People & Animal Welfare Society (PAWS)

People & Animal Welfare Society Inc (PAWS) is a non-profit animal-rights organisation, based at 112-114 Beaufort Street; Perth, Australia. According to their mission statement, they aim to create a society in which humans and animals are free to coexist without the threat of cruelty or exploitation. [http://www.paws.org.au/pages/about/ Accessed 22 September 2008]

PAWS promotes current human and animal welfare issues and environmental issues and provides information and education on these topics. PAWS does not take radical action or stances, but rather believes in providing information to encourage people to make change within themselves. In reality, this is the best way for making big change - by taking action yourself, you reduce the harm and encourage others to reduce their harm on people, animals and the environment.

History

PAWS was founded in April 2000. [http://www.paws.org.au/pages/about/ Accessed 22 September 2008]

Activities

PAWS offers complimentary vegan meals to any visitors. This service is provided Tuesday to Friday 11.30am until 2pm. The meals are prepared and served by volunteers. The meals provided are vegan and are part of showing the community that they can live a healthy, cruelty free lifestyle, without compromising on quality of life [http://omnama.com/resources.html] . While people are eating, there are a range of brochures available for people to read to provide education against animal cruelty and promoting cruelty free lifestyles.

PAWS also stocks a "cruelty-free" store at the Community Resource Centre to "provide the community with the opportunity to easily purchase products which are allergy friendly and are not tested on animals."

PAWS supports the Government's Work for the Dole Scheme to "give people a chance to get back into the community."

PAWS has recently established a community garden just out of Perth city, which will work with other community groups to promote a sustainable and sensible agriculture site where the vegetables are grown and put back into the community, both as the physical product, as well as through training the community to grow their own vegetables. The garden will reduce greenhouse gas emissions and encourage the community to do the same.

PAWS also hosts a web forum to encourage people to discuss their thoughts on peoples welfare, animals welfare and the environment. The forum provides a free exchange of ideas to discuss key topics and learn from one another. It also provides an opportunity for people new to the concept of vegetarianism to talk with others about their experiences and make their journey as easy as possible. [pawsforums.freeforums.org/]

Goals

# To create a society in which humans and animals are free to coexist without the threat of cruelty or exploitation. [http://www.paws.org.au/pages/about/ Accessed 22 September 2008]
# To offer complimentary vegan meals to anyone that visits, regardless of age, sex, race, income, etc.
# To promote veganism by showing the community that they can live a healthy, cruelty free lifestyle, without compromising on quality of life [http://omnama.com/resources.html]

References