Who is "PAWS" and What Do They Do?
PAWS (Parke County Animal Welfare Services Inc), formerly known as "OTIS" or "The OTIS Foundation Inc.," was founded in 2013 and is a registered 501(c) 3 tax-exempt nonprofit public charity. We are a very small group of people who have a great passion for the welfare of all animals and believe in the value of all living beings - we do not limit ourselves to a specific breed or species. We want to ensure that our community's animals are treated with respect and teach others to recognize and understand the value of the animals' lives.
It is our ultimate purpose and mission to be a voice for all animals, protect them from inhumane treatment, and strengthen the welfare of those animals in our community. Our primary focus is on the most extreme cases—medical emergencies (for unowned animals) and animal cruelty (abuse and neglect) within Parke County, Indiana. We strive to give these animals a voice and a second chance at life, and we work to ensure that the ones who cross our paths are met with the love and tenderness that they may have never known. We are dedicated to combating animal neglect and cruelty, promoting the importance of companion animal population control, and improving the lives of animals and their people through legislation, advocacy, education, and support. Through public education and awareness, we strive to promote the importance of proper animal care, spaying and neutering, the value of adoption and fostering, and the public's understanding of animal protection laws. By staying up-to-date and involved with state legislation, we also raise public awareness to laws, ordinances and regulations concerning animals within the state of Indiana. By working with our local law enforcement and county prosecutor, we help to ensure that state laws are upheld, animal victims are given a voice, and that any individuals who violate those laws are held accountable for their actions.
On a very small scale, we also provide resources for low-income pet owners by helping them get their pets spayed and neutered, access to veterinary care in emergency situations, and pet food assistance.
PAWS relies, financially, 100% on community support and public donations. We receive zero county government funding. As a registered 501(c) 3 tax-exempt public charity and all donations are tax-deductible.
What does PAWS NOT Do?
It is a common misconception that PAWS is an animal shelter/humane society. We are not. Our goals and operations differ very greatly from those of a municipal shelter facility.
It is a common misconception that PAWS has a physical facility. We do not. PAWS is a foster-based organization and cannot take in animals without foster homes for them to go to. Our foster network is extremely limited, so we rely heavily on others to step up for these animals in times of need.
Because of our limited resources and lack of foster homes, our focus is on the most extreme cases of medical emergency for unowned animals and victims of animal cruelty. This is also the reason PAWS does not accept owner surrenders. Our resources and foster homes are reserved for the animals who need us the most and have no one else to take responsibility for their care.
It is a common misconception that PAWS has paid staff who are available at all times to act as animal control. We do not have paid staff and we are not animal control. We are a group of three women who volunteer our personal time to run the rescue. We have regular jobs outside of PAWS.
It is a common misconception that PAWS picks up stray animals. This is not a regular practice for the organization. We typically will only do this if the animal is injured and/or in danger and the sheriff's department has referred someone to us.
It is a common misconception that PAWS has legal authority to investigate animal-related complaints. We do not. Because we have no animal control division or appointed humane officer in our county, law enforcement authorities are the only ones with the legal power to investigate these complaints, seize animals and make arrests.