When PAWS Can Help

PAWS accepts owned cats, kittens, dogs and puppies through our Re-homing Service. Please note, we are located in Lynnwood, WA 20 miles north of Seattle. The staff will help you decide if surrendering your pet to our shelter is your best option.

Surrendering your pet to PAWS

Because of the high demand for PAWS’ Re-homing Service, there may be a waiting period before your animal can be accepted into our shelter. When you contact PAWS, the staff will let you know how long you may have to wait.

1. Before PAWS can take custody of your pet, you need to submit either a cat surrender form or a dog surrender form. If you have multiple animals, submit a separate form for each animal. Please note we are located in Lynnwood, WA 20 miles north of Seattle. If you are looking for a shelter called PAWS near you, try our "Not the right PAWS?" page.
2. PAWS’ staff will review the information and determine if your cat or dog is a good fit for our shelter environment. If your pet is not behaviorally or medically sound, PAWS will not accept him into our program.
3. If we determine that your pet may be a good fit for our shelter and program, we will contact you to review your pet’s information and to schedule an appointment to bring your pet to PAWS.
4. PAWS requires a fee for the intake of cats and dogs through our Re-homing Service. This fee is used to offset the cost of caring for your animal while we work to find your pet a new home. The charges are:
   • Adult cats—$50*
   • Adult dogs—$65*
   • Kittens/puppies/pregnant animals—Please call 425.787.2500 x850 to speak with a staff member.

   * Residents of unincorporated Snohomish County will be charged an additional fee of $15 per Snohomish County Code 9.12.055. This fee is paid to PAWS, but we transfer it to the county as required by the code to help with the cost of providing animal control and shelter services for the community.

5. When you arrive for your appointment, PAWS’ staff will observe your animal’s behavior. If staff cannot safely handle your animal, we will decline to accept your pet into our program and will suggest alternate options.

Can PAWS guarantee my pet a home?

Simply put, we cannot. There are times when behavioral or medical issues are not apparent until an animal has been at PAWS for awhile. For these reasons, PAWS cannot guarantee your pet a new home. PAWS does work very hard to find homes for the animals in our care and, on average, places more than 85 percent of our dogs and cats into new homes.

PAWS will not regularly update you on the status of your animal, but you can contact us. Please be aware that we cannot release any information about who adopts your pet.

In the end, a safe, loving home is the best place for your pet, so please check out these resources on getting help with pet behavior problems, finding pet-friendly housing, or dealing with allergies.