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Pet Animal Welfare Society of Connecticut

EIN 06-6067445 · Norwalk, CT

Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood74 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

PET ANIMAL WELFARE SOCIETY OF CT (PAWS), ESTABLISHED IN 1962, IS A NO-KILL ANIMAL RESCUE SHELTER DEDICATED TO THE RESCUE AND ADOPTION OF OUR COMMUNITY'S HOMELESS AND ABUSED DOGS AND CATS. PAWS EFFORTS ARE FOCUSED ON THREE CRITICAL NEEDS: (1) RESCUE & SAFE SHELTER; (2) MEDICAL AND BEHAVIORAL SUPPORT INCLUDING SPAY/NEUTER AND TNR (SPAY/NEUTER/RELEASE PROGRAM FOR FERAL CATS) AND; (3) ADOPTION, CAREFULLY PLACING DOGS AND CATS WITH LOVING FAMILIES AND HOMES.

Income
$894,913
Spending
$976,101
Spent on programs
83%
Reserves
49.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 72%
Employees
31
Volunteers
200
Highest pay
$89,357, executive director

Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Good: 74 out of 100. Higher than 39% of charities in its peer group (animals, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 49.7 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 1% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 9% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 36% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    83% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 2 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 98% of charities in its peer group (animals, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    6 of 7 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    8 of 8

    Has a written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    7 of 7

    Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    10 of 10

    Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • Independent check of accounts

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Impact evidence

Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.

Programs described in its return (1)
  1. $809,856 spent. FROM THE FISCAL YEAR 2025, 10% OF THE ADOPTIONS WERE PETS OF OWNER SURRENDER SITUATIONS. THE REMAINING 90% OF OUR ADOPTIONS ARE CATS AND DOGS FROM STRAY SITAUTIONS, LOCAL ANIMAL CONTROLS, AND KITTEN BIRTHS BECAUSE THE PREGNANT CATS COME INTO OUR CARE.PAWS'S EFFORTS ARE FOCUSED ON 4 CRITICAL NEEDS: 1) RESCUE & SAFE SHELTER - SUPPORTED BY 150 TRAINED VOLUNTEERS AND 20 FOSTER HOMES AVAILABLE FOR THE VARIOUS NEEDS OF CATS, KITTENS, DOGS, OR PUPPIES NEEDING A FOSTER HOME. PAWS BELIEVES IN THE FIVE FREEDOMS ALL ANIMALS DESERVE: A) FREEDOM FROM HUNGER AND THIRST ACCESS TO FRESH WATER AND DIETB) FREEDOM FROM DISCOMFORT PROVIDING AN APPROPRIATE ENVIRONMENT INCLUDING SHELTER AND A COMFORTABLE RESTING AREA.C) FREEDOM FROM PAIN, INJURY OR DISEASE PREVENTION OR RAPID DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENTD) FREEDOM TO EXPRESS NORMAL BEHAVIOR PROVIDING SUFFICIENT SPACE, PROPER FACILITIES, AND COMPANY OF THE ANIMAL'S OWN KINDE) FREEDOM FROM FEAR AND DISTRESS ENSURING CONDITIONS AND TREATMENT WHICH AVOID MENTAL SUFFERING.2) MEDICAL SUPPORT - SUPPORTING THE TREATMENT OF PAWS PETS BEFORE THEY ARE AVAILABLE FOR ADOPTION. PETS RECEIVE VACCINATIONS, SPAY/NEUTER SURGERY, AND A MICROCHIP ALONG WITH OTHER MEDICAL TREATMENT AS NEEDED. PAWS ALSO SUPPORTS OUTSOURCED MEDICAL PROCEDURES THOSE PROCEDURES THAT PAWS CANNOT DO IN-HOUSE LIKE X-RAYS, ULTRASOUNDS, ETC. 3) OUTREACH AND EDUCATION FOR THE HUMANE TREATMENT OF ALL ANIMALS, INCLUDING OUR TNR (TRAP/NEUTER/RETURN) PROGRAM DEDICATED TO REDUCING AND MANAGING THE NUMBERS OF FERAL AND STRAY CATS IN OUR COMMUNITY. FERAL CATS ARE TRAPPED, SPAY/NEUTERED, AND THEN RETURNED TO THEIR ORIGINAL TERRITORY. FRIENDLY ADULTS AND YOUNG KITTENS CAN BE PLACED FOR ADOPTION.4) ADOPTIONS AND FOSTER PROGRAMS: EVERY ADOPTION REQUIRES AN APPROVED APPLICATION AND AT LEAST ONE SCHEDULED VISIT WITH AN ADOPTION COUNSELOR TO OUR SHELTER. IN FY 2025, WE HAD 385 CAT/KITTENS ADOPTIONS AND 79 DOG/PUPPY ADOPTIONS. THE REQUESTS FOR DOG AND CAT OWNER SURRENDERS HAVE INCREASED POST COVID WITH THE FINANCIAL CHALLENGES OF THE PET OWNER OWNERS. DURING THE FISCAL YEAR 2025 PAWS RECEIVED 625 OWNER SURRENDER APPLICATIONS. ADOPTION COUNSELORS STRIVE TO FIND THE RIGHT PET FOR EVERY HOME AND THE RIGHT HOME FOR EVERY PET. OUR FOSTER PROGRAM TARGETS OUR MOST VULNERABLE ANIMALS, INCLUDING THOSE WHO ARE SICK, INJURED, AND TOO YOUNG FOR ADOPTION OR IN NEED OF EXTRA SOCIALIZATION. OUR GREATEST NEED IS PLACEMENT FOR OUR PREGNANT CATS, MOMS WITH NURSING KITTENS, AND KITTENS TOO YOUNG TO THRIVE IN THE SHELTER.5) VOLUNTEERING: INDIVIDUALS PART OF THE VOLUNTEER PROGRAM ARE TRAINED TO ASSIST IN CLEANING AND SOCIALIZING FOR THE CATS; SOCIALIZING AND EXERCISING THE DOGS; COORDINATE DAY TRIPS FOR DOGS; COORDINATING DOGS TO ATTEND COMMUNITY EVENTS PAWS IS PARTICIPATING IN; PROCESSING ADOPTION APPLICATIONS BY MAKING CALLS TO REFERENCES; LAUNDRY DUTIES; GREETER FOR READING TO RESCUES PROGRAM. OUR FOSTERS ARE ALSO VOLUNTEER BASED.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Legitimacy checks

  1. Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.

    Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  2. Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.

    Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.

    Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 30, 2026.

  3. Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.

    On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.

    Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 10, 2026.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending August 2025.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since July 1964.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  6. Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.

    Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.

    Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated October 7, 2026.

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