PAWS Atlanta: 49 Years of Saving Pets

For many people, pets are a part of their family. Unfortunately, there are those who neglect or mistreat animals that are considered companions by others. This is why there are many organizations that look after these animals’ welfare. One of these organizations is PAWS Atlanta.

PAWS Atlanta began in 1966 as a branch of the Atlanta Humane Society. The organization which was originally called the DeKalb Humane Society was incorporated as a stand-alone organization the following year. Initially, the organization was comprised of a network of foster homes for rescued pets. These foster families kept and took care of the pets until they were adopted and placed in permanent homes. They were able to secure a property and turned it into a kennel to house the rescued pets in 1983 and this shelter was opened to the public in 1989. They changed their name to PAWS Atlanta in 2002 and continued on their quest to rescue, treat, and place neglected pets. They have also expanded their services to include spaying and neutering of pets to keep the animal population in the city under control. Vaccination services have also been offered to the public as well. PAWS Atlanta has also gone the extra mile by offering behavioral training services, as well as opening a dental clinic and food banks for pets.

PAWS Atlanta operates under a No-Kill Philosophy. This means that they only euthanize pets if they are terminally ill or show irreversible and extremely aggressive behavior that may cause harm to foster families or people who wish to adopt them. If the space they have isn’t enough to comfortably house the rescued pets, they find foster homes to take them in until they are adopted.

The organization relies mainly on donations, grants, and fund raising efforts scheduled by the group. They do not receive funding from the government for their services.