Because you care about your dog or cat...
Consider this shocking fact: Every year, tens of thousands of unwanted dogs and cats are humanely euthanized in the Puget Sound area. These deaths can be avoidable, and PAWS is here to help! Please read through the following solutions to the most common reasons people give up their pets.

"I'm moving" or "My landlord says No!"
Moving is stressful even in the best of circumstances! Many people choose to give up their pet before they move because they're not sure how to find pet-friendly housing, travel with the animal, or help the animal adjust to a new home. PAWS can help you move with your pet by providing the following information: Pet-Friendly Apartments Guide, When You Move, Tips for Renters and Helping Your Cat/Dog Adjust to a New Home.

"My pet has behavior problems"
Does your dog bite, dig holes, chase cars, bark too much, or chew furniture? Does your cat not use the litter box, scratch furnishings, or yowl too much? Giving up your pet does not have to be the solution! There are medical or training solutions to virtually every behavior problem. Call PAWS' Behavior Helpline, (425) 787-2500 ext. 860 -- describe your pet and the behavior you would like to change. A behavior counselor will call you back within 48 hours to help you solve the problem. Many behavior problems are caused by medical issues - contact your veterinarian for advice.

"There is a new baby in the home, or one is on the way!"
Read the pets and babies fact sheet to learn how to address this important change so the new baby is welcomed and accepted by the resident dog or cat.

"I have allergies"
Read a step-by-step instruction sheet on how to live comfortably with pet allergies. Simply bathing your pet with a product such as Allerpet (sold at numerous veterinary clinics) and following some simple cleaning procedures in your home can ease the suffering of the allergic person and keep your pet in your home. Your doctor can also refer you to an allergy specialist to work with you or your pet.

If you're interested in trying to re-home the animal yourself.
PAWS has information available to help you with that. Click here for useful guidelines to assist you.

When PAWS can help.
Because of the influx of animals we receive, PAWS is only able to accept owned companion animals on a limited basis. In addition, PAWS and other shelters focus on helping animals in our immediate areas, as a way to ensure we help as many animals as we possibly can in our own communities. Along with the other resources we have listed, we encourage you to work with shelters in your immediate area as a first step to re-homing an adult cat or dog or litters of young animals. View a list of shelters in the Pacific Northwest, as well as national organizations or visit the Petfinder web site which includes "virtual shelter" listings. Or you can call the Puget Sound Pet Adoption Information Line at 1-800-518-7387 for a list of the greater Seattle area shelters including addresses and websites.