World Animal Awareness Society - WA2S.Org & WA2S Films, 100 Military Plz, San Antonio, TX (2026)

10/10/2026

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - Groundbreaking Bilingual Series "San Antonio Pet Promise" Commences Production Across San Antonio

SAN ANTONIO, TX – October 10, 2026 – Production is officially slated to begin on four episodes of the San Antonio Pet Promise, an ambitious 26-part bilingual public service campaign designed to reshape the community's relationship with neighborhood animals. Filming will take place at strategic locations throughout the city from October 16 through October 18, 2026 on this shoot.

Spearheaded by the World Animal Awareness Society (WA2S), the series stars prominent community advocate Ray Najera alongside accomplished journalist and filmmaker Teresa Garza, stepping into the principal role of the Spanish-language lead, Lumina. The campaign is being written and directed by WA2S Films Director Tom McPhee, with Houston-based cinematographer Leo Lopez of Wolfpack Visual Media serving as co-director and director of photography.

The San Antonio Pet Promise tackles the critical realities of free-roaming dogs and municipal animal infrastructure through a unique dual-language format, delivering urgent messaging concurrently in English and Spanish to ensure decades of relevance.

For Najera, the series carries deep personal resonance as he channels his passionate advocacy following the tragic loss of his father, Ramon, to a severe dog mauling. Partnering with Garza—whose extensive background in impactful storytelling grounds the character of Lumina—the duo aims to foster long-term community awareness, responsible pet ownership, and neighborhood safety.

Over the three-day shoot, the production team will utilize San Antonio's diverse urban landscape as the backdrop for these pivotal initial episodes. Lopez's visual direction will bring a raw, cinematic quality to the public service campaign, designed to resonate powerfully across local broadcast television, print media, and social platforms for decades to come.

Production Highlights:
Shoot Dates: October 16 – 18, 2026
Locations: Various districts throughout San Antonio, Texas
Cast: Ray Najera and Teresa Garza (as Lumina)
Directed by Tom McPhee; Co-Directed & Lensed by Leo Lopez (Wolfpack Visual Media)
Scope: The first four installments of a 26-episode bilingual broadcast and digital series

Local broadcast, print, and digital media are invited to cover the production process. For press access, on-set interviews with the directors and cast, or to request media assets and b-roll upon wrap, please contact the production office, here: [email protected]

10/10/2026

has been working with animal rescues and welfare professionals around the world for 17 years, October is our anniversary month. Our team has been in the field for 21 years, ever since Hurricane Katrina in NOLA in 2005. has interacted with more than 2,250 animal welfare and rescue organizations in 45 countries in the last 21 years! Only National Geographic TV has logged more.

At the World Animal Awareness Society, our mission goes beyond documenting the realities of street animals—it's about driving tangible, life-saving support directly to the frontlines of rescue. Over the past five years, we have proudly built partnerships with over 2,200 NGOs worldwide, helping raise more than $1,500,000 to empower their critical work.

When we share the full stories of these rescues on our channels, it does more than just increase their global reach; it acts as a direct fundraising pipeline. As Victor Larkhill of Let's Adopt International noted, the funds raised through our platform go entirely to the NGOs on the ground. This direct financial support is actively used to run rescue facilities, mobilize response teams, and pay for essential, life-saving medical surgeries.

From independent local shelters to global advocates like Dr. Jane Goodall who supported us, this collaborative network proves that authentic cinematic storytelling can create real-world change. Thank you to our incredible community of viewers and donors for making this impact possible, and to the relentless frontline workers who inspire our films every day. Viktor Larkhill's YouTube space has grown to be top 5 while the WA2S YouTube channel is ranked #6.

🌍 Watch our global partners in action and see the impact of your support: https://www.youtube.com/WA2Sorg

10/08/2026

🚨 URGENT: Dogs making more 🐶 puppies in San Antonio's District 2 🚨 Dogs in Heat are drawing dogs in from all over the neighborhood!

