Bama Paws is a University organization that works directly with T-Town Paws to promote pet rescue, adoption, spay/neuter and community education on campus and throughout the Tuscaloosa community. T-Town Paws was founded in 1997 as Tuscaloosa’s Animal Welfare Organization. Since a majority of the T-Town Paws volunteers come from the University of Alabama’s campus, Bama Paws was formed as the student division of its organization. Along with the Humane Society of West Alabama, T-Town Paws is one of only two no-kill animal shelters in Tuscaloosa.
At Bama Paws, community education is our most important work. By educating the community, we are able to help spread the message about the importance of pet rescue and adoption. Bama Paws also serves to inform residents about the importance of spaying and neutering their pets. Tuscaloosa is notorious for stray animals, particularly cats. The odds of these homeless animals living a happy, healthy life are not likely.
Sadly, over 4,000 animals are euthanized in Tuscaloosa each year, and this number is steadily increasing. T-Town Paws has worked for many years to place as many of these animals as possible into good, loving homes. Unfortunately, the shelter can only successfully place a small portion of these strays each year.
Given these challenges, Bama Paws has recently shifted its focus and efforts to the prevention of euthanization. Bama Paws will still be helping with pet rescue and adoptions but will be devoting more time to educating Tuscaloosa residents about the importance of spaying and neutering their pets.
Spay and neuter procedures can be expensive, which is why Bama Paws will continue donating a portion of the funds raised by our events to the sponsoring of the spay and neuter of our city’s animals. Each operation is a step in the right direction, and that is the goal of Bama Paws: to make a lasting difference in Tuscaloosa.
We understand that under the current economic constraints monetary donations can be difficult; one of the best ways to help is by volunteering your time! Bama Paws holds a variety of events throughout the year.
These events include: adoption events at Pets Supplies Plus, Dog Splash at the University of Alabama Recreational Center in the fall and fundraisers at Cold Stone Creamery. This past fall, Bama Paws had its most successful fundraiser at Cold Stone Creamery, raising almost $300. These events are helping Bama Paws reach our goals by saving the lives of animals and educating the community.
Looking for ways to help Bama Paws in ways other than devoting your time? Why not consider fostering an animal in need? Bama Paws and T-Town Paws have animals being fostered in the homes of our volunteers. Pictures and information regarding our foster animals are accessible on our website. These animals are available for adoption and accompany volunteers to many of our events.
All potential adoptions are screened to make certain the foster parent is fit to care for our wonderful animals. If volunteering or fostering is not possible, you may also help by donating money to fund our efforts and the much-needed supplies to care for these animals.
If you are looking to get more involved on campus and love animals, Bama Paws is a great way to help out the community. Bama Paws holds several volunteer events each month and we are always in need of volunteers. Not only do you get to work hands-on with animals, but volunteering with Bama Paws is a great way to give back to the Tuscaloosa community and support it in a special way.
Bama Paws accepts student applications year-round. Becoming a member is simple: complete a volunteer application and pay the $5 membership fee. The best way to access an application is at our website www.ttownpaws.org. Once the application is completed, it can be sent to Lauren Spivey at [email protected]. You will then be placed on our email list to receive information about upcoming events and meetings.
Meetings are held at the Ferguson Center on the first Monday of every month at 7 p.m. If you are looking to learn more about our upcoming events or would like to volunteer, please contact Ashley Kennedy at [email protected].
Ashley Kennedy is the vice president of Bama Paws.
