Student Contributor -G. Robinett
PAWS is an organization based in Seattle, also known as Progressive Animal Welfare Society. The PAWS Mission Statement is: “PAWS is people helping cats, dogs and wild animals go home and thrive – whether home is the family room or the forest. We do this by rehabilitating orphaned and injured wildlife, sheltering and adopting homeless cats and dogs, and educating the community to inspire compassionate action for animals.”
From the PAWS website, this organization has “united more than 130,000 cats and dogs with loving families, cared for more than 140,000 sick, injured and orphaned wild animals, and made the world a better place for countless others through outreach, education and advocacy” since their founding in 1967. This is an important organization as it helps the animals in our state find homes and get the help they need. While based in Seattle, donations can be sent from anywhere.
Donate: Fundraise in some fashion (walk-a-thon, bake sale, gofundme, etc.) and send donations through the website or mail-in donations. PAWS has options to either make a one-time donation or provide monthly donations for an entire year. Both would be awesome options for supporting local animals in need, especially if the school is not based in the King County/Seattle area.
Promote Adoption: If based in King County, students could make and put up the adoption posters of animals that are at the Lynwood and “Cat City” PAWS locations. This would not only bring attention to the animals that are in immediate need, but to the organization itself and other ways to help.
Events: PAWS also hosts community events that are posted with the dates on their website at https://www.paws.org/news-events/. These events would also be a fantastic option for a class to do!
There are three centers between two locations that can be contacted through the website, Lynwood (Companion Animal Shelter and the Wildlife Center) and their satellite location in Seattle (Cat City). If you want to find more information on the services and possible opportunities for promoting adoption, email adoptions@paws.org or call (425) 787-2500 ext. 850. If looking for more information on Lost, Found, and Rehomed animals, email: info@paws.org or call (425) 787-2500 x800.
If looking at general information on how to donate, the PAWS website has multiple options for donations found at: https://www.paws.org/donate/.
Paws is a great organization because they help animals find their forever homes whether it’s with a family or being released back into the wild! This organization is a great one to work with as well, they have many different ways that you can collaborate with them. You can simply just donate or you can fundraise as a group for the organization!