About Us

The Bowie Citizens for Local Animal Welfare (Bowie CLAW) is comprised of compassionate people who bring together various skills and knowledge to move forward our mission of advocating for the interest and welfare of animals in the Bowie and Greater Bowie area.

Our diverse pack of volunteers includes many breeds, ranging from veterinarians, nurses, teachers, voiceover talent, grant writers, web designers, researchers, homemakers, among many others.

Best of all, we bring a wealth of experience and skills in our years of volunteering for animal rescue groups and shelters. We also have several professionals in the animal management arena who understand the importance of disseminating accurate information and advice. The articles and papers posted represent the findings and teachings of other similar groups who endeavor to help animals.

Our name may make you smirk, laugh, or even groan a bit…we know it has a bit of an edge. But it should help you remember who we are and the point we are trying to make.

We are the Bowie CLAW.

We hope that you will support us in our mission, or even better join our group!

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Mission

The mission of Bowie’s Citizen’s for Local Animal Welfare (Bowie CLAW) group is to advocate for the interest and welfare of animals in the city of Bowie and the greater Bowie area.

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Objectives

Our primary objective is to establish a system that ensures the care and placement of Bowie’s homeless animals and the return of lost pets.

Currently, the members of Bowie CLAW have been advocating for a small shelter or holding facility which would allow our lost and stray animals a few more days before they need to be transported to the County facility. These few extra days serve several advantages.

First, it would allow Bowie citizens greater ease at locating their lost animal. It is almost an hour round trip to the County facility. Bowie citizens who have lost their pet must make this trip with no guarantee that their pet is even there. Further, if the pet is there, a Bowie citizen must pay almost $250 in fines to get their pet returned. And none of these fines go to support the work of our own Bowie Animal Control office.

Second, if the original owner can not be located, a small local facility would allow time to locate a rescue group to save the animal. The County facility is over capacity. A dog or cat is fortunate to have five days before it is put up for adoption or euthanized. 

Third a holding facility would allow for more time for an animal to be monitored and medically evaluated to determine if the would qualify for fostering. Bowie CLAW hopes to support a fostering program and encourage citizens to adopt these special animals rather than continue to support the breeding and selling of pets.

Fourth, a local facility could also be used as a disaster preparedness shelter. Citizens of Bowie who must evacuate their homes often fear for the lives of their animals. At times, this fear leads to not evacuating an unsafe home. If citizens could feel assured that their pet will be cared for during their times, they may take better care to protect themselves and their families. Further, it is a national mandate for cities to provide a safe harbor for animals. Currently Bowie is only able to offer a list of hotels.

Five, a local facility – able to better unite owner and pet, secure support from local rescue groups and fostering – would certainly ease the burden on the County. Given population growth in PG, and the interest in pet ownership (as demonstrated by increased pet licenses), the county can not properly handle these animals alone. Greenbelt currently has a small facility – but it is the only city in the county that even attempts to reduce the county’s burden. Bowie can support it’s own facility. And it should.

We are not one track minded however….while working to secure a small facility, Bowie CLAW also aims to work with City and County officials to develop and support educational programs that inspire awareness, understanding and compassion for all living things. Towards this goal, our work is intended to:

• promote responsible pet ownership;
• encourage spay and neutering of all companion animals/pets; and
• support the protection of animals and assist in the enforcement of cruelty to animal laws.

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