After You Adopt from PAWS

Thank you for adopting your new cat or dog from PAWS and giving a homeless animal a second chance! We hope you will be happy with your new companion. PAWS has matched more than 116,000 families with companion animals, giving us the experience and knowledge to make your adoption a success.

If problems or questions come up, we hope you will use both PAWS’ resources, and other professional resources in the community. We also encourage you to share your successes or concerns with PAWS by taking our adoption follow-up survey.

Adoption packet

When you adopted your pet, you received a packet with important information about your new companion (including medical records) and about the adoption process. The packet is full of helpful hints.

We encourage you to keep the packet in a safe place along with your other important papers. If you have misplaced items from the packet please contact us for assistance.

Contact PAWS staff

PAWS wants to keep in touch so we can help you bond with your new companion.

If you have immediate questions, we encourage you to look through your adoption packet. Most common questions—such as what vaccines your cat or dog has received—can be found on the animal’s kennel card.

If you have questions that aren’t answered in the adoption packet or in our online resource library, please call 425.787.2500 x804 or send us a message from our contact page.

Free pet behavior help

You will find advice for the most common behavior problems related to bringing home a new pet in the adoption packet. However your issue may be more complex or you may simply need more personal assistance. That’s why PAWS has a free behavior helpline that you can reach through this website or by phone at 425.787.2500 x860.

You can use this free service anytime and for any cat or dog in your household. Our website also outlines steps to take if your pet gets lost.

Online resource library

PAWS’ online library has resource sheets on behavior and care that supplement the adoption packet. Reading them will raise your chances for a successful transition with your new companion.

Give us your feedback

Your constructive feedback about our adoption process, helps us improve the process and the information we provide. Please take a few moments to complete an adoption follow-up survey.

Share your story

When an animal leaves the shelter for her “new beginning” we feel great joy for her and her new family. We again thank you for giving a homeless animal a loving home, and we hope you will encourage others to adopt from PAWS.

We would love to know how things are going. Please feel free to e-mail us at catsanddogs@paws.org with pictures or a story about how your cat or dog has settled in at his new home. Your story may even be featured in PAWS’ blog.

We hope your adoption of a pet has made you feel like a member of the PAWS family. We encourage you to explore other ways to get involved. You may consider volunteering, becoming a foster care provider, or participating in one of our events.