Hello all!
I became acquainted with PAWS of Hertford Co 8 years ago (August 2015). I took in a feral rescue just prior that I could not see going to a shelter. I was working a lot of hours and they were shift work. I very soon felt he would need a companion to help fill the void of my absence. My mother had adopted a companion for herself from PAWS earlier that year and recommended them. After looking at just a few pictures on their Website, I fell in love with one and immediately applied for adoption. When I arrived to pick him up, I was humbled by the fact it was NOT a lavish facility (meaning they did not waste money on pretty surroundings, but concentrated on functional ones) and everybody I met were truly compassionate about caring for the animals; it touched my heart. I began donating something when I could as I love animals (especially cats). I wish I had the time to become a volunteer, but work put a damper on that. Soon after, I had to take in my mother due to illness and welcomed her cat as well. I also took in 2 more feral kittens in that time to keep them out of a shelter (now totaling 5 cats). And despite the cost of having 5 cats, I still found a way to donate when I could. My mother passed earlier this year, but still do not have the time to volunteer. I do, however, have a little more money to share and became a Guardian donor in addition to donations made during their fundraising events. I truly believe in this organization, they care a great deal. They not only provide a great service to the animals, but to the community as well. It would be a real shame if they could not continue. I will continue being a supporter and urge everybody to contribute what they could, every dollar helps.
With sincere admiration,
Sir Minion of Cats
I donate to and fully support this organization for all their hard work and compassion towards countless animals they’ve rescued and found loving homes for. Their tireless efforts have brought great comfort and joy to so many families and animals alike. They are so deserving of being recognized for all they do each day.
PAWS Of Hertford County is a wonderful volunteer run organization. They really care about the cats and dogs in their care and do all they can to take care of them and find them good homes. I found them in 2013 and since then have adopted 5 cats from them. I am so lucky to have my furbabies and I owe it all to PAWS. I was so impressed with them that I started volunteering for them. I am so happy PAWS is there as they are really needed in the rural area where the shelter is located. They help with spaying and neutering of local pets. They are more than just an animal rescue, they help the community as well.
We have 3 wonderful rescue kitty's from PAWS. They were well cared for, loved and are a delight.
PAWS is a wonderful conscientious rescue group. But even more so they have hearts of gold. We have been donors for years and I cannot think of a more worthy nonprofit organization. Here's Ike, he's one we adopted. Bravo PAWS, bravo!
I am a supporter of Paws of Hertford County. Their volunteers are very dedicated and provide loving care for all the animals. They take great pride and care to find the dogs and cats their best forever families.
I joined Paws on January 17, to honor Betty White and to help support local animal shelter. I enjoyed the tour took, the donations, I do monthly, I also enjoy meetin up at Adoption events to give donations in person. Great people.
We adopted Sammy (formerly known as Honey) from PAWS in March 2018. PAWS' adoption director, who was also Sammy's foster mom at the time, went above and beyond to make sure that little Sammy was the perfect fit for our household. Sammy had some health issues when we adopted her, but none of the volunteers at PAWS ever gave up on her. She's now an extremely happy, healthy and much-loved kitty in our household. It’s quite obvious that all of the volunteers who devote their time to this organization, TRULY care about the animals they are helping. We thank PAWS so much for bringing her into our lives!
In Fall 2021 I adopted two cats from PAWS, since I didn't want just one in case they got lonely. One of the cats turned out to have some behavioral issues and started bullying his adopted brother. It was a hard decision but the volunteers at PAWS were so understanding when I told them what was going on. In the end, I had to bring one cat back, as it was clear he needed to be an only pet and needed someone who could spend more time helping him with his behavior, which I couldn't do while trying to help the other cat adjust to being in a home for the first time in his adult life. The volunteers were so understanding and not judgmental, which I truly appreciated, particularly as I was already mentally beating myself up about the situation not working out well (and continued to beat myself up for months about it). Now the first-time-householder cat is thriving, and has even become comfortable being picked up and carried around for short periods of time. He's turned into an absolute loveable goofball and has enriched my life immeasurably.
12 years ago, I was looking to adopt a dog and came across PAWS of Hertford County. I live two hours from this rescue but I noticed a dog for adoption at this location. I adopted Marley (aka Butterscotch) from PAWS and realized how invested the rescue was during his journey to adoption and after adoption.
