2018 Paws and Claws Gala

Statewide Rescue Efforts

You've seen the pictures: heartbreaking images of dogs huddled together in filthy rooms with no food or water, pleading for help. Emaciated cats hiding under broken furniture, starving and terrified.

Large-scale rescues can take another shape, as well, in the form of natural disaster relief. Whether it's a hurricane or a fire, animal shelters are often the only responders capable of helping the four-legged victims.

Unfortunately, animals subject to overcrowding, minimal contact with people, poor nutrition, or stressful environments almost always suffer from a variety of medical and behavior issues. Many don't know what toys are, or cringe when you try to pet them. They require buckets of patience, love, and time to heal.

And it is costly work.