Meet The Animals
Paws & Claws Animal Welfare Society is guided by a dedicated volunteer Board of Directors committed to the wellbeing of animals and the growth of our mission. If you’d like to request a copy of the meeting minutes or add a topic to the upcoming agenda, please contact our team directly via USA Number: 574-485-6473 or Local Number: 01019505850 or through instagram (pawsandclawsanimalwelfare).
Yehonathan Gill
I’m a dedicated animal advocate, rescuer, and veterinary professional with over 20 years of hands-on experience. My passion lies in the care and rehabilitation of injured cats and dogs, and I’m especially committed to Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) efforts that help manage and protect community cat populations. Through years of volunteer work and rescue missions in the US and abroad, I’ve made it my mission to give every animal a second chance at a better life.
Kristin Courtney
I’ve been involved in foreign rescue for many years. Growing up in a third-world country gave me a unique opportunity to witness the lack of animal welfare and support in countries outside of the U.S.
I learned at an early age how important it was to care for colonies, and that TNR (Trap-Neuter-Return) was absolutely critical to ending the cycle of suffering and abuse.
I have many years of hands-on rescue and rehabilitation experience—fostering animals from abroad, organizing and sending medical supplies where they are unavailable, setting up TNR clinics, and finding forever homes for animals. Currently, I have four cats of my own from Egypt, two with special needs.
I founded Paws and Claws Animal Welfare Society, Inc. in 2021 to raise awareness and to give suffering animals a chance at a better life.
Nancy Essam
My journey in animal rescue began 14 years ago, when I started feeding stray animals on the streets of Egypt. As I spent more time with them, I came across many injured and suffering animals, and I felt a strong responsibility to help. I began treating their wounds and initiated TNR (trap-neuter-return) programs for stray cats and dogs to improve their lives and control the stray population humanely.
In 2021, thanks to the incredible support of my American friends, I was able to establish a nonprofit organization and open a dedicated shelter for injured and abused Egyptian cats and dogs. Today, manage shelter operations, animal rehabilitation, and ongoing TNR projects.
I remain deeply committed to rescuing and protecting animals every single day, giving each one a second chance at a happy, healthy life. My mission is to help every voiceless soul I meet find hope and love again.
Cindy Rodgers
I have supported animals for many years— as a member of the Board of Directors for a local SPCA; I cofounded ‘For the Animals’ to raise funds for local animal shelters; volunteered with an organization providing pet food/supplies for low income families so they could keep their pets, and organized annual fundraising events for various shelter groups.
In 2016 I adopted a Baladi dog from Egypt, thus beginning my commitment to supporting international shelters as well. Currently, I have five international dogs as well as five cats, including two from Egypt.
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