Mission

The mission of Angels Helping Animals Worldwide is to transport rescues from areas where there is an overabundance of stray, homeless, and endangered animals to areas where there is a shortage of adoptable pets and to facilitate the adoption process. AHAWW rescues dogs from islands devastated by hurricanes, areas where there are earthquakes, communities in need, puppy mills in Pennsylvania, Death Row Dogs of New York, and areas with over populations due to lack of spay and neuter programs. AHAWW saves dogs from the US Virgin Islands, Florida, South Carolina, Virginia, Bermuda, and locally. We work with the community and collaborate with other welfare organizations to rescue at risk animals. AHAWW provides medical and emotional support while finding rescues loving and caring permanent homes on Martha’s Vineyard, throughout New England. We assist with spay and neuter costs for pets adopted through our program, in addition to educating the communities we serve on preventative medicine practices such as for heartworm and tick borne illnesses. All pets that come into our care receive a medical assessment that will often include blood tests, vaccinations, deworming, and sometimes surgery.

The History of AHAWW

Angels Helping Animals Worldwide (AHAWW) is a 501(c) organization that relies 100% on donations and grants. AHAWW was founded in 2014 by Leslie Hurd with the assistance of a few dedicated volunteers.  For the past 30 years Leslie has worked tirelessly to rescue dogs from dire situations, developed school humane education programs, facilitated psychotherapy courses for special needs children and adults working with pets, and has served as an adviser and board member for PAWS for 20 years. In 2012, With Rhea Vasconcellos of the Virgin Islands, Leslie also founded Pets with Wings, non-profit organization set up to transport as many homeless animals as possible from the Humane Society of St. Thomas to rescue groups, shelters and potential adopters on the U.S. mainland in areas where there are shortages of adoptable pets. AHAWW relies on adoption fees, donations, and grants and is operated by a group of dedicated volunteers and a committed board of directors. .

Vision/Goals

The vision of AHAWW is to build communities where people value animals and treat them with respect and kindness. We strive to build communities where every animal has a compassionate and quality forever home. AHAWW strives to be a model rescue by partnering with other organizations and overcrowded shelters that need to make room for more abandoned dogs. We strive to take the lead on providing awareness and education to others in our community as well as in the many communities we serve. We strive to encourage communities of responsible companion animal guardians, eliminating the need to euthanize dogs as a means of population control, and promote a society where companion animals become more valued. We are happy to say we average saving 40 dogs per month so we hope to save at least 500 this year alone!

Relationship with Other Organizations

AHAWW works with other organizations both locally and in other areas. We work closely with other rescues locally as well as with the Pets With Wings program in the U.S. Virgin Islands and 1 Love 4 Animals in Pennsylvania. AHAWW works with Pets with Wings to transport rescued animals to be placed in foster homes and with adoptive families throughout New England. AHAWW works with 1 Love 4 Animals to place dogs from Amish puppy mills in Pennsylvania into foster homes and eventually into adoptive homes.

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