who we are
Paxos Animal Welfare Society started giving animal welfare services on Paxos in 2005 – 2006. After its chairwoman, Lindsay Geddes retired in November 2025, most of its board members became directors of the Greek version of PAWS, legally founded in 2021 and officially registered as a Greek Animal Charity in January 2026 (5311), its logo, assets, website material, facebook and instagram pages remaining the same.
PAWS offers better quality of life to strays and rescues improving animal welfare on the beautiful island of Paxos for the last 20 years.
With renewed force, new volunteers, tighter relations to the local authorities, direct contact with the central Greek government and mainly with your ongoing support, we hope to be able to continue preserving animal welfare principles and high quality welfare services to all animals on the island of Paxos for many more years.
Paxos Animal Welfare Society (PAWS) was founded in 2005 by Lindsay Geddes and Linda Parker after a summer holiday on Paxos. PAWS was set up to give regular veterinary care to Paxos, to introduce education on animal welfare and support the winter feeding of stray cats.
Both Linda and Lindsay invested money to get the charity started, which enabled them to buy basic supplies and fund UK vet teams. For the first three years the teams worked outdoors, under the olive trees or within private gardens, in café courtyards… wherever there was water and electricity. Paws also built numerous feeding stations around the island, looked after by volunteers.
Over its 20 years of existence PAWS has received regular support from:
Dogs Trust UK
Greek Animal Rescue
Greek Cat Welfare Society
Worldwide Veterinary Service (WVS) and Marchig Trust
Jean Sainsbury
France Hayhurst Trust
Municipality of Paxos and the Mayor
PAWS will continue to improve animal welfare on Paxos for as long as possible so please get in touch to support us.
What we do
Learn about the Greek Law
See below the Official Journal of the Greek Government which is the main legal framework in Greece for the protection of all animals, but namely companion animals.