Petfinder.org Affiliated Shelter
See Pets Listed at Petfinder.org
Petfinder.org Affiliated Shelter
See Pets Listed at Petfinder.org
Our
Mission and Inspiration
Our organization is devoted to changing the way animals are treated by our society. We believe that through "leadership by example", providing community education and insight on proper care of animals, responsibilities of pet ownership, the importance of spay and neutering pets to control the population and ensure the overall health and quality of each breed, bite prevention and animal cruelty prevention ... we will be able to forever change the fate of future animals so that eventually euthanasia is only an option when it is medically necessary.
To quote a line from the song "Three Wooden Crosses" by Randy Travis ... we believe that "it's not what you take, when you leave this world behind you ... it's what you leave behind you when you go" that counts ... and we at Precious Paws Rescue, Inc. are dedicated to leaving a legacy behind us that will forever change the face of rescue.
About Our Organization
Precious Paws Rescue is an animal rescue / re-homing organization based in Charlotte, North Carolina. Established in 2002, we are determined to make a difference for the animals. We have obtained non-profit, tax-exempt status in the state of North Carolina as well as federal exempt status with the IRS. This status allows us to accept grants and donations from individuals, corporations, private organizations, etc. and classify them as tax-deductible for the giver.
Our organization "makes a difference" for the animals in many ways. Foremost, we rescue animals from kill shelters and pounds and place them in "foster homes" until a suitable permanent adoption can be arranged. During the time we have the animal, they are provided with the best of care - including health reconditioning (if needed), updating them on vaccinations, etc. and getting them started / continuing them on various recommended preventative regimens for heartworm prevention, flea / tick prevention, de-wormer for puppies, etc.We provide a safe haven for owners who have to relinquish their pets, for whatever reason, so that these animals can be re-homed with loving families without the worries of whether they will make it out of the county pound alive. Since they go directly to foster homes after being evaluated by our vet, these animals are spared the anxiety of spending countless hours in a kennel surrounded by strange dogs ... wondering where their owners have gone, and why no one has come back for them. They go directly into the home of a loving, compassionate foster "parent" ... who gives them lots of attention and TLC!
We are one of the only rescue organizations in the Charlotte area to offer a "Foster To Adoption" option to potential families. This program allows a potential adoptive family to "try" a pet, in their home ... basically a trial adoption ... to see how the pet adjusts to their surroundings and lifestyle, and how their family members adjust to having a pet. This program is an excellent means to achieving a "best possible match" between a pet and it's new home! We want each placement to be as close to perfect as possible, so that everyone involved is happy and well-adjusted.
Our Sponsor/Donor program welcomes both individuals and organizations to "sponsor" a pet advertised on our website - offsetting some of the organization's costs for maintaining the animal until it is placed. This allows people with busy lifestyles to contribute to our cause without taking on the responsibilities of maintaining a pet in their home. The period over which a pet is "sponsored" is totally up to the donor.Our "Seniors For Seniors" program allows senior citizens that meet our application requirements to adopt a senior pet at a reduced rate, with the benefit of continuing to receive the rescue's discounts on veterinary services. We also assist our senior adopters with transport to/from veterinary appointments, grooming appointments, etc.
Our "Pets 4 Therapy" program is a developing program in which we work with youth organizations, assisted living community homes, and other health care and community outreach organizations to give those who might otherwise not have the chance an opportunity to spend time with a pet. They may not be in a position to maintain a pet on a daily basis ... but the benefits of pets with varying types of medical patients has been well proven over the years, and we feel this is a program worth investing time and effort to support!
Finally, we accept monetary donations and contributions of new or "gently used" pet-related merchandise to assist in our care of these animals.
Our Goals
We at Precious Paws Rescue, Inc. are raising funds for a facility that would allow us to house over 250 dogs and/or cats waiting for their "forever home". We believe that this facility would be a great service to Charlotte and our surrounding communities and neighboring counties, and would be a great step towards reducing the number of animals that are needlessly euthanaized in shelters each year. We welcome private and corporate donations designated specifically to helping us achieve this goal!
We are available and able to provide educational services to our community to increase public awareness of the need for sterilization of pets to control the populations and reduce "backyard breeding" that so often results in litters with less than desirable personality traits and poor health. If your school, church or other civic organization would like for our representatives to make a presentation to your group, please contact us!
