P

AWS, offi cially known as Panhandle Animal Welfare Society 

is a multifaceted humane society with goals, missions, and 

philosophies that make our world a better place.  PAWS 

has a specifi c but diverse mission to offer refuge, medical 

care, nourishment, and an opportunity for a second chance for life to 

unwanted animals in our community.  They further work to protect 

animals from cruelty, neglect, carelessness, and ignorance as well as 

encourage and promote responsible pet ownership while educating 

and informing about animal issues, and assist in the development of 

short and long term community oriented solutions to such problems. 

The Humane Society was fi rst incorporated in 1957 as the 

Playground Humane Society-PAWS. They have successfully 

played a key role in the fi eld of animal care and control in Northwest 

Florida for over forty-fi ve beginning with their fi rst facility, a small 

building in Valparaiso, Florida. In 1986, the shelter was renamed the 

Panhandle Animal Welfare Society, affectionately known as PAWS. 

Today, they serve over 160,000 residents in Okaloosa County and 

surrounding communities.

PAWS has an even deeper philosophy because animals are part of 

our environment and the relationship between people and animals 

is unique and special. As humans, we chose to domesticate animals, 

which demands a moral and legal responsibility to care for and 

protect them.  While mostly well intended, man has sometimes failed 

in their responsibility to exploited and endangered wild animals.  

PAWS and other such agencies often see abandoned companion 

animals, condemning them to suffering, starvation and disease.  In 

domesticating animals, man has also allowed thousands of unwanted 

puppies and kittens to be born each day, thus perpetuating the 

cycle of neglect and abuse.  The Panhandle Animal Welfare Society 

explicitly exists to assist with the intent of helping these animals while 

uplifting the community by encouraging the humane treatment of all 

animals.

Visit paws-shelter.org to fi nd out more and how you can help.

story by

Greg Alexander

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