The St. Croix Animal Welfare Center off-island pet transfer program is called “Paws from Paradise.”  This program has been an important part of our life-saving efforts for many years.  Transferring pets from one shelter to another stateside has become common practice in the mainland, where a shelter or rescue group in one area has a need for adoptable pets, while another has an abundance of pets but few adopters.  These programs save lives!

Our Paws from Paradise  program is critical to our life saving mission on island.   There are simply not enough people on our little island to adopt the number of pets that arrive at our animal shelter, so we must look to other areas for help.  Fortunately we have partners all across the states that understand the plight of abandoned and unwanted animals in our islands are willing to help.

You can be part of the solution by becoming a travel escort for a St. Croix animal on his or her way to one of our partner shelters in the U.S. mainland and to a permanent adoption into a loving home.   It is so easy.  You can save a life just by flying to the states.  Our staff and our partner shelters do all the work on both ends.  You simply agree to travel with a pet.

If you are traveling to the states and would consider helping a homeless animal find a home stateside, we ask that you contact us.  We will confirm your itinerary and arrange for you to be met by a staff member the day of your departure at the airport.  There is no cost to you.  A staff member will bring the animal, paperwork and the fee for travel.  At your destination you will be met by a designated staff member from our rescue partner and give them the animal   It’s that simple and we need your help!