Adopt About Volunteer Donate
No-Kill · Cleveland, Ohio · Est. 1976

Every animal
deserves a
forever home

PAWS Ohio is a volunteer-run, no-kill rescue that has been saving lives since 1976. We rescue, foster, heal, and find loving homes for cats and dogs across Northeastern Ohio.

Meet Our Animals Become a Foster
48+
Years rescuing
100%
Volunteer run
No-Kill
Always
Golden retriever looking up happily
Available Now
Biscuit
Golden Retriever Mix · 2 years old
EnergyHigh
KidsGreat ✓
CatsUnknown
FosterWestlake, OH
Start Adoption →
12 new animals added this week
"We will NEVER stop saving special needs animals, hospice animals, and medical emergencies."
Spayed / Neutered Vaccinated Tested Loved
Our Story

Built on love,
run by volunteers

The Public Animal Welfare Society (PAWS Ohio) was founded in 1976 by a small group of dedicated animal lovers in Northeastern Ohio. Nearly five decades later, we remain a 100% volunteer-run organization with a single mission: rescue, foster, and find forever homes for cats and dogs in need.

We operate without a physical shelter. Instead, every animal lives in a caring foster home while we find their perfect match. This means our animals are socialized, loved, and truly known before they ever meet a potential adopter.

We don't turn away animals with medical needs, behavioral challenges, or age. If we have foster space, we say yes.

"We have never shut our doors to new intake. Every animal that comes through PAWS gets a real chance."
Amy Beichler · Executive Director
Volunteer cuddling a rescue dog
1976
Founded
100%
No-Kill
501c3
Nonprofit
Find Your Match

Animals looking for
a home like yours

All
Dogs
Cats
Biscuit, golden retriever mix Dog
Biscuit
Golden Retriever Mix · 2 yrs · Male
Energetic Kid-friendly Neutered
Meet Biscuit →
Luna, domestic shorthair cat CatSpecial Needs
Luna
Domestic Shorthair · 5 yrs · Female
Calm Spayed One-cat home
Meet Luna →
Maple, beagle lab mix Dog
Maple
Beagle / Lab Mix · 4 yrs · Female
Gentle House-trained Spayed
Meet Maple →
View All Adoptable Animals →
The Adoption Process

Thoughtful matching,
every time

Our process is designed to ensure every adoption is the right fit — for you and for the animal. We take our time because forever means forever.

01
Browse online
Browse & Apply

Explore available animals and submit an adoption application. No binding commitment — just the first step in getting to know each other.

02
Personal interview
Personal Interview

A one-on-one conversation with our adoption specialists to understand your lifestyle, home, and what you're hoping for in a companion.

03
Meet foster home
Meet the Foster

Visit the foster home to meet your potential new family member in a relaxed, familiar environment. No pressure, just connection.

04
Dog at home
Welcome Home

Your new companion comes fully spayed/neutered, vaccinated, tested, and microchipped — ready to start the next chapter of their life.

Our Impact

48 years of saving lives

Thousands
of cats and dogs rescued, fostered, and placed in loving forever homes since 1976 — and counting.
Veterinary care
Every animal
receives full medical care — vaccines, spay/neuter, testing, and treatment — before adoption.
Law and justice
1 felony law
championed. Goddard's Law (2016) made animal abuse a felony in Ohio — led by PAWS Director Amy Beichler.
Foster a pet
Foster a Pet
Open your home to an animal in need. Foster families are the backbone of everything we do.
Adoption event
PetSmart Events
Staff our monthly adoption showcases and introduce animals to potential forever families.
Admin support
Admin Support
Help answer emails and coordinate behind-the-scenes work that keeps PAWS running.
Animal transport
Transport
Drive animals to vet appointments, foster homes, and adoption events across Northeastern Ohio.
Get Involved

We run on heart and
volunteers

PAWS has rescued thousands of animals through an amazing network of dedicated volunteers who give their time freely. We are limited only by the number of foster homes we have — every new volunteer directly expands how many animals we can save.

Apply to Volunteer →
Adoption Stories

Families who found
their perfect match

Milo, Lab Mix

The whole process felt personal, not transactional. Our adoption specialist really listened to our family's lifestyle before suggesting Milo. Two years later, he's the best decision we've ever made.

JK
Jessica & Kyle
Adopted Milo, Lab Mix
Luna, Shorthair

Meeting Luna at her foster home made all the difference. We saw her real personality, not a stressed shelter version. She settled into our apartment within two days like she'd always lived there.

TR
Taylor R.
Adopted Luna, Shorthair
Biscuit, Golden Mix

PAWS was the only rescue that said yes to us when our first dog needed a companion. They didn't just match us with a pet — they matched us with family. We can't imagine life without Biscuit.

DM
David M.
Adopted Biscuit, Golden Mix
Legislation

We don't just rescue animals —
we change the laws that protect them

In 2016, after a four-year campaign led by PAWS Executive Director Amy Beichler, Ohio passed Goddard's Law — making it a felony to abuse companion animals in the state of Ohio.

Named after beloved Cleveland meteorologist Dick Goddard, a lifelong animal welfare advocate, this law was a historic victory for every animal in Ohio. PAWS continues to fight for stronger protections through advocacy and legislation.

2016
Goddard's Law
Ohio House Bill 60 & Senate Bill 164 — making companion animal abuse a felony offense in the State of Ohio.
✓ Signed into Law