Super Freckles!

Miss Jennie Warmouth's 2nd grade class at Spruce Elementary was so taken by this puppy's cute face and personality, they wrote this adoption profile for him! Come by and visit "Super Freckles" at PAWS in Lynnwood to see why he's got this classroom buzzing.

SUPER FRECKLES! SUPER FRECKLES!

He’s so fun! He loves to play and run, run, run!

Super Freckles is ready to start his super dog training…he is so excited to learn manners! This super pup needs food, water, ultra exercise, and LOVE! Super Freckles is seeking a SUPER HUMAN who is nice, playful, and knows how to train a dog! Freckles is ready for a FOREVER HOME.

Are you the SUPER HUMAN he’s been waiting for?

Success Tails from Alley Cat Adoption Event

The Alley Cat adoption event on October 6 was a success with a new home for one kitten and a popular kitten kissin’ booth. The event raised over $100 for PAWS. Held in Nord Alley the event had good foot traffic from the nearby Art Walk with a nice room on the alley for people to visit our cats and kittens. 

Karl, a 5-year old orange love bug was adopted on Sunday, October 9 by the family who visited with him at Alley Cat. We have also had inquires about Comet, the 1-year old calico who was at the event.  

Cherrystone, the lucky kitten adopted that night, went home with Greta Wilson and her husband Nick. Greta reports that Cherrystone is “…doing great.”  She goes on to say “Our older cat, Joplin….gave the three of us the cold shoulder for a day or two…” but now “the two of them …spend their days and nights alternating between chasing each other around the house and cuddling in a kitten pile”. Greta relates the kitten feels right at home around husband Nick, as “one of her chosen napping spots is inside Nick’s sleeve as he works at his desk…..no invitation needed.” We see a happily ever-after for Cherrystone.

Scratch That!

It’s no secret that cats love scratching. But scratching and stretching are more than just fun hobbies; they are natural behaviors for cats that are sometimes hard to do in a shelter environment. Enter Stretch and Scratch scratching pads! The scratch pads attach to the sides of cat cages to allow our feline friends to stretch and scratch to their hearts’ content. Giving cats the freedom to engage in this natural instinct relieves stress and helps to keep them happy and healthy while they wait for their forever homes.

You can help keep our furry friends happy and stress-free by donating a case of Stretch and Scratch to PAWS. Each case supplies 50 cats with their own pad that they can really dig their claws into. Need a visual? Each case of Stretch and Scratch will help as many cats as are featured in the picture above. That’s a lot of cats!

Donating is easy! Just go to StretchandScratch.com to purchase a case of scratching pads. Remember to ship them straight to PAWS at 15305 44^th Ave. West Lynnwood WA 98087.

Now that’s a cause you can really dig your claws into.

A Barred Owl Makes A Full Recovery

On September 28 I entered a large, outdoor enclosure here at PAWS and came face to face with a bright, alert and active Barred Owl.  He stared at me with with his intense, dark eyes and for a moment he seemed to grow larger as he puffed out his feathers in an attempt to intimidate me.  Calling his bluff, I continued into the cage, closing the door behind me.  The owl responded by taking flight and retreating to the back of his cage.

I first met this owl more than two weeks earlier on September 9.  At the time he was in shock and barely aware of his surroundings.  He had been brought to PAWS after he was found alongside a road in nearby Mukilteo.  Owls and other birds of prey often hunt in the short grass alongside roads and in the median strip.  Focused on potential prey, they sometimes swoop low across the road and do not see an oncoming vehicle until it is too late.  Such was the case with this Barred Owl, and his collision with a vehicle had caused serious head trauma as well as a badly fractured scapula (shoulder blade).  The break is evident in the radiograph of the bird below.

During his stay at PAWS Wildlife Center, the owl received top-notch care.  Our wildlife rehabilitators treated him for shock when he first arrived and provided him with supportive care during his convalescence.  PAWS wildlife veterinarians treated the owl's injuries and performed physical therapy on his wing as it healed to ensure that it maintained its full range of motion.  A veterinary ophthalmologist donated his time to examine the Barred Owl's eyes and ensure that his vision was not impaired.  All of this care and attention was working toward a single goal, retruning the Barred Owl to full function so he could return to his life in the wild.

On October 14, the owl's time at PAWS came to an end and he resumed his life in a small wooded area in Mukilteo.  Autumn and Julie, the two women who had rescued the bird from the roadside, were present to see the final result of their caring act.  After the carrier door was opened, the owl hesitated for several minutes, perhaps wary of the humans waiting breathlessly for him to exit.  Eventually he jumped out through the open doorway and flew up into the branches of a nearby cedar tree.  We all watched him for a while as he assessed his surroundings, and then we left him to enjoy his newfound freedom in peace.

 

Volunteer Spotlight: Valerie

 Volunteer spotlight: Valerie Leonard 

What started as high school community service has now turned into a long-term passion.  

From education to foster care, adoption to rehabilitation, Valerie knows the importance of it all. “I’ve had the rare opportunity to experience firsthand how PAWS not only betters the lives of all the animals who come through our doors, but to also understand the impact that we have on the community.”

Serving at both shelter volunteer and at outreach events, Valerie has the chance to work hands-on with the animals, and also meet great new people from the PAWS outreach tent.   At a recent event, Valerie braved the wind and rain to spread the word about PAWS. At the Sustainable Ballard Festival, Valerie and fellow volunteer Kexin chased down fly-away tents and papers, and still inspired people to learn more about PAWS. Not only that, but Valerie also stayed well beyond her shift to help make sure that everything was organized and ready to go before she left. Talk about dedication! 

Volunteering is very rewarding, but there is something really special about PAWS that makes it all worthwhile to Valerie. “Seeing animals find a good, loving home brings a smile to my face! I love it!” 

When Valerie isn’t helping to save lives as a volunteer at PAWS, she is a world traveler who “loves to sail and drink sangria, but not at the same time!”

 Valerie, you are a champion for animals!Thank you so much for your time and dedication to the animals at PAWS.