LOVEPAWS

LOVEPAWS is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to community outreach and animal welfare in the U.S. It operates as a foster-based rescue, focusing primarily on supporting pets and their owners in underserved communities within Prince George’s and Montgomery Counties, Maryland.

Mission and Activities

LOVEPAWS was founded as a shelter intake prevention program with the mission of keeping pets in their homes and out of local shelters through community outreach efforts. The organization’s services include:

• Pet Pantry: Providing food for nearly 500 owned pets and community cats each month.
• Free Supplies Distribution: Offering essential items like ID tags, leashes, and no-slip collars.
• Training Assistance: Supporting pet owners with training services.
• Home-to-Home Rehoming: Facilitating pet rehoming without involving shelters.
• Community Cat Support: Assisting colony caretakers with food and support for Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) efforts, including spay/neuter subsidies and medical care for sick or injured community cats.

In addition to these community-focused initiatives, LOVEPAWS rescues dogs and cats from local shelters, with a particular emphasis on pit bull-type dogs affected by a breed ban in Prince George’s County.

History

The organization was inspired by the story of a Jack Russell Terrier named Coco, whose family was facing surrender due to financial constraints for medical treatment. LOVEPAWS' founders intervened to secure low-cost medical care, eventually taking Coco in as a hospice foster. This experience led to the establishment of the organization to help prevent similar situations.

Partnerships

LOVEPAWS collaborates with national animal welfare organizations to further its mission. It is a partner in the Best Friends Network, which includes thousands of shelters, rescue groups, and other animal welfare organizations working together to save the lives of dogs and cats across the U.S.

Structure

LOVEPAWS operates entirely with unpaid volunteers and relies on its foster network spanning Maryland, Washington D.C., and Virginia. The organization is committed to providing support wherever needed, focusing on the most at-risk animals in shelters and community settings.