To the Editor:

PAWS, Pet Adoption & Welfare Service, of Howard County, a 501©3 not for profit organization, is sanctioned and licensed by the Missouri Department of Agriculture, Animal Care Program. They require strict standards we must observe to assure the best possible outcome for the animals that go through our program. We assist the pets of many of your friends, families, and neighbors. PAWS works to provide low-cost spaying, neutering, and vaccination of family pets; while also helping lost or abandoned animals find their way back home or fostering until adopted into a forever home. Additionally, PAWS provides and pays for feral feline trapping and sterilization. We also cover costs needed for City of Fayette Pound dogs with a standard vet check with Howard County Veterinary Service. This includes basic vaccinations and preventative medications so animals will be healthy for fostering. We provide a transportation service to community members for low-cost neuters, vaccinations, tests etc. With generous community support and fundraising, we can help those unable to afford these services.

However, PAWS needs your help. We are critically lacking volunteers and fosters to help accomplish our vital mission. Our volunteer base has dwindled over the years while our community’s needs have dramatically increased.  When you foster a PAWS animal, PAWS provides vet care, food, and supplies, while you supply a little training and lots of love. Animals generally stay in foster care for 1-4 months before they find their forever home. You may think it is too hard to foster but we find joy in knowing we can help many more animals by moving them on to a permanent home. Contact us if you could open your home and heart to a foster animal.  Additionally, we need volunteers to attend monthly meetings and take on roles from fundraising to scheduling spay/neuter appointments, to feral cat trapping. We meet on the 3rd Tuesday of the month, 5:30-6:30, in the basement of the First Christian Church (Elm and Church St.). We can be reached by phone (660-248-2739), on Facebook (@PAWSFAYETTE), or email at fayettepaws@gmail.com. 

PAWS Board of Directors