In 2019, the John S. Latsis Public Benefit Foundation supported the initiative of the Paros Animal Welfare Society - “PAWS”, by partially covering the cost for the construction of a model stray companion animals shelter at the location of Marathi in Paros.

"PAWS"'s mission is to collect and care for the stray animals on the island, as well as to provide them with shelter, food and medical treatment until the appropriate conditions for their adoption emerge. At the same time, it carries out intensive neutering and vaccination programmes with the aim of reducing stray animals in Paros, thus ensuring better and healthier living conditions.

The shelter, built entirely with local natural stones and in complete harmony with Cycladic architecture, will have the capacity to accommodate 64 dogs and 20 cats and will possess a purpose-built recovery area for sick or injured animals and a wooden cat house. Furthermore, the shelter will serve as a space for training mainly young people, and all residents of Paros as well, in terms of animal welfare and proper animal care.

• Through “PAWS”, approximately 350 stray companion animals find a permanent home in Greece or abroad every year.

“The Paros Animal Welfare Society - PAWS is very grateful to the Latsis Foundation for its substantial grant, as well as its trust, so that in 2020, a year that coincides with 20 years of continuous operation of PAWS, Paros can at last have its own modern and safe shelter for the stray puppies and kittens of the island! We wish that this shelter of European standards can set a shining example for the creation of other similar shelters in the country.”

Arghyro Eleftheriadou

President of Elected Board, “PAWS”