AWA Adoption Center — Local services in Voorhees Township

It’s disappointing to share our recent experience at the AWA. We visited with the intention of adopting a small pet but left feeling discouraged due to the treatment we received from the staff and volunteers. As the owner of a local pet sitting business with experience caring for small animals, I was surprised and frustrated by their persistence about the type of pen required for a bunny, despite my knowledge. Some of the volunteers seemed uninformed about their own procedures, particularly when letting us meet the bunnies. For instance, they emphasized the fragility of a bunny’s spine, which I’m well aware of, but the way it was communicated felt belittling, even after I explained my expertise.

The overall environment felt unwelcoming, and the new regulations made it challenging to form a meaningful bond with the bunnies. We were serious about adopting but ultimately felt so discouraged that we left. To add to the frustration, we had previously put our names on a list for a specific bunny. However, when it came time to meet him, we discovered he had ear mites—a detail that was not communicated to us beforehand. This was particularly disappointing, as I wouldn’t have been able to adopt him that day due to having another pet at home who could potentially contract ear mites.

When we asked to meet a different bunny, the process felt unnecessarily complicated. It seemed the staff were unsure if they could accommodate our request simply because we had entered the first bunny’s name on the form. A simple name change should have sufficed, but instead, we were left feeling even more unwelcome. Later, we learned that we could have observed any of the animals in their enclosures before formally requesting a meeting—a fact that was never explained to us. This lack of clear communication only added to the confusion.

I share this feedback reluctantly, as we have supported the AWA in the past, both personally and through my business. Unfortunately, it seems that some of the staff and volunteers lack the knowledge and training necessary to create a positive and supportive adoption experience. We’ve heard there may be a new director in place, but sadly, it appears the changes have not been...

The AWA Center was an absolute disappointment and completely family-unfriendly. The process was unbearably long, and after waiting far too long, the manager approached us in the rudest and most unprofessional manner imaginable. If you plan on bringing your kids here, don’t. This place is a nightmare.

Not only was the experience frustrating for me, but they also made it a bad and upsetting experience for my kids, who were there hoping for a positive adoption journey. Instead, they were left confused and disheartened by the way we were treated.

I ignored warnings from friends who advised me not to go, hoping to give this center a fair chance. Unfortunately, they were right. The manager couldn’t even muster the basic decency to greet us before rudely addressing us. It’s unacceptable for a place that deals with sensitive, family-oriented matters like adoption to operate with such disrespect and inefficiency.

Do yourself a favor and stay far away from this center. I would never recommend it to anyone, especially families...

My husband and I have been looking for a second dog for some time now, but we did not have any luck. We decided to come to the AWA and we found the perfect little pup to expand our family. The staff was so friendly, and the facility was clean. Since we had a dog already, we had to do a meet and greet with them. We worked with Julie and Jeweliza; who were absolutely amazing. They gave us so many helpful training tips and answered every single question we had. They also were great with our dog, who was very anxious when meeting the puppy. I highly recommend the AWA, it’s one of the best shelters we have ever visited. It is very apparent that the animals are well taken care of and seem so happy. It’s also great because they offer so many services like training to help if you need it. Overall, we were so impressed with the AWA. It was such a...