Paws for Life Merchandise Shops

Shop for Paws for Life T-shirts, sweatshirts, mugs, dog T-shirts and more! We now have two stores - Cafe Press and Zazzle. At Zazzle, choose a product and you can then choose any style, color and size of that design on any product - T-shirt, sweatshirt, hoodie, tank top and much more. Zazzle even sells real U.S. postage stamps and our store offers them for sale with the Paws for Life logo and Web address. At Cafe Press, choose from nearly 100 products.

CafePress Shop:

Zazzle Shop:

Shop to benefit the homeless pets in our care.

Wish List

- Scoopable cat litter (Fresh Step Scoopable)
- Adult cat dry food (grain-free foods, Chicken Soup for Cat Lover's Soul, Wellness)
- Kitten dry food (grain-free foods, Chicken Soup for Kitten Lover's Soul, Wellness)
- Adult dog dry food (grain-free foods, Taste of the Wild, Chicken Soup for Dog Lover's Soul, Wellness, Blue Buffalo)
- Puppy dry food (grain-free foods, Taste of the Wild, Chicken Soup for Puppy Lover's Soul, Wellness, Blue Buffalo)
- Dog cages, crates, carriers
- Canned cat and kitten food
- Cat scratching posts, cat towers, cat condos
- Dog and cat collars, leashes
- Dog and cat beds
- Dog and cat toys
- Litter boxes
- Heartworm medication
- Flea prevention drops
- Gas cards

Send a gift certificate to a Paws for Life homeless dog or cat:

Drs. Foster and Smith: Pet Supplies - Dog Supplies - Pet Meds

Volunteer

Paws for Life is always looking for loving, responsible foster care homes. Providing a temporary home for a pet in need is extremely rewarding. You save an animal's life, and in return, receive unconditional love while the pet waits for his forever family. If you're interested in fostering a dog or cat, please apply at https://spreadsheets.google.com/a/pawsforliferescue.org/spreadsheet/viewform?formkey=dDFIYXdMYUdlVXEwT0l4cGpOM2lhSHc6MQ or email volunteer@pawsforliferescue.org .

If fostering a pet isn't for you, there are still many ways to help the animals. You can help at adoption events and fundraisers. Send thank you notes to donors. Transport animals to and from vet appointments. Apply at https://spreadsheets.google.com/viewform?formkey=dGY0N1JsaTVWaXlTSEtVMnJkclNRUnc6MQ or shoot us an email with what you're interested in and we'll add you to the volunteer roster. Choose as many volunteer areas as you want. Team descriptions below.

Roles and Responsibilities of Volunteer Teams:

