Companion Animal Services At PAWS there’s more to the journey than meets the eye. Here’s the path thousands of companion animals will take this year on their way to their new homes. Check in at the front desk please When animals arrive at PAWS, they are taken into the receiving room. Dogs and cats arrive as strays from nine communities, so the first thing staff does
is check for identification by looking at tags and scanning for microchips. Next, they are examined for signs of illness or injury and vaccinated to prevent disease and maintain good health. Dogs and cats who need to be spayed or neutered receive a pre-surgical exam. Then they’re checked into the housing area.
Some animals detour to foster care Many of the animals we receive are kittens and puppies, both with and without mothers. They’ll be placed into foster care until they mature and are ready for adoption. Other animals are enrolled in foster care while recovering from injuries or illnesses. Each year, our dedicated foster parents care for more than 2,000 cats and dogs.
Striving for the best outcome for each animal The cats and dogs at PAWS are constantly monitored and evaluated by staff and volunteers who work on socialization by spending time with them. PAWS uses the ASPCA’s Meet Your Match™ program to assess the cats’ personalities in order to pair them with the best homes. Staff also perform temperament tests as a way to assess behavior. From staff and volunteers, all dogs get Good Dog Training, which includes learning basic commands and manners.
Lost and found From scouring lost and found fliers and internet postings, to wordof-mouth clues, PAWS staff works diligently to return stray animals to their guardians. Their efforts result in over 65 percent of stray dogs being reunited with their families. Thirteen percent of stray cats are returned home, which is far above the national average of 2.5 percent.
Working for the dogs
There’s a doctor in the house
Great care is taken to lower the stress levels for dogs with activities, attention and multiple daily walks with volunteers. Some dogs with similar play styles are partnered with one another for off-leash time. Others are paired with canine pals to go on “buddy walks” along our trail. To garner attention for these fabulous dogs, PAWS features them with social media, along with web profiles and action videos on paws.org. Through these efforts, the average stay for a dog in our kennels is only six days!
Every cat or dog adopted from PAWS must be spayed or neutered prior to going home with their new guardians. In 2015 our medical team performed 2,380 specialty and spay/neuter surgeries for shelter animals. They also performed an additional 502 surgeries for dogs, cats and rabbits of low-income families.
Happily, 3,591 cats and dogs received in 2015 were adopted into new homes. These newly altered companions were vaccinated, microchipped, and sent home with educational materials for their new families. In addition to the
On the road to Cat City When a new cat arrives, we house them in a quiet holding room, providing them a place to settle in and relax. To help cats acclimate and feel safe during
the time they spend at PAWS, they’re given toys, socialized by staff and volunteers, and exercised daily in the visit room. Cat City is the next stop for over 60% of our feline visitors. Here, they can enjoy open colonies and the company of other cats while waiting for their new homes.
PO Box 1037 Lynnwood, WA 98046
Last leg of the journey... a new home!
animals who found new families, 269 lost dogs and cats were returned to their guardians, and 254 others were placed with partner agencies or rescue groups in 2015.
425.787.2500 paws.org