PAWS of Rutherford County, NC

08/25/2026

We have openings for our September 29-30 & October 27-28th spay/neuter transports to the ASPCA. The low-cost fee is $45 for all dog/cats, male/female, no matter the size or weight. All cats that are ear tipped, receive free surgeries, vaccines, and worming. If you're on public assistance such as Medicaid/SNAP or you're a Veteran, you're eligible for Free services under our grant as funding is available. The ASPCA offers additional services for dogs including Booster vaccines, Kennel cough vaccines, Hernia Repair and Microchipping each for just $10, but these services are only offered during spay/neuter surgeries. Nail Trims for all animals are FREE! Call 828-532-4197 to get on the list and share with your friends!

07/30/2026

Friends, the rescue world lost a wonderful advocate for the animals of Rutherford County last week, Jimmy Heftner. He has some dogs that now need homes, so check out Buddy, a Golden Retriever mix, to see if he could be your forever dog. Sharing is appreciated!

https://www.petfinder.com/dog/buddy-03795bf2-cf4e-448a-b323-6cb11b0d164b/nc/rutherfordton/southern-paws-animal-rescue-sc484/details/?fbclid=IwY2xjawTYU6NleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZBAyMjIwMzkxNzg4MjAwODkyAAEeltu4K0uT5-vNTYKxQ7YqY6I6YIo6NvzeeVY_f0R5CT7pu46JoRYk9dksG_w_aem_QjGotqEOaneAjDmwtMvBVQ

Meet Buddy, a Young Male Golden Retriever & Coonhound currently available for adoption at Southern Paws Animal Rescue. Could this be your new best friend? Learn more and apply today!

07/04/2026

07/04/2026

Wishing you all a safe a happy Fourth of July!

07/04/2026

Friends, can you donate to help these dogs? Click on the link below for full information. Thank you for your support and for sharing!

We Need Your Help! These two sweet babies, mother and daughter, each … PAWS Of Rutherford County NC needs your support for Urgent Care Needed for Injured Paws

07/01/2026

URGENT HEAT WARNING FOR OUTSIDE ANIMALS! 🐶🌡️

With temperatures on the rise, dogs can develop heat stroke much faster than people. It can become life-threatening in just minutes.

Watch for these warning signs:
🐾 Excessive panting or difficulty breathing
🐾 Thick, sticky drool
🐾 Bright red or pale gums
🐾 Weakness, stumbling, or collapse
🐾 Vomiting or diarrhea
🐾 Confusion, seizures, or loss of consciousness

Help prevent heat stroke:
☀️ Walk your dog early in the morning or later in the evening.
💧 Always provide fresh, cool water.
🌳 Keep pets in the shade or indoors during the hottest part of the day.
🐾 Test the pavement with your hand—if it’s too hot for you, it’s too hot for their paws.
🚗 Never leave a pet in a parked car, even for a few minutes.

If you suspect heat stroke:
Move your dog to a cool area immediately, wet them with cool (not ice-cold) water, and contact your veterinarian or the nearest emergency veterinary hospital right away. Rapid treatment can save a life.

❤️ Stay safe, stay cool, and help your four-legged family members beat the heat!

Thank you to Rutherford Veterinary Hospital for sharing this with the community!!

06/20/2026

EMERGENCY - There is an urgent crisis at Rutherford County Animal Control Services where dogs will be euthanized immediately to make space for the many dogs being abandoned and dumped by irresponsible owners. Click on the link below to see pictures (three of the many involved are pictured below) in the hopes that some folks can take in a new furbaby, foster, or rescue. Lives are depending on the community to step up so if you can help, call them at 828-980-0016 or go down to the shelter Monday - Saturday, 10 am - 4 pm. Sharing will save lives!

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.3389829091097032&type=3

06/05/2026

ASPCA PARTNER MEETING -

Recently, PAWS President, Gale Wilson, and Board Member, Nancy Willard, attended the 2026 ASPCA Partner Meeting. What a wonderful time of exciting news, networking, and practical applications of tools and ideas presented by hospital Veterinarians, Vet Techs, and Administrative Staff from both the Asheville and New York Campuses. Our local campus serves close to 50 rescue organizations of which a number attended and are shown in the picture. The following is a description of the event from the ASPCA Manager of Partner Relations, Amanda Sexton:

The day kicked off with guided tours, giving partners a behind-the-scenes look at our spaces and surgeries in action.

We officially launched the meeting with a warm welcome and exciting updates on our expansion, followed by meaningful sessions that showcased the depth of expertise across our network:

🐾 Spay/Neuter Initiative highlighted critical progress and ongoing priorities.

🧼 Infectious Disease & Sanitation offered valuable insights into keeping our animals healthy and safe.

🌐 Partner Network Resource Site unveiled tools to better support our collaboration and shared success.

After a well-deserved lunch break (and some fresh air!), we kept the energy high with a fun round of Wags & Nags Trivia

The afternoon sessions focused on hands-on learning and practical skills:

🤝 Gentle Animal Handling

🐶 BRC (Behavioral Rehabilitation Center) Program

🚚 Transport Training

Partners then dove deeper into key topics during breakout sessions, exploring:
Community Engagement
Shelter Medicine
Behavior
Community & Barn Cat Programs

These conversations sparked thoughtful dialogue, idea-sharing, and new opportunities for collaboration across our network.

We wrapped up the day by celebrating our partners—recognizing new members and sharing in the joy of awards and adoptions. There’s no better way to end the day than by honoring the incredible work happening across this community!

💙 Thank you to all our presenters, facilitators, SMEs, and attendees for making this event such a success. Your commitment drives real impact, and we’re proud to partner alongside you.

05/10/2026

https://c.org/Jqrfg6SBsY

Friends, please take a moment to sign this petition for this young lady who is going to forward it to our NC Governor and Congressmen. Let's show our support for her efforts to help keep animals safe. Sharing is appreciated, thank you!

Prohibit pet stores in NC from selling mill-bred dogs, cats, and bunnies

05/06/2026

Our friends at SNIP in Shelby are offering Wellness Clinics for May & June. Call them at 704-600-6100 to make an appointment for one of these two days.