Welcome to PAWS-Patas - Animal Rescue in Spain

PAWS operates within a 50 km radius of the town of Mojácar (Almeria) in south-east Spain. It was formally registered as a charity in 1996, and is an International Associate of the Royal Society for the Protection of Animals (UK).

PAWS mission is:

Only 4% of our necessary funding is from a statutory source - we depend entirely on voluntary subscriptions/donations for the rest. We know we can’t remove the problem. But with your help – wherever you are - we can relieve a lot of unnecessary suffering. Thank You.

XX Please visit the different areas of our website: the Rescue Shelter, our Shop, the adoption database with pictures and profiles of all the dogs and cats who need proper homes and people to look after them, and all the different ways that you can get involved with PAWS - whether by joining, volunteering, adopting an animal or helping to participate in fundraising events. These are all available through the links above.

See latest updates on our news and events pages -

click here for news ..... click here for events

PAWS long-term future is "still not secure."

At the Recent Annual General Meeting in Mojácar on 28th January 2012, PAWS President Karen Polansky sent a clear message to members and supporters that PAWS future was still not secure. 2011 had been a year of real progress and evolution for the society. Despite the financial crisis in mid-March, which forced the shelter to close its doors for seven weeks, we had ended the year with the second highest number of animals homed in PAWS 22- year existence.

But there was "a cold hard cash cost which came with such success," said Karen. "Despite tremendous efforts to cut costs wherever possible, PAWS still had to spend around €145.000 to support its activities last year."

Retiring Treasurer Janet Franklin spelled out some detail of exactly why it costs so much to run PAWS. Each dog we accept costs PAWS an average of €400. The costs are averaged down into:
Veterinary costs - €135; General Care (casual labour, food, medicines) - €143; Shelter Overhead cost (including shelter management) per dog - €126

PAWS homed 301 dogs homed last year – at the costing level above that comes to €120.000. (And this does not include the entirely separate costs of homing 50 cats).

It is possible to home dogs more cheaply – IF they are very young or pass through the shelter very quickly. But the absolute minimum figure is close to €200

So please continue to to support PAWS. The many ways you can get involved are available through the links at the top of the page.

ALL doantions, however small, are valuable - (you can see the various ways to donate here)

Above all, if you want the society to continue JOIN PAWS OR BECOME AN ANIMAL SPONSOR. Our membership is still relatively small - but so is the annual subscription, €25. More members equals more bargaining power with official bodies in seeking longer-term help. (membership options are here) (animal sponsor options are here)

If anyone wants to see for themselves the extent or the efficiency of our efforts, they are welcome to contact us via pawsenquiries@gmail.com, make an appointment and have a tour of the shelter. We have nothing to hide. 

An Animal Protection Society is not just "a good cause." It is not just a desirable thing on ideological, humanitarian grounds. It is an environmental necessity in the societies in which we live. Packs of dogs running wild on the streets and tribes of feral cats - all of them continuing to breed if unsupervised - are a menace in any community.

"The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated."
— Mahatma Gandhi

	PAWS Annual Newsletter A round-up of news from every part of PAWS download the pdf. file here. Can't read pdf. files? Download Adobe Reader here

This is what PAWS does

The short video below is the final chapter of a story already told here - that of Gaspar the 'un-homable' Podenco cross-breed (read it here). It explains why PAWS has always maintained - and always will - the sometimes expensive policy of never putting down a healthy dog. Gaspar, now re-named Encasa - has settled with a family on the English Cumbrian coast.

We are very grateful to Valerie Wood, PAWS' former Shelter Manager who first took Gaspar into the shelter, and nurtured him for nearly three years. When she moved back to England and set up Ibizan Hound Rescue, she kept up her relentless search for Gaspar's perfect home - until she found one with Emma & Roy Dulieu. It was they, along with their other dogs (all rescues), whose patience, care and love released Encasa from long years in a prison of fear and mistrust ... out into the sunlight where he belongs.

New Life for Encasa from Emma Dulieu on Vimeo.

Video made by Emma Dulieu and posted by PAWS webmaster

X Animals of the Month

TURNER TURNER has been Dog of the Month before - but she is a bit of special case since we consider she's not suitable for travel abroad. She is a mature white poodle, only 28 cms. tall and weighing just around the 5 kilo mark. She has had a hard life, it seems, as due to apparent trauma, she is missing the front teeth on her lower jaw, which gives her a "pouty lip look", as well as having one scapula shorter than the other so has a slight limp. She was found by kind people who took pity on her as she was in deplorable condition, suffering from a skin condition, a sore tail, matted coat, ear infection and malnutrition. She experienced one mild seizure over the past few months, but this has not repeated. Turner (called "Chica" by her foster family) has made a good turn around through good care and help from PAWS. She has been on a special diet to help improve her skin condition. She is quiet, asks for nothing, and will be a gentle addition to a loving home. Now spayed and fully vaccinated, she has been cleared for adoption. We hope she finds her permanent home soon. If you would like to adopt Turner please go to our adopt page here

SAMMI Sammi was found in the car park of Mojacar village in December, she would take refuge under the cars. She wanted to eat, she was starving, but was too scared to allow anyone to get close. It took two weeks to gain her trust and permit a stroke, but that was the turning point and she was able to come into our care. With plenty of tlc and food, she has grown in both size and confidence, purring away in her basket as she rolls over to have her tummy tickled. Sammi has been spayed. She is a wonderfully handsome cat and would make a great addtion to any family. If you would like to adopt Sammi call Diane 950 617 643, or Ruth 637 817 982, or go to our adopt page here

You can find full details of how to adopt any PAWS animal by clicking here

Copyright © 2011 P.A.W.S.-Patas, Mojácar, Almería, Spain
P.A.W.S.-Patas is a registered charity in Spain - No. 1928
Aptdo. 627 | Mojácar | Almería | Spain, 04638
Phone: (+34) 678 490 217 | email: pawsenquiries@gmail.com

Website built by Brian Hughes; Graphics: Claire Hayes; technical assistance by Wilmington Web;
Web Host & Technical Supervision Dezert Dezine

PAWS Communications sponsored by Jim Newell, Chris Dornan & Dezert Dezine