PAWS makes adopting pet more express

Area residents soon will have a new way to bring another family member into their homes. A new pet adoption van will be unveiled Saturday, Dec. 10.

The P.A.W. (Pet Adoption on Wheels) Express was purchased last summer by the Prince William Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) with a $154,565 grant from the PETCO Foundation. The custom-built van will make its public debut at 2 p.m. at the Prince William County Animal Shelter, at 14807 Bristow Road in Manassas.
The van can hold about 26 cats and dogs. Potential adopters can see the animals through roll-up windows on the van, then walk through the van to meet the animals.

“We are thrilled that the Prince William SPCA been chosen for this grant, and that we are able to bring this mobile adoption van to the county,” said Melissa Korzuch, Prince William SPCA co-founder and president who has lived in the county for 15 years. She called it a “perfect example” of how municipal shelters and nonprofit organizations work together to improve the lives of animals.

“It is a wonderful feeling to see shelter pets get a second chance at a loving home,” Korzuch said. “Every pet that is placed is one less that is euthanized. Everyone wins.”

Korzuch said the Prince William SPCA, which supports area shelters and rescue groups, is run entirely by volunteers – about 40 who help regularly and more than 150 who help occasionally. Korzuch herself knows first-hand the benefits of adopting rescued animals. She brought two kittens to her home from an animal shelter years ago. Phantom and Nittany are now 11.

P.A.W. Express will roll in to community events, festivals and pet stores in Northern Virginia beginning January 2012. Anyone interested in requesting an appearance by P.A.W. Express is asked to e-mail .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).

Read the full story in the print edition of the Observer.