Progressive Animal Welfare Society

A Northwest leader in protecting animals since 1967, PAWS shelters homeless animals, rehabilitates injured and orphaned wildlife, and empowers people to demonstrate compassion and respect for animals in their daily lives. PAWS operates with a volunteer board of directors, a paid staff of 50 full and part-time employees, and more than 1,000 volunteers.

PAWS was founded as an all-volunteer animal advocacy organization that promoted spaying and neutering as a way to solve the euthanasia crisis in local shelters. Today, PAWS continues to improve the lives of animals in Washington State and beyond through the care of 7,000 animals each year in our wildlife center and companion animal shelter; through our humane education programs, which has reached thousands of children; and, through innovations like our foster care and veterinary intern programs.