Our Staff
Nicole Barnhardt, Director ~ Nicole is a Master Certified ORACLE Database Administrator, currently on staff at Wachovia Corporation as an independent contractor in the Risk Management & Fraud Prevention Systems, Business and Enterprise Shared Services Technology Division. She graduated from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte in 1995 with a Bachelors Degree in Computer Science and a minor in Mathematics. Animals and animal welfare have been a personal passion since early childhood, so her friends and family were hardly surprised when she decided that a newer, fresher approach to rescue efforts was needed ... and when she didn't find a niche available in the Charlotte area where she could serve as a volunteer, she started her own, independent non-profit, no-kill organization.
Wayne Cline, Operations Manager ~ Previously employed in the commercial heating and air conditioning controls industry, Wayne has always had a love for animals and a genuine interest in the plight of homeless animals, community education, development of spay and neuter programs, and the much needed "change" to the way animal welfare and rescue have been approached for the last 20 years in the Charlotte area. Wayne is scheduled for a December 2007 graduation from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte with a major in Biology, and plans to pursue future employment with the new biotechnology research center in Kannapolis, North Carolina in early 2008.
Roger Lyons, Personnel & Adoption Events Manager ~ The "quiet one in the back" is our "right hand man" ... Finding time to always be available for the rescue and it's events outside of his regular job, Roger is the calm, cool, collected one who seems to have it "all together" when everyone else appears not to! He's the guy in charge of event staffing, publicity, etc. He's also our "cat man" ... having been nominated to that position out of his love for cats and the fact that he's the only one of us who's not allergic to them!
Miller Animal Hospital ~ Affectionately "Uncle Jack" to all the rescued animals, a very special THANK YOU goes out to this dedicated DVM and his staff! Dr. Miller has gone above and beyond anything we could ever have asked or expected ... always being there for the animals in their time of need ... day or night ... weekday or weekend ... office hours or after hours ... Precious Paws would not be what it is without him!
Our "Foster Home Volunteers" ~ Without the continued support of these very special individuals who open their hearts and homes to the furkids, what we do would be MUCH MORE DIFFICULT! Many thanks to all of the following for providing foster homes to our precious pets while they are awaiting their "forever homes".
AVAILABLE VOLUNTEER POSITIONS
Adoptions Coordinator ~ ** NEEDED ** This position will require a dedicated, detail-oriented person that can review adoption applications to make sure they meet our requirements, speak with potential adopters and their references via telephone (part of the "screening" process prior to finalizing an adoption) and potentially doing home visits to make sure the potential adopter's environment is suited to the pet's needs and/or requirements for the best possible health and safety! Good written/oral communication skills are a must!
Foster Program Coordinator ~ **NEEDED** This position requires a detail-oriented person with excellent communication skills. The person would be responsible for being the primary point of contact for all volunteer foster home personnel, and would facilitate matching potential foster homes with pets in need of foster homes!
Transport Coordinator ~ **NEEDED** This position requires a person that can be available on an "as-needed" basis ... whenever animals are in need of transporting between facilities, foster homes, vets, adoptive homes, etc. Occasionally responsible for coordination of air travel for pets, but the majority of our transports are via ground transportation.
Special Events Coordinator ~ ** NEEDED ** This position will require a real "go getter" person that we can rely on when something has to get done and it doesn't seem there's any way to make it happen in the amount of time we have! They need to be motivational and upbeat, and into getting everyone and everything organized, in the right place at the right times, and getting sponsors and volunteers pumped about getting involved! If you think you fit this description, let us know! We'd love to have you on board!
Marketing / Advertising Coordinator ~ ** NEEDED ** This position will be best filled by a seasoned marketing or advertising professional looking to volunteer their time and skills into a worthy cause, outside of the "daily grind" in their everyday job! To this point, all of Precious Paws Rescue's advertising has been via our website, Petfinder.com, links from our affiliates' sites, News14 and word of mouth from happy adopters referring their friends! We're growing fast, and believe that we can further raise awareness of our organization and community involvement in our programs with additional advertising and marketing in other media venues! If you have skills in either of these areas, we're looking for you! We'd love to have you on board!
Everything Else! If you have skills in a particular area that we haven't covered, don't be shy! Give us a call or send an email and let us know what you think you can do for Precious Paws Rescue! We welcome new volunteers, new ideas, and new directions! Anything or anyone willing to invest their time and energy into making this rescue the greatest organization possible is always welcome aboard!
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