MEOW That's Impressive
PAWS Celebrates a Half Century
by Elle Schuchman
At Progressive Animal Welfare Society’s (PAWS) sanctuary, Snowball was known as a cat with little interest in human interaction.
During a visit, Heather Minton, PAWS’ centers and community engagement coordinator, was even warned not to touch her. But when Minton visited the sanctuary again, things had clearly changed. Snowball, the same standoffish cat who had been labeled as off-limits, was comfortably curled up on a volunteer’s lap.
The cat once deemed unadoptable was simply in pain. Claudia Hepburn, PAWS’ animal welfare manager, figured out that Snowball had an issue with her ears, causing her to behave aggressively despite being loving by nature. “Once we realized that she had to be on a regimen of having her ears cleaned on a regular basis, it changed her whole disposition,” Minton said.
Stories like Snowball’s are just one example of the culture of compassion PAWS has become known for. Founded in 1975 in response to the island’s cat overpopulation and the subsequent all-too-common euthanasia, PAWS has significantly broadened its initiatives. “We want to educate people about domestic animals, particularly cats and dogs, and advocate for them in ways that we think are most important,” said Executive Director Kim Gorman. “Trying to make sure that we’re not euthanizing animals that don’t need to be, doing things to prevent getting to that place, and then directing services for the community.”
While best known for cat adoption, PAWS also provides a wide range of services across North Kitsap and Bainbridge Island, with 13 total programs supporting and improving the well-being of animals in the community.
Not only does PAWS give people an opportunity to have a furry companion, it also works to make sure that animals are living their best lives. The Pets and Loving
Seniors program, PALS, matches low-income seniors with an older pet, while offering support for veterinary costs, pet food and supplies such as cat litter.
PAWS also provides financial support to low-income families through spaying and neutering programs, emergency care or providing a safe harbor for animals if their owners become unhoused. “It can be the most rewarding thing to have an animal, and it can be one of the most stressful things to have an animal,” said Minton. “I want everybody to be able to have the chance to have a pet no matter their financial situation.”
PAWS community education initiatives are targeted toward a younger audience and include book recommendations and events in partnership with Kitsap Library, DIY cat toy tutorials, treat recipes and opportunities to get involved through volunteering. This summer, PAWS launched a community book club. Its first selection, “We’ll Prescribe You a Cat,” feels fitting for a team of unapologetic cat lovers.
Fundraising is essential to sustaining services. PAWS’ primary donor event, the Pet Gala, plays a major role in raising community-based revenue, while smaller events throughout the year help broaden outreach and support. In addition to individual donors, PAWS receives support from Kitsap Community Foundation, Bainbridge Community Foundation, Rotary Club of Bainbridge Island
and other organizations. Local generosity also shows up in other ways, such as residents dropping off pet food for redistribution to food banks and helping to capture and socialize strays.
PAWS’ accomplishments and growth remain a community effort. Seventy percent of its work is accomplished by 75 to 100 volunteers per year, 20 of whom volunteer on a weekly basis. “PAWS was a volunteer-led army for so long,” said Gorman, “We don’t have the super in-depth oral history or documented chain of command, because this was started by people who were passionate and volunteered their own time and their own money to start this organization.”
With more than 200 cats adopted in the past year and a growing roster of community programs, PAWS is focusing its next chapter on visibility and access, especially beyond Bainbridge Island. That means spreading the word through booths at farmers markets, expanding a youth mentoring program and making sure people across Kitsap know that support is available. As the non-profit moves into its next 50 years, it hopes the community will help shape what comes next.
“It’s just a multifaceted, pretty cool organization with a lot of crazily passionate humans,” concluded Minton. “Every time I come into the center, I’m genuinely excited. I don’t think you can overestimate how much we love cats.”
