The potential impacts of a PAWS shut down
For decades, PAWS has been the county’s front-line responder for stray animals, cruelty cases, dangerous dog incidents and pet adoptions. It takes in over 3,000 animals annually, providing medical care, shelter, and a chance at a better life. But the cost of doing so far exceeds the funding it receives from local municipalities. While PAWS spends over $2 million a year on animal care, it receives just $740,000 in municipal support.
Under the current leadership, contract negotiations with surrounding cities have broken down, resulting in PAWS losing key municipal contracts. Cities like Destin, Niceville, and Mary Esther have either canceled or failed to renew their agreements, citing rising costs. These decisions, while perhaps fiscally motivated, ignore the broader consequences. Without PAWS, there is no full-scale alternative in the county. The result? Thousands of stray, sick, and abandoned animals with nowhere to go—and communities left scrambling to respond.
The impact of PAWS closing would be immediate and far-reaching:
nPublic health and safety: Animal control officers are first responders. They handle bite cases, dangerous dogs and injured wildlife. Without them, these responsibilities fall to already overburdened law enforcement or go unaddressed entirely.
nAnimal welfare: PAWS does not euthanize for space. Every animal receives medical assessments, vaccinations and treatment. If PAWS closes, many of these animals will suffer or die without care.
nCommunity burden: Residents will face more stray animals in neighborhoods, more road hazards, and more heartbreaking encounters with pets left to fend for themselves.
This is not a hypothetical scenario. It’s already happening. PAWS is operating at full capacity nearly every day, with only 56 kennels in a building constructed in 1990. In the last year alone, they took in over 1,700 kittens—many in poor health—and continue to receive over 100 calls a week from people trying to surrender pets.
So what can we do?
- Call for action from local governments
City councils and county commissioners must prioritize animal welfare in their budgets. PAWS is not a luxury—it’s a necessity. Municipalities must renegotiate contracts in good faith and recognize the true cost of humane animal care. A per capita increase of just a few dollars could make the difference between survival and shutdown.
- Donate and fundraise
PAWS is a nonprofit. It relies on donations to bridge the gap between what it costs to care for animals and what it receives. Every dollar helps. Whether it’s a one-time gift, a monthly pledge or organizing a community fundraiser, financial support is critical.
- Adopt, foster and volunteer
The more animals that find homes, the more space PAWS has to help others. Fostering even one animal for a few weeks can save a life. Volunteers are also needed for everything from cleaning kennels to helping with events.
- Spay and neuter
Overpopulation is a root cause of shelter overcrowding. A single unspayed cat can lead to hundreds of kittens in just a few years. Community-wide spay and neuter efforts are essential to reducing intake numbers and easing the burden on shelters.
- Educate and advocate
Many residents don’t realize that PAWS is not a government agency. It’s a nonprofit doing government-level work with nonprofit-level funding. Share the facts. Talk to neighbors. Write to local officials. The more people understand the stakes, the more likely we are to see change.
The potential closure of PAWS is not just a loss for animal lovers—it’s a loss for everyone in Okaloosa County. It’s a test of our values, our priorities, and our willingness to act before it’s too late. Let’s not wait until the kennels are empty and the doors are locked to realize what we had.
Short of finding an organization to stand in the place of PAWS, we must save PAWS—because saving them means saving thousands of lives.