You’ve saved over 2,000 animals so far. Do you remember the very first pet you rescued together, and how did that moment shape Wonder Paws?
Our very first rescue was a cat named Simba. A friend found him on the highway, and Paulina secretly brought him home and everything changed after that. He turned a family of dog lovers into full-blown cat people and opened our eyes to the overwhelming cat overpopulation crisis in South Florida. We started by rescuing and rehoming kittens that friends would find, then began bottle-feeding neonatal kittens for the county shelter. As time went by, we realized that in order to make critical care decisions for our foster animals, we needed to have our own rescue. Before we knew it, we had a small but amazing team of animal lovers behind us and that is how Wonder Paws Rescue began.
What’s one thing the average person doesn’t know about kill shelters that you wish everyone understood?
Many people don’t realize how overwhelmed South Florida’s kill shelters are. With high intake rates, limited funding, and crowded spaces, these shelters often face heartbreaking choices every day. Despite the challenges, they work hard to provide essential services to the community like low-cost vaccinations, spay and neuter programs, and lost/found pet support resources. It’s not about blaming the staff, it’s about recognizing the need for more community support through fostering, adopting, donating, and spreading the word to help save lives.
What’s your dream for Wonder Paws’ future?
Our dream for Wonder Paws is for it to grow into a trusted, full-service nonprofit animal hospital that serves as a cornerstone of the community. We want to continue expanding access to affordable, high-quality veterinary care so that no pet has to suffer just because their family can’t afford treatment. We also envision an adoption and volunteer center where people can come together to give animals a second chance.
What are some ways those reading this can help your cause, other than adopting animals?
There are so many ways to help beyond adopting. Fostering, even short term, saves lives. Donations go a long way by helping us cover vet bills, buy supplies, and rescue more animals in need. Volunteering your time or helping with transports is always appreciated. Even following and sharing our posts helps us reach more adopters and supporters. You can also host a fundraiser such as a bake sale, birthday donation, or get your workplace involved through corporate giving. You don’t have to adopt to save a life, you just have to care.
Visit WonderPawsRescue.com to find out more ways to give back.
