SPOTLIGHT ON RESCUES
SUPPORT PAWS Couple finds pets homes across the country
Support Paws fosters animals and transports them to find their forever homes. By Lauren H. Dowdle Photos Courtesy of Support Paws It can be difficult for an animal shelter to take care of and find forever homes for pets that are sick, injured, pregnant, or abused. To offer support to both the shelters and rescue animals, Support Paws helps foster these animals — and also transports them to find them homes. Chelsea couple Michael and Shannon Partain started Support Paws about five years. They had fostered animals from the Shelby County Humane Society in Columbiana, but they wanted to do more. So, they began transporting animals from the local shelters that were overcrowded to find them homes, and the nonprofit was born. “We’re the only people who would gut a 35foot RV to carry them up north,” Michael says.
They’ve travelled to states like Wisconsin, Connecticut, and New York where they know rescues will be able to find the pets forever homes. The couple also helps take care of puppies and other dogs in need of extra care at their home before they transport them to another rescue shelter — in addition to the pets they’ve decided to keep. Currently, they have nine puppies, seven elderly dogs, and five older cats. But, that number can change on any given day depending on the need. They have 15 acres surrounding their three-story home, giving the animals plenty of space to roam and enjoy life. “I have a thing for old people, and my wife has a thing for dogs. So, we bring those together,” Michael says with a laugh. While he enjoys working with all of the animals, Michael says his favorite part has to be the puppies.
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