Today we were back out in the field, collecting visual data across the South and Southeast of San Antonio. The cameras were rolling, and the reality of our street dog population remains as visible and pressing as ever. More here: www.WA2S.org

In just a short time navigating these neighborhoods, we documented the everyday lives of San Antonio's free-roaming dogs. We captured footage of nursing mothers out on the asphalt, dogs navigating around parked cars and neighborhood trash cans, and pups resting in driveways. While some dogs were highly vocal and alert, others were simply wandering down the sidewalks, scavenging, or finding a patch of shade.

This visual data is a critical component of the ongoing narrative we are building through the Amazon Prime documentary series, "Unleashed: Dogs of San Antonio". By utilizing spatial telemetry and street-level surveys, we are ensuring that this reality is accurately documented and brought to the forefront.

We will continue to ride sh***un with these strays to map the reality of our community's infrastructure. Stay tuned as we process today’s B-roll and bring more of these stories to light.

10/06/2026

Our Pet Survey Team is actively out on the streets, continuing our visual data collection for our upcoming documentary series for Amazon Prime, *Unleashed: Dogs of San Antonio*. Documenting these roaming populations gives us a real-time look at how municipal infrastructure and stray animals intersect daily across the city's districts.

Take a look at one of the friendly, unfixed males we documented on a recent route, you can see his expressive face up close. As we tracked his movements, capturing him casually navigating the neighborhood streets. The presence of a San Antonio Police Department cruiser in the background highlights the frequent, everyday encounters between our city's first responders and roaming pet populations. The reason the police were talking with this woman had nothing to do with the dogs, at all.

This type of raw field footage is exactly why we are developing the 'San Antonio Pet Promise' campaign. By understanding the reality on the ground—we can better advocate for an efficient, community-scout-led deployment model that actually serves the neighborhoods. Subscribe to World Animal Awareness Society & WA2S Films and get more info here: www.WA2S.org

Stay tuned for more updates as we continue mapping the districts, and let us know what you are seeing on your own streets. 🐾🎥

10/03/2026

🚨 WA2S Films is Back on the Ground in District 2 🚨 Our team was back on the streets of San Antonio's District 2 today, documenting the ongoing reality of our city's stray population. Among the dogs we encountered was a young, incredibly friendly German Shepherd mix who is visibly struggling with a back leg limp.

Despite the injury and living on the streets, this pup’s spirit is completely unbroken. He is so eager for affection that he came right up to us to give kisses. We also documented him roaming alongside a scruffy brown companion, showing how these dogs often rely on each other to survive. You can see him navigating the neighborhood, clearly approachable but in desperate need of medical care and a safe place to land.

These dogs need help. Are you willing to step up to help them?

If you are a local rescue, a foster, or someone who can help get this incredibly sweet dog off the street, message us right now. 🐾

10/01/2026

🚨 URGENT: Dog in Severe Distress in San Antonio's District 2 🚨 Yesterday, while conducting street-level field surveys, the World Animal Awareness Society (WA2S.org) team encountered a pack of stray dogs congregating near an abandoned property in District 2 . While the dogs appear to be looking out for one another, one specific pup in the group is in desperate need of immediate medical intervention .

A shy, white dog with black markings has a severely broken back right leg . The leg is visibly dangling, and the dog is limping and in a tremendous amount of pain . It appears the dog may have been struck by a vehicle, yet it is still bravely trying to keep up with the rest of the pack as they roam the street and the overgrown lot . This dog needs our help now .

We need to get this dog off the streets and into proper veterinary care as soon as possible. If you are a local San Antonio rescue partner, or if you have the resources to help us safely secure and transport this dog for medical treatment, please send us a direct message immediately.

