Paws & Claws Veterinary Hospital

06/24/2026

Many of you may recognize a familiar face around Paws and Claws - and we are thrilled to officially welcome Dr. Sara Hearn back to the team as our newest Associate Veterinarian!

Dr. Hearn’s journey with Paws and Claws began 8 years ago as a volunteer, then a kennel tech before moving into her role as a veterinary technician in 2020. She obtained a bachelor’s degree from Mount Holyoke College and recently graduated with her DVM degree from the University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine. She also obtained a graduate certificate in Shelter Medicine in addition to her veterinary degree. Through the shelter medicine program and working with various rescues, she has completed several hundred spay and neuter procedures prior to graduation. Even while attending veterinary school, she continued working with our team whenever possible, and now she is excited to now give back to the clinic that helped shape her career.

Dr. Hearn has special interests in critical care, surgery, and exotic animal/wildlife medicine, and she looks forward to providing quality care for just about any animal that can fit through our office door.

Outside of the clinic, her animal menagerie includes two rescued German Shepherds, a ball python, and a retired Warmblood mare. In her free time, she enjoys horseback riding, long walks with her dogs, spending time on the water, and has even recently picked up line dancing!

Please join us in welcoming Dr. Hearn into her new role - we are so excited for this next chapter!

06/19/2026

Meet our Pet of the Week, Violet!
That's right, our manager adopted a new dog!
Many of you may remember Donnie, the little black and white chihuahua, who used to sit in reception in a basket. When he passed a few months ago, his mom knew that she wanted to adopt another tiny chi in his memory. Just over three months ago, Violet appeared on the Leon County Humane Society's page and within a couple of hours our manager applied and was approved to adopt Violet! Violet came home a couple weeks later and has spent all this time settling in.
Miss Violet is only about two and a half years old, but between being born into a hoarding situation and a previous adoption that didn't work out, she has been through a lot in her short life. She is still dealing with health issues and behavior issues from the many changes she has dealt with, but she has come a long way!
Violet has a senior dog brother who she is obsessed with, as many beds and blankets as possible for the apartment she calls home, and many, many people in her life to spoil her rotten. Her parents especially love her for her alien looks, the way she throws herself into the grass to roll around at every opportunity, and how she tries to play but still has not quite figured out how it works.
Like Donnie did when he was here, this little girl gets to come to work with her mom every day and has spent her time socializing with the staff and their pets. We may not have known her long, but we are excited to be a part of her journey!
(And if you're in the office and want to meet her, new friends are always welcome!)

06/16/2026

Every year, the Leon County Humane Society publishes a calendar featuring local animals. The community votes animals in, and each vote is a $1 donation to the Humane Society. The top thirteen vote getters are recognized in the Humane Society's annual calendar.

Paws & Claws participates each year, either by supporting one of our own rescue animals or by supporting an animal adopted by one of our clients.

This year, we're supporting Obi-Wan Kenobi, who was rescued in 2018 by one of our long-time employees. Obi is now eleven, but in spite of his age, having been heartworm positive before his rescue and dealing with mast cell tumors for the past several years, is still living his absolute best life, full of boat rides, sunbathing, and cuddling his favorite people.

Please consider supporting the Leon County Humane Society through this great fundraiser. Consider entering your own pet or supporting another pet. If you are not entering your own pet, please consider supporting Obi. But whoever you support, the rescue animals win!

Show your support for Leon County Humane Society by voting for Obi in LCHS Calendar Contest Fundraiser

06/11/2026

♥️ ♥️ ♥️

🎉🥳👏🎊🍾

THERE IT IS - Midnight is adoption #2000!

We know we were just partying to celebrate 8 years, but now we have another huge milestone to share, so we’re bringing back our prize wheel ALL WEEKEND, with merch like pins, stickers, prints, and more to give away as a thank you to our supporters because this milestone is as much yours to celebrate as ours.

Every person who visits the cafe is helping us achieve our goal of finding cats homes. You’re enjoying the cuddles, the playtime, and the purrs, but you’re also helping these cats feel safe, loved, and able to be comfortable and seen by their future forever people. When you purchase admission, you’re helping us provide this space, keep it cozy and enriching for hundreds of cats, and facilitate these adoptions alongside our rescue partner. We’re grateful for you, and the cats are too!

We hope to see you this weekend!

06/03/2026

🐾 Pet of the Week: Marimba! 🐾

This week we’re featuring the lovely Marimba! Her owner adopted her from the Leon County Humane Society on May 2, 2025, and they recently celebrated one whole year together!

Marimba quickly made herself at home after adoption — although in the beginning, her favorite hiding place was underneath a recliner she also loved to scratch! These days, she’s much more confident and can usually be found following her dad around the apartment, curling up for lap naps, or gazing out the windows watching the world go by. 🐱☀️

She has plenty of personality, too! Marimba loves chasing her mouse-on-a-string toy, exploring outside with supervision, and loudly announcing when she wants attention… or when it’s time for breakfast. In fact, she’s known for trying to wake her owner up before the morning alarm goes off.

When it comes to treats, Marimba has excellent taste. Her favorites include Fancy Feast beef pâté, Temptations treats, Greenies Oven Roasted Chicken treats, and Churu treats. 😻

Thank you for sharing sweet Marimba with us! We love seeing rescue pets thrive in their forever homes.

05/31/2026

😆

05/23/2026

♥️ May we all have at least one of these chairs:)

This cat became part of the furniture… and honestly, he fits the role perfectly.

After years of scratching, peeling, and “custom redesigns,” the owner jokingly decided the worn-out designer chair should be sold with its real designer included — the cat responsible for every single claw mark.

And judging by the way he’s sitting there proudly like a showroom model, he has absolutely no regrets about his work. In fact, he looks more offended that anyone would question his artistic vision.

The scratched-up chair may have lost its original value, but it definitely gained personality. And let’s be honest — no expensive furniture stands a chance once a cat decides it belongs to them. 🐾😂

05/22/2026

Another great day today for the Paws & Claws family! Please join us in congratulating Dr. Sara Hearn, UF CVM 2026!

We are so proud of you!