Our Story
The Animal Rescue League Story
The Animal Rescue League of Western Pennsylvania has a rich history, filled with many triumphs and heartaches, beginning in the early twentieth century. In all the events that have occurred throughout the years, there is one common concern that the Animal Rescue League consistently stands for: the well-being and love of animals.
The founding of the Animal Rescue League goes back to the year 1909. On July 22, five animal loving Pittsburghers had a brilliant idea. With a shared concern for both animal welfare and public health, these men and women came together to form an organization that would devote itself solely to the welfare of animals in the Pittsburgh area. These Pittsburghers sought to return lost dogs and cats to their owners while at the same time giving temporary shelter and food to lost and starving stray dogs and cats. In addition, their organization would secure a merciful and painless death for animals that are old, injured, diseased or dangerous. This group also desired to conduct a refuge farm for horses, dogs and cats. So begins the story of the organization that is now known as the Animal Rescue League of Western Pennsylvania.
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Determined to reduce the suffering of all pets, the founders of the League sought to provide food, shelter and homes for abandoned and stray pets.
The founders, quickly faced with the reality of the situation they were in, realized that not all animals would be placed for adoption. At the same time, they were deeply distressed by the cruel disposal methods used by City officials at that time. Motivated to change the City’s ways, early League founders sought to contract with the City to perform this unpleasant task in the most humane way possible. The City felt that the Animal Rescue League had legitimate reasons in defending their devotion to animals, and on October 30, 1909, the charter for the Animal Rescue League was obtained.
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Finally, at the end of the year in 1909, the five founders (Elizabeth F. Holmes, M.E. Zydeman, A.M. Wadswoth, R.W. Kenney, and Mary Elizabeth Kenney) held the first official and documented meeting for the Animal Rescue League of Pittsburg (no “h” as the City name was then spelled). They convened downtown at the office of James G. Marks in the Federal Building. The constitution and by-laws were ratified and Mrs. F.F. Nicola was elected chairman of the League. The founders also elected nine other people at this meeting to serve a one-year term for the Animal Rescue League as Directors. As the Animal Rescue League was developing into a successful organization, the next step was to build a shelter to house the animals they longed to rescue.
