December 1, 2026
Celebrating 60 Years of Rescue
For sixty years, PAWS Atlanta has stood as a beacon of compassion, a place where homeless cats and dogs have found safety, care, and ultimately, loving homes. We honor our past by remembering the countless lives saved since 1966, the volunteers who gave their time, the donors who sustained our mission, and the families who opened their hearts to adoption.
We protect the future of our animals by committing to the next generation of pets who will need us. Our work is not finished; it continues to evolve. As our community grows, so does the need. Our ability to remain no-kill for 60 years has been made possible by the generosity of the people who believe in humane care and who want a more compassionate Atlanta.
People like you. People like Kathy, Chris, and Katie. Their generosity comes from something deeply personal: they know the animals whose lives your support can change, because those animals changed their lives, too.
When an animal needs help, they cannot wait until we have the resources to say yes. We cannot choose when five kittens will need homes, when a senior dog will need a second chance, or when two frightened dogs will be left outside our doors. But with your help, we can be ready.
The Call
Kathy turned to PAWS Atlanta for help in 2017. She had been caring for a community cat named Dottie, who now had five kittens needing homes. She made a call to PAWS Atlanta for help. We welcomed all five kittens into our care, had them spayed, and found them loving homes. We spayed Dottie, too, so she could return home to Kathy.
When Kathy visited our shelter, she saw the animals still waiting, the care they needed, and an opportunity to make a lasting difference. That visit began nearly a decade of extraordinary generosity. Kathy has helped fund animal care, supported improvements to our shelter, and offered matching gifts. In 2020, she brought that connection home when she adopted a senior dog, Daisy.
For Kathy, answering the call has become a commitment to the animals who will need us next.
The Match
Chris’ connection began by walking dogs while they waited for families. He met Lazagna, a sweet, 2-year-old pittie, and something clicked. Chris took him home that day. For twelve years, Laz shared Chris’ life. Along the way, Chris met and married Katie, who fell in love with Laz too.
Their bond grew into years of monthly giving and a giving fund in Laz’ honor. Chris and Katie wanted other animals to have what Laz had found: safety, a family, and someone to love them back. After Laz passed away, their house felt too quiet, so they considered fostering. Then Peanut Butter and Jelly caught their attention.
These two dogs had been left tied to a picnic table outside our Cat Cottage. Your support helped make that welcome possible and sustained their care while they waited for a family who would take them both.
Chris and Katie saw how deeply Peanut Butter and Jelly depended on each other and knew they belonged together. They'd found their perfect match.
You Make It Possible
Kathy saw a need and answered the call. Chris came to walk dogs and found a match, not once but twice.
The needs of our animals continue every day, through the holidays and into the new year. Meeting those needs depends on people like you choosing to give.
We have set a goal of raising $1 million this year to sustain this work, and we still have a gap to close before December 31. We need your help to make it all possible.
Our 60th anniversary is a reminder that true, lasting change in animal welfare happens over decades, not overnight. Donors, adopters, volunteers, and partners like you continue to invest in our mission because they know we are unwavering in our dedication to both pets and people.
We know how Dottie’s kittens, Daisy, Laz, and Peanut Butter and Jelly’s stories turned out. We do not yet know the names of all the animals who will need us next.
But we do know they will need someone to answer. You can help us be there.
