Friends of the Westerly Animal Shelter

Friends of the Westerly Animal Shelter is a partner of Best Friends, working together to save the lives of dogs and cats in communities like yours across the country

The Best Friends Network is made up of thousands of public and private shelters, rescue groups, spay/neuter organizations, and other animal welfare groups — all working to save the lives of dogs and cats in communities like yours across the country.

From Friends of the Westerly Animal Shelter

The Friends of the Westerly Animal Shelter (FOWAS) was formed by a group of shelter volunteers to provide financial support for the health, well being and successful adoption of the shelter animals, as well as to assist in the development of youth volunteers who are interested in careers in animal welfare. The intent was to create a vehicle within which funds could be raised to supplement the existing funds provided by the city of Westerly RI that could be used to augment medical care, training and socialization of the shelter animals which is critical for successful adoptions, and to provide scholarships to high school seniors wishing to further their education in the animal welfare field.

Westerly, RI 02891-2789
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How is your community doing when it comes to lifesaving? 

Our partners support each other and inspire their own communities to increase lifesaving of dogs and cats across the country.

Every partner has one common goal: to save the lives of homeless pets.

How Is Your Community Doing?

Animals in Rhode Island need your help

You can make a world of difference in the lives of cats and dogs in your community when you work with Friends of the Westerly Animal Shelter and Best Friends to support homeless pets and save more lives.

woman smiling with a dog

Adopt a pet

When you adopt a homeless dog or cat you’re saving the life of a loving and loyal animal. You’re also making space for other pets to find families of their own.
Adopt a Pet
woman holding two kittens

Foster a pet

Fostering a pet is a short-term commitment with long-term impact. By opening your home to a dog or cat for even a few days, you can save lives.
Foster a Pet

Heartwarming stories from our partners

Just like Friends of the Westerly Animal Shelter, shelters and rescue groups around the country are saving the lives of homeless cats and dogs. Read more about their lifesaving work. 
Jonathan Ramirez next to his mural of a dog with the word, Adopt

One special dog inspired this artist to give back

Adoption gave a dog named Russell a second chance, but it also inspired his adopter to use his talents to help more dogs find homes.
Artist creates mural at Florida shelter
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Cloud and Sol the puppies being adopted in front of Walmart

Aisles of smiles: Hundreds of pets adopted at Walmart events

Best Friends teamed up with Walmart to host pop-up pet adoption events at select stores from coast to coast.
Bring Happy Home adoption events a huge success
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The puppies lying on a red blanket

Puppies thrive thanks to foster volunteer’s courage

How one woman overcame her fear of needles when the lives of her foster puppies depended on it.
Commitment to help overcomes anxiety
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Best Friends logo

Who we are

Best Friends Animal Society  works alongside thousands of animal shelters, rescue groups, and other animal welfare organizations to save the lives of cats and dogs across the country and to make the entire country no-kill in 2025.

The Best Friends Network is comprised of thousands of animal welfare groups from every single state, all working to save the lives of pets in their own communities.

Ranging from animal shelters and rescue groups to spay/neuter and trap-neuter-vaccinate-return (TNVR) organizations, they collaborate with Best Friends to save even more lives in every corner of the country.

Best Friends provides marketing help, fundraising events, webinars, grants, and other resources so that, together, we can Save Them All.

Interested in becoming a partner? Visit bestfriends.org/network »