The Paris Animal Welfare Society (P.A.W.S.) is a private 501(c)3 organization, established in 1992, which runs an animal shelter located in beautiful Paris, Kentucky. As a private organization, we are solely dependent on private donations and community support.

P.A.W.S. serves mainly Bourbon County, taking in stray animals and those relinquished by their owners. We are open admission, which means we will never turn away an animal in need regardless of age, health, or behavior issues. Despite being a small organization, we took in almost 2000 animals last year.  At P.A.W.S., we do not euthanize healthy adoptable animals.

P.A.W.S. Mission:

Our mission is to save and protect homeless animals through responsible adoptions, to provide humane care for all animals entrusted to us, to advocate for animal welfare, and to enhance the human-animal bond by promoting healthy relationships between pets and people in our community.

Core Values:

Our actions and decisions are based on providing the best medical and shelter care, and services to the most animals.  We respect the life of each individual animal, while focusing on the welfare of staff, community, and the animal population as a whole.

We Value:

Compassion – We balance responsibility with compassion and empathy in everything we do for the betterment of animals. We reach out to those animals in need without hesitation or judgment. We strive for the courage and wisdom to be fair. At all times, we follow the Golden Rule.

Commitment – We are passionate. We are engaged. We are dedicated to our work and the animals in our care. We work diligently to provide for their needs.  We believe unreservedly in our mission and our role in the community as advocates of the human-animal bond.

Professionalism – We are an organization of professionally-trained men and women committed to providing an excellent standard of care for our animals through education, hard work, mutual cooperation, and pride.  Our drive toward excellence is evidenced by employee focus on accountability and exceeding expectations. We pledge to strive for ever-rising expectations and be a benchmark organization for others to follow.

Integrity – We accept responsibility for our actions. We demand of ourselves the highest level of integrity and professionalism in our dealings with the animals in our care, each other, and our community. We do what we say we are going to do.  Our work ethic is unquestionable. Transparency and honesty are expected.

Respect – We respect every animal, individual, and organization we work with. We strive to demonstrate respect in all our actions. We treat all persons with dignity in a non-judgmental manner. The general public, staff members, and volunteers are all viewed as our partners in improving animal welfare and in fulfilling our Mission.

Teamwork – We harness the creativity and passion of people through collaboration and teamwork. We believe that working together is essential to solving the larger problems of pet over-population and animal homelessness.

We Believe:

• All animals should have their basic needs met which includes:
  • Freedom from thirst and hunger
  • Freedom from discomfort
  • Freedom from pain, injury, and disease
  • Freedom to express normal behavior
  • Freedom from fear and distress

• That individuals have an ethical, moral and legal duty to ensure the well-being of animals and protect them from distress.
• That standards of animal care should be based on sound science and societal values.
• People and animals are interdependent.
• People who mistreat or neglect animals must be held accountable.
• In providing leadership in the humane care and protection of animals.
• Our decisions should be based on the best available knowledge, which we gather by study, research, investigation, observation and experience.
• That humane education fosters empathy and respect for all living things.
• In developing and delivering methods of education and communication that increases people’s understanding of their responsibility for the welfare of animals.
• Educating animal owners of their responsibility for the health and wellness of animals is an effective means to prevent animal cruelty and neglect.
• In ongoing review and the continuous improvement of animal welfare legislation that reflects evolving beliefs about the value of animals within our society.
• An individual has the power to make a positive difference for other creatures. Our personal choices can make a difference.