For 50 years, the pet services nonprofit Progressive Animal Welfare Society, or PAWS, has advocated for the responsible care of cats and dogs in Kitsap County. But over the years, their impact has been more than just feline lives saved.

Through veterinary and financial support, community partnerships, dozens of volunteers and an open-door policy to visitors, PAWS of Bainbridge and North Kitsap has brought joy and companionship to thousands of people.

In addition to pet adoptions, PAWSBINK provides financial assistance for pet medical care, cat and dog food to local food banks, community outreach and education about safe and responsible pet ownership, spay and neuter services, youth volunteer roles and a long-term home foster-placement program that matches a senior pet with a senior citizen, one of the only programs of its kind in Western Washington.

”We’ve been able to locate what the community needs, and we’re so small and nimble, we can do that,” said Heather Minton, PAWS community engagement coordinator.

At its annual “Pet Gala” fundraiser, PAWS leadership announced the organization’s rebrand as West Sound PAWS to better reflect the breadth of its services, which include both cat and dog care. In addition to a sanctuary for animals recovering from medical care, the nonprofit has two storefront cat adoption centers — one in Kingston and one in Lynwood Center on Bainbridge Island — and hopes to add a new location for dogs in the next few years.

At the Bainbridge location, about 2,000 people come by to play with the cats on a monthly basis, said Minton, and around 200 cats were adopted in 2024. Some 100 of those cats were born into PAWS veterinary care, she added, which is why the organization prioritizes spay and neuter programs like “Last Litter” to reduce overpopulation and prevent unnecessary euthanasia of pets.

“We do home-to-home adoptions, or work with cats in our private sanctuary if they need extended medical care,” said Minton. “But since the pandemic, we’ve seen an uptick in clients needing financial support for veterinary care needs. Costs have skyrocketed for everything, from medication to emergency care … We try to say yes to everything.”

Having a place for the community to connect with adoptable pets is beneficial for everyone, Minton explained. Not only do the pets get adopted faster, but both the humans and pets can receive crucial socialization that teaches them how to interact with one another.

The small but dedicated contingent of youth volunteers at the BI PAWS adoption center is a demonstrable example. Friends Griffin George and Ali Mauer, freshmen at Hyla School and Bainbridge High School, respectively, have been volunteering at PAWS for about a year. They both have loved cats for their whole lives, but it’s the people they’ve had the most impact on, they said.

“It’s very rewarding. Sometimes people fall in love with a cat, which makes me happy to see,” Mauer said. “I know it’s a connection when people will stay there the whole time we’re open, they won’t push the cat to be overly social and will allow them to be themselves.”

Learning how cats communicate is a huge part of volunteering at PAWS, and one of the most important things for a cat owner to know, explained George. He’s a cat fanatic and has over 135 volunteer hours at PAWS.

“I just think there’s a lot of stigma around cats, and that’s not true — they’re not unpredictable, because you can read their body language,” George said. “My best advice for all cat owners is to be patient, love them unconditionally, learn their boundaries and treat them like a person.”

Youth volunteers play with Button, a spicy torbie.

A youth volunteer waves a wand toy for Kevin, a black female cat.

A youth volunteer bonds with senior cat Tinker.

Ali Mauer, youth volunteer, plays with Charlie.

A wall of cats who have been adopted.

Rielly Komatsu, a member of Girl Scout Troop 41396, delivers specially-measured blankets sewn for the cats.