Three Stoneham Residents Making a Difference for PAWS

It has been 30 years and counting since the Protection of Animals in Wakefield Society (PAWS) began its mission of promoting and protecting the rights and well-being of all domestic animals and wildlife. Since then, more than 10,000 animals have been assisted assisted by the nonprofit organization and volunteers—including three Stonehamites—are more committed than ever.

Stoneham residents Patricia DeVellis, Pat Fung and Dorothy Hoyland are all active volunteers for the organization and are promoting and protecting the rights of cats, dogs and other pets in the area.

The PAWS Experience

DeVellis described what it's been like helping out the organization. 

“It has been a wonderful experience and learning time for me,” DeVellis said. “I had no idea what rescues did and our rescue is small and all fosters yet they are always tending to the needs of the strays, hurt, abandoned and surrended.”

Strong Group of Helpers

DeVellis praised her co-volunteers and says she enjoys working with them every day for a great cause.

“The group has such wonderful and caring people so that is also another part I love,” DeVellis said. “I get to help so that these animals can find forever homes and also work with a wonderful group of people that are dedicated to the welfare of the animals. I am in awe at these people of PAWS and I have much respect for what they do.”

DeVellis has not been on any rescues yet, but she certainly knows of all of them and explained that they are all memorable.

“It is lives being saved and new adopters feeling good about helping and giving a cat or kitten a change with a new forever home,” DeVellis said. “Sometimes, I cannot believe the condition or situation that these animals are in, but feel pretty good knowing our group is caring for these animals.”

DeVellis decided to volunteer for PAWS when she was walking through Petco for fish food and saw a table with the PAWS sign on it.

“The volunteers were smiling and I had just lost my mom and I have my own beloved rescue cat put to sleep due to cancer so I was in a bit of a state,” DeVellis said. “However, these people were very friendly to chat with and before I knew it I was filling out an application to help volunteer. I have never looked back and I feel good about what we as a group do and also very proud of the volunteers that work tirelessly in their efforts to find homes for these animals.”

Fostering Fun for the Fungs

Meanwhile, Fung has been helping the organization for the past several years.

“My children and I have enjoyed fostering for PAWS for the last five years,” Fung said. “It is fun to have kittens running around the house and watching them grow up for the short time that we have them.”

Fung described his most memorable rescue that involved two kittens that were abandoned when their owners moved.

“ came to us as young adults and it took almost a year and a half to become trusting of people again and to come and seek attention,” Fung said. “Wintermelon would still hide during a thunderstorm, but instead of under the bed, he would crawl under the sheets with one of my children.

"Katara would love to climb up on my shoulders and perch herself. They are now in their forever home.”

Saving a Life

Fung also recalled a time last year when his family had a kitten born in the house who needed to be taken to the vet at four days old to have fluid taken from her abdomen.

“This became a regular routine every other day,” Fung said. “We never knew if she was going to make it or not, but after three months she no longer was filling with fluids and was given a clean bill of health. The kids named her Miracle.”

Getting Started

Fung decided to join the organization because of his love for animals and he wanted his children to have a similar upbringing.

“I grew up on a dairy farm and was always around animals and taking care of them,” Fung said. “I wanted my children to have the same experiences and joys of being in charge of taking care of animals.”

Helping the Cause

Dorothy Hoyland decided to join the organization because her high school-age daughter wanted a kitten since she was going away to college in a few years.

“We decided to get our ‘kitten fix’ by fostering,” Hoyland said. “Her friends in high school enjoyed visiting with the new kitties at our house also.”

Like her fellow volunteers, Hoyland said she has enjoyed her experiences with the organization, but admits there are some challenges as well.

“There are pleasures meeting a new sweet kitten, a new feral cat that turns out to be friendly and sharing a kitten with friends,” Hoyland said. “There are also some challenges with some cats and meeting with prospective adopters to determine if they are a fit with the cat or kitten.”

Ah, Memories

Hoyland recalled her most memorable rescue that involved a 13 year-old cat named Clyde.

“That was so sweet,” Hoyland said of taking in Clyde. “He was adopted by a single mom and her young son. He was abandoned in a cat carrier at a grooming center and if he had gotten along with my personal cats I would have adopted him myself.”

The organization will celebrate their 30^th anniversary with the grand opening of Esther’s Nook, a retail space located at the PAWS office and their annual meeting, teen dance and spring silent auction event.