“[We’re] trying to save as many of the dogs and cats as we can… We want to see life better for that pet…It’s all about providing potential homes and for the welfare of these animals that have been let down by people,” said Debbie Duquette, Board Member at PAWS Humane Society, located at 5312 North US-68 in Wilmington. According to Debbie, she was “always the kid feeding the strays.” She began volunteering for PAWS roughly five years ago and described it as a “love affair” since. Sarah Armstrong, another PAWS Board Member and Volunteer Coordinator, has also loved animals since her childhood around her grandparents’ farm. She had previous nonprofit experience in animal welfare and was searching for an organization closer to home. “That’s like my fuel, getting to spend that time with [the animals] and caring for them,” said Sarah about volunteering at PAWS. She began volunteering for the organization in 2017.
PAWS Humane Society currently houses 14 dogs and 80 cats. The humane society is operated almost exclusively by volunteers and has no full-time employees.
According to Debbie and Sarah, most of the dogs at PAWS come from the Clinton County Dog Warden. After the dog warden receives a stray dog, they will then hold the dog for three days, allowing the owner to come forward. If the dog is not claimed, the warden will then speak to PAWS Humane Society and Clinton County Humane Society to place the dog. The cats at the shelter typically come from phone calls.
Upon receiving the animals at PAWS, volunteers vets the animals. Once the animals are vetted, volunteers try to get the animals adopted. Sarah and Debbie shared that all of the local humane societies have a close relationship, often sharing large donations of toys and food. According to Debbie and Sarah, the local humane agencies also work together to ensure each animal’s adoption.
The process to adopt an animal is through appointment only, excluding PAWS adoption events. PAWS does not have open adoptions. Sarah and Debbie stressed that PAWS aims to ensure that each match is a good fit and that the dogs will not be returned to the shelter, as it can be very harmful to the dog. The process begins with an interested individual meeting with the dog they would like to adopt. After a successful meeting, the interested adopter must also introduce the PAWS dog to any other dogs they may have. From there, they proceed with the adoption.
When an individual adopts a pet, they are provided resources throughout the process, including several resource tabs on the PAWS website. Debbie and Sarah mentioned that mixed breeds are more likely to be healthier dogs with better lifespans than purebreds, encouraging individuals to adopt through a humane society.
The two board members also pushed back against antiquated ideals that dogs are “property” and mentioned that dogs are “den animals” that need companionship. “A dog is a family member, they are not cattle. They’re not property, they’re companions,” stated Debbie. “Anything that we domesticate, I think we are responsible to take care of,” she continued. The two encouraged pet owners not to rehome their dogs. They emphasized that shelters are overwhelmed and many dogs decline due to stress, which can be fatal for the dog if left in a kill shelter.
The building where PAWS is located originally housed the Wilmington Area Humane Society (WAHS). When WAHS decided they no longer needed the building to house animals, several Clinton County residents determined there was still a need for another physical animal shelter in the county. This lead to the formation of PAWS Humane Society. Debbie and Sarah stated that the only time the building has been empty was during the transition from WAHS to PAWS. Both humane societies in the county, PAWS Humane Society and Clinton County Humane Society, are currently full.
Debbie and Sarah also touched on the cat population in Wilmington, mentioning that several groups offer a “Trap, Neuter, and Release” program (TNR) where they trap wild cats, neuter them, and then release them. Additionally, PAWS will loan individuals humane traps for cats to encourage their participation in TNR programs.
Although PAWS does not have an onsite veterinarian, they host four Rascal Units a year. A Rascal Unit is a low-cost, mobile spay and neuter clinic. They typically neuter about 50 pets per clinic. The mobile unit can also perform wellness checks. PAWS advertises these clinics on social media. Sarah and Debbie emphasized the importance of signing up for these clinics, as the spots fill quickly.
PAWS will continue hosting adoption events and even hopes to offer ‘cat yoga’ in the spring. The two mentioned PAWS’s participation in “My Furry Valentine”, a large adoption event at Spooky Nook Sports in Hamilton. The event will occur from January 25th through the 26th and will have over 200 rescue organizations present. Debbie and Sarah also encouraged pet owners to get their pets microchipped, vaccinated, and licensed.
Listen to the full story of PAWS Humane Society on episode 62 of The Real Change Podcast. To volunteer, donate, or adopt an animal at PAWS, visit pawshumane.weebly.com