Who We Are…

Paws for Love was founded by Ellyn Jaques Boone, a northern California artist with a passion for helping animals. Ellyn has been painting with shelter animals for many years. She began her unusual journey when her own shelter dogs, Woody and Cooper, raced across a painting-in-progress which she had placed on the floor. The brightly colored paw prints they tracked through the house inspired her to assist them in the creation of paintings to be given as gifts to friends. In February of 2000, she turned her special skill into a fundraiser to benefit a local animal shelter by launching an art show, sale, and auction she dubbed “Paws for Love.”

Each painting whether a soft, impressionistic paw print or bold colorful abstract is framed, titled, and accompanied by a photo and biography of the “artist”. The paintings sell quickly, usually within an hour of the exhibit’s opening.

“We communicate with our animals in so many ways,” muses Boone. “These unexpected artists may not know the difference between an O’Keeffe and a Matisse, but they all respond to kindness and affection. Together, we hope that each little painting might capture the attention of just the right person who will subsequently decide to adopt one (or more!) of these devoted companions.”

Paws for Love is a volunteer non-profit foundation. We depend solely on donations and the proceeds from our events to accomplish our mission of assisting animals at risk.

The heart of our annual February fundraising gala—called “Paws for Love”—is a captivating gallery of paintings created by shelter and rescue animals. In addition to the sale of these paintings, we also feature a grand benefit auction—both silent and live–with vacation getaways, services, merchandise, pet-related packages, and award-winning wines.

Funds raised from this event, as well as from smaller events held throughout the year and private donations, greatly benefit the animals of Sonoma County, the Bay Area, and beyond. The Paws for Love Foundation provides funds to rehabilitate adoptable animals by providing necessary medical treatment, rehabilitation, and adoption expenses, for animals in shelters and foster care programs.

Here are a few of the groups and individuals who have received funding from the Paws for Love Foundation in the year 2022:

If you think you or your group may qualify for funding from the Paws for Love Foundation, please review our FUNDING GUIDELINES here. Animals benefitting from funding must be within a rescue or shelter program, or being fostered and rehabilitated for adoption. Applications are available upon request. For more information, email Ellyn Boone.