Since being founded in 2016, Big Paws of the Ozarks has helped rescue, re-home and rehabilitate over 600 dogs in Northwest Arkansas.
Big Paws of the Ozark’s main goal is to help dogs find their forever home.
This foster-based rescue center works with local animal shelters to take in dogs that may need help. Big Paws of the Ozarks primarily focuses on helping sick and abused dogs find a foster home.
“As an organization, we really concentrate on keeping dogs in their homes and working on saving the ones that are seeping through the cracks in our area,” said Maisie Carothers, director of marketing and operations.
Big Paws started as a non-profit foster rescue, but now has continued to grow over the past 7 years. With the new facility they moved into in 2022, there is now much more space for the dogs to enjoy. According to the website, Big Paws of the Ozark’s new location now has four large dog runs, a grooming station and a large training space. This organization trains foster dogs for free while also offering paid training classes. The earnings from these classes go back towards saving more dogs in NWA.
Photo courtesy of Big Paws of the Ozarks
According to Carothers, Big Paws of the Ozarks holds many adoption events and other fundraisers. This past Wednesday, they held a 90’s pop culture trivia adoption event. In the month of November, there are more events being held such as a friendsgiving adoption event and a Black Friday training package sale. “Events like these gain a lot of traction throughout the community which bring in more people that are willing to adopt a dog,” said Carothers.
Big Paws of the Ozarks currently has a very small staff and they take in puppies regularly. Carothers encourages community members to donate, volunteer, foster or adopt a puppy if able. 
Natalie Hale, a foster parent of two dogs from Big Paws of the Ozarks, said she has loved working with Big Paws and they have made the foster and adoption process easy. Hale began fostering two dogs for a few months and eventually adopted both.
“I love what Big Paws of the Ozarks has done for our community,” Hale said. “They have helped so many dogs in Northwest Arkansas and I am very grateful for the two rescue dogs that are now mine.”
“All dogs need comfortable, loving homes” said Carothers. “It is our mission that no dog in Northwest Arkansas is left abandoned.”
To learn more visit: https://www.bigpawsozarks.org/