Our Mission
The PawsWatch mission is to care for community cats in Rhode Island by practicing TNRM (trap, neuter, return, manage), providing medical care, and adopting out kittens and stray cats. We seek to reduce the suffering of these homeless animals, prevent future generations from being born into similar circumstances, and reduce the number of cats euthanized in shelters.
OUR STORY
PawsWatch started in Newport in 1997 and is a 501(c) 3 Public Charity. Since then, we have helped fund the spay/neuter and veterinary care of over 25,000 feral, stray, abandoned, and free-roaming community cats across Rhode Island. In 2021 alone, we provided veterinary care for well over 1000 cats. We have made our mark and now partner with other Rhode Island animal welfare groups and several municipal ACOs working to develop a statewide network to help to better the lives of the many free-roaming cats in our state.
In 2017, the Grieco Automotive Group offered us the use of space in their collision center, creating a physical home called the Pawswatch Community Cat Center as a pre and post op facility so that cats undergoing the TNRM process could have a safe space to recuperate after surgery. This opportunity led us to the realization of the good that we could do with a home base. There were obstacles, but once again, with the help of the Grieco family and so many dedicated volunteers, we found a new home where the PWCCC could take root and thrive as an innovative facility that houses the most essential parts of feline rescue; medical, adoption, socialization, and community engagement within one space.
WATCH FOR A DAY IN PAWSWATCH PWCCC
Jan 2020 – July 2023
- PawsWatch supported exclusively through private funds
- 3,786 cats/kittens entered CCC since Jan 2020.
- 2,772 Spay/Neutered and received medical treatment
- 2,748 Cats/kittens permanently removed from streets
- Veterinarian on premises 3 days per week
- Vet Tech on premises 4 days per week and as needed
- Surgical Suite established on premises
- Procedures performed on site:
- Sterilization
- Amputations
- Treatment of abscesses
- Treatment of dental disease
- Tumor removal
- Eye care:
- ruptured eyes
- enucleation
- entropion (corrective eye care)
- Eye care:
- Medical issues treated:
- Diabetes
- Cancer
- Emaciation
- Renal failure
- Infections
- 208 cats/kittens from outside shelters sterilized at CCC due to unavailability of vet appointments elsewhere (at local veterinarians)
- Provide vet care for sick and injured animals taken from streets who have no other means for help
- In 2021 we did more adoptions and transfers than anyone except Potter League
2022 CAT STATISTICS
TNR=287 (Released)
FOSTER=350-450 Cats & Kittens
ADOPTION=673
REUNITED CATS=27
EUTHANASIA DUE TO SICKNESS & NATURAL DEATH=18
Board Members
- Andrea Amitrano
- Michele Barcelou
- Martine Ireland
- Meribeth Bowden
- Karen Luther
- Nancy Pottish