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
62 | VIPDestinMagazine.com
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