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PAWS
& More Animal Shelter
1004 1/2 West Madison Street, Washington, IA 52353 |
About the Shelter :PAWS & More is a non-profit 501(c) shelter and has been an organization since 1978. PAWS & More primarily serves both rural Washington County and its communities. We also occasionally work in cooperation with other shelters and rescue organizations needing assistance. Because there is no animal control agency in Washington County, citizens depend on us to provide those services. The shelter takes in, on average, over 600 animals each year. We are an adoption-guarantee shelter that euthanizes only when medically or behaviorally necessary. All animals are behaviorally tested prior to adoption. Housing at the shelter is limited to approximately 120 cats and 25 dogs at one time but unfortunately we sometimes exceed this during kitten seasons. Not only does PAWS provide homes for stray pets and unite lost pets with their owners, we educate the public who have questions on pet care, we assist law enforcement with neglect cases, and handle citizen complaints and family emergency issues. We also offer volunteer youth classes and visit care facilities with our “therapy” pets. The shelter’s income comes primarily from adoption fees, donations, grants, and fundraising activities. The local city and county government donations cover a small portion of the shelter's annual budget and are used primarily to support staff salaries and insurance. PAWS & More and its animals could use your help! Please consider donating supplies, volunteering, making a financial donation or adopting or sponsoring one of the many wonderful animals at the shelter.
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Adopting a Pet From Paws & More:
Adoption Fees
Dogs: $130 This fee includes one year rabies, spay/neuter, heartworm test and preventive vaccinations (distemper/parvo), deworming, ear cleaning, nail trim, flea and tick preventative, and microchip which includes national registration.
NOTE: All of our dogs that are adopted come with a free class with Lisa Dholman, our Professional Dog Trainer and Canine Good Citizen Evaluator. Call Lisa at 319-217-1190.
Cats: $100 This fee includes spay/neuter, Feline Leukemia test, FVRCP vaccination, deworming, flea and tick preventative, nail trim, ear cleaning, and microchip which includes national registration. We do not provide rabies vaccinations for felines (except those available for adoption at the Petco stores). All animals adopted from our facility are spayed or neutered prior to adoption. In rare cases that they are not, due to health reasons, arrangements will be made with the adopter to have the surgery done at a later date. For local adopters, we will ask them to bring the pet back to the shelter on designated spay/neuter days so we can transport it to our vet. This is so we can keep costs down for the family plus ensure the surgery is completed.
For long distance adopters, we will talk to the adopter’s vet and arrange a time for the spay/neuter surgery as well as follow-up that it’s complete. We firmly believe that controlling the animal population is the only way to reduce the number of animals in rescue facilities as well as shelters that destroy animals for no reason other than overpopulation.
We now have cats available for adoption from the Cedar Rapids/Marion Petco and the Coralville Petco stores. Take a look!
NEW! PAWS is now using the ASPCA "Meet Your Match" listing system when describing our cats in petfinder.com and on our ID tags. Categories include:
- cats who are savvy, unflappable and adventurous—the MVP, the Party Animal and the Leader of the Band.
- cats who put the good in “good company” -the Executive, the Sidekick and the Personal Assistant.
- kitties who seek affection, are pretty quiet and tend to stay out of trouble- Private Investigator, Secret Admirer and Love Bug.
Using Adobe Acrobat Reader you can download and print our Adoption Form and complete all the necessary information. You can either send this form to us through the mail so that we can start checking your references before you stop by the shelter, or bring it to the shelter with you.
PAWS & More Animal Shelter
1004 1/2 West Madison St
Washington, IA 52353
Staff or a Board Member will process your application in a timely manner. For long-distance adoptions, it’s helpful for staff to have a chance to check your references before your arrival at the shelter, then speak with you further once you're in town. This way, the adoption can be completed in one trip.
Scientific studies have shown that pets can help their owners live longer and they certainly can provide companionship and affection to those who are lonely. With the growing number of elderly people living alone, pets are especially important in increasing their interest in life, and give the elderly something to care for, as well as providing an opportunity for exercise and socialization. Taking care of a pet can also serve as an alarm clock for elderly people – reminding him to take care of themselves, too. In fact, animal companionship can dramatically improve the quality of life and may even have a positive impact on longevity. Illnesses like heart disease and high blood pressure are reportedly less of a problem and a person’s mental health is improved when owning a pet.
PAWS & More has placed pets in local care/assisted living facilities before and we hope that more people can either adopt a pet for themselves or have the pet belong to the entire resident population. Again, if the adoption fee is an issue for such circumstances, please let us know and we can possibly work out arrangements to fit the situation.
BEHAVIORAL PROBLEMS? Tips from the United States Humane Society:
http://www.hsus.org/pets/pet_care/our_pets_for_life_program/cat_behavior_tip_sheets/