Editorial Note: This is part of a series that profiles the recipients of Lady Freethinker’s Urgent Need Fund 2025 grant program. The program was created to support nonprofit organizations involved in animal rescue and care, as well as those that promote better animal treatment. If you’re interested in learning more about the program, click here.
A $10,000 Urgent Need Fund grant from Lady Freethinker is helping the Liberia Animal Welfare and Conservation Society (LAWCS) bring veterinary care, pet food, and humane education to remote, impoverished communities in Liberia that lack access to veterinary services.
Kittens receiving care at community clinic (Courtesy of LAWCS)
“Many families love their pets but simply cannot afford treatment or reach a clinic,” LAWCS Executive Director Morris Darbo told LFT. “By responding directly in these communities, we prevent prolonged pain, control zoonotic diseases like rabies, improve human-animal relationships, and ensure that animals are treated with compassion and dignity.”
LAWCS is an organization that provides mobile veterinary and spay/neuter services, operates feeding programs, promotes wildlife protection and farmed animal welfare, offers humane education in schools and communities, and advocates for plant-based living.
Community outreach clinic (Courtesy of LAWCS)
This funding will allow LAWCS to deliver its Paws of Hope initiative to underserved communities in Liberia’s Montserrado County, where dogs and cats are forced to forage through waste for food and endure chronic hunger, disease, parasites, and untreated injuries.
“Every animal we help has a story and a family who cares about them,” Darbo said. “Your support is bringing hope to places where animals are often overlooked and services are nonexistent.”
Dogs being examined at community clinic (Courtesy of LAWCS)
Through this effort, LAWCS expects to reach more than 1,200 animals with mobile veterinary care, sterilize 200 animals, provide food during clinic visits and follow-up days, educate more than 5,000 residents about animal welfare, and train 20 community volunteers.
The Paws of Hope project allows LAWCS to help animals who have long gone without medical aid. Hero was one such dog, having lived with mange and painful fungal infections in his ears for more than two years. Although his guardian cared deeply for him, veterinary treatment was unaffordable.
Dog at an outreach clinic (Courtesy of LAWCS)
With this initiative, LAWCS provided treatment and follow-up care — and Hero has since made a strong recovery, bringing immense relief and gratitude to his guardian.
“Because of Lady Freethinker, we can reach the most vulnerable animals, protect them from suffering, and inspire compassion in over 5,000 community members, including the next generation,” Darbo added. “On behalf of the animals and families we serve — thank you for changing lives.”
Dog & cat aided by the feeding program (Courtesy of LAWCS)
Thanks to Lady Freethinker supporters, LAWCS is bringing lifesaving care and dignity to animals in Liberia who have been left without help for far too long. We are deeply grateful for your ongoing generosity, which enables us to help animals around the world.
