Every dog deserves a safe place to land
Foster-based dog rescue in Powell, Ohio
PAWS rescues dogs from overcrowded shelters and unsafe situations.
Foster homes make every rescue possible.
Who We Are — Our Mission
PAWS (Powell Animal Welfare Society), established as a 501(c)(3) in 2009, is a 100% volunteer-run foster-based dog rescue serving the Columbus, Ohio area. We rescue dogs from overcrowded shelters in Ohio and neighboring states, provide veterinary care, and place them into loving foster homes until they find their forever families.
Because we have no kennel facility, every dog we save depends on the availability of a foster home. While our fosters provide daily care and love, PAWS covers food, veterinary care (including spay/neuter), and all essential supplies.
Our mission is simple: eliminate the needless euthanasia of adoptable, homeless dogs — one dog, one adopter at a time.
You make rescue possible
PAWS is 100% foster-based — every dog needs a safe, temporary home before we can help the next one.
🏡 FOSTER
Open your home temporarily and help a dog heal, learn, and feel safe.
🐾 ADOPT
Give a foster dog a loving forever home
💙 DONATE
Help cover medical care, food, and supplies for dogs in foster care.
You Don’t Need to be Perfect to Foster
Fostering is one of the most powerful ways to help a dog in need — and it’s easier than you might think. Every foster home gives a dog the time, safety, and love they need to thrive. We provide guidance, supplies, and support every step of the way.
Save Lives
Every foster home opens space for another dog to be rescued.
Guidance & Support
We provide everything from veterinary care to supplies to advice. You’re never alone.
Flexible Commitment
Foster for a weekend, a few weeks, or longer. We’ll try to match a dog to your schedule (but we can’t guarantee how long it will take for your foster dog to get adopted).
Rewarding experience
Watch a dog gain confidence and find their forever family — it’s unforgettable.
Meet Some of Our Adoptable Dogs
Each of these dogs is currently in a loving foster home and ready to meet their forever family.
MELA
Small • Female • Senior • Super Snuggler
BLOOM
Medium • Female • Young • Toy tester
TANK
Medium • Male • Young • Catcher Extraordinaire
Why Adopt from PAWS?
Because every dog deserves a safe, loving start — and every adopter deserves support.
At PAWS, our dogs live in real homes — not kennels. That means we truly know their personalities, needs, and what kind of home they’ll thrive in.
🐾Foster-Based Care
Our dogs live in foster homes, so we can share real insight into their behavior, energy level, and compatibility.
🐾 Honest Matching
We focus on successful, lifelong placements — not quick adoptions — by matching dogs to the right homes.
🐾 Ongoing Support
Adoption doesn’t end at pickup. We’re here to help with transitions, questions, and guidance.
When you adopt from PAWS, you’re not just gaining a companion — you’re helping another dog get a second chance.
Need to Rehome Your Dog?
We know life changes can make difficult decisions unavoidable.
PAWS is a 100% foster-based rescue, which means we can only help dogs when a volunteer foster home is available. We’re unable to intake every dog we’re asked about — and we don’t have a physical shelter to house them.
If you’re facing the difficult decision to rehome your dog, we encourage you to explore all options first, including friends, family, or breed-specific rescues that may be better equipped to help.
For many families, the best first step is safely rehoming their dog directly with the help of Adopt-a-Pet’s peer-to-peer rehoming service, which allows you to remain involved and ensures thoughtful, responsible placement.
In rare cases, PAWS may be able to assist with placement when a foster volunteer is available. We will to respond to individual surrender inquiries only when a PAWS placement is possible.
Thank You for Supporting PAWS
PAWS is powered entirely by volunteers and a community that believes every dog deserves safety, care, and a second chance. However you found us, we’re grateful you’re here.