Mission & History

Mission Statement

With compassion and caring as our foundation, Women's Animal Center saves the lives of animals and improves the health of pets through sheltering and adoptions, veterinary services, community programs, educational resources and advocacy.

Founded in 1869 as America's First Animal Shelter™, we honor the legacy of our founders and ensure that animals are treated humanely and with kindness.

History of Women's Animal Center

Society in the 1860s was much different than today. Light was provided by gas lamps, neither TV nor radio existed, horses were the main mode of transportation and women did not yet have the right to vote.

That last fact didn’t stop a group of 30 determined women, lead by Caroline Earle White, from striking out on their own, speaking their minds about how animals should be treated and changing how society thought about the animals that shared their lives.

Mrs. White discovered that there were others interested in beginning a humane society and joined with them to form the Pennsylvania SPCA in 1867. Although Mrs. White and her friends were instrumental in the founding of the Pennsylvania SPCA and raised a significant amount of money for that society, they were denied places on the board of directors simply because they were women.

As the need to promote humane treatment of animals was so great in the city at that time, Mrs. White and her friends followed the advice of Morris Waln, president of the Pennsylvania SPCA, and formed their own society. The Women’s Branch of the Pennsylvania SPCA was formed on April 14, 1869 by Caroline Earle White and 29 other women. Although the organization was called a “branch,” it was totally independent from the beginning, having separate leadership and accounts.