Show Off Your Pet, Win Prizes, Help PAWS Save Lives!

Is your pet the cutest?

Does your four-legged companion have what it takes to win this year’s World Spay Day Pet Photo Contest? Enter now to find out!

Each vote for your pet's photo means a $1 donation to PAWS, to help us spay or neuter even more animals after Spay Day (February 28, 2012) is over.  After you enter, please take advantage of the photo contest’s easy features to share your pet's photo and story with your friends and family, and ask them to vote!

More than 100 people who enter the contest will win prizes ranging from official recognition on the World Spay Day Pet Photo Contest website to an iPad 2 and iPod! The two Grand Prize winners will each win the privilege of awarding a $5,000 grant to the eligible World Spay Day event organizer of their choice. (Hint, hint—choose us!)

 

Here's how to enter your photo:

1. Upload a photo of your pet on the Humane Society Photo Contest website.
2. From the drop-down menu, select PAWS as the organization you would like to benefit from the votes on your pet's photo.
3. Ask your friends, family and colleagues to vote for your pet's photo ($1 per vote).  Each vote means a $1 donation to PAWS!
4. At the end of the contest, PAWS will receive all of the money designated to us by entrants (you) and by voters.

 

The earlier you enter, the more time you’ll have to get votes and raise critical awareness and spay/neuter funds for PAWS.

Upload a photo of your pet now to get started!

Thank you for your support!

Meet Gwen

When the second graders in Miss Jennie Warmouth's class at Spruce Elementary saw this photo of our sweet but long-time resident Gwen, they were struck by two things:  her captivating eyes, and her playful personality!  They wrote this adorable adoption profile to help Gwen find a home where she can take long naps in the sun to her heart's content. If you're looking for someone to keep your lap warm and your heart full of love, look no further.  Come meet Gwen at PAWS in Lynnwood today!

 

FE-FI-FOE-FUM.

I see the eyes of a cutie cat! 

Toys over here, feathers over there. Gwen is playing everywhere! This little girl is SO playful she even imagines that the BROOM is a gigantic back scratcher!

Little Gwen sees the fun in every moment. Gwen is an ENTERTAINER! She will light up your life with her sweet imagination. Gwen is the most warmhearted and playful cat ever!

 

 

 

PAWS at a Glance: A Look Back at 2011

In 2011, PAWS transformed the lives of nearly 6,000 homeless, injured and abandoned animals thanks to the support of our amazing volunteers, adopters, donors, advocates and ambassadors. Last year, we achieved a number of amazing milestones:

• We moved into our new, much improved Cat City facility in the U-District, allowing us to increase the numbers of cats we take into our care. 
• Our veterinarians successfully performed their first-ever blood transfusion on a young Black Bear cub.
•  In April our annual PAWS Wild Night Gala raised a record breaking $347,000 to benefit the animals!

 

A Black Bear cub receiving a blood transfusion from PAWS veterinarians 

 

We also witnessed unimaginable disasters and hardships. In May, a deadly tornado struck the town of Joplin, Missouri, displacing many families and leaving 1,300 cats and dogs homeless.  PAWS helped rescue 50 cats from the disaster, flying them across the country to receive medical treatment before being adopted into new, loving homes.

 

Because of the generosity of supporters like you, we are able to provide and care for the thousands of animals who come through our doors every year, and we could not do it without your help.

 

“Without you, there is no us.”

 

Thank you for your ongoing support, and for being a champion for animals.  Wishing you a very happy, healthy and humane New Year!

 

 

At right, Volunteer Byron Wilkes examines a kitten after the long flight from Joplin, MO

Volunteer Spotlight: Craig Walker

When Craig Walker came to PAWS as a volunteer, he imagined that his job would be a walk in the park.  “Fresh air, exercise and just being with dogs sounded very appealing” he says. But little did he know that he would soon be putting his experience in commercial building maintenance to use as PAWS’ resident master welder and Caretaker Assistant. 

 
Craig recalls, “I was about to sign up for kennel attendant when one of the staff members approached me and asked if I had any mechanical skills.”  A week later he was building and repairing caging units, clearing brush, and helping with maintenance of the Wildlife Center facilities.

Although Craig may not spend much hands-on time with the animals, his efforts and building expertise have a direct impact on the well-being of the animals at PAWS.  He feels a sense of accomplishment knowing that he is helping the animals in his own way, saying “It is gratifying to know I have made some animal’s stay a little more comfortable, a little safer and more pleasant.”

 
Volunteering at PAWS not only allows Craig the opportunity to help the animals, but to help PAWS staff and fellow volunteers as well.  “I have helped improve working conditions and efficiency for those who care for the wildlife, and that is extremely rewarding.” 

 
Outside of PAWS, Craig and his wife of 42 years enjoy boating in the warmer months with their four grandchildren, and he has recently contracted with a local plant nursery to create beautiful garden art!

 
Thank you, Craig, for your passion and dedication to the animals at PAWS.  Your hard work and commitment really do make a difference.

Volunteer Spotlight: Laurel Gardner

Laurel admits that the job of a Cat Room Cleaner can be dirty work.  But for every soiled litter box to be cleaned and food bowl to be filled, there are twice as many happy moments. “It's the little things that make it so rewarding.”

PAWS volunteer Laurel Gardner knows the joy of providing a warm and loving home for her own two kitties, pictured right.  She wanted to give the same love and care to all the animals at PAWS who have yet to find their forever homes.  “Spending time every week with the cats of PAWS is my way of giving back to them, making them feel loved and wanted and appreciated for the joy that they can bring to our lives.”

