Dear Members and Friends:

As we prepare for a new year it’s time to reflect on all we are thankful for. We are eternally grateful to all of our sponsors, members and volunteers – you’re what makes SMAWL the organization it is today.

SMAWL has a dynamic Board of Directors and I would be remiss without thanking them for all they do throughout the year – April Mattedi, Betty Jo Kampf, Cindy Dixon, Lynda Foster, Jessica Mehlin, Liz Passarelli, Donna Poudrier, Autumn Terry and Alane Vinson. Thanks for all your hard work!

Thanks to the donations received from our 2010 Year End Campaign we were able to have a new pump house installed at the ARC and we are in the process of getting a new roof and having the electric upgraded! Our kitties will have a much healthier environment once these upgrades are completed.

Our spay/neuter grant program has been a huge success. In fact, it’s been so successful that we’ve put together a task force to rework the program. In the fiscal year ending April 30, 2011 we had provided 387 grants to spay or neuter dogs and cats in our area in an effort to control pet overpopulation. Of the 387 grants, 116 were provided to neuter cats, 134 were provided to spay cats, 61 were provided to neuter dogs, and 76 were provided to spay dogs. In addition, at the same time we provided grants for 187 rabies vaccinations.

Animal Fair 2011 was hugely popular and successful this year. Although Rudy and I did not win in our Woof-It-Down category (Rudy did just fine, me on the other hand…) a good time was had by all. Please remember to frequent our sponsors throughout the year and thank them for their continued support of SMAWL. Once again we would like to thank and acknowledge our sponsors:

PLATINUM: All Kinds Veterinary Hospital, Inc., Cole Travel, and Indian Bridge Kennels & Suites.

GOLD: Judy Fulir/REMAX 100, The Dorsey Law Firm, Trails End Pet Sitting, LLC, and Training by Julie and Associates, LLC.

SILVER: Farmstead Kennels, Mattedi Gallery, Mid-Atlantic Animal Specialty Hospital (MASH), and PNC Bank.

BRONZE: Checkers Restaurants of California, Waldorf and Lexington Park, Chesapeake Pet Resort & Day Spa, Gridiron Grill, Hilltop Graphics, JnJ Custom Stitches, Pepper’s Pet Pantry, Southern Maryland Association of Professional Pet Sitters (SMAPPS), Southern Maryland Today, Spyro’s Bakery & Café, The BayNet.com, and Wyle/Wyle Cares.

Planning for Animal Fair 2012 will start shortly after the New Year. If you’d like to be a sponsor or vendor please send an e-mail to smawl@yahoo.com and we’ll make sure you get the registration forms as soon as they’re available. Animal Fair 2012 will be on Saturday, May 12, 2012 so save the date.

We are always looking for volunteers and are in desperate need of fosters. Since we do not have a permanent facility we can only intake an animal if we have a foster home he or she can go to. Please consider giving your time through fostering. Our volunteer application can be found on our website, www.smawl.org.

Speaking of our website – our new and improved website should launch around December 15th.

By now you should have received our Year-End Appeal letter. Please remember SMAWL in your year-end giving. We are especially thankful for all the animals who have touched our hearts throughout the year. With your continued support we will be able to continue our mission of helping homeless animals find their furever homes. That’s really what it’s all about!

Katie Werner

~ President, SMAWL Board of Directors