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Please direct questions or comments to info@paws.org.

PAWS Mailing Address:
PO Box 1037
Lynnwood WA, 98046

PAWS Street Address:
15305 44th Ave W
Lynnwood, WA 98087

Stopping the cycle of violence

It is slowly becoming common knowledge that people who abuse animals rarely stop there. To increase awareness of this issue, PAWS has been involved in a working group of the Snohomish County Domestic Violence Task Force for more than a year. The members of this group include animal control officers, domestic violence advocates, 4H leaders and individuals from animal welfare organizations.

The only one of its kind in Snohomish County, the group focuses on the link between violence toward animals and domestic violence with the goal of developing and promoting effective initiatives to end domestic violence, creating a coordinated community response to hold abusers accountable, as well as supporting survivors. The emphasis is on education and collaboration between agencies and community groups.

As part of this innovative group, PAWS is helping with a few primary projects, which include:

• Developing a safe haven program for companion animals from a domestic violence situation.
• Creating a presentation for counselors, teachers, and school administrators on the link between animal abuse and domestic violence, and how they can handle situations that arise with students.
• Holding a poster contest through 4H and the Evergreen County Fair to raise awareness of this link of violence.

For more information about the link between violence and animal abuse click here. PAWS also works to combat violence through its Humane Education Program by nurturing the inherent compassion in every child. Click here to learn more about these programs.

Home at last

The first week into the new year, PAWS successfully ended its Home for the Holidays campaign surpassing our goal of placing 500 animals into new homes by 40 adoptions (a total of 366 cats and 174 dogs). We are grateful for the kindness and hope people have shown by opening their hearts to homeless animals: here's to a lifetime of joy and friendship! Even though this campaign has ended, PAWS continues to care for many wonderful animals looking for their forever homes. Come by and meet a few—you just might find the unconditional love you've been looking for.

We’d also like to share one of the great unions during the Home for the Holidays. Six-year-old Kazuo really wanted someone to snuggle with, so his mom Cat Caywood, brought him to PAWS in December to find a feline friend.

"Pierre was the second kitty we visited with and he and Kazuo really hit it off," said Cat. "We looked at others after him, just to be sure, but Kazuo knew the whole time Pierre was the one." After each visit, Kazuo went to Pierre and reassuringly told him that they were "just looking" and he was the one they would take home. Sure enough, Kazuo was right.

Pierre, a mellow and easy-going young fellow integrated quickly into the Caywood household and has become the best of friends with Kazuo and the other four-legged family members.

"Pierre sat in the chair next to my other cat, Daisy, calmly and patiently waiting for her verbal protest to end," said Cat. "After just a few weeks, they are getting along fabulously."

Thanks to the Caywood family, Pierre found a warm home for the holidays and Kazuo got the excellent snuggler he was hoping for.

Katrina cats update

Thank you to the PAWS volunteers and foster care families who have helped care for the Katrina cats since October. Happily, two of them, Mandy and Morris have been adopted, while Joanie and Gemini have moved to Cat City for a change of scenery. Read more about them.

Last month, PAWS also played a part in reuniting a lost Katrina dog with her family in Alabama. Gigi was being cared for by SpokAnimal CARE in Spokane and needed someone to pick her up from a flight to Seattle, keep her over night, and then put her back on the plane to Alabama early the next day. PAWS' foster care coordinator, Jennifer Westfall, got on the phone and found Carlyn Roedell, an experienced PAWS dog foster volunteer, who was happy to help. Though Gigi ran into some challenging weather while traveling across the country, after months of separation she finally made it safely and happily home to her family.

Nominations for youth award

Do you know of an outstanding young person who has shown incredible compassion for animals? Then nominate him or her for the PAWS Youth Helping Animals Award. This award was created to honor the kind actions of local youth. Nominations may come from any community member touched by the youth or the youth’s project. The recipient will be formally presented with the award at PAWS’ Wild Night gala on Saturday, March 11, and also recognized on the PAWS Kids Website and in the Summer 2006 edition of PAWS magazine. Nominations must be received by February 13, 2006. Download guidelines and nomination form (PDF 119K).

Northern Flying Squirrel

Make Animal-Friendly New Year's Resolutions

Here are a few simple ways to make 2006 a more compassionate year for animals:

• Spay or neuter your companion animal to help alleviate pet overpopulation and help your friend live a healthier, longer life (look for information in February's People Helping Animals on low-cost surgeries as part of Spay Day).
• If you pet is already spayed or neutered, buy a "We Love Our Pets" Washington State specialty license plate. The proceeds from the sale of the plates will fund spay and neuter surgeries across the state. Learn more.
• Make your yard wildlife friendly by planting native plants. You can enjoy the beauty of the wildlife while they benefit from natural sources of food and shelter. Click here to learn more.
• Take time to walk with your dog or play with your cat, rabbit or other indoor companion. This will give both of you the exercise you need.
• Go vegetarian. Skipping meat even one day a week makes a big difference in animals' lives.
• Eat organic. Harsh chemicals used in growing food can harm the environment and therefore, the wild animals that live in surrounding habitats.
• When driving, slow down and save a wild life.
• Put caps on your chimney and seal up any entrances to your house (to attics, basements, crawl spaces, etc.) before a wild animal decides to move in. Prevention is the most humane way to prevent conflicts with wildlife inside your home.
• Bring your cat indoors and/or create an escape-proof play enclosure for her outside (learn more). This will help protect your cat from the outside dangers like cars and poisons, as well as keep her from harming wildlife (approximately 13 percent of the injured wild animals received at PAWS have been attacked by cats).
• Support our efforts in helping wild and companion animals by becoming a PAWS member. Join now!

Thank you for your support of the animals at PAWS. Happy New Year!