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About Us

GAWS is a not-for-profit animal welfare organisation providing best practice care, community education and re-homing programs.

Established in 1956, our service offerings include an animal shelter and a veterinary clinic. We also deliver the Animal Management Services for stray and lost animals brought to our facility by council officers and members of the public for the City of Greater Geelong, Golden Plains Shire, Surf Coast Shire and Borough of Queenscliffe. We care for these animals until they can be reunited with their owners or re-homed in new forever homes.

Our animal shelter receives no government funding and relies on the generous support of the community to deliver this vital work. We thank all those who enable our work and help us give all animals a second chance ‘because every life is precious.’


Our commitment is to:

  • Be advocates for animal welfare
  • Reunite lost animals with their owners
  • Maximise pet adoptions
  • Provide quality veterinary services for the lost and stray animals in our care and affordable veterinary services to the general public
  • Raise awareness of responsible pet ownership and pet companionship
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