The Cyprus Association for the Protection and Care of Animals (CAPCA) is a charitable organisation based in the Paphos Area of Cyprus, set up for the care and protection of abandoned, neglected and abused dogs. PAWS is the name of the dog shelter maintained by CAPCA.

The PAWS Shelter is situated in Acheleia, near to Paphos airport and cares for around 150 dogs. It is run by two Kennel Consultants, one Maintenance Consultant and about 50 volunteer workers, all of whom maintain the Shelter and care for the dogs.

The shelter was originally located in Yeroskipou and was started off by some caring individuals in the mid 1980’s who took pity on the plight of some dogs. The number of dogs grew and thankfully so did the number of caring people. By 1996 the formal CAPCA charity emerged and was registered as such in Nicosia. In 2002, the owner of the land we leased for the shelter in Yeroskipou gave notice that they wanted their land back for development. So the hunt for a new location and premises began. After a lot of perseverance to cut through bureaucracy, sheer hard work, and challengingly serious fund-raising, our new shelter was built in Acheleia. The dogs moved there in December 2007.