The World Animal Awareness Society is an award-winning 501(c)(3) nonprofit exploring and inspiring the animal welfare community. We translate emotional commitment into tangible progress with an unwavering focus on the animals people save and the people saving them through consultation, program curation, and sustained volunteer service. Our philosophy: Community Cooperation Converting Caring Into Change! We activate communities globally to help build sustainable solutions.
Riding Shotgun With StraysIn this episode of Riding Shotgun With Strays, we hit the streets with Emily Casso, a relentless San Antonio dog rescuer and District 3 Ambassador who refuses to look the other way when an animal is in crisis. From intercepting vulnerable street dogs to advocating for critical community resources like accessible spay and neuter programs, This raw, unfiltered ride-along captures the heart and tireless advocacy of a rescuer dedicated to saving lives, standing up for pet owners, and ensuring no dog is left behind to fend for itself.
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ABCD Model: The SA Strategy
The World Animal Awareness Society (WA2S.org) is applying the Asset-Based Community Development (ABCD) model to our work in San Antonio as a strategic evolution. Traditional documentary filmmaking often focuses heavily on a community's deficits—in the case of Unleashed: Dogs of San Antonio, the crisis of stray populations and overwhelmed shelters. The ABCD model flips this script. It provides a framework to produce content documenting reality but it actively empowers the community by highlighting and connecting its existing strengths.
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MOMENTUM AT THE WORLD ANIMAL AWARENESS SOCIETY! 🚀
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We are absolutely thrilled to share that the World Animal Awareness Society is already receiving incredible grant support, and the momentum is only building!
🎬 Unleashed: Dogs of San Antonio 📺 San Antonio Pet Promise 🧠 A REST = Animal Rescuer Emotional Support Therapy 📊 San Antonio K9 Surveys 🎥 Animalis Fabula Film Festival 2026 Get ready for our massive Thanksgiving weekend animal story film festival at the historic 1,000 seat Woodlawn Theatre! We are blending world-class animal cinema with powerful advocacy to educate and inspire our community. |
World Animal Awareness Society Announces Free Mental Health Pilot for San Antonio's Frontline Animal Rescue & Welfare Workers Giving Them “A REST” |
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SAN ANTONIO, TX — May 11, 2026 — The World Animal Awareness Society (WA2S.org) today announced the development of a groundbreaking pilot initiative designed specifically to address the mental health crisis within the local animal welfare community. The flagship program of this pilot initiative is called “A REST” (Animal Rescuer Emotional Support Therapy).
If you are an animal shelter worker or an animal rescue volunteer and you feel burnt out, the World Animal Awareness Society wants you to do one thing: give it A REST.
Recognizing the severe emotional toll, compassion fatigue, and burnout experienced by those on the front lines of the stray and unwanted animal crisis, A REST will provide free, private mental health sessions. The goal is straightforward: to help dedicated animal shelter staff (municipal or private) and tireless rescue volunteers get their minds and bodies right so they can continue their vital work and ultimately help more animals. A REST will be made available to ALL front line low-pay staff across San Antonio, including; Animal Care Services, San Antonio Humane Society, San Antonio Pets Alive!, Animal Defense League, SNIPSA. God’s Dogs, and every volunteer animal rescuer in San Antonio.
"The burden carried by those rescuing and caring for animals in the greater San Antonio area is immense, and it is largely carried in silence," said Tom McPhee, Executive Director of the World Animal Awareness Society. "With “A REST”, we are creating a dedicated space for healing, staffed by professionals who truly understand the unique trauma of the animal rescue and welfare community working within a fundamentally broken system."
To ensure the program is precisely tailored to the needs of the community, WA2S is proud to announce the “A REST” Advisory Board, bringing together leading academic experts and seasoned on-the-ground advocates:
- Dr. Denise K. Pena, Ph.D. Educational Entrepreneur
- Katie Boggs, LMSW, Seasoned San Antonio Rescuer
- Deanna Lee, Seasoned San Antonio Rescuer
- Deanna McPhee, President, World Animal Awareness Society
- Tom McPhee, Executive Director, World Animal Awareness Society
Currently, the World Animal Awareness Society is actively building a dedicated support fund to underwrite these critical services and is staffing “A REST” with mental health practitioners who possess a deep understanding of the animal rescue and welfare environment. The “A REST” pilot program is slated to deploy in the greater San Antonio area in late summer / early fall of 2026.
If you are an animal shelter worker or an animal rescue volunteer and you feel burnt out, the World Animal Awareness Society wants you to do one thing: give it A REST.
Recognizing the severe emotional toll, compassion fatigue, and burnout experienced by those on the front lines of the stray and unwanted animal crisis, A REST will provide free, private mental health sessions. The goal is straightforward: to help dedicated animal shelter staff (municipal or private) and tireless rescue volunteers get their minds and bodies right so they can continue their vital work and ultimately help more animals. A REST will be made available to ALL front line low-pay staff across San Antonio, including; Animal Care Services, San Antonio Humane Society, San Antonio Pets Alive!, Animal Defense League, SNIPSA. God’s Dogs, and every volunteer animal rescuer in San Antonio.
"The burden carried by those rescuing and caring for animals in the greater San Antonio area is immense, and it is largely carried in silence," said Tom McPhee, Executive Director of the World Animal Awareness Society. "With “A REST”, we are creating a dedicated space for healing, staffed by professionals who truly understand the unique trauma of the animal rescue and welfare community working within a fundamentally broken system."
