PAWS for a Bite of Italy
You're invited to enjoy a great meal and help animals at the same time! On Tuesday, November 13, our friends at Amici Bistro, located at 8004 Mukilteo Speedway in Mukilteo, will donate a portion of their sales to PAWS. Please join us any time after 4 p.m. for an evening of Italian dining at its finest. For more information, or to make your reservation, call 425.438.9544 or visit www.AmiciBistro.com. Mangia!

Does that seal need help?
The pupping season for Harbor Seals is well over, but now these young marine mammals face an even harder challenge---surviving all on their own. Soon after weaning, mother seals leave their pups to fend for themselves. Because of this, it is common to still see young seals on the beaches around the Puget Sound. But that doesn't mean these seals need rescuing. Harbor Seals regularly come out of the water to rest, interact with each other, and warm themselves in the sunshine, but they are extremely vulnerable while on land. If you see a seal on the beach follow these guidelines:

• Stay at least 100 yards away, as NOAA Fisheries Service (the agency that has jurisdiction over seals and sea lions) strongly recommends. Keep your dogs on leash so they don't bother or harm the animal. Encourage others to do the same.
• If there is a local agency monitoring the beach, inform them about the seal so they can help keep people and dogs away.
• If a seal has obvious signs of illness or injury, do not attempt to provide care for or pick him up. It is against the law to do so, and this can endanger you and the seal. Instead, call the Northwest Marine Mammal Stranding Network Hotline at 1.800.853.1964 and provide a detailed description of what the seal looks like, any visible injuries, how long he has been there, and the precise location. NOAA will determine if the seal needs assistance, and contact a wildlife rehabilitation center, if necessary.

Just this week PAWS Wildlife Center received its 14th seal of the year. Caring for a recently-weaned seal costs approximately $370 per week, which includes about 350 large herring, and over 12,700 gallons of water! This cost doesn't include any diagnostic testing, medical supplies, or medicine that the seal may require. If you'd like to help PAWS care for Harbor Seals and the other animals in our wildlife center, please make a gift today. Thank you!

Low-cost spay & neuter surgeries at PAWS
If you haven't heard yet, neuter is cuter and spay is the way. Accidents happen---cats as young as five months and dogs as young as six months can reproduce, so get your pet fixed today. Beginning November 7 PAWS is offering low-cost spay and neuter surgeries for animals of qualified low-income individuals. There are extra special rates for pit bulls and cats. Learn more about the fees and details. Read about the benefits of spaying and neutering and spread the news!

Still time to give at work
Looking for a convenient way to make a difference for animals in need? There is still time to donate through your employer's workplace giving campaign, and your gift will go a long way to help the animals in our care. For example, with a pledge of $105---less than $9 a month---you can feed all the dogs and cats at PAWS' shelter for one week! For more information on your workplace giving program contact your employer's human resources department, or Eleanor Blackford at PAWS at 425.787.2500 x833 or eblackford@paws.org. Thank you!

Welcome home an old friend
Don't miss out on the chance to experience life's simple pleasures with a special friend. Senior animals are often already trained, are calmer, and have plenty of love to give. In celebration of Adopt-a-Senior-Pet Month, PAWS is offering a specially-reduced adoption fee of $65 for dogs and cats aged 7 years or older throughout November. Meet the two charmers below waiting for you at PAWS today! See more wonderful animals available for adoption.

Provide habitat, not hand-outs
As the days grow darker and colder this time of year, food for wildlife begins to grow scarcer. Although putting out food for the wild animals in your neighborhood can feel like the right thing to do, remember that they are well-adapted to their environment. For thousands of years they have survived through the cycle of the seasons. Providing wild animals with "unnatural foods," such as bread, pet food and scraps from our own meals can actually do more harm than good, causing digestive problems and encouraging animals to become dependent on people for food.

The best way to help wildlife is to add a variety of native plants to your yard that will provide shelter and food sources year-round. Fall and winter are prime planting seasons for many varieties of native trees and shrubs. Even if you have only a small deck, a few potted plants will do a world of good. For more information on landscaping for wildlife visit the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife website. Your wild neighbors will thank you.

Host a gift drive for the animals
Celebrate this holiday season by hosting a gift drive for the animals at PAWS. Gift drives are a great alternative to gift exchanges with your friends and family, and they are a fun way to get your workplace involved in your compassion for animals. Check out our tool kit and learn more about hosting a gift drive today. You can also view our wish list online at Amazon.com and even send gifts directly to PAWS.

Who's the cat's meow?
Faces of the NW, a gift shop on the Edmonds waterfront, is holding a cat mascot contest for their store. The shop will generously donate $5 to PAWS for each of the first 30 entries. Cat guardians have until the end of November to submit a 4x6-inch picture of their feline, along with the cat's résumé---to highlight their best attributes---at the store located at 300 Admiral Way, Suite 104 in Edmonds (below Arnie's restaurant). Shoppers are encouraged to return to the store in December to cast votes for their favorite felines. The cat with the most votes at the end of the month wins a gift basket and will have his or her photograph posted in the store for the season. For more information contact the Faces of the NW at 425.771.2200. May the best cat win!

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