Women's Animal Center Celebrates Its Legacy In Bensalem

BENSALEM TOWNSHIP, PA —In honor of Women's History Month, America's first animal shelter is looking back at its legacy in which it was founded by women —30 of them in fact.

The Women’s Animal Center has been honoring the trailblazing women who created the shelter during the month of March. The organization will also celebrate its 154-year anniversary on April 14.

The animal center, on 3839 Richlieu Rd, was launched in Philadelphia in 1869 by women who were concerned about the manner in which strays on Philadelphia streets were captured and killed.

The group successfully petitioned the Philadelphia City Council to take over the municipal pound, which was repurposed as the first facility in the country for sheltering and rehoming animals.

Women’s Animal Center also pioneered the nation’s first humane education programs; first free veterinary clinic; and first anti-vivisection society, the organization said in a press release celebrating Women's History Month.

The founders of Women’s Animal Center, led by Caroline Earle White, established an organization that continues the daily, lifesaving work of more than 3,500 animal shelters currently in operation across the country.

In 2021, more than 3 million cats and dogs were adopted.

Women’s Animal Center continues to be governed by an all-women board of directors. and executive leader. The organization will mark its 154th Anniversary on April 14th of this year and remains dedicated to its lifesaving work.

Women’s Animal Center bears a great honor and responsibility to the fundamental role women have played in the founding and evolution of animal welfare in our great nation, past and present.
About Women’s Animal Center.

In addition to animal sheltering and pet adoptions, the Women’s Animal Center provides a variety of vital services to the Greater Philadelphia region, including dog training, physical rehabilitation, behavioral and veterinary resources, youth programming, and humane education.

As part of its mission, Women’s Animal Center’s Veterinary Hospital provides affordable high-quality veterinary care to families in need, making pet ownership affordable and thus keeping more animals in their homes and out of shelters.

The hospital is among just 12 percent nationwide to be accredited by the American Animal Hospital Association. Contributions to the non-profit organization from generous donors and a portion of proceeds raised through veterinary service fees support safe shelter, nutritious meals, medical, and compassionate care for the surrendered and stray animals waiting for a second chance with a forever family.

The animal center is located at 3839 Richlieu Road, Bensalem, and can be reached by phone at 215-750-3100. For programs/services, to adopt a shelter pet and/or make a monetary donation: www.womensanimalcenter.org

The shelter's legacy includes:

• Creating the nation’s first humane education programs for children, distributing literature in Philadelphia schools, and establishing the Band of Mercy, an educational program designed to teach young people about the kind and humane treatment of animals. (1882)
• Denying medical experiments on animals homed at the City Pound and Shelter, leading to the formation of the American Anti-Vivisection Society, the nation’s first such organization, which remains active to this day. (1883)
• Creating horse watering stations and building fountains throughout Philadelphia to provide fresh water for horses and small animals. At peak, they operated more than 50. Some are still in existence (early 1900s)
• Opening the Caroline Earle White Dispensary, the nation’s first free veterinary clinic. (1909)
• Founding other shelters, not only in the Philadelphia region but nationally and internationally, as an outgrowth of the animal welfare movement. (1873)
• Aiding in the passing of a revised Pennsylvania Dog Law, which forces commercial breeders to abide by specific housing, temperature, and health care standards for their industry. (2008)
• Receiving national accreditation for their Veterinary Hospital through the American Animal Hospital Association — one of just 5 percent of non-profit animal shelter/veterinary hospitals to attain accreditation. (2016)