I quickly became friends with many of the volunteers and kept them updated on Marley's newly adopted life.
I learned how much this small, tiny rescue with limited financial resources impacted their community and beyond in such a BIG way! It truly runs on grit, heart, and soul!
I am now a volunteer at the shelter and invest my time even living two hours away from PAWS. Yes, there are plenty of amazing rescues within my community, but none are quite as unique or spirited like PAWS of Hertford County. Best rescue ever!
We got our first rescue... a cat...when PAWS was just starting. We still have Callie...but we changed her name to Allie. Our second adoption was a dog. She has the sweetest eyes. We went looking for a boxer and got these beautiful bridle mixed breed. When we adopted her we had no children at home. My niece came to live with us with her 2 year old little girl. Little did I know that this sweet girl was very gentle with children. Penny is now 8 years old and still as sweet as ever. We got involved in fostering cats/kittens for PAWS. We also foster children. We got a young lady (KM) and she had been with us for a year when we got four six week old kittens to foster. One of the tiny babies was pretty feral. He would attack us when we would go into his cage to feed/water, etc. Well KM decided she was going to work with him the most. After about two weeks she had him completely calm and could be handled. She also called him Gustavo. His PAWS name was Jericho. They became very attached to each other. Well I couldn't let "Gus" get adopted. So for KMs 18th Birthday we adopted GusGus for her. Our last cat we adopted from PAWS is a beautiful white momma cat with blue eyes. PAWS called her Purley because she was white and she purred so much. Purely has a story too. She came in to PAWS with two tiny kittens. Once they were weened from Purley she got sick and wen to the hospital where she stayed for three days. The day she got back to the shelter someone had found two tiny babies but no momma. So they were put in the kennel with Purley and she took to those babies as if they were her own. She took care of them until they were weened, but one of the babies didn't make it. I had put in an application to adopt her when I first saw her. But it took three month before we could bring her home because of the time it took to ween two litters and get over her illnesses after each litter was weened. We love PAWS, the animals they save and the volunteers that care for these lucky creatures that have been abused, abandoned, etc. And we dearly love our fur babies!
Words can not convey enough the Dedication, Heart, Love, & undying Dedication the Volunteers of PAWS have for the dogs & cats they save..... So after giving it much thought, I decided the best way to convey this is to share a snippet of a letter I wrote PAWS shortly after our baby boy passed on, who was a Proud PAWS of Hertford County "Alumni", because I think it tells it best....
"April, 2020....... Good afternoon PAWS Volunteers,
I am writing to let you know that Jefferson, adopted in August of 2013 at Petsmart in Chesapeake, VA crossed The Rainbow Bridge on Friday, March 27, 2019 in the arms of his family in Virginia Beach, Va. He was just shy of 16 years old.
It has taken me over a week to be able to write this without sobbing, but I felt deeply I wanted to let you all know how important the work is that you do, especially in light of today's difficulties. Jefferson was adopted through PAWS volunteer - at Petsmart after I had contacted PAWS about meeting him (8/2013). I had seen his picture posted on your webpage, and had already fallen in love. Little did I know at the time that Jefferson had been with you several months. At age 9, he had been passed over time and again, but PAWS had not given up on finding him a happy ever after, and once I met him there was no question he was coming home where he was meant to be -with my husband, daughter, and I. We kept the name PAWS gave him out of respect for the Volunteers because it was with PAWS that his new beginning really started (we sometimes called him "Jeppy Doo" or "Jep Jep").
Jefferson brought us immeasurable love and joy; he loved to be wrapped in a blanket and held like a baby ( we called this a "Chiweenie Burrito", LOL), he loved his squeak-squeaks, and sitting in the sun. He was our only fur-baby, and he liked it that way, LOL. He liked all the attention, and we loved to give it. We owe all the wonderful times and memories he brought us to the undying, and often under-appreciated, work of the PAWS Volunteers."
I think what I shared above says it best; the Volunteers of PAWS believe every dog and cat that comes to them deserves a happy ever after, that there is a loving family out there for them, and the PAWS Volunteers don't give up until they find it for them. EVERY adoption for them is a Celebration, and in Honor of that I shared a picture of Jep and I on his "Gotcha Day" and also him at a PAWS Fundraiser where he sported his PAWS Ribbons proudly. They are a Fantastic Organization!