Let’s activate our community network and fulfill the San Antonio Pet Promise for this injured pup. Please SHARE this post to help us get this dog the urgent care it desperately needs! 🐾

09/30/2026

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - ANNOUNCING A MAJOR MILESTONE: ANIMALIS FABULA FILM FESTIVAL SECURES GRANT FROM THE SUMMERLEE FOUNDATION TO POWER NEW ADVOCACY TRACK

San Antonio, TX — September 30, 2026 — The World Animal Awareness Society (WA2S.org) and award-winning filmmaker Tom McPhee are thrilled to announce a monumental grant award from the Summerlee Foundation Board of Directors. This prestigious funding will officially launch **The Summerlee Advocacy Track** at the Animalis Fabula Film Festival.

The Animalis Fabula Film Festival has long been a premier cinematic destination celebrating the profound bond between humans and animals. With this generous support from the Summerlee Foundation—a revered champion for animal protection and welfare—the festival is elevating its programming to unprecedented heights. The newly minted Summerlee Advocacy Track will serve as a dedicated, high-profile platform for the world's most impactful filmmakers, documentarians, and storytellers who are driving critical conversations around animal welfare, rescue operations, and global advocacy.

"This is a transformative moment for the Animalis Fabula Film Festival and the global community of creators dedicated to animal welfare," said Tom McPhee, Executive Director of the World Animal Awareness Society & WA2S Films and Animalis Fabula Film Festival Director. "The Summerlee Foundation’s incredible generosity validates the power of film to inspire tangible, real-world change.

With The Summerlee Advocacy Track, we are creating an amplified stage for the boldest voices in animal advocacy cinema. We are deeply honored by the Board of Directors' belief in our vision and mission."

The grant will directly fuel the curation, exhibition, and promotion of this specialized track, ensuring that vital advocacy films receive the premier spotlight they deserve. Beyond screenings, the track is expected to facilitate dynamic panel discussions, workshops, and networking events, connecting passionate filmmakers with the organizations and audiences necessary to expand their real-world impact.

As preparations for the Animalis Fabula Film Festival continue, this grant cements the event's status as a crucial intersection of world-class filmmaking and vital animal advocacy.

Further details regarding film submissions for The Summerlee Advocacy Track, as well as festival dates and locations, will be released in the coming soon.

Animalis Fabula Film Festival: Spearheaded by Tom McPhee and the World Animal Awareness Society, the Animalis Fabula Film Festival (AniFab) is a global cinematic event dedicated to showcasing exceptional stories about animals and the humans who interact with them. WA2S is an award-winning non-profit media organization that produces, curates, and distributes educational and inspiring content to highlight the human-animal intersection worldwide.

About The Summerlee Foundation:
The Summerlee Foundation is a mission-driven organization dedicated to alleviating fear, pain, and suffering among animals, as well as preserving and promoting Texas history. Through its targeted grantmaking, the Foundation empowers initiatives that create a lasting, positive impact on animal welfare.

Animalis Fabula Film Festival: https://www.animalisfabula.org/

---

09/30/2026

🚨 OFFICIAL CASTING ANNOUNCEMENT: Teresa Garza Joins WA2S Films cast of San Antonio Pet Promise! 🚨 The WA2S Films' San Antonio Pet Promise team is absolutely thrilled to announce that acclaimed San Antonio-based filmmaker, journalist, and actress Teresa Garza has officially joined our cast!

Teresa steps into the pivotal role of Lumina, joining Ray Najera to officially round out our two principal actors for the upcoming 26-part series.

Originally from Monterrey, Mexico, Teresa brings a phenomenal bicultural perspective and over 20 years of dynamic media experience to the project. From her early days as a news anchor and field reporter to her current work championing female empowerment, she is a force in Texas media. Driven to improve representation, she launched and hosts the TVSA television program *Mujer Poder Hoy*, highlighting powerful stories of women across San Antonio.

Her dedication to socially driven storytelling extends deeply into the community. As Marketing Director for YWCA San Antonio, she has co-produced the video series *Why Can't They Just...?*—an impactful examination of systemic barriers facing local women that earned a Lone Star Emmy nomination.

