05/04/2026
Hello everyone,
For those who may not know me, my name is Krista Bligh, and I am the director/founder of Paws and Claws. Many of you may have noticed that recently we’ve had to begin turning away animal intakes, and I wanted to take a moment to share some context about why this is happening.
I am currently attending veterinary school, and at the same time, our organization is facing a critical funding shortage. Paws and Claws has always operated entirely on donations—we are not funded by the city or any government entity, despite receiving animals from the general public, animal control, pest control companies, and game wardens. None of us are paid for this work, and I personally have never taken a salary, even though this has long been far more than a full-time commitment.
The reality is that our current model is no longer sustainable. To continue operating at the level we have in the past, we would need a dedicated facility with its own property and proper infrastructure. Many people assume we already have this because of the number of animals we take in—but in truth, we have always worked with very limited space and resources. Every intake requires careful consideration: how long we may have the animal, how much care it will need, and whether we can realistically afford to support it.
Our mission has always been to prevent animal suffering as much as possible. While nature certainly has its course, the vast majority of cases we see—nearly all of them—are the result of human impact, whether direct or indirect. A raccoon mother hit by a car, leaving behind orphaned babies, is not nature. Birds of prey suffering from lead poisoning is not nature. These are preventable tragedies, and they are at the heart of why we do what we do.
Over the years, we have worked incredibly hard to keep this organization going. We have pursued fundraising efforts, applied for grants, and leaned heavily on community support. Thanks to that support, we have made a meaningful impact—helping thousands of animals, educating the public, visiting schools, and collaborating with A&M and Blinn student organizations on projects.
This post is not an announcement that we are shutting down. However, without significant changes, we will need to scale back substantially. Turning animals away is one of the hardest parts of this work, and it weighs heavily on me every time. Balancing the demands of veterinary school while continuing to support the shelter has also been challenging, and the stress is very real.
Even with all we have accomplished, there are still limitations we cannot overcome without proper facilities. For example, we are unable to fully rehabilitate certain species, such as bald eagles, due to the lack of appropriate flight space for conditioning. A lot of people do not even realize we have so many in the area. These animals must be transferred elsewhere, even when we would prefer to care for them ourselves and keep them locally and send them back home.
My long-term goal has always been to build something more sustainable—a dedicated wildlife facility where we have the space, equipment, and resources to properly care for these animals. That dream is one of the reasons I am pursuing veterinary medicine: to return to this community with the skills to provide advanced care, perform necessary procedures, and expand what we are able to do.
Wildlife rehabilitation is incredibly demanding work, both physically and emotionally. It often means witnessing animals in devastating conditions—severe injuries (bones exposed, bleeding, often covered in maggots), suffering caused by human activity, and young animals separated from their mothers with no understanding of what has happened. It is not easy, and it is not widely supported, which is why so few people are able to do it long-term.
I truly love this work, and I remain committed to making a lasting difference. But right now, the future is uncertain without meaningful funding and support. My hope is that, with the help of this community, we can find a path forward and eventually build something that can serve both the animals and the people who care about them.
Thank you to everyone who has supported us along the way. It has meant more than I can express.
