A message from our President; Beverly Alba   |   How we Spent the Summer

Guiding Quotes
"Whenever we, as a society, allow an animal to die from starvation, neglect, or abuse, or whenever a euthanizing agent enters the bloodstream of a healthy animal, we wound humanity."  Anna C. Briggs, Founder, The National Humane Education Society, 1909-2011. A remarkable woman and pioneer in humaneness for all animals.

"No other disease or condition of companion animals takes as many lives as euthanasia. In fact, no other disease comes close." Janet M. Scarlett, DVM, MPH, PhD, Cornell University

Who we are and what we do!
MassPAWS was organized in 2001 as a group of long-term animal welfare volunteers and professionals committed to working on the most compelling animal issues in Massachusetts, with the goal of ending the suffering and destruction of cats, dogs, wildlife and animals in entertainment and research.

A Day in the Life of Animal Rescue at MassPAWS
MassPAWS got a call about a mother cat and kittens living outside in a public housing site in Winthrop. Once we had secured a foster home for this little family, one of our board members and senior trapping expert, Mary J., mobilized to help.  Mary began her efforts on a Tuesday night.

After hours of setting traps and patiently waiting without success Mary pulled up the traps and vowed to go back the next day to try again.  First to be caught on that Wednesday morning was a female thought to be related to the “Mom” cat, then an adult male and finally the Mom.  As it turns out the male was recognized by the neighbor who had called asking for help and the owner agreed to let us neuter the cat and return him after surgery and vaccinations.  After loading up the cats in traps into her car, Mary drove the three adults to Revere Pet Clinic for their medical care. 

Mary stopped on her way back from dropping off at Revere Pet Clinic to pick up more transfer cages to go back to the site to tackle trapping the five remaining kittens.  Mary was able to trap four of the five kittens that afternoon.  She then went back to pick up the 3 adults at Revere Pet Clinic and then journeyed back to the site to return the male to his owner.  They were very grateful for the help and his neuter means that he will stay close to home and will be a healthier feline because of our intervention.  Mary went home for a quick dinner break before she would back to pick up a crate and flea medicine and headed to the foster home where 'mom, auntie, and the 4 babies'.  It's now 8:00 p.m. and Mary helped the foster home set up the crate and settle the little family before heading back out to trap the remaining kitten.

Mary worked over 10 hours to secure all the kittens and their mom and the other two adults.  The toll on our volunteers is stress, frustration and time away from family and pets.  The cost to MassPAWS for this trapping project was $400.00 initially for the surgeries and flea treatment with more financial commitment to follow once babies will be old enough for vaccinations and neuters.  This is but one colony in one town that we assist.  MassPAWS is completely volunteer-based and we, as volunteers, make great personal effort and sacrifice.  Our reward is the lives saved.  At a minimum we need financial support, fostering assistance, and help with placement from the citizens in the communities we service. 

Thank you to all who give the support and validation we thrive on to continue to save lives.  Without you we would not be able to carry on our commitment.