New Animal Welfare Group Holds Holiday Boutique

If you haven't heard of Passionate Animal Allies Lending Support, or PAALS, Inc, that's because it's new to the animal welfare scene. After its launch party in June, the organization held its fifth event -- a holiday boutique over the weekend --to help get its name out. Vendors from the Metro West area set up shop in the Water View Terrace Apartments on Sunday to showcase some holiday goodies. Despite the rainy weather, plenty of dogs and their owners came out for some seasonal shopping.

The PAALS, Inc organization is a nonprofit helping animals in a different way, by offering support to other animal welfare organizations. The group raises money and organizes community outreach events for shelters and other organizations to free them up to do boots-on-the-ground work.

Stacey Link, PAALS, Inc founder, explained what brought this full volunteer organization together. "Every person here worked in rescue at some point, and that's really heavy work," Link says.

Being on the front lines in animal rescue organizations is rewarding but emotionally taxing, she says, and PAALS, Inc is the perfect way to help shelters and rescues without carrying such a heavy heart. Fundraising and community outreach are crucial parts of nonprofit work, but they don't get a lot of attention because they're often overshadowed by rescue missions that can be more time-sensitive.

"Without those fundraisers and outreach, where's the money to do rescues? You need one for the other," Link explains. With PAALS, Inc offering volunteers to organize and raise money on behalf of applicants, it frees time and manpower to perform the life-saving work on the front lines.

The goal for the group's first year is to have three to five organizations on their roster and they may be getting close. So far they have about five applications to review and are hoping for more. Kayla Bybel, one of PAALS, Inc's executive directors, explains what the most unique thing about PAALS is: "We're an all-species organization, so we're not just limited to dog and cat shelters. We really just want to help any animal that needs saving,"she says.

Some of the applications that came in include an equestrian therapy organization and an organization focused on sea turtles. With the new year around the corner, PAALS, Inc has an ambitious mission for 2019 with a plan to get more organizations to apply for their assistance.

"I don't do small, when I do something I have to see it through, no matter how much work it is," Link says. She adds that having a team of volunteers as passionate as those at PAALS, Inc makes the work easier.

Photo Credit: Samantha Mercado/Patch