The Panhandle Animal Welfare Society was first incorporated in 1976. We have played a key role in the field of animal care and control in Northwest Florida for decades of dedication. Our first facility was a small building in Valparaiso, Florida. In 1986, the shelter was renamed the Panhandle Animal Welfare Society, affectionately known as PAWS. Today, we serve over 160,000 residents in Okaloosa County and surrounding communities.

 

PAWS is a private, non-profit organization that saves thousands of animals annually. The vet clinic which services our community pets in need, has proven to save countless lives since the opening in January 1995. The Panhandle Animal Welfare Society is a private, nonprofit organization dedicated to the welfare of animals.