About Us
Hounslow Animal Welfare Society
Registered Charity No.: 1065060
Patrons: His Grace The Duke of Northumberland & Gyles Brandreth
Honorary Members: Anna Ford, Celia Hammond, Lady Marina Vaizey
Hounslow Animal Welfare Society (HAWS) was established in 1976 and became a registered charity in October 1997. Originally based in West London, we take our name from our historical origins in the London Borough of Hounslow but we now cover a wider area, including west and southwest London and parts of Surrey and Middlesex. We rescue, foster and rehome abandoned cats and other small domestic animals who find themselves in desperate situations. We are also active in trapping, neutering and returning feral cats in an effort to reduce the feral cat population.
We take in hundreds of neglected animals in need of urgent care and loving homes. Many have been abandoned after their owners have moved away, are taken ill or can no longer take care of them. Some are unwanted pets, while others come to us as a result of ignorance or deliberate human neglect or cruelty.
We have a strict non-euthanasia policy – we will not put an animal to sleep unless it is too seriously ill or injured for any hope of recovery, or where its quality of life is unsatisfactory. Elderly animals and those on medication often stay with us permanently. Nor do we routinely euthanise cats with FIV. Many of these cats never contract the fully blown disease (they remain carriers) and so we rehome them appropriately without risk to other cats. It is our firm policy to arrange neutering and microchipping of all animals that pass through our hands.
We receive no government funding, employ no staff, and have no premises; we rely entirely on a volunteer network to carry out our day-to-day activities and to foster and rehome animals. We rely solely on donations to fund our work. All the money we raise goes towards helping the animals in our care and donations are always welcome.
We always need more help with our rescue, fostering, transportation, fund raising, and administration activities. Our work is never ending, and we shall always need assistance. If you would like to volunteer, please contact us via the link below, or by emailing cats@haws-animals.org.uk.