To ensure the program is precisely tailored to the needs of the community, WA2S is proud to announce the “A REST” Advisory Board, bringing together leading academic experts and seasoned on-the-ground advocates:
- Dr. Denise K. Pena, Ph.D. Educational Entrepreneur
- Katie Boggs, LMSW, Seasoned San Antonio Rescuer
- Deanna Lee, Seasoned San Antonio Rescuer
- Deanna McPhee, President, World Animal Awareness Society
- Tom McPhee, Executive Director, World Animal Awareness Society
Currently, the World Animal Awareness Society is actively building a dedicated support fund to underwrite these critical services and is staffing “A REST” with mental health practitioners who possess a deep understanding of the animal rescue and welfare environment. The “A REST” pilot program is slated to deploy in the greater San Antonio area in late summer / early fall of 2026.
Unleashed: Dogs of San Antonio
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Community Cooperation Converting Caring Into Change!
The easiest way to describe what the World Animal Awareness Society & WA2S Films does:
We take Community Cooperation & Convert Caring Into Change! Explore how we can activate your community!
We take Community Cooperation & Convert Caring Into Change! Explore how we can activate your community!
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - WA2S Films Announces Premier Nonprofit Fiscal Sponsorship Program for Animal-Centric Media Creators
SAN ANTONIO, TX — April 21, 2026 — The World Animal Awareness Society (WA2S), through its production arm WA2S Films, officially announced today the expansion of its nonprofit fiscal sponsorship program. Designed specifically for interactive media, television, and movie-making producers, this initiative provides a critical launchpad for independent creators dedicated to telling compelling stories about or with animals.
Securing funding for independent documentaries, series, and interactive media is notoriously difficult. By acting as a fiscal sponsor, WA2S Films enables independent producers to solicit and receive tax-deductible donations and apply for foundational grants that require 501(c)(3) nonprofit status. This structural support is designed to empower a new wave of creators to bring impactful animal narratives to the screen without compromising their creative vision or intellectual property.
"Empowering creators to tell vital animal stories is at the core of what we do," said Tom McPhee, Executive Director of the World Animal Awareness Society. "As an active filmmaker and content creator, I know firsthand the immense hurdles involved in financing and producing high-level media. We want to remove those barriers. By offering our nonprofit umbrella to talented producers, we are fostering a collaborative ecosystem where groundbreaking animal-centric television, feature films, and interactive media can thrive."
The sponsorship program is open to producers working across a variety of formats, including:
- Feature Films and Documentaries: Long-form storytelling that shines a light on animal welfare, human-animal bonds, and wildlife conservation.
- Television Series and Episodic Content: Scripted and unscripted formats designed for broadcast and streaming platforms.
- Interactive and New Media: Innovative digital content, including virtual reality, educational apps, and high-impact social media campaigns.
Producers accepted into the fiscal sponsorship program will not only benefit from the nonprofit financial framework but will also align themselves with an internationally recognized organization at the forefront of animal awareness media.
Applications for fiscal sponsorship are currently open on a rolling basis. Interested producers, directors, and creators are encouraged to submit their project proposals, scripts, or pitch decks for consideration. Contact the submissions team directly: [email protected]
SAN ANTONIO, TX — April 21, 2026 — The World Animal Awareness Society (WA2S), through its production arm WA2S Films, officially announced today the expansion of its nonprofit fiscal sponsorship program. Designed specifically for interactive media, television, and movie-making producers, this initiative provides a critical launchpad for independent creators dedicated to telling compelling stories about or with animals.
Securing funding for independent documentaries, series, and interactive media is notoriously difficult. By acting as a fiscal sponsor, WA2S Films enables independent producers to solicit and receive tax-deductible donations and apply for foundational grants that require 501(c)(3) nonprofit status. This structural support is designed to empower a new wave of creators to bring impactful animal narratives to the screen without compromising their creative vision or intellectual property.
"Empowering creators to tell vital animal stories is at the core of what we do," said Tom McPhee, Executive Director of the World Animal Awareness Society. "As an active filmmaker and content creator, I know firsthand the immense hurdles involved in financing and producing high-level media. We want to remove those barriers. By offering our nonprofit umbrella to talented producers, we are fostering a collaborative ecosystem where groundbreaking animal-centric television, feature films, and interactive media can thrive."
The sponsorship program is open to producers working across a variety of formats, including:
- Feature Films and Documentaries: Long-form storytelling that shines a light on animal welfare, human-animal bonds, and wildlife conservation.
- Television Series and Episodic Content: Scripted and unscripted formats designed for broadcast and streaming platforms.
- Interactive and New Media: Innovative digital content, including virtual reality, educational apps, and high-impact social media campaigns.
Producers accepted into the fiscal sponsorship program will not only benefit from the nonprofit financial framework but will also align themselves with an internationally recognized organization at the forefront of animal awareness media.
Applications for fiscal sponsorship are currently open on a rolling basis. Interested producers, directors, and creators are encouraged to submit their project proposals, scripts, or pitch decks for consideration. Contact the submissions team directly: [email protected]
The World Animal Rescue Network partners with many animal rescues around the world.
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World Animal Rescue Network partners in Texas have their own series; Big League Texas Rescue San Antonio - part of the Unleashed series.
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Dog Rescue TV, our second YouTube channel, and Animal Rescue TV our third are managed by WA2S Films with a focus of delivering new and updated animal rescue stories featuring World Animal Rescue Partners to you. And PotenDogs TV too!
