When pet owners don’t know where to turn, PAWS’ team is here to respond to requests for assistance and offer support in hopes of making pet retention possible by offering training and behavioral counseling.
In 2021, PAWS took a major step toward expanding our community support services by creating two new positions: a Dog Program Manager and a Cat Program Manager. Among other responsibilities, these team members respond to surrender requests and offer support and alternatives in hopes of making pet retention possible. They speak with distressed pet owners, identify their specific needs, and connect them with available services. In some cases, a referral to our medical team for veterinary care may be in order. But in many others, it may be helpful to offer training and behavioral counseling, and to provide related supplies and resources. Staff members allocate time weekly for case management, to ensure that clients receive needed care and that any next steps are planned for and carried out. Additionally, both the Dog Program Manager and Cat Program Manager have built relationships with dog trainers and cat behavior specialists who offer discounted or subsidized services to our clients. The issues they address are far easier to resolve in an existing home, rather than after an animal has been shuttled through the shelter system and into an unfamiliar home.
