Tribute to Esther | Paws Wakefield MA

Esther Nowell &

The History of

Paws Volunteers

The Protection of Animals in Wakefield Society was born out of the fierce determination of Esther Nowell, a woman described by locals as a "crusader" who never took no for an answer when an animal's life was on the line.

She founded PAWS at age 65, when most people were considering retirement. Here is how a local humanitarian turned a small town committee into a regional force for animal welfare. While she may have passed gracefully from this world in 2010,

she did not depart without leaving an indelible mark on this world, in our hearts, and on the lives of so many homeless animals.

From 1977-1982: before PAWS existed as an independent nonprofit, its roots were in local government. In1977, The Wakefield Board of Selectmen formed the Canine Control Committee. Esther Nowell was a key member, but she quickly realized that a government committee had too many limitations and not enough hands to handle the growing need for rescues.

In 1982: recognizing the need for a more robust, independent organization, Esther founded PAWS with 14 charter members. Their mission was twofold: immediate humane response (rescue) and long-term education. Esther wasn't just a founder, she was the boots on the ground. She was renowned for:

The Trap Challenge: In a famous Wakefield Town Meeting, Esther lobbied for a ban on leg-hold traps. To prove their cruelty, she set a trap on a table and challenged any of the local trappers to put their hand in it. No one did, and the ban passed by a landslide.

Education: She famously visited 4th-grade classrooms across the town for years, teaching children about animal safety, empathy, and responsible pet ownership.

Hands-on Rescue: Even into her 80s, Esther was seen personally delivering adoption paperwork and working to find cats new homes.

Growth and Evolution: Over the decades, PAWS transitioned from a small neighborhood group to a regional all-volunteer 501(c)(3) nonprofit. PAWS is funded only by private donors and receives no government funds. While the mission covers all domestic animals and wildlife (the Response Line), the organization has become well-known for its focus and expertise in feline rescue.

Hundreds of dedicated PAWS volunteers have continued Esther's mission since 1982, rescuing and caring for helpless cats, operating the pet food pantry and staffing the response line directing callers to resources for felines, domestic animals and wildlife. Become a volunteer

Esther Pratt Lowell

Born in Melrose, MA on September 6, 1917, Esther was the daughter of the late Percival and Mary C. (Spaulding) Pratt. She passed away August 8, 2010.

She graduated from Wakefield High School and UMass Amherst and was inducted into the WHS Hall of Fame in 2007.

She served as a librarian for the Abraham Lincoln School of Boston.

She founded PAWS in 1982 and was awarded the Humanitarian of the Year in 1997 by the New England Federation of Humane Societies.

Esther was active in many town affairs including Trees for Wakefield, Friends of Lake Quannapowitt, Friends of the Beebe Library, Friends of Breakheart Reservation and teaching the 4th grade school children about animal safety and care.

Esther was the wife of the late Carleton W. Nowell. She was the mother of Paul P. Nowell, Sr. and his wife Dianne of Stoneham and Joyce N. Gantz of Bradford, MA. She was the sister of Orison Pratt of Stoneham. She was grandmother of Paul Jr., Kristen, Troy, Jill, and Rebecca and was the great-grandmother of 14.