The Record Newspapers - Hometown News For Orange County, Texas

P.A.W.S. (The Public Animal Welfare Society) has set up a PayPal account on its Web site for donations, group members reported at a recent meeting.

Adopting a kennel at the Bridge City animal shelter can be done on a monthly, bi-annual or annual basis, said organization president Tracy Miguez. The Web site is http://bridgecitypaws.com.

Recently a dog was taken into the shelter with medical problems. P.A.W.S. has paid for all the treatments and the first round of shots. The dog is a very sweet-natured 2- to 3-year-old female Dachshund and ready to go to a permanent home. The only cost will be the regular adoption fee. Call the shelter at 735-8898.

P.A.W.S. is buying water bowls for the kennels at the shelter, which needs bowls that will not rust and can be sanitized for each new dog to the kennel. Donation cans in local businesses help pay for the bowls, which are stainless steel and self-filling and cost about $100. There is also a need for storage of some type to keep the blankets and pads in. P.A.W.S. is considering the purchase of a plastic cabinet to be used as the storage unit.

The shelter has been inspected and found to be in acceptable shape, however, the facility is on probation for one year. According to club members, the floors need to be sealed, runs need to be reworked, an air conditioning and heating system needs to be installed, windows need to be replaced, the unloading area needs to be weatherproofed and the drainage system needs repair.

The good news is the shelter is greatly improved since it was last inspected. The building has a new roof, new gates have been installed to be able to close the kennel off when needed, new sinks are installed, a new exterior door, a new exit door, and a new interior door have all been installed and a new restroom is in service.

A new fence has been delivered and the city is making plans to have it installed.

In other news, a dog was brought into the shelter that had become infected with Parvovirus, an extremely violent virus that can be fatal to dogs. Parvovirus is usually more prevalent in puppies, but can strike any dog. As a result of this dog’s infection it had to be euthanized along with two other puppies infected by the dog. Another dog became infected and died.

As a fundraiser, P.A.W.S. will host a classic car show, tentatively set for Sept. 20. Details will be posted on the P.A.W.S. Web site as they become available. P.A.W.S. meets second Thursdays at Tequila’s restaurant in Bridge City. For more information, call Miguez at 988-8295.