Happy tails

Project Information

In Sri Lanka, the rising number of stray and abandoned animals has become a critical issue, with shelters like AWPA struggling to provide for the overwhelming influx of dogs and cats in need. A lack of awareness regarding adoption opportunities, the benefits of adopting mixed-breed animals, and the consequences of backyard breeding continues to fuel this crisis. The demand for expensive, purebred animals overshadows the plight of thousands of rescue animals, leaving them to a life of uncertainty, often without ever experiencing the warmth of a loving home. Furthermore, many pet owners are unaware of the responsibilities that come with ethical pet ownership, leading to cases of abandonment when the novelty of having a pet fades. Through Happy Tails, we aimed to tackle this issue head-on—not only by providing immediate relief through food sponsorship but also by creating long-term change through a three-phase campaign: a pre-project awareness program, the main service activity, and a post-project educational campaign.

To ensure Happy Tails delivered both immediate impact and lasting awareness, the initiative was strategically divided into three key phases. Each phase was thoughtfully designed to build on the other—starting with education, moving into direct service, and concluding with sustained advocacy. This structure allowed us to engage the community before, during, and after the main project day, ensuring our message about the importance of rescue animal adoption reached a wider audience and had a deeper influence.