Avoid the Black Friday Blues!

Here's a great way to preserve your sanity on Black Friday. Avoid the traffic and crowds - shop from home and snag this great, limited edition t-shirt! And, you'll help a great cause, too.

Only available through Dec. 2nd.
For every shirt sold, Paws will get $6!!

Social Pakt is offering a limited edition t-shirt, customized for PAWS! For every t-shirt sold through Sunday, Dec. 2nd, PAWS will receive $6 - you get a great looking shirt and PAWS gets a generous donation!

This adorable shirt features a cat and pit bull snuggling - too cute! Los Angeles-based artist Jane Mager designed it just for PAWS!

Help us raise awareness and fund our on-going programs by purchasing a shirt (both long- and short-sleeve styles are available) and helping us spread the word!

The t-shirt is only available until Dec. 2nd and can be purchased at this link.

Thank you on behalf of all the furry friends we have at PAWS waiting for their forever homes!

Lanie

Beauty, brains, LOVE! Lanie has all three!

Lanie is mom to Lucy & Ethel, two adorable pit bull mixes. So far, only Ethel has found her forever home; Lucy and Lanie are still waiting patiently.

Lanie looks like she has some Boxer in her. Of course, without doing a DNA test, we really can't say for sure. But what we do know is that she's a big cotton ball - soft and cuddly!

Lanie is about 8 years old, but you'd never know it. She loves most other dogs (a calmer dog would be best), children, and adults. She enjoys going on walks, sitting by your side, playing fetch and tug with her rope toy, and running in the yard with her PAWS dog pals. She's great in the car and is a wonderful co-pilot.

Are we there yet?!

Lanie is housebroken, spayed, up-to-date on vaccinations, and microchipped.

If you're looking for a great companion, Lanie is waiting for you! Read more about her here or apply to adopt Lanie.

$9 for 9 Lives Event

For nine days beginning November 10th (tomorrow!), Paws will hold a special event to find our kitties loving homes! All Paws cats, nine months and older, will be available for adoption for the special, low fee of $9. Check out our new TV ad and see some of the great cats available at PAWS!

All of our cats are spayed/neutered, up-to-date on vaccinations, FeLV and FIV tested, and microchipped! You'll get a goody bag filled with food, toys, and other great stuff for your new pal! Note that our adoption policy had not changed just because the fee is lower - all potential adopters must fill out an application and will be interviewed by an adoption counselor.

Help us find some amazing homes for some amazing cats! Please spread the word!

November 10-18, 2012, PAWS, Norwalk, CT

Winston

Winston is a very sweet and happy boy! A lover of tummy rubs, this fella originally came to PAWS when his elderly owners couldn't bring him into senior housing with them.

He loves car rides, walks, and is comfortable with other dogs. He does have a hypothyroid condition which is easily managed with daily medication that goes in his food.

A beautiful Cocker Spaniel, Winston is seven years old. He's a fairly mellow chap, but he does bark when strangers approach, so he'd be best in a single-family home rather than an apartment or condo. The best placement for Winston would be in a low-key household, with adults or older children who understand that he has to get to know people a bit, then he's all about those tummy rubs!

He's had overnight visits with volunteers, and Winston has proved to be the perfect gentleman with everyone he met! He is also fully housebroken!

Winston is up-to-date on vaccinations, neutered, and microchipped.

Apply to adopt Winston!

Lucy & National Pit Bull Awareness Month

October is National Pit Bull Awareness Month, and on October 27th, celebrations will occur all over the nation, focusing on the positive attributes this group of dogs has received. Dogtime.com has suggested 10 Ways to Celebrate pit bull awareness month, and I couldn't agree more - talk about the positive experiences; teach your children to respect all animals; and consider volunteering at a local animal shelter or fostering a dog in need, to name just a few.

In the meantime, meet Lucy, an excellent Pit Bull Ambassador. She came to PAWS with her sister, Ethel (whose adoption is pending) and was later joined by their mother, Lanie. All three are gentle, loving, playful pit bulls who are guaranteed to steal your heart!

About 9-months-old, Lucy loves other dogs and getting attention from people. With one blue eye and one brown eye, it's hard not to turn your attention to this gorgeous girl!

