Our Mission & Vision
Paws In Your Hands Rescue (PIYHR) is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization rooted in compassion and dedicated to giving shelter dogs the second chance they deserve. Based in Massachusetts, our mission is simple but powerful: to rescue dogs from severe hardships—whether they’ve been abandoned, neglected, or surrendered—and guide them toward loving, permanent homes.
We are passionate about transforming lives, not just for the dogs we rescue but for the families who welcome them. Every dog in our care represents a unique story of resilience, and we are committed to ensuring that their next chapter is filled with love and security. Though we call Massachusetts home, our rescue efforts span across New England and the East Coast, helping deserving dogs find their forever families no matter how far we need to go.
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At PIYHR, we believe every dog is worth fighting for, and with your support, we can continue making a lasting impact—one paw at a time.
Our Proven Path to Forever Homes​​:​​
At Paws In Your Hands Rescue (PIYHR), we take a progressive and thoughtful approach to dog rescue that sets us apart from traditional organizations. We operate without a physical facility, using a strategic model that focuses on securing confirmed adopters before rescuing a dog from the shelter. This preemptive method ensures that every dog we save is already on a clear path to a loving, permanent home. Once an adopter is confirmed, the dog is placed into one of our caring foster homes in Texas, often experiencing the comfort of a home for the first time.​
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By reducing the time dogs spend in shelters and providing them with stable foster care, we minimize their stress and can offer more individualized attention to their needs, creating smoother transitions into their forever homes.
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Why We Focus on Texas:
Our rescue efforts extend beyond Massachusetts to Texas, a state facing one of the highest shelter euthanasia rates in the U.S. With low spay/neuter rates and overcrowded shelters, thousands of dogs are left vulnerable. At PIYHR, we focus on rescuing these at-risk dogs, offering them a chance at a better life by placing them with adopters across the East Coast and New England.
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Our Growth & Rescue Partners:
Since our founding, PIYHR has grown in capability and reach while remaining intentionally small-scale to ensure effectiveness. Our founder, Amala, and a group of passionate volunteers drive our mission, working tirelessly to ensure each rescue has the best chance at a happy ending. Through essential partnerships with veterinary providers who offer reduced-cost care, and collaborations with overwhelmed rescues and shelters, we have expanded our ability to rescue, rehabilitate, and rehome more dogs than ever.
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Rescue with Integrity:
At PIYHR, we put immense care into every step of a rescue's journey. Our commitment to transparency and ethical practices is deeply personal, shaped by our founder Amala’s own experience with a fraudulent rescue. After being scammed by a Texas-based rescue that failed to provide proper care or medical records, Amala adopted a 12-week-old puppy suffering from trauma, inbreeding, and severe health issues, including parvo. This distressing experience drives our dedication to transparency and ensures that no adopter faces the same heartbreak. We may not always know a dog’s full history, but we are committed to making the adoption process as clear and positive as possible, always prioritizing the well-being of our dogs and the families who welcome them.