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February 2006
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PAWS' Dogs Need Toys
Do it for Love! Low-cost spay/ neuter surgeries available on Spay Day On Spay Day, February 28, 2006, PAWS is partnering with N.O.A.H., WAIF, the Humane Society of Skagit Valley, and more than 35 veterinary clinics to offer low cost spay and neuter surgeries in Snohomish, Island, and Skagit counties. The goal of this annual, national effort is to help end the overpopulation of homeless animals. Take into consideration that every time a person is born in America, so are 15 dogs and 45 cats—too many for the number of available homes. Altering just one animal makes a difference. Spaying and neutering is also a great way help our own animal friends live longer, healthier lives. All are welcome to take advantage of this special one-day offer. New this year—the City of Lynnwood will waive pet license fees for city residents whose pets are altered on Spay Day. Even if your own companion animal is already fixed, you can help by encouraging your friends and family to do the same for their animals. You can find useful information about the benefits of spaying and neutering on PAWS' spay and neuter resources webpage. Low-cost fees for Spay Day 2006 are: $30 for male or female cats and kittens Thank you to all our veterinary partners who not only offer low-cost surgeries on Spay Day, but provide assistance throughout the year to animals in need at PAWS. Inspired by a young person’s work to help animals? Be sure to nominate them for the inaugural Youth Helping Animals award, created to recognize outstanding dedication and service to animals. The deadline for nominations is February 13, 2006, and nominations may come from any community member. The recipient will be formally presented with the award at PAWS’ Wild Night gala on Saturday, March 11, 2006, and also recognized on the PAWS Kids Website and in PAWS magazine. Download guidelines and nomination form. Wintry weather brings injured seabirds to PAWS
Grebes and other seabirds are not built for maneuvering on land. Once beached and weakened, the birds’ feathers accumulate sand and debris, damaging the waterproofing and insulating properties that protect the birds. As long as they remain on land, they are unable to forage, escape danger or properly preen to restore their waterproofing. Without help, many succumb to hypothermia, dehydration or starvation. For more than month, PAWS staff and volunteers worked overtime to medicate, feed and monitor the grebes. Daily, we used gallons of water and so much electricity on special dryers and heaters to keep the birds warm, that circuits regularly overloaded. Many of the birds were so sick, PAWS was not able to help them, but a few of the strong survived. Happily, some are already released and others are going back to the wild later this month. Please consider a special donation to help cover the costs of caring for these seabirds and other injured wildlife like them, by making a donation online. While all the seabirds PAWS cared for were in need of assistance, sometimes seabirds on beaches do not need help. Before attempting to rescue birds or any other wild animal that might be injured, please call PAWS at 425.787.2500, ext. 817. Lessons well learned When you tell your puppy to sit, does she look confused? Ever wondered what your dog might be thinking? Here is your chance for you and your canine friend to figure each other out. Starting in March, PAWS will offer basic obedience classes for puppies 12 to 20 weeks old and dogs five months and older (two separate classes for these age groups). The fee for the six-week session is $100. In addition, PAWS will also offer Puppy Club, a great way for your pup (aged 2 to 4 months) to gain crucial socialization skills in a supervised environment, while getting in some good playtime. Puppy Club will be every Sunday at noon from May through September. Each 40-minute drop-in session is $10 and after you attend five sessions the sixth is free! Click here for more information on all the dog training classes PAWS offers or call 425.787.2500, ext. 820 or email programs@paws.org.
Don’t let your house be a home for wildlife As spring approaches and the mating season kicks into gear, wildlife moms and dads look for warm places to raise their babies. To prevent wild animals from making your house a home, make repairs sooner rather than later.
If wild animals have already taken up residence in or under your house, wait until they leave and then seal their access. During spring and summer—prime mating season—assume there are babies present and be careful not to separate parents from their young. If possible, wait until the family is old enough to move out. If you cannot wait for animals to leave on their own, make their surroundings less inviting. Turn on a bright, flashing light and leave a radio show playing near their den site. Many animals are sensitive to smell, so deter them with mothballs or ammonia-soaked rags. Deploy as many deterrents as possible at the first sign of problems, but do not use these methods when babies are present. Nocturnal animals such as bats should be closed out while they are active at night, whereas squirrels, for example, can be excluded during the day. Set up a one-way door or stretch a piece of plastic across the entrance. Use extreme caution to avoid trapping infants inside as they will be unable to use the one-way door and their mothers cannot return for them. Only when you are certain that there are no animals, including babies, left inside, close the opening permanently. Remember, trapping and relocating wildlife does not solve human-wildlife conflicts and is, at-best, a short-term solution. Trapping separates mothers from babies resulting in death of the young left behind and other animals will take their place in your home unless the conditions that attracted the animals in the first place are corrected. For additional assistance on humanely solving wildlife conflicts, call PAWS at 425.787.2500, ext. 817 or refer to fact sheets about specific wild animal species.
After months of trauma and uncertainty, all four cats in PAWS' care who were rescued after Hurricane Katrina have found new, loving homes. With the efforts of PAWS' staff, volunteers and friends in the community, we were able to give these cats the attention and care they needed and deserved. Morris, who was the oldest and weakest when he first arrived at PAWS, is pictured here with his new person, Elizabeth. Despite her raging allergies, Elizabeth loves that Morris snuggles under her chin every night at bedtime. To continue to help homeless animals like these Katrina cats, please donate today. Thank you! Food you can feel good about Vegfest 2006 is just around the corner on March 11 and 12, at the Seattle Center Exhibition Hall (a bigger venue this year). This annual, fun vegetarian festival is presented by Vegetarians of Washington, sponsored in part by PAWS, to celebrate and promote a healthy, animal and environmentally friendly lifestyle. There will be nutrition presentations, cooking demonstrations, books for sale and author signings, kids' activities, and thousands of free vegetarian food samples from over 150 companies. Stop by the PAWS booth while you are there. For more information visit www.vegfest2006.org. In order to run such a large event, organizers need hundreds of volunteers to lend a hand. You don’t have to be a vegetarian to volunteer! Volunteers will receive a free t-shirt and free admission to the event. To volunteer for Vegfest, visit www.vegofwa.org/vegfest/volunteer.html to complete a volunteer application form, or call 206.706.2635.
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All rights reserved. ©2005 Progressive Animal Welfare Society
A Northwest leader in protecting animals since 1967, the Progressive Animal Welfare Society (PAWS) shelters homeless animals, rehabilitates injured and orphaned wildlife, and empowers people to demonstrate compassion and respect for animals in their daily lives.
We're running low on our supply of toys for the shelter dogs at PAWS. If you can help give them some comfort by bringing stuffed toys, squeaky toys or chew toys (no rawhides, please) to PAWS' shelter in Lynnwood, our four-legged friends would most appreciate it! 
Last month, PAWS received more than 60 grebes found beached in Ocean Shores. The birds were suffering from exhaustion, dehydration, lack of food and other injuries after the rough winter storms. Although not an uncommon occurrence, this influx put a big strain on the resources and people at PAWS.
Katrina cats adopted!