I've taken Lucy to off-site events, and she's been the perfect pit bull ambassador. Everyone she meets is showered with kisses, young and old alike. She rides well in the car, too!

Lucy is up-to-date on vaccinations, spayed, and microchipped. We'd love to place her in a home with another dog, because playing is tops on her list!

Apply to adopt Lucy!

Saturday, October 20th! Harvest Festiv-Ale to Benefit PAWS!

If you're looking for live music, great craft beers, and an excuse for both: Come to Monster B's event Harvest Festiv-Ale on Saturday night!

More PAWS in the Park Photos!

The Hour posted a nice photo diary of our PAWS in the Park event here.

Take note - the artist that's painting a dog is using our lovely adoptable Lucy, pictured at left, as her model!

Ginger

This little lady is a silly as her ears. (Sorry about the picture quality - there are better ones on the PAWS Dog Gallery.)

Ginger is a wonderful, high-energy Miniature Schnauzer who would be perfect for an active person or family. At about 4-years-old, she's both a cuddler and a dog who loves to play, play, play! She loves the car, going for walks, playing with her toys - and being near you for pets and belly rubs.

Ginger is good with other dogs, but can be dominant at times so she should be an only dog. Since she does bark loudly, especially when she sees other dogs or strangers, she'd be best in a single-family home rather than a condo or apartment.

This beauty is spayed, up-to-date on vaccinations, and microchipped. All she needs is you!

Cato

Cato is a Bernese Mountain Dog mix and a love of a boy!

Cato is about 10-months-old and is full of puppy playfulness and love. He already knows sit, down, paw,  and other basic commands - this is one smart fella! He loves children and has lived with a 2- and 5-year-old. He also loves running in the yard and playing fetch - perfect for an active family! Cato gets along well with other dogs and has many doggy playpals at PAWS.

Cato is about 60 lbs. now, and will grow a bit more. He's neutered, fully vaccinated, and microchipped.

PAWS turns 50!

I've been very neglectful of this blog. And here's why: we've been working hard since February to organize our 5th Annual "PAWS in the Park" and 50th anniversary celebration!

This video from itsrelevant.com sums up our entire purpose! Paws celebrates 50th!

Dogs on Parade!

Okay math whizzes, what do you get when you mix:

Several dedicated volunteers 

+ 

Lots of adorable, happy-go-lucky, rescued dogs 

+ 

One volunteer walking backwards with a camera?

An Animal Rescue Dog Parade! 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U6wKqFv-HLI&feature=share

PAWS is located on a main local road used by commuters, so what better way to show off the great dogs available? Every week, a group of wonderful volunteers gathers to walk these pooches in a fun parade giving commuters a front row seat. The dogs get some great time outside, the passersby get to see how terrific PAWS' dogs are, and the volunteers feel great because they know they've been able to showcase dogs that really deserve homes! It's a win-win for everyone involved.

Many thanks to Janice D. for her backwards walking abilities and for sharing the dozens of videos she's made. More to come!

Don't Miss Bailey on Pet Talk This Weekend!

Our dear friend Lauren Collier of News12 invited us to her show Pet Talk this weekend! Bailey helped author Allia Zobel Nolan, a PAWS volunteer and supporter, introduce her new books, "Dog Confessions: Shocking Tales Straight from the Doghouse" and "Cat Confessions: A "Kitty Come Clean" Tell-All Book," two very entertaining books worth checking out! PAWS' very own volunteer David G. introduced Bailey to the public. Poor David thought he was just bringing Bailey over to the studio, and before he could hand me the leash, they had him wired for sound. That David is a trouper!

You'll notice some white specks on the carpet in the photos below. Those are what's left of a flower pot decoration following Atka the wolf's "investigation" of it. Atka and his handlers from the Wolf Conservation Center in New York taped the segment before ours. What a beautiful and graceful animal! Glad he didn't actually eat any of the styrofoam...


The program will air this Saturday and Sunday on News12, so be sure to check it out. Don't miss Bailey's big debut!

Getting ready for the cameras to roll. 

I'm ready for my close-up!

