AWLQ STRENGTHENS ONE WELFARE FOCUS WITH APPOINTMENT OF
DR SONYA MCDOWALL AS PRINCIPAL RESEARCH OFFICER
- Internationally respected researcher appointed to lead AWLQ’s Human-Animal Wellbeing & Strategy agenda
- Collaborative workshop highlights cost-of-living pressures impacting pets and people
- Expanded focus on prevention programs, including AWLQ’s Pet Pantry initiative, to keep families and pets together
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
27 April, 2026
Gold Coast, Queensland — Animal Welfare League Queensland (AWLQ) has appointed Dr Sonya McDowall as its new Principal Research Officer, Human-Animal Wellbeing & Strategy, strengthening the organisation’s commitment to evidence-based programs that recognise the deep and enduring bond between animals and humans.
Dr McDowall joins AWLQ at a pivotal time as the organisation delivers on its 2024–2028 Strategic Plan and deepens its focus on prevention, community support and advocacy. Her newly created role will lead research, strategy development and cross-sector collaboration to better understand and respond to the complex challenges facing both animals and the people who care for them.
This week Dr McDowall facilitated her first major initiative in the role, a collaborative human-animal strategy workshop, bringing together stakeholders, practitioners and community representatives to explore the evolving needs of people and companion animals across Queensland.
A key theme to emerge from the workshop was the growing impact of the cost-of-living crisis, with many families facing the heartbreaking reality of having to weigh up essential household bills against the cost of caring for their pets.
CEO Sam Jacklin said the appointment reinforces the organisation’s One Health, One Welfare approach, recognising that supporting people and their pets is fundamental to protecting animals.
“At AWLQ, we see every day how strong the human-animal bond is. Pets are family. They provide companionship, stability and emotional support, particularly during difficult times,” Ms Jacklin said.
“With cost-of-living pressures continuing to affect households across Queensland, some families are being forced into impossible decisions between paying rent, buying groceries or accessing veterinary care for their pets. Our role is to step in early with practical support that keeps pets and people together.”
Programs such as AWLQ’s Pet Pantry initiative, which provides pet food and essential supplies to families experiencing hardship, form a critical part of this preventative approach. Alongside Community Vet Clinics, emergency boarding and desexing support, the Pet Pantry program helps reduce unnecessary surrenders and ensures animals remain safely in loving homes.
Drawing on her expertise in human-animal interaction and community research, Dr McDowall will lead the development of AWLQ’s Human-Animal Wellbeing Framework, ensuring services are strategically aligned to emerging community needs and grounded in data and lived experience.
“We heard clearly in the workshop that pets are not extras in people’s lives. They are companions, protectors and a source of comfort during hardship,” Dr McDowall said.
“By listening to our community and understanding the barriers they face, we can design practical, compassionate interventions that strengthen the wellbeing of both animals and the people who love them.”
The initiative builds on AWLQ’s strong 2024/25 impact, which saw more than 11,000 animals provided with safe haven and more than 35,000 animals assisted through its Community Vet Clinics, alongside thousands of Queenslanders supported through preventative and outreach programs.
By embedding research and strategy into its operational model, AWLQ is further advancing its vision of every companion animal having a safe and caring environment where their needs are respected and met.
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About Animal Welfare League Queensland
For more than 65 years, Animal Welfare League of Queensland has helped keep people and pets together across Queensland, providing rehabilitation, rehoming and vital community support for animals in need. Last year, AWLQ rehomed 7,311 animals and assisted a further 35,794 animals through its Community Vet Clinics, delivering affordable veterinary care, adoptions, outreach and education across its network in Brisbane, the Gold Coast and Ipswich.