PAWS of Hertford County has come to the rescue of so many animals in our area. Two come to mind that I feel connected to. A dog showed up at a business, just outside of town. A family member took care of it hoping someone would claim it. When no one did that, he started looking for a home for it. The business’ busy season would soon be starting. With so many larges trucks going in and out, the dog would not be safe. The dog started taking “day trips” into town. People in town feared for the Dogs safety and called animal control. When we told friends at PAWS our story, they took him in. I am happy to say, they found a forever home for him in just a few days later.
The second story was more of an urgent issue. Someone at a friends work had hunting dogs and was complaining that this one dog would not “ Do his job”. He was going to kill the dog. The friend talked him into letting him try to find a home for the dog. PAWS of HERTFORD COUNTY, was that hone. Someone feel in love with him and he was adopted very soon after he got there. The people at PAWS don’t just find homes for these animals, they match them with just the right homes. My friends, Judy Davis and her daughter, Jennifer Cates, spend the majority of their free time at PAWS or on the road for PAWS. They both always have at least one foster that needs help physically or mentally. They donate all there time and A LOT of money, making sure these animals are taken care of and happy. PAWS OF HERTFORD COUNTY will not rest until every one of their animals is happy and adopted.
I adopted my newest baby Felix Binx from PAWS a year ago and have also done some volunteer work for them. The volunteers are amazing, devoting so much of their time to care for the animals and gifting them with so much love. They truly want the best lives for all their critters! PAWS saved my baby's life; without them, I never would have met Felix and would have missed out on the joy of being his mom. Thank you PAWS!
My daughter adopted my two grand kitties from PAWS of Hertford County. She speaks highly of the staff and volunteers and I have seen firsthand the great work they do with the aninals. They are loving and caring towards all the animals in their care. All interactions with staff and volunteers has been positive.
6 years ago I walked into this little rescue and I have come back every Monday(spare a few!) since. I work with the cats and have found both joy and sorrow while we all work so hard to save these precious homeless souls! The shelter runs on a shoestring- donations only and I believe the ones we have receive the best care! I find my peaceful place and the animals sense when you need them . They give back to us unconditionally- even the cats and it is a reward like no other. Knowing so many have moved on to bigger and better things through our shelter makes my heart proud to be associated with this little organization. Our animals aren’t just sheltered, they are loved. ❤️
The care and dedication the volunteers have for the animals of PAWS of Hertford County is nothing short of pure heart. Most of the volunteers have full time jobs yet still find time to find the best homes for the animals. They take the time to go through all of the vaccination records at the time of adoption. All of their animals come microchipped as well. I would recommend them to anyone looking for a new fuzzy family member. I have 5 PAWS cats who I wouldn’t trade for the world.
I found out about PAWS when I found a stray dog running in the highway by my house. I took it to Animal Control and PAWS soon accepted her. I had heard good things about PAWS in my community but really had no clue what they did. I kept up with the dog through the website/facebook page until she was adopted. Then, I became a volunteer so I could play with the dogs. I went on to foster dogs and kitties. I have a soft spot for the shy dogs or those with medical needs. My mom & I both foster the orphan kittens who aren't old enough to make it own their own. We syringe feed them every few hours and we have a huge success rate. (My mom's kittens are always chunkier than mine!) I have "foster failed" 4 times. That basically means I couldn't let them leave & decided to adopt! Now, I help with spay/neuter runs, vet visits, etc. We are a very small group of volunteers who move mountains daily! We may be small in numbers but we are mighty in effort!! Our volunteers go above, beyond and then some because we want the best for our animals. And our animals know that. I've had numerous adopters comment on how they can tell how much the animals love us or are attached to us. We are their family until they find their forever.
PAWS of Hertford County is one of the best. Volunteer run - they use every single donation to help the animals. I adopted my dog and both cats from them. I’ve also been a volunteer and a foster for them and served as a board member in the past. Great organization!
My daughter adopted a dog from this fantastic rescue while she was in college. They are the best of buddies and have had great adventures together. We still keep in touch with the rescue and support them as much as possible years later. The volunteers are incredible and love those animals.
