PAWS is about helping animals. In 1999, PAWS was able to help more animals than ever before. From Spirit the badly abused puppy who PAWS was able to rehabilitate and place in a loving home, to a bald eagle found emaciated and near death before finding rehabilitation at the PAWS Lynnwood Wildlife Center, to the countless thousands of animals saved by the actions of PAWS advocates who educate and encourage the public to live animal-friendly lives, PAWS was able to touch the lives of thousands of animals, both human and nonhuman.

In 1999 PAWS implemented the Good Dog program, a treat-based behavior program designed to make the lives of the shelter dogs more pleasant and interactive.

PAWS served as the Snohomish county coordinator for the annual Spay Day effort, and helped Whidbey Animal Improvement Foundation (WAIF) in efforts to promote Spay Day in Island County. The event was hugely successful, resulting in 421 animals being altered at 36 clinics.

Back at PAWS, the PAWS Companion Animal Spay/Neuter Clinic altered 1,491 PAWS animals during 1999. And the PAWS shelter would not easily function without the dedication of the volunteers who devoted 21,297 hours of their time to the animals in the shelter.

1999 was one of the most exciting years ever for the PAWS Wildlife Department as the merger with Olympic Wildlife Rescue in McCleary greatly expanded the capabilities of PAWS to help the injured and orphaned wild animals of Washington.

Much of the latter half of 1999 was devoted to cleaning up the McCleary property and building new fencing and caging in preparation for the 2000 summer season.

PAWS Wildlife experts released almost 2,000 animals back into the wild during 1999. Among the more touching animal stories were baby bear brother and sister brought to the Lynnwood Wildlife Center ill and orphaned, far from their California home. After months of expert care and loving rehabilitation at PAWS, the bears were successfully returned to their Yosemite Forest home.

PAWS advocates worked hard for animals in 1999. Led by Advocacy Director Will Anderson, animal advocates Diane Venberg, Jennifer Hillman, Stephanie Jones, and Cindy Raven were on the front lines, advocating for animals along with Companion Animal Advocate Kay Joubert and Wildlife Advocate Stephanie Hillman.

PAWS advocates fought against the cruel Omak Suicide Race; sued the US Coast Guard to allow effective protest during the Makah Gray Whale hunt; helped defeat a bill that would lessen the humane treatment of mules, horses and oxen; lead an informational demonstration at the Korean embassy against a proposal to classify dogs as food in Korea; and presented a supportive presence for animals during the November WTO protests.

As the year ended, PAWS advocates were gearing up for their largest presence ever in the Washington State legislature; six PAWS advocates actively lobbied for animals during the legislative session.

In March PAWS held its second annual Wild Night auction, raising over $100,000 for the animals at PAWS.

1999 also saw the biggest, most fun PAWSwalk ever. 2,000 dogs and their human companions descended on Greenlake, raising money for the animals at PAWS.

The Wildlife Intake numbers include animals from the PAWS Olympic Wildlife Center in McCleary from June through December only. Animals accepted prior to June 1999 were recorded by Olympic Wildlife Rescue.

The intake and outflow numbers for the shelter and wildlife center do not add up to zero. This difference is accounted for by the animals that were already in our shelter or wildlife centers on the first day of 1999 as well as animals that were received during 1999 but had not left our facilities by the final day of 1999.

The expense ratios of Companion Animal Services and the Wildlife Department reflect the positions of two full-time advocates in the two direct-care departments.

Complete audited financial statements are available for review in the PAWS Adminstration offices in Lynnwood during regular business hours.

*PAWS does not euthanize healthy, adoptable companion animals.