If you’re looking for a pet, every Saturday and Sunday the Pet Animal Welfare Society (PAWS) at 504 Main Ave. has an open house from noon to 4 p.m. It’s become a very popular place to find a new addition to your family.
But it’s not as if you can just walk in and leave with a dog or cat. There's an application process and reference check. This non-profit organization wants to make sure the animals are indeed going to happy homes and will be well provided for. If you already have pets at home, bring along their veterinary records. They'll check with your vet to be sure your animals are up to date with vacinations, have been spayed/neutered and are healthy.
This Saturday the Vail family from Wilton came in to find a kitten. Daughter Emma, age 10, filled out the application online at www.pawsct.org. Her parents, Alison and Reid, had to point out that Emma did make one mistake on the form -- they do not have ten children.
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Gilda Caserta is the volunteer in charge of cats, and she informed the Vails that this is not “kitten season,” which is typically from April to May. But they do have cats from four months old up.
After the application was reviewed, Caserta interviewed the Vails, and after considering them fit to adopt, they were able to meet and play with potential new pets.
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Alison said they were drawn to PAWS “because we want to save a cat, and don’t want to go to a pet store.” Reid agreed it was about saving an animal.
Mark Cappelli of Darien and his seven-year-old daughter, Mia, also showed up looking for a cat. “We found PAWS online,” he said. After dad filled out the application and they were interviewed, they also proceeded to meet the cats.
And Mia knew exactly what she wanted, “A short-haired domestic,” she told Caserta.
But it's a difficult choice for potential adopters, as the selection of adorable animals is varied and plentiful. At this time there are 20 dogs and 100 cats at PAWS.
The real show stealer of the day was Winnie, a one-eyed Pit Bull Terrier who's cute, sweet and friendly. Even those who came in looking for cats couldn’t resist stopping to say hello to Winnie, playing with her for a few minutes as her tail wagged wildly.
Adoption fees are $90 for cats and $200 for dogs. Making an appointment to come in during the week is recommended because PAWS' weekends are very busy.
More photos and information about the animals can be found on PAWS web site, pawsct.org, or by calling (203) 750-9572.
