By Jaymie Mordue
frontdesk@theenterprise.net

The Patrick Animal Welfare Society (PAWS) has a new lease on life after teetering near the brink of closing.

Murphy Brown, organizer of PAWS, said in a recent story that she feared the agency would be forced to cease operations due to the loss of a treasurer and the lack of community involvement.

Since the story was published, the agency has received several calls from people interested in volunteering, Brown said. Some also showed interest in serving as treasurer.

With a new treasurer on board, and renewed community interest, plans are in the works to hold a public meeting in the near future to discuss the agency’s continued work in the community, according to Brown.

She added that PAWS is a nonprofit agency, established in 2000 and initially led by Robyn Blevins.

Lynn Reagan later took over the helm of the organization, until 2006.

Then, PAWS was reorganized by “a handful of residents who have now devoted 12 years to our cause,” Brown said. Those residents, which she refers to as “the backbone of PAWS,” are now in their 70s.

Brown said it is imperative to continue working to attract new volunteers.

Currently, the spay/neuter program is the agency’s focus, Brown said of the program that provides help to anyone who needs to have their dog spayed or neutered — regardless of their financial situation — by providing vouchers that cover 100 percent of the cost of the procedure.

To help cover those costs, the agency accepts donations and contributions from anyone who is willing or able to help.

Through the spay/neuter program, the agency has helped spay or neuter more than 500 community pets since 2006, according to Brown.

Also in that time, PAWS volunteers have worked to place 2,489 pets in homes, including 1,279 which were first located in the county’s animal pound.

When a dog is at the pound, they are given seven days if they do not have a collar, and 12 days if they do have a collar, Brown said.

If there are dogs that are not adopted out after this process, they are picked up by Augusta Dog Rescue.

The agency picks up un-adopted dogs twice a month, for a total of five to 12 dogs per month.

Few dogs are euthanized due to aggression or other serious issues, she added.

PAWS also helps pets by partnering with other community organizations, including the Patrick County Food Bank, Disaster Relief Food Ministry, the Patrick County Department of Social Services, Piedmont Community Services, and Patrick County Public Animal Shelter, Brown said.

In those situations, PAWS provides dog houses, bedding, pet food and more to those in need, she said.

The agency also has donated books about animal care to Stuart Elementary School and the Patrick County Branch Library.

It also bought materials and covered the costs for a pet in need of a wheelchair, and has housed and cared for animals when families were unable to do so, Brown said.

Though PAWS participates in fostering animals, they do not currently have the manpower to maintain that service, according to Brown, who said the agency needs more volunteers to continue their fostering services.

The agency hopes to more animal lovers get involved and commit time and resources that will enable PAWS to continue providing much needed services to local pets and families.

For more information or to help, call (276) 694-2389.