Impact

Paws and Claws Humane Society has a tremendous impact on Rochester and the surrounding communities. Our state of the art shelter enhances the organization’s impact in a variety of ways.

Construction of the shelter provided a total impact of over 3.5  million dollars for the local economy.

Paws and Claws can provide care for 170 lost or abandoned companion animals on a daily basis. Given the national average cost of $30 per day – per animal to provide that care, Paws and Claws can save the communities it serves over $800,000 annually in animal care costs.

There are over 400 active volunteers currently assisting in all aspects of our organization’s operations. These volunteers account for over 25,000 hours of contributed service annually. The estimated value of that contribution is $500,000 annually.

Disease Control for stray and abandoned animals has been a long standing issue for the counties in Southeast Minnesota. Paws and Claws provides solutions for this issue in two ways. By caring for over 1600 animals annually and ensuring they are placed into good homes, a large segment of the abandoned animal population is addressed. Paws and Claws also ensures that every animal in its care receives proper veterinary care, thus providing healthier animals when adopted. Additionally, Paws and Claws is the leading advocate for Spay – Neuter education and animal population control in Southeast Minnesota. Greatly enhanced education opportunities are provided by our large community room in the facility.

Over fifty percent of the households in the United States have at least one companion animal as members of the family. Numerous studies have been conducted on the physical and mental health benefits of pet ownership. Based on the number of animals it places each year, Paws and Claws plays a significant role in enhancing the general health of the community. The new shelter enables Paws and Claws to play an even larger role in this area in the future. Listed below are just a few of the benefits these studies have identified.

1.  Improved cardiovascular health through decreased blood pressure, lower cholesterol and triglyceride levels, increased opportunities for exercise and outdoor activities. (Pet owners are more likely to survive a heart attack)
2. Improved mental health through decreased feeling of loneliness and increased opportunities for socialization.

1. Pet owners are better able to cope with daily activities than non-pet owners.
2. Those with pets feel a sense of purpose which helps prevent depression.
3. Pets have been shown to help their owners deal more effectively with the early stages of Alzheimer’s.

1. Those who have a pet in the family are more self reliant, sociable and less selfish then those children without pets.
2. Children with pets are less likely to develop asthma.
3. Children coming from families with pets have better relationships with their peers and adults in both grade school and high school.