Doc, Moby, and Francois Take A Walk

This video is adorable and shows three of our bully breeds in action. I get a chuckle every time I watch it, knowing the hijinks these three can get up to. Many thanks to Janice D., a fantastic volunteer and photographer for letting me post the video here. (She apologizes for the quality; apparently it was a cloudy evening so the video is a little darker and grainier than she'd like. I think it's great and it's still a lot of fun to watch!)

Moby is the white English Bulldog on the left and he's been at PAWS since January. Doc is in the middle. He's a Pit Bull/Boxer mix who came to us two years ago as a very ill puppy. And Francois is on the right. He's a Pit Bull/Mastiff mix who was abandoned at PAWS almost three years ago. They're each amazingly strong and it's a testament to the training and structure they've received at PAWS as you see how wonderfully they behave on leash now for the three ladies walking them.

Enjoy!

No Dog Should Be This Cute

How can you stand the cuteness? In one little dog? Roxy was going to be left on the streets by her owner who was moving. Yes, abandoned, left behind, in the winter, to fend for her 7-month-old self on the streets.

Roxy is the cutest, sweetest, most loving creature. One of our volunteers stepped in and scooped her up from the nasty folks her were going to abandon her. She tried to integrate Roxy into her own home, but her dogs just weren't having it. So, Roxy is at PAWS looking for a home of her own, which she'd be happy to share with other dogs and kids.

She's 7-months-old, current on her vaccinations and will be spayed. She loves other dogs, is extremely playful and is working on her housebreaking. Roxy is very smart, so she's going to pick up basic commands and obedience quickly. The staff is working with her and they're amazed at how smart this little girl is!

We have no idea what type of dog she is; she's got a wiry looking coat that is actually very soft. She's a unique, chocolate-colored, individual. That's who she is!

Little dog... BIG SHADOW!

Have You Been Judging Books By Their Covers?

Sweet Pea

PAWS was fortunate to host representatives of Animal Farm Foundation this week for a special seminar on "Turbo-charging Your "Pit Bull" Dog Adoptions." I learned so many FACTS today about pit bull dogs that I didn't previously know - including the fact that the term "pit bull" has no true definition.

The fact is that 75% of shelter dogs are mixed-breeds. Further, studies have found that when shelters staff guess the breed of their dogs, they are wrong 75% of the time (J Appl Animal Welfare Sci, 2009). Of course, it's impossible for shelters to afford DNA testing of their dogs. But even if they could, "pit bull" isn't a "breed," so it wouldn't be detected in a test. A DNA test may detect a breed match for an American Staffordshire Terrier, but "pit bull" is not a breed and therefore cannot be identified. MARS, maker of the Wisdom panel DNA test states that "the term "pit bull"does not refer to a single or recognized breed of dog, but rather to a genetically diverse group of dogs." We used to call these dogs "mutts." Heinz 57s. Or simply, dogs. Why do we label them "pit bulls" now?

Francois

Howard

So... That lonely dog in the shelter? Look at him as an individual, a dog, a potential best friend. Don't judge him based on stereotypes and preconceptions. You might be missing out on the best, most loyal friend you ever met.

If you're wondering whether a "pit bull" dog is right for you, take a look at this video from AFF and see how "pit bull" dogs are just part of the family!

Ben, a Gem Not to Be Missed

Ben is a senior mix, a sweet and handsome boy, gentle as his name. Inside, he wants no more than to sit by your side and snooze or get a nice belly rub. But don't let him fool you! Once he's outside, the playful Ben comes out! He likes a nice walk or some good playtime in the yard.  

He's up-to-date on his vaccinations, microchipped, neutered and ready to be your loyal pal!

Seriously. Cute. Puppy.

This is Chelsea, a four-month-old puppy who has more applications in on her than the Federal Reserve has dollar bills. No, seriously. We have no idea what she is - terrier mix? French Bulldog on steroids? Incredibly cute and sweet, charcoal-colored puppy who's sure to steal your heart? Yeah, that's it!

This adorable girl is learning all of her puppy skills: Housebreaking, basic obedience, leash walking - but what she really loves is playing in the yard with her doggy friends at PAWS.

Chelsea is vaccinated and micro-chipped and will be available once she's been spayed.

Don't Overlook Bailey!

Bailey is a wonderful yellow Lab who loves people. He's not so fond of other animals, which is probably why he's been overlooked for so long. 

