Liberia Animal Welfare and Conservation Society

Efforts aimed at creating an Animal Welfare and Conservation Society in Liberia started in 2000 when the founder Mr. Morris Darbo and some concerned animal lovers at the local community level began to campaign against the lack of care for domestic animals. It was observed at that time the number of stray dogs in the streets had increased at an alarming rate, with most Liberians referring to the dogs as “CITIZENS“. It was also observed at that time the wildlife were over harvested due to the bush meat trade as an important source of meat protein and income to local and national economies and their habitat was destroyed due to logging. The campaign methodology to address the stray dogs` situations consisted of outreach visits to a number of pet owners and residents in Monrovia and other parts of the country. The campaign methodology also extended in various communities educating local community people about the importance of wildlife and the forests to the country. These efforts set into motion, the process that led to the establishment of the Liberia Animal Welfare and Conservation Society (LACWS) in late 2001. The Society was subsequently registered and accredited under the laws of Liberia as a non-governmental organization in 2004. It is now the only local animal welfare organization in the Republic of Liberia.