OUR MISSION

A Welcome Home Animal Rescue (AWHAR)  is a 501(c)(3) non-profit charity founded in 2009 that was created to rescue stray, homeless, injured and abandoned animals. Wherever possible, our mission is to end the suffering of the animals who we rescue. We are well-respected in the rescue community for our approach of quick response and for our high-quality care for all of our rescued animals is recognized and appreciated. We go to extraordinary efforts to fully vet and to place healthy dogs and cats in the right homes where they become cherished lifetime family members. Our goal is also to help individual adopters find the right pets for their specific home needs so that the animals chosen and placed are far less likely to be returned.

​NEWS - AWHAR is proud to announce that as of 2024 we are a grant recipient and a partner with Second Life Atlanta in Decatur, Georgia.​ Their mission is to generated revenue to support a number of Animal Rescue charities in Georgia, supporting their own mission of population control through spay and neutering, as well as assisting with other rescue services that support adoptions. Second Life generates revenue via their Decatur, Georgia Thrift Store and other programs. Please visit their website and purchase from their fantastic thrift store, visit on-line and in person, and please donate, and visit often!

NOTE: Vet References are Key: We do home visits and we do reference checks with the applicant’s prior or current vet hospitals and clinics.  Veterinarians are the primary references needed to document the applicants’ care of prior or current animals.  If you do not have good consistent vet references for your pets, please do not apply.  We do consider, however, first time pet owners for some cats. We reserve the right to refuse applicants who are not truthful on applications, or who are otherwise deemed not the appropriate fit for any specific animal. Please read about our full adoption policies here.

PHILOSOPHY: We believe that every animal deserves humane treatment . We believe in our role as caretakers, protecting companion animals who cannot defend themselves. Leading with kindness and compassion is our motto. We will intervene to stop animal suffering wherever we can.   We are a NO KILL SHELTER, but we also believe that humane euthanasia is sometimes the best course for a sick and suffering animal, and we are compassionate enough to take that step when needed. We are a small group and help as many animals as possible based on our time and budget.   We make an important difference in reducing overpopulation.