If you're looking for a dog who wants to do nothing more than put a smile on your face, this is the one! Play fetch? Are you kidding? Bailey will play for hours! Sit by your feet while you take in the latest game? Bailey's in! Go for long walks? Really? Bailey LOVES long walks!! Just be a loyal, loving pal? That's the definition of Bailey!

Bailey is about six years old, housebroken, fully vaccinated, neutered, and microchipped. More on Bailey at the PAWS Dog Gallery.

Why in the World...

... are there CATS on this blog?!

Normally, this blog focuses on dogs and I leave the cats to the experts, my friends over at Animal Shelter Volunteer Life. But I had the opportunity to take some photos of Cinnamon and Ginger, beautiful calico sisters who are at PAWS waiting for a home together. I think I love these girls because they're sort of dog-like: They greet me at the door when I enter their room with excited meows, looking for head scratches. I think they're just pretending to be cats...

Tater... Sweet Tater!

Tater is a Boxer/Pit Bull mix who was originally adopted out in 2009, but was recently returned to PAWS when his owners had a new baby and could no longer keep him.

He looks so sad in these pictures, but that's probably because he misses his home. Or, he just has those big, brown, sad eyes that melt hearts... He's definitely a loving, cuddly fella, who will sit for ear scratches and belly rubs for as long as you're willing to dish them out! Tater is about four years old and ready to share your sofa - and steal your heart!

Wendell

It's impossible to get a decent picture of Wendell. He's always on the move! This 11-month-old Beagle is the a friendly, happy, and goofy guy. He's already got dozens of applications in on him. I wish all the dogs garnered this much interest from potential adopters!

Howard - Lab/Pit Bull Mix

Howard is a very stunning, approximately six-month-old, hound/pit bull mix. He's a bundle of energy and is quickly learning good manners.

As with any puppy, he's learning what is a toy and what's not... He's doing really well with housebreaking and obedience lessons. Howard is a wonderful and happy puppy who is not only handsome, but very smart as well!

rumpydog Features PAWS Volunteer (Part 2)!

As promised, rumpydog concludes its two-part interview of PAWS volunteers today with an interview with a dog volunteer.

Today we'll hear from... me! I'll talk about how I got started volunteering with this wonderful organization. Hope you enjoy and more importantly, we hope you consider volunteering some time at this great place or any rescue organization!

(If you're not familiar with Rumpy, he's a very handsome Malamute who was found wandering the streets when his human Jen rescued him. No one claimed this beautiful boy, so he's now happily living the high life with Jen, another rescued dog DeDe and several rescued kitties. Rumpy has both a blog and a popular Facebook page. He's quite a character!)

rumpydog Features PAWS Volunteer (Part 1)!

How exciting is this!

My good friend and fellow volunteer Kevin H. is interviewed by rumpydog today! In the interview, Kevin talks about his experiences volunteering at PAWS.

Kevin and his lovely wife Tracey also have an extremely popular blog called Animal Shelter Volunteer Life which focuses on the beautiful cats and kittens of PAWS. (Stay tuned - tomorrow, Part 2 is from a dog volunteer's perspective.)

(If you're not familiar with Rumpy, he's a very handsome Malamute who was found wandering the streets when his human Jen rescued him. No one claimed this beautiful boy, so he's now happily living the high life with Jen, another rescued dog DeDe and several rescued kitties. Rumpy has both a blog and a popular Facebook page. He's quite a character!)

We hope you enjoy Kevin's interview as much as we did!

The Many Faces of Sweet Pea

Sweet Pea has been at the shelter far too long. She was saved from the street by a good samaritan one ice-cold February night almost three years ago. When she first came in, she was half-starved, and about the friendliest dog I'd ever met. She's actually best friends with the three-year-old daughter of one of our volunteers, who visits her frequently.

After setting up a nice, soft bed, giving her food and a big bowl of water, she settled in with an audible {sigh} of relief. I'm sure it felt good to be in a safe, warm place with a full belly for a change.

She's almost impossible to take a picture of because she loves to cuddle. But, I tried!

Faster Than Lightening!

Sometimes, they don't even have time to warm up the bed! As was the case with pretty Luna, a one-year-old Bassett Hound. She came into the shelter about two weeks ago and was adopted within days. It's easy to see why!