This is the Volunteer Petfinder Website for the Rutherford County TN Shelter (PAWS) located in Murfreesboro TN. 37128

PAWS Adoptable Pet List
 Dogs Cats


VOLUNTEER SHELTER PHOTOGRAPHERS NEEDED: We need volunteers with digital cameras to come in and take pics of the dogs and cats, and send them to our volunteer rescue coordinator as email attachments. These pics will be used to enhance our Petfinder website, post to rescue websites, and send to local rescue groups to help find them a new home. You can stop by the shelter during business hours, grab a leash and walk a few dogs outside and get some good pics. Please if you can help in any way, please contact us immediately at rcpawsvolunteergroup .

RESCUE VOLUNTEERS NEEDED: If you are an approved PAWS Volunteer, and would like to get more involved in saving the homeless pets at the shelter, sign up to be contacted by a PAWS Volunteer Rescue Coordinator when a pet taxi or a foster home is needed to save a PAWS animal, or when an approved rescue group needs a local representative to help w/ rescue efforts. Your offer to help quite often makes all the difference in a homeless pet's life.

SHELTER VOLUNTEERS NEEDED: If you are 18 or older, and would like to volunteer at the PAWS shelter, your help is most appreciated. Please fill out a Volunteer Application and Agreement and bring, mail, or fax to the shelter. Upon approval, and after attending an orientation class (see schedule below), you can help PAWS provide some comfort for the homeless pets in this facility by coming in during business hours and walking the dogs, grooming dirty dogs, helping w/ special needs pets, or working to keep the kennels and cat cages clean. If you like working with the public, door greeters are always needed to help out at the front desk.

About this shelter
Pet Adoption and Welfare Services. PAWS is working in partnership with the community to create a safe, healthy and caring environment for both our citizens and animals through education and courteous, effective enforcement of the laws relating to animals within the Tennessee Code Annotated. This is a high volume public shelter responsible for accepting owner surrender animals, stray animals, as well as all other animal control operations in Rutherford County TN. At any given time there are as many as 60 -100 adoptable pets in the adoption rooms, and often as many strays being held in the back hoping to be reclaimed by their owners, or for their chance to move up to an adoption room to find a new home.
Housed in a clean and modern facility in Murfreesboro, stray animals are given 3-5 days for their owners to come claim them, and then all adoptable animals are given as much time as space and health allows to find a new home, or for a rescue group to take them in. Sick or unadopted animals are humanely sedated and euthenized to prevent the spread of disease and/or to control shelter overpopulation.

If you are looking for a pet to adopt, click on the PetFinder Dogs or Cats link above to view our adoptable pets. That website information is about 2 hours old.

If you are looking for your lost pet in Rutherford County please go to PetHarbor.com. That website information is updated hourly.

Adopting a Pet from PAWS

What You Need To Know Before Coming To The Shelter:
Please be prepared for the adoption process to take up to an hour once you have picked out your pet. So bring some patience.
If an animal is already spayed/neutered, the adoption fee is $48. This fee includes the following: First distemper combination shot, first deworming, heartworm test for dogs, feline leukemia/FIV test for cats, and an $11 voucher for the required first year rabies shots. You can take your new pet home with you today!
There is a $80 adoption fee for any animal that has not been neutered or spayed. This fee includes the following: First distemper combination shot, first deworming, heartworm test for dogs, feline leukemia/FIV test for cats, a $32 voucher towards the spay / neuter surgery, and an $11 voucher for the required first year rabies shots.
Spay/Neuter is mandatory for all animals adopted from the shelter. The surgery will be scheduled with a local veterinarian of your choice at the time of adoption. Please realize that you may not be able to leave with your pet the same day. All adopted animals scheduled for surgery must be transported by PAWS staff. You should prepare to pick up your new pet from the veternarian's office after surgery, and pay any balance due.
You must be at least 18 years of age to adopt a pet and provide a current drivers license or state ID.
Proof of pet deposit must be presented prior to adoption if you live in a rental property. PAWS will need to call your landlord to verify, please have the number handy. Pets cannot be adopted out to you without verification.
Proof of all other animals in home are up to date on all shots, and are spayed or nutered. Please have your Vet's phone number handy so we can call and verify.
All adoptions are subject to verification and approval of a signed Pet Adoption Application and Agreement.
The shelter cannot hold pets. You must come in person to adopt a pet from this shelter.
Please bring cash or local check. PAWS cannot process credit or debit cards.



Rescue Groups Needed
If you are an animal rescue group interested in pulling dogs/cats from this shelter, please fax your Rescue Application to the shelter for approval.



Rutherford County P.A.W.S.
285 John Rice Blvd
Murfreesboro, TN 37129
Phone (615) 898-7740
Fax (615) 898-7994

Open Noon till 6PM Mon - Fri // 11AM - 2PM Sat
Closed Sundays and Holidays

Rutherford County Official Website
Pet Adoption Application and Agreement
Directions to this shelter
Vets that take PAWS vouchers

PAWS Volunteer Training classes.
NOVEMBER 13 @ 4:00 PM
NOVEMBER 18 @ 4:00 PM
DECEMBER 11 @ 4:00PM
DECEMBER 23 @ 4:00 PM


I RESCUED A HUMAN TODAY
Her eyes met mine as she walked down the corridor peering apprehensively into the kennels. I felt her need instantly and knew I had to help her. I wagged my tail, not too exuberantly, so she wouldn't be afraid. As she stopped at my kennel I blocked her view from a little accident I had in the back of my cage. I didn't want her to know that I hadn't been walked today. Sometimes the shelter keepers get too busy and I didn't want her to think poorly of them. As she read my kennel card I hoped that she wouldn't feel sad about my past. I only have the future to look forward to and want to make a difference in someone's life. She got down on her knees and made little kissy sounds at me. I shoved my shoulder and side of my head up against the bars to comfort her. Gentle fingertips caressed my neck; she was desperate for companionship. A tear fell down her cheek and I raised my paw to assure her that all would be well. Soon my kennel door opened and her smile was so bright that I instantly jumped into her arms. I would promise to keep her safe. I would promise to always be by her side. I would promise to do everything I could to see that radiant smile and sparkle in her eyes. I was so fortunate that she came down my corridor. So many more are out there who haven't walked the corridors. So many more to be saved. At least I could save one. I rescued a human today.










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