OUR MISSION
The PAWs Project is the specialized medical assistance and safety-net program of Lost Pet Services, Inc., a 501(c)(3) nonprofit.is Lost Pet Services, Inc.
Our mission is to keep pets and the people who love them together, and to prevent pets from entering already overcrowded shelters due to a family's financial hardship.
HOW WE HELP
The PAWs Project offers veterinary medical and safety-net support through two specific programs.
No Place Like Home provides safety‑net resources and financial assistance for routine and non‑emergency veterinary care. This program helps families bridge the gap when unexpected pet needs arise and prevents pets from entering shelters simply because their owners can’t afford basic care.
PAWs Project - Partners for Animal Welfare supports emergency and critical medical cases in collaboration with other local animal welfare noprofit organizations. Funding is based on need and available resources, helping pets in life‑threatening situations get urgent care.
OUR PARTNERS
The PAWs Project is currently collaborating with The Colby Animal Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, founded by Dr. Wendy Ellis, to support emergency and critical medical cases.
We also partner with emergency hospitals and local veterinary clinics that offer nonprofit discounts and share our commitment to helping pets in need. Their support allows us to stretch every dollar, expand our reach, and provide essential care to more pets in our community.
Meet
Patty Giarrusso
Founder & President
Lost Pet Services, Inc. (dba PAWs Project)
Patty Giarrusso is the President and Founder of Lost Pet Services, Inc., the 501(c)(3) nonprofit behind PAWs Project, and the heart behind its mission to keep pets safe, healthy, and home with the families who love them.
In 2013, she launched Lost and Found Pets 941, now a community of more than 64,000 followers. In 2017, she founded Lost Pet Services, Inc., which has reunited over 32,000 lost pets with their families and provided more than $300,000 in financial assistance for pets in need. Through the PAWs Project, the organization’s veterinary assistance and safety-net program, families facing financial hardship get help keeping their pets.
Her work has been recognized with the Manatee Chamber of Commerce’s Small Business of the Year (Nonprofit Category), SRQ Magazine’s Best Nonprofit Organization and Best Nonprofit Leader, and Sarasota Magazine’s 45 Over 45.
