About Us
MISSION STATEMENT
To promote and protect the rights and well-being of all domestic animals and wildlife, and to foster a greater understanding of animal welfare and animal rights through education.
PAWS is an all-volunteer, 501(c)(3) non-profit animal welfare organization and feline foster network, founded in Wakefield, Mass., in 1982 by the late Esther Nowell.
PAWS grew out of Wakefield’s Canine Control Committee and now responds to various types of animal-related needs in the Greater Boston area, especially north and northwest of Boston.
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Our key programs include:
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HUMANE RESPONSE LINE
Our 24-hour voicemail/email service links our members and the public to our volunteers to help find solutions for animal-related questions and issues, including inquiries about
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adoptions and rehoming with PAWS
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other organizations that may be able to help with non-feline situations
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cat behavioral issues
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finding vet care and low-cost spay/neuter
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lost and found pets, and more
FELINE ADOPTIONS AND RE-HOMING
Our adoption team
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matches our foster cats and kittens with new homes
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assists pet families with re-homing when they are no longer able to care for their cats
COMMUNITY CATS MANAGEMENT
PAWS strives to ensure that
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found/free-roaming cats are spayed or neutered, vaccinated, and, whenever possible, returned to their original colony or a barn or other safe area where caretakers can help provide food, water and appropriate shelter
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friendly strays are either reunited with their families or adopted to new homes
MEDICAL CARE AND MICROCHIPS
We work with our local vets (including VCA Wakefield Animal Hospital and Mass Vet Referral Hospital) to ensure that the felines in our care receive vet exams and
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are spayed/neutered and microchipped before adoption or placement in managed colonies
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have age-appropriate vaccinations and deworming
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receive needed medications and treatment for illnesses, injuries, infections and/or pain
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are humanely euthanasia if medical assistance fails and the cat is suffering
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In addition, PAWS provides the public with referrals to affordable spay/neuter services and other veterinarian care for their pets.
EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS AND RESOURCES
PAWS provides our communities and schools with educational presentations and/or information about animal welfare and animal-related issues by
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hosting speakers
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subsidizing classroom materials
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providing literature and other educational material at meetings and community events
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posting periodic newsletters and animal welfare articles on our website and social media
PAWS PET FOOD PANTRY AND PAWSITIVE PANTRY
In 2020, in response to the health and economic stress caused by COVID-19, representatives from PAWS and other humane organizations across the state of Massachusetts got together to brainstorm potential solutions to help pet families feed their animals.
As a result, PAWS became a member of PAWSitive Pantry MA, working with them to solicit and distribute dog food, cat food and litter to local people-food pantries that would accept pet supplies.
At the same time, PAWS started a food pantry in our office, initiated and managed by our Office Team. This pantry continues to serve our local pet families-in-need every Tuesday from 1 to 5 p.m.
PRIMARY SERVICE AREAS
We serve the people and animals in many communities, primarily north and west of Boston.
Our core communities include Wakefield, Lynnfield, Reading, North Reading and Stoneham. However, we field calls from all over New England, and we are willing to accommodate requests from within Massachusetts and when we have a volunteer available and able to respond.
Whenever we are unable to help directly, we provide referrals to other organizations that may be able to help.
Our top priority is given to members, volunteers, adopters, and other PAWS supporters, plus requests from residents of Wakefield, Reading, North Reading, Stoneham, and Lynnfield.
IMPORTANT: PAWS is not certified to import animals from locations outside of Massachusetts.
However, we are approved and licensed by the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources (MDAR) to operate a rescue organization in accordance with the Shelter and Rescue Regulations 330 CMR 30.03 and 30.04.
We do not provide in-house vetting services. Instead, we contract with our local vets to ensure that all cats are spayed or neutered, microchipped, and receive appropriate vaccinations and medical care so they may be adopted into forever families.