First, we help families with emergency veterinary costs in times of distress and tragedy through fundraising. If a pet is ill or injured and the family cannot fully afford the medical bill, we want to help in any way we can. Paws and Claws was first formed on Facebook as an Auction and Rummage Sale site to help raise money not only for animals of families, but also for strays that no one else would take responsibility for. We step up for those animals and give them a fighting chance. Paws and Claws believes that making the effort to raise money is worth saving an animal's life.

Second, after noticing that the local humane society couldn't always take in stray animals outside city limits, we decided to be a rescue group that would take in animals from anywhere around the community and surrounding areas – even Fort Frances – and get them the proper vet care, foster them, and rehome them, or transport them to other humane societies in Minnesota where they would be taken care of until they found forever homes. Paws and Claws is a group of "first responders" when an animal is in need. We focus on the three R's: Rescue, Recover, Relocate. Furthermore, we take pride that we are not a "cats and dogs only" rescue group - we want to help all companion animals.

As of August 2015, Paws and Claws is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization. We are strictly a volunteer based group. Our time and drive to help others is something we offer up freely (and with a happy heart).