“What do you mean Misha was found in a ditch?”
Carol Caridad asked upon adopting the sweet little pup from a shelter.
From New York to Tampa to Miami, Misha was an enthusiastic companion on all of Carol’s trips and adventures. The realization that perfectly healthy, loving dogs could be abandoned without a second thought, often left in cramped shelters awaiting euthanasia, planted a seed in Carol’s mind. This seed, nurtured by her desire for a more compassionate way to help pets find homes, eventually blossomed in April 2007 with the founding of PAWS4you.
While PAWS4you began as a humble, foster-based organization, we eventually realized we needed a dedicated retreat space to save even more animals. In 2013, through the generosity of a retired veterinarian, we secured our current building for long-term use. Thanks to our incredible supporters, we paid off the mortgage a couple of years later, establishing a permanent home for our rescue efforts.
The past decade has been a whirlwind of activity—saving lives, nurturing animals back to health, and finding loving homes for them. Despite the overwhelming number of dogs in need, our dedicated team remains relentless in their efforts. Our devoted staff is supported by an equally committed army of volunteers. Approximately 75 regular volunteers donate over 700 hours of their time each month, caring for our animals, assisting at events, and ensuring the smooth operation of PAWS4you. Our organization is truly a labor of love.
Currently, we are able to provide a haven for 100 dogs, but we hope to expand and update our rescue as we move forward. Our facility, dating back to the 1960s, is in dire need of renovation. We have developed architectural plans to update and replace much of our infrastructure, increasing our capacity to house animals by approximately 32%. With the ongoing support of our community, we are both grateful and honored to continue our mission, helping even more animals in need find loving homes.