Adoptions: under the leadership and direction of the Adoptions Coordinator, team responsibilities include review incoming applications, interview the applicant, conduct vet checks, conduct home checks, schedule the meet-n-greets, conduct the meet-n-greet with applicant and animal, review adoption packets with applicant, keep track of received applications that don't immediately have a matched animal, contact those applicants when an animal comes in that does match, pick up applications left at the store where our cats reside, etc.
Adoption Events: under the leadership and direction of the Event Coordinator, team responsibilities include: set-up or tear down of events (tables, chairs, signage, cages, etc.), general clean-up during event to ensure table surfaces are clean, dogs are walked, cat cages are clean, signage is placed, etc.
Cat Behavior: under the leadership and direction of the Cat Behavior Coordinator, team responsibilities include: respond to foster care volunteers and adopters who are having behavior problems with cats and/or kittens, provide resources such as behavior helpline numbers as needed, gather training/behavior information for fosters and adopters to help with behavior issues, schedule volunteer trainers to work with fosters or adopters experiencing behavior problems, etc.
Dog Behavior: under the leadership and direction of the Dog Behavior Coordinator, team responsibilities include: research area obedience classes that use positive reinforcement, gather training/behavior information for fosters and adopters to help with behavior issues, schedule volunteer trainers to work with fosters or adopters experiencing behavior problems, temperament test incoming animals, etc.
Dog Walkers:under the leadership and direction of the Dog Walking Coordinator, team responsibilities include signing up for dog walking shifts on the online calendar, taking the kenneled dogs for a walk, spending time playing, socializing and training the dogs, reporting any issues, problems or concerns you encounter.
Follow-Up: under the leadership and direction of the Follow-up Coordinator, team responsibilities include: contact recent adopters 3-4 days into trial run to see how it’s going and if they need anything, remind adopters in trial period who have not sent in contract after two weeks without extension request to please mail in contract, help with follow-up communication and home visits for contracts, fees and spay/neuter, as needed. Send b-day and anniversary e-cards or via U.S. mail for adopted animals. Work with Medical Coordinator to remind adopters of medical due for one year after adoption.
Food: under the leadership of the Food Coordinator, team responsibilities include making and baking food for events and volunteer meetings, as needed.
Foster Care: under the leadership and direction of the Foster Care Coordinator, team responsibilities include: provide a home and care for an animal in need, communicate with Coordinator when supplies or medical care is needed, follow foster care rules and guidelines. Treat the animal as if it's your own until a permanent home is located. Rescue provides supplies and medical care.
Fundraising: under the leadership and direction of the Fundraising Coordinator, team responsibilities include: help coordinate, schedule and plan fundraising events. Coordinate dates, location and event ideas. Work with the Inventory Coordinator to arrange needed supplies for each event. Work with Transport Coordinator to arrange transportation needs. Work with PR Coordinator to advertise and promote events. Mail handwritten thank you notes to donors. Coordinate the donation canister program. Research event and fundraising ideas.
In-store Cats: under the leadership and direction of the In-store Cat Coordinator, team responsibilities include: sign-up for shifts at the store on the online calendar, clean, feed and socialize with cats during your shift, pick-up, scan and email completed applications left at the store, train new volunteers, help create and place signage for the cats, keep storage area clean and organized, help with laundry, monitor supplies. NOTE: our store is closed and we are in the process of finding a new one. We hope this volunteer opportunity will be available again soon.
Inventory: under the leadership and direction of the Inventory Coordinator, team responsibilities include: maintain and organize the storage units and supplies for events. Keep track of supplies by numbering and entering into online spreadsheet. Maintain detailed, current records of where each item is, such as in storage unit, at Petco or with specific volunteer. Items include PFL ID tags, PFL shirts, crates, cages, carriers, scratching posts, cat condos, litter boxes, leashes, collars, food, litter, etc. Reorder supplies as needed.
Lost Pet Reunification: under the leadership and direction of the Lost Pet Reunification Coordinator, team responsibilities include developing and maintaining a program to help owners locate their lost pets through providing resources and advice and educating them on lost pet prevention for the future.
Medical: under the leadership and direction of the Medical Coordinator, team responsibilities include: track which animals need medical care. Help make vet appointments and coordinate transportation to and from appointment. Provide copies of records to foster care volunteer, especially rabies certificates. Help coordinate that every dog in foster care more than 29 days is licensed with the local city clerk’s office and wearing both the rabies tag and PFL pet ID tag. Work with Follow-up Coordinator to contact adopters when their animal is due for medical for one year after adoption or until major medical is resolved.
Online Stores and Internet: under the leadership and direction of the Online Coordinator, team responsibilities include: help manage Google accounts for email and domain names, create and design store merchandise, help manage online stores, help create and launch new Web site.
Paperwork: under the leadership and direction of the Paperwork Coordinator, team responsibilities include: help track supply of all paperwork, put together adoption packets, pick-up completed printing, help update and print animal bios for adoption books and cages, print and tape copy of which animals will be at event to front table, help keep Adoption Paperwork Bin stocked and organized.
Photography: under the leadership and direction of the Photography Coordinator, team responsibilities include: photographing animals, providing those photos to managing director, help find and arrange professional photo shoots, copy photo CDs for adopters, shoot video of animals, provide video to managing director.
PR and Marketing: under the leadership and direction of the PR and Marketing Coordinator, team responsibilities include: promote and publicize upcoming events, write and pitch press releases, schedule interviews for PR spokesperson, research and post events and fundraisers to online calendars and event listings, work with animal sponsors to promote a specific animal in need to find a permanent home, create fliers, write bios for incoming animals, promote animals and the organization in creative ways.
Recruitment: under the leadership and direction of the Recruitment Coordinator, team responsibilities include: find any means possible to recruit additional volunteers based on current needs. Help provide and review applications. Interview applicants and enter contact info into online spreadsheets. Provide and review policy manuals, volunteer contract and waiver. Receive and file waivers.
Recognition and Retention: under the leadership and direction of the Recognition Coordinator, team responsibilities include brainstorming creative ways to thank and reward volunteers, tracking volunteer hours and education credits, sending birthday and anniversary e-cards, etc.
Scentsy: under the leadership and direction of the Scentsy Coordinator, team responsibilities include running the Scentsy program, such as hosting or coordinating parties, recruiting others to host parties or basket parties, running the booth at events or tradeshows.
Surrender Prevention: under the leadership and direction of the Surrender Prevention Coordinator, team responsibilities include developing and administering programs to reduce pet surrenders and to keep pets and families together, such as answering and responding to email and phone hotlines with resources related to behavior problems, moving, allergies, pet food banks and more. Handbook of resources is provided.
TNR: under the leadership and direction of the TNR Coordinator, team responsibilities include serve on the TNR (Trap, Neuter, Return) program as a PFL representative, help socialize, evaluate the progress and work with "feral cats," help arrange medical care and transportation, help find housing for "feral cats" based on socialization versus recovery options. Help find placement depending on the progress of each cat.
Transport: under the leadership and direction of the Transport Coordinator, team responsibilities include transporting supplies or an animal from Point A to Point B, including driving animals to and from vet appointments, adoption events, meet-n-greets, foster care, pick-up from shelters, etc.
Volunteer Training: under the leadership of the Training Coordinator, team responsibilities include researching and scheduling available training opportunities, such as web seminars, workshops, conferences, etc., for volunteers to take advantage of and improve their skills and knowledge base.

Who We Are

Paws for Life Rescue and Adoption (PFL) is a 501(c)3, tax-exempt, not-for-profit animal welfare organization run by a group of hard-working, dedicated volunteers. PFL is an Adoption Guarantee organization that rescues homeless, neglected, abused and abandoned dogs, cats, puppies and kittens from overflowing shelters, based on pre-established collaborative agreements. PFL does not believe that time or money are acceptable reasons to end a life, ever. PFL uses a network of loving foster care homes where animals stay until their forever homes are found. PFL’s goal is to find the best homes possible for the homeless pets in our care. PFL operates under the philosophy of do no harm.

The organization focuses on humane legislation and education initiatives to permanently improve the lives, safety and future of companion animals in Michigan and surrounding areas. PFL has no paid staff and receives no government support. Every penny donated goes directly to the animals in our care, paying vet bills and purchasing needed supplies. In addition to rescue, PFL devotes resources to numerous local and national humane campaigns, such as End Dogfighting, Feral Cat TNR and Eliminating Puppy Mills, as well as participation in community and national Disaster Animal Response Teams.