338 dogs and 212 cats were adopted from LAW, while in 2022, 200 dogs and 120 cats left the facility. Another major event occurred in 2022: Wilson purchased the property, declaring that LAW would remain a no-kill, nonprofit facility. Wilson and the board are passionate about the LAWs success. They will oversee the business and ensure the LAW receives support and resources needed to thrive and be the best animal shelter in Annison!
