Something good appears to be happening on Elm Street, Warren.

PAWS Along The River has hired Liz McElwain to be its new executive director – and McElwain is ready to make changes to the way the shelter operates.

Some of the changes are working smarter, not harder. McElwain wants to use social media more effectively in an attempt to help reunite lost pets with their owners as well as to broaden the organization’s reach in finding homes for adoptable pets. Creating space on the PAWS Along The River website for pet adoption applications can help speed up the adoption process and make the entire process easier on both the shelter and those who want to adopt pets.

Other changes are cosmetic – new logos, a new website and changes to the physical space to make it more welcoming to the public.

But perhaps the most important thing McElwain can do is work to build a stronger connection with the community. That’s harder work – but it’s likely to pay off, too. Programs like the “Seniors 4 Seniors” adoption campaign, allowing people over the age of 60 to adopt a pet six years or older with no fee, or a military adoption program that allows someone with a military ID are eligible to adopt a dog over six months or a cat over one year old can help more pets find new homes while building bridges, too. Other ideas include a spay and neuter clinic, opening the shelter to kids so they can read to cats and kittens and a foster program that can help prepare some pets for adoption by placing them in a foster home where they can receive training and acclimation to a new home.

These are all good ideas that we’re happy to see coming to PAWS Along The River. Good luck to McElwain and the PAWS board as they embark on this new chapter.