She loves spending time with her furry friends at the shelter; seeing the shy kitten come out of his shell, watching the cats playfully leap to catch their toys, hearing their content purrs and giving all the animals a little extra love.  But Laurel is even happier when they find a loving new family and a forever home. 

“I literally jump with joy for them,” she says.  She was especially overjoyed when Albert, a shaved-clean kitty kept warm by a gray sweater, was adopted from Cat City.  She remembers, “Albert was this very sweet older boy, gentle and charming and distinguished.”

Laurel, you are truly a champion for animals!  All of us here at PAWS are thankful for your passion and dedication to our feline friends.

Are you catnip friendly?

PAWS Cat City is looking for more volunteers. In addition to being catnip-friendly, applicants must have a gentle touch, posses strong toy skills, and be prepared to spend three hours a week cuddling cats and kittens. If you’re 18 or older and willing to make a three-month commitment, volunteering with the felines at PAWS Cat City could change your life…and it will certainly change theirs. In exchange for your time, our cats will teach you everything to know about love, caring, and the value of giving back.

 

There’s no experience required, and those three hours a week of cuddling will make a difference in the lives of hundreds of cats. Fill out a volunteer application today.

Volunteer Spotlight: Molly Bard

Volunteer Molly Bard is a long time supporter of PAWS. She adopted her Chihuahua Gomez from PAWS shortly after she moved to Seattle in 1973. Since then, Molly has helped PAWS grow into a new building, expand our services, and help more homeless pets and injured wildlife.

While volunteering at PAWS and other animal welfare organizations, Molly and her husband Bud also spend time rescuing Chihuahuas. They have  helped an average of 22 pups a year find loving homes by connecting adopters with available dogs through rescue groups, animal shelters, classified ads, and an extended personal network of Chihuahua enthusiasts. They also have a few PAWS alums at home, including Fluffy, a rescued toy Poodle and Rilie the cat.

Molly wanted to take her volunteering home with her by fostering kittens, but Rilie was none to pleased. "Rilie constantly layed by the door where the kitten was, and she is STILL searching for the intruder!" So now Molly volunteers her time working at outreach events and educating the public about PAWS' different programs and services.

Molly, you are truely a champion for animals. Thank you for your passion ansd dedication to our furry and feathered friends. 

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. 

Walkin' Dogs: Donnie

Donnie – Terrier, Pit Bull mix – two years old

Donnie has won a special place in my heart, the kind reserved for other long-timers like Cora and Huck Finn. It really surprises me that Donnie has been with us as long as he has, but in a way it’s been a real blessing.  A lot of dogs come and go, not giving me a chance to get too attached, but I have had the opportunity to spend a lot of time with Donnie. To be entirely honest, it might be a little bittersweet when he finally finds his forever home, but ultimately he’ll be better off, and even just thinking about this brings a smile to my face.

For those of you unfamiliar with Donnie, he is the textbook definition of goof. Before heading outside this week, I am inside his kennel, scratching his belly and back. Before I can get out of the way, he goes into a spin trying to grab his own tail. He succeeds, but quickly realizes its part of him. He comes to a complete stop, sits down, and nuzzles at the leash in my hand, signaling that he’s ready to go.

Outside, Donnie is a real gentleman on the leash, never more than a step in front of me, he seems on the hunt for something as his nose is buried along the trail. His attention is quickly diverted anytime I scratch is lower back, definitely one of his favorite spots. We spend some time in the off leash area playing fetch. Anytime the ball rolls by the small pool we have there, Donnie cautiously eyes it as to not get too close; not quite a water dog, at least not yet.

It is hard for me to imagine the shelter without him smiling at me with his tail wagging full speed as I walk by his kennel. But I know he will be far better off with a loving family, despite how much of a favorite he has become around PAWS.

To learn more about Donnie, visit his profile, or check out his video below:

 

Volunteer Spotlight: Noeleen Stewart

After seeing the horrible images from the BP Oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, Noeleen Stewart and her husband jumped on a plane to help the damaged birds in need. Noeleen is a life-long animal lover, and has even brought several injured wild animals to PAWS, but the oil spill was the jump-start she needed to begin volunteering in animal welfare.

“Witnessing the devastation and suffering of the wildlife while I was in the Gulf made me decide that as soon as I returned home I would sign up to volunteer at PAWS. And I did.”

Photo: Noeleen and a baby opossom at PAWS.

Now, Noeleen volunteers as a Wildlife Care Assistant and helps care for the wild animals that are rehabilitating at PAWS. Sometimes Noeleen even gets to accompany the PAWS staff for wildlife releases, one of the many perks of volunteering at PAWS.

At a Bald Eagle release, Noeleen was prepared for the beautiful bird to hop right out of his carrier and quickly fly away. “But after about 10-15 minutes, the Eagle did not want to come out!” Naturalist Kevin Mack, Wildlife Rehabilitator Dondi Byrne, and Noeleen encouraged the bird to leave, but he just would not fly away. At a loss for what to do, the team got creative.

“Kevin asked Dondi to distract the eagle. Her only thought of distraction was to walk around flapping her arms like a bird. Well, the eagle took one look at her and made a dash for it. All I could think of was what she must have looked like to the bird. It was my funniest moment at PAWS.”

Volunteering at PAWS not only gives Noeleen the opportunity to help wildlife, but also the chance to work with likeminded people.

“Everyone at PAWS has an absolute passion for helping these injured and orphaned animals,” she says. “Being a volunteer has shown me that there are really good, empathic people out there that really do help animals.”

“Noeleen is just a pleasure to work with,” says PAWS Wildlife Volunteer Manager Frances Boyens. “She’s always up for more!”

Thank you, Noeleen, for your passion and dedication to the animals at PAWS. Your hard work and great attitude really do make a difference.

 Learn more about volunteering at PAWS.