(Riverton, WY) – For the first time in its 21-year history, PAWS For Life Animal League in Riverton treated its shelter animals to a Christmas dinner on Wednesday afternoon.
“It will not be the last time we do it,” said Pam Canham, a longtime PAWS board member who has been involved since the organization was formed.
The idea came after Canham saw a post on Facebook about an animal shelter back east that hosts holiday meals for its animals.
“I just was like, why didn’t I think of that?” she said.
PAWS board members pitched in to prepare a full holiday spread that was safe for the animals, including turkey, green beans, sweet potatoes, and miniature pumpkin pies. Special care was taken for dogs with sensitive stomachs, with meals adjusted as needed. The cats, Canham said, stuck to what they know best.
“They’re basically carnivores,” she said. “They’re just interested in the meat, so they will all get turkey.”
PAWS, originally started by Kathy Hooper and Dr. Amy Stockton, operates the Riverton animal shelter under a memorandum of understanding with the City of Riverton. While the city owns the building and contributes about $45,000 annually, PAWS’ total yearly budget is around $300,000.
“Needless to say, we do a lot of fundraising,” Canham said.
Currently, the shelter is home to 24 cats and 25 dogs, which staff say is a lower number than usual. At times, the shelter has housed as many as 36 dogs, depending on the season.
PAWS is a no-kill shelter, with the goal of adopting all animals into permanent homes.
Most animals arrive through the Riverton Police Department and the Fremont County Sheriff’s Office. Others come from owner surrenders, shelter transfers, and occasionally animals left at the shelter doors.
Shelter Manager Whitney Fontes said about 75 percent of intakes come from law enforcement agencies.
The adoption process includes an application and a required foster period of at least seven days to ensure a good fit. Adoption fees currently range from $50 to $175, with a modest increase planned in the near future after two decades without changes.
PAWS also offers extensive short-term foster opportunities, covering food, supplies, and veterinary care at no cost to foster families. Some fosters last a single night or weekend, while others continue until the animal is adopted.
“All of our guys love pup cups,” Fontes added.
Beyond financial donations, PAWS welcomes supplies ranging from pet food and litter to everyday cleaning items like dish soap, paper towels, brooms, and hose nozzles.
“If people don’t or can’t donate money, but they have supplies at home they want to get rid of, we’ll take that,” Canham said.
More information about PAWS, available animals, and ways to help can be found on the organization’s website: pawsforliferivertonwy.org.