As an independent filmmaker, Teresa is celebrated for her minimalist, emotionally driven narrative cinema, frequently writing and directing stories centered on complex, resilient female characters. Her impressive slate spans the psychological thriller *Easy Prey* (2018), the family migration drama *Before They Forget* (2025), and her latest 2026 projects, *Clear Sight* and her upcoming feature *Sofia, My Love*.

Bringing a storyteller with such a profound dedication to community advocacy, deep emotional intelligence, and complex character building is a massive win for the San Antonio Pet Promise series. We couldn't have asked for a better artist to bring Lumina to life on screen.

Co-Directing Pet Promise are Leo Lopez of WolfPack Visual Media and Tom McPhee. more: https://www.wa2s.org/petpromisesa

Please help us give Teresa a massive WA2S welcome in the comments below! 👇 Let's get to work! 🎥🐾

09/29/2026

Morning Field Report: San Antonio District 2 📸🐕 This morning, our team was out on the ground in District 2, capturing images and documenting the current reality of roaming dogs on our streets. While conducting our survey, we spotted two Animal Care Services (ACS) trucks speeding toward the east side. Naturally, we followed them to document the response.

When we all arrived at the location, two trucks and two Animal Control Officers (ACOs) were on the scene—but the animal was nowhere to be found.

From a logistical and data-driven standpoint, deploying two full-size capture units to an unverified location isn't very efficient. A much more effective model would be to deploy a "scout" to quickly put eyeballs on the situation and verify the animal's presence. Once the animal is confirmed and tracked, the scout could then call in the ACOs to execute the capture. This would save valuable time, conserve resources, and keep capture trucks available for verified targets.

Meanwhile, the reality of the streets remains unchanged. While that specific call turned up empty for ACS, we documented numerous other dogs roaming District 2 this morning, just like the ones in these pictures. More: www.WA2S.org

We need smarter, more efficient systems to address this ongoing crisis. What do you think about implementing a community "scout" system for animal control? Let’s discuss below. 👇

09/29/2026

🌟 The AI Revolution in Animal Welfare and Nonprofits Starts Now! 🌟 We are honored to announce that the World Animal Awareness Society has been invited by Dell Technologies to participate in an exclusive gathering of nonprofit leaders this Friday, October 2nd, at Q2 Stadium in Austin, Texas! 🚀

As filmmakers, cinematographers, storytellers, and creators deeply embedded in documentary story creation, we have seen firsthand how rapidly technology is evolving. At the WA2S, we are constantly looking for innovative ways to scale our mission, protect our original IP, and tell the vital stories of the animals we advocate for—like our ongoing work on *Unleashed: Dogs of San Antonio*.

This Friday's event, centered around Dell’s initiative: "The Nonprofit AI Revolution Starts with Partnership," is all about exploring practical ways Artificial Intelligence can empower the social sector. We won't just be talking about efficiency; we'll be discussing how AI can expand actual opportunity and human progress.

Through our lens as a top 1% global YouTube creator, we create a great deal of original content using AI tools to augment and elevate the stories we tell. Knowing how to leverage these tools ethically while maintaining our creative direction and intellectual property is crucial. I’m thrilled to bring that perspective to the table with Dell and other incredible Texas-based nonprofit leaders. We are going to explore how AI can help us work smarter, reach wider audiences, and ultimately, save more lives. 🐾 🎥

A massive thank you to Dell Technologies for leading this conversation and recognizing that the future of AI for nonprofits must be built on strong, collaborative partnerships.

If you’re in the tech or nonprofit space, how are you using AI to advance your mission? Let me know in the comments! 👇

World Animal Awareness Society - WA2S.Org & WA2S Films

10/10/2026

10/10/2026

10/08/2026

10/06/2026

10/03/2026

10/01/2026

09/30/2026

09/30/2026

09/29/2026

09/29/2026

Address

Website

Alerts

Contact The Organization

Shortcuts

Share

Category

Listing takedown request