I. Shelter

Precious Paws is currently renting a facility to shelter homeless and abandoned kittens and pregnant or nursing mother cats . The building is centrally located at 15 Main St. in the commercial district of Van Buren. This location provides easy access, high visibility and affordability; therefore, this site has great potential for development and expansion projects. Shelter capacity is between 20 and 30 cats and kittens depending on age and health condition.

Our facility is operated by an all volunteer group, unfortunately there are no funds to pay for staff to maintain regular business hours. Until further notice, visiting hours will vary so please call ahead to avoid any inconvenience.
An answering machine may take your call; if you leave a message your call will be returned within 24 hrs.
For the same reason, adoptions are by appointment.

The facility has 1,752 square feet of working space including an office, a full-service kitchen, bathroom, basement, two intake rooms, and a newly renovated adoption room.

This new area is a favorite for us all because it serves as a large community room for the animals that are awaiting their forever homes. We are very proud of the outcome and the animals are most certainly enjoying their new found freedom. All cats should have it so good. We've made this room so nice for them , we have to wonder if they'll ever want to leave. (smile)

This special new addition offers plenty of room for the cats to interact, run , play, scratch and perch or find their favorite nesting spot. We have decorated  the room with plenty of sunny window seats, (sunbathing seems to be their favorite pastime) and comfy beds, vertical scratch poles and shelving lining the perimeter of the room to provide them with extra space especially those who feel the need to gain higher ground (when a visitor is not welcomed if you know what I mean) and we even provided them with a fancy hammock and tv entertainment (we should all be so lucky)

Visitors can view the cats at play through a window in the lobby or step inside to get better acquainted if they're interested in adoption.

II. Shelter Feeding Program

Precious Paws has implemented a shelter-feeding program in partnership with a highly reputable, veterinarian-approved, food manufacturer, which provides all of the feeding needs of the animals. This partnership is vital to the operation of Precious Paws while also providing the animals with healthy nutritious meals. Precious Paws does not euthanize for space; rather, feral cats are transferred to outreach caregivers who work to socialize them. All feral cats are altered before they leave the shelter.

III. Wellness Program

Upon arrival, new animals are examined, weighed, cleaned, checked for parasites, tested for diseases , and vaccinated. A medical chart and file is created for each new intake. Charts are maintained and kept posted for regular updates until an animal is adopted. Kittens are carefully monitored and kept a minimum of 8-10 weeks depending on health conditions before they are available for adoption.

Since social interaction is highly encouraged among cats at Precious Paws it has become vital that their health be closely monitored to test for contagious, infectious viruses and diseases that could easily be transmitted to the rest of the population. Animals that test positive for disease such as leukemia, must be euthanized immediately to prevent disease spread to other animals. Animals beyond the age of 4 to 5 months are taken to the local vet clinic to be spayed or neutered. With the help of local veterinarian (Member and sponsor), staff at Precious Paws was able to acquire training to conduct Leuk/FIV testing. A highly qualified, volunteer board member administers vaccines (except for rabies) and tests for the sheltered animals. It is our opinion that testing will not only prevent the spread of contagious viruses, but also encourage adoptions since many potential pet owners cannot afford costly vet visits.

IV. Adoption Services

Adoptions are scheduled on an appointment basis since we have no paid staff, and potential adopters are carefully screened to ensure their capacity to provide for an animal. They are also required to visit their selected animal for a minimum of 1 hour before they can take the animal home. This process allows time to socialize with the animals and provide a window of time to screen and educate the adopter on responsible pet ownership, while also giving them time to bond with the animal. In the event that a kitten is too young to receive alterations prior to adoption, a contract is signed by the adopter obligating them to have the kitten spayed or neutered by the age of 5 months. In these cases, kittens are followed up closely until their alterations are carried out, in which case Precious Paws will close the adoption file. Kittens that are between the ages of 4 to 5 months that have yet to be adopted, are spayed or neutered prior to adoption.

V. Community Outreach Programs

 Precious Paws Impacts/Involves the community and Promotes Volunteerism

We are taking important steps to lessen the financial and social burden that these unwanted animals present to our community and to reduce the threat to local ecosystems caused by feline overpopulation.

1. We are working to stop the inhumane treatment of unwanted animals, prevent abandonment, and reduce feline overpopulation by educating the public on responsible pet ownership and by providing alternatives to abandonment or neglect. In time, we plan to visit schools to educate children on the importance of humane care for animals of all kinds.

2. We encourage volunteerism by advertising through the media, flyers, and on our website. Volunteers are encouraged to communicate openly with all of us at Precious Paws. In the interests of retention, we encourage them to tell us about their area of interest and any special skills so that we can match them up with work they enjoy.

3. We provide spay/neuter information as well as information on available programs. We also offer alternatives in respect to the surrender of domestic pets. Our website http://www.mypreciouspaws.org includes pet tips and information about our organization and how people can get involved. We have be added a forum to share information & ideas and we encourage foster care by the community.

4. We have recently formed a network of concerned citizens from various animal welfare groups so we can exchange ideas and collaborate effectively. By combining our efforts, we believe we will have a greater impact on the problems facing both our community and the surrounding ones.

VI. Cyber Adoptions

Precious Paws' web site (http://www.mypreciouspaws.org) is being provided as a service donation to the organization. The web site is hosted and maintained at no cost by a member and offers a great deal of options for visitors. It provides photographs of pets available for adoption and animals lost and found list updates and services being offered. These services help connect people with the animals and increases adoption rates. A new web site is currently in the works that promises to have much improved graphics, more details, and an opportunity to raise funds with advertising banners. Veterinarian Dr. Chris Yule has agreed to sponsor the new web site for 1 year and provide the site with a weekly pet advice column.

Our website is a great way to connect people with pets. It saves time for potential adoptees and helps increase adoption rates. We strive to keep the site updated and  user friendly. Our new forum is a great way to communicate with our viewers. We welcome your comments or suggestions.