Welcome! I’m Kasey Brown, a retired middle school teacher and lifelong animal lover.
Animals have always been a big part of my life. My first pet was Prince Boy, a big white cat with beautiful blue eyes. Over the years, many animals have shared my home and my heart, including my rescued Chihuahuas.
As a teacher, I primarily taught middle school math, but I also created and taught an elective class called Animal Care & Welfare. Students learned about topics such as spay/neuter, pet overpopulation, Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR), responsible pet guardianship, and other animal welfare issues. I also brought in guest speakers so students could learn directly from people working in the field.
But one of my favorite parts of the class was watching students put what they learned into action.
From the Classroom to Paws Up Projects
In my Animal Care & Welfare class, students chose pet-related projects based on their interests and worked with classmates who cared about the same issues. They made blankets and toys for shelter animals, created adoption campaigns, organized donation drives and fundraisers, and found all kinds of creative ways to help.
I saw firsthand what kids could accomplish when they cared about something and were given the opportunity to do something about it.
That experience eventually inspired Paws Up Projects.
I wanted to make it easier for teachers and others to turn compassion for animals into action without having to start from scratch. Hands-on projects have learning built right into the experience, while giving young people the chance to work together, solve problems, build empathy, and see that what they do can make a real difference.
Today, Paws Up Projects provides free, ready-to-use projects and resources for teachers and students, Scouts and youth groups, families, homeschoolers, individuals, and anyone looking for a practical way to help local animal shelters and rescues.
Our Mission
Paws Up Projects makes it easier for people to help local animal shelters and rescues through free, ready-to-use projects and resources.
Our mission is to turn compassion for animals into action by giving people practical ways to make a difference while helping young people learn, build empathy, work together, and connect with their communities.
Animal shelters and rescues do incredible work every day, and there are so many ways we can help. Whether it’s making needed supplies, promoting adoptable animals, organizing a fundraiser or donation drive, or taking on another project, everyone can find a way to make a difference.