We the undersigned former officers and members of P.A.W.S. Animal Adoption Center were dismayed and troubled by the removal of Shelly Butler as Executive Director last month in what has been a very non-transparent move to date. We feel that this was an ill-conceived action and call for the reinstatement of Shelly Butler as Executive Director. 

PAWS Animal Adoption Center celebrates its 50th anniversary this year. It has grown from the founders’ garage to a first-class adoption center with a purpose-built facility that was renovated from the former First Aid and Rescue Squad in 2015. 

Shelly Butler became executive director in 2016 and has spent the ensuing years turning the new facility into the Adoption Center we know today.

Shelly, with the help of previous Boards of Trustees, dedicated staff and countless volunteers and supporters transformed what had been a small animal shelter into so much more. Through Shelly’s leadership many millions of dollars have been raised.

This has enabled PAWS to be debt-free and create programs previously not associated with animal shelters that are an incalculable asset to our community. 

PAWS has programs for temporary boarding of pets for those in our community who are victims of domestic abuse and those who are in need of medical care themselves without anywhere for their pets to go. Previously the only recourse was to surrender their pets. 

PAWS has partnerships with rescue organizations to bring dogs to Maine from kill shelters in the South and beyond. PAWS Cares is another community program providing basic, lower cost, services to community members who otherwise would not be able to have their pets receive medical care.

PAWS now has a dedicated veterinary staff serving the PAWS Cares Clinic, in-house shelter operations, mobile clinics, offers low-cost spay and neuter programs for the state, and provides spay/neuter services for other midcoast rescue organizations such as Pope Memorial Humane Society, Waldo County Humane Society, Waldo County Pet Food Pantry, and other worthy rescue organizations throughout the midcoast region.

It is not an exaggeration to say Shelly Butler has been the driving force at the front of every one of these projects and initiatives and has the ability to work with many different constituencies to accomplish the goals of PAWS.

Let us not forget, we do this for the animals. Let’s put aside our own feelings and do the right thing. 

Remember the mission:
To provide care for homeless dogs and cats until they can be placed in permanent, responsible homes while promoting humane values in our community through outreach and educational programs.

Sincerely,

Former Officers and Members of P.A.W.S. Animal Adoption Center Board of Trustees