Minn-Kota PAAWS/PAAWS Project (People Advocating Animal Welfare Services) was created to educate the area population of the importance of spaying and neutering companion animals and to take a proactive approach to the animal population problem. Our mission is to spay and neuter barn, feral, stray and companion animals, thus reducing the number of unwanted litters. We serve Moorhead, Minn., Fargo, N.D., and their surrounding areas.



NEW PHOTOS ADDED! In addition to low-cost spays/neuters and other veterinary services, we also have several cats available for adoption. Each cat has its own rescue story, and although we take great care of our resident cats, each needs and deserves a loving "forever home."

Please feel free to peruse these photos of our cat family, and stop in to see us if you'd like to meet one (or some) of them. We're located at 25 21st St. S. in Fargo, just off of Main Avenue. And don't forget to check back from time to time, as our cat family can change from week to week.

Click here to meet our cat family.

Have you adopted a cat from PAAWS? We'd love to hear your and your cat's story. Send your story along with any photos or videos you'd like to include to mera52@hotmail.com. We'd like to keep track of how our adopted cats are doing.

Are you a member of the social networking Web site Facebook? If so, join our PAAWS group to stay up-to-date on our goings-on and to show your support for our cause! Click here to join.

November 2008 : It's getting harder and harder to move up in the zootoo shelter makeover. We are now at 34, but we need people to keeping being active on zootoo, or just register. If you haven't yet, please upload a photo on your zootoo account. We get points when you do this. Help us get into the top 20 and PAAWS wins $5000 and a chance at the $1,000,000 shelter makeover.

October 2008: Please help PAAWS win a $1,000,000 shelter makeover. By using the following link (http://www.zootoo.com/reg/aff/minnkotapaawspaawsproject), you can register with zootoo.com and also support our local spay/neuter program and shelter. Please email us with any questions. Have friends that are animal lovers too? Please send the link to them as well.

October 2007: A big thank-you to Modern Woodmen of American for selecting our organization as the recipient of matching funds for our fall fundraiser. All together we raised $5,004. We'd also like to thank all three Fargo-Moorhead Atomic Coffee shops and Sandy's Donuts in West Fargo for participating in our event.

November 2007: Thank you to Maplewood Veterinary and Animal Hospital for hosting another successful Spay Day. In all, 40 cats received veterinary care, including spays/neuters, vaccinations, testing for diseases, and shots. A big thank-you to Dr. Mike Magnusson (Maplewood veterinary Hospital, Pelican Rapids, Minn.), Dr. Dennis Lang (Auroch Veterinary Clinic, Audubon, Minn.), and Dr. Ron Goos.

October 2007: A big thank-you to Modern Woodmen of American for selecting our organization as the recipient of matching funds for our fall fundraiser. All together we raised $5,004. We'd also like to thank all three Fargo-Moorhead Atomic Coffee shops and Sandy's Donuts in West Fargo for participating in our event.

Emergency pet treatment, expensive surgical treatment, costly preventive care - can you handle a big vet bill, or would you rather make low monthly payments with the option of no interest? How's your credit rating? CareCredit could allow you to get the treatment your pet needs, right away! With a CareCredit card you can benefit from low minimum monthly payments and choose between several payment plans. They have no interest payment (you must pay at least the minimum monthly payment each month when due). Their Web site shows only a few area vets offer the service. Visit Carecredit.com. Is your vet listed? Do you want the option to have this card? If so, call your vet and tell them you want CareCredit now!

Having your pet spayed or neutered doesn't just help the pet overpopulation problem, it is good for your pet! Read on:

Spaying/neutering helps dogs and cats live longer, healthier lives.

Spaying/neutering can eliminate or reduce the incidence of a number of health problems that can be very difficult or expensive to treat.

Spaying/neutering eliminates the possibility of uterine or ovarian cancer and greatly reduces the incidence of breast cancer, particularly when your pet is spayed before her first estrous cycle.

Neutering eliminates testicular cancer and decreases the incidence of prostate disease.

W e advocate responsible pet ownership. When you decide to get a pet, make sure you will be able to care for it properly. Can you provide it with a warm, safe, home, feed it and provide it veterinary care for its life?

We'd like to start setting up an e-mail database! If you're interested in getting e-mail notices (notification of news and upcoming events and fundraisers, for example), please e-mail us at paawsproject@aol.com or mera52@hotmail.com.

Save Purina weight circles.

Cut out the weight circles on Purina dog and cat food products for us. We use them for veterinary services. Ask others to do the same!

Recycle your aluminum cans.

We recycle aluminum cans for cash. You can take cans to any of the three Minn-Kota recycling centers and ask them to credit the Minn-Kota PAAWS account. We will pick up cans from business sites.