About Us

North Shore Animal League International was founded in the UK in 1997, following the same aims, objectives and ethos as its sister charity in the United States. In the past 10 years, NSALI has become a major player in the world of companion animal welfare, both in its independent work, and also working with the country's top pet charities.

North Shore Animal League International is a UK-based charity who are working towards a world where no companion animal suffers or dies due to lack of money, lack of education or a lack of someone who cares.

History of North Shore Animal League America and the founding of NSALI

In 1944 in Long Island (US), a few animal lovers got together and formed a new charity – and they called it North Shore Animal League as they were on the north shore of the island. They established a shelter in a garage, with a few outdoor fenced runs erected from some odd bits of wood. Despite being such a small venture, they cared for the animals as best they could and their no-kill policy began to attract local attention.

In 1969, one animal lover who heard about the League was Elisabeth Lewyt. She couldn't believe this unusual shelter never destroyed animals, so she attended their next meeting with her husband, Alexander M. Lewyt. He was known nationally as a retired inventor and he sat quietly through the entire meeting until the treasurer's report was read. As usual there wasn't much money and there weren't very many members. There were however lots of dogs and cats that needed care and feeding. Costs were going up and the future looked bleak for this tiny shelter - nevertheless, the group stood by the no-kill cause.

With that, Alex could contain himself no longer. He'd had a lot of experience as an inventor getting his ideas across to people, and he was convinced that if others heard about the shelter, they would support it. His first suggestion was to start a membership drive. This closely-knit group of animal lovers saw the spark of enthusiasm in Mr Lewyt's eyes and naturally gave the job to him. He immediately came out of retirement. Then, he got together a list of dog owners and asked his friend and neighbour, Perry Como, a dog lover himself, to serve as chairman of the drive. Before long the League had several thousand new members and enough money to pay the bills.

As more pets were adopted, more rescues were arranged. In stepped Elisabeth (known as Babette) Lewyt who, while visiting a local pound, saw all the puppies, kittens, dogs and cats about to be destroyed that day. She immediately paid all their fees and put every last one of them in her station wagon. In the words of Mrs. Lewyt, "These are not strays, there's no such thing as a stray. All these animals had homes at one time or another - some were good, some were bad. But they all deserve another chance."

Thanks to Alex & Babette Lewyt's spirit and dedication, North Shore Animal League has grown to become the largest pet adoption agency in the world. Animal orphans are rescued not only from shelters close by, but also from animal organisations in near and distant states. Now North Shore Animal League America is proud to uphold the mission this remarkable couple began so many years ago - to help save every homeless orphaned pet and to find each one a loving guardian and a safe place to call home. Since the founding of the charity 60 years ago, over one million animals have been rehomed.

Before long however it because clear that the problems facing animal welfare are international and that an animal in need is an animal in need wherever in the world it happens to be - and so North Shore Animal League International (NSALI) was born. A UK charity with all the aims and objectives of its sister charity in the US, NSALI helps companion animals and those who strive to help them in the UK and internationally.