Centre County PAWS is a nonprofit, 501(c)(3) charitable corporation. PAWS is member-supported. PAWS members elect members of the Board of Directors at an annual meeting usually held in May. Each director is elected for a three-year term. The Board of Directors elects its officers on an annual basis, usually at a Board meeting in June. The officers of PAWS are the President, Vice President, Treasurer, and Recording Secretary. PAWS currently has over 20 paid staff members and hundreds active volunteers.

Centre County PAWS is its own organization. We are separate from other animal shelters and rescues, including those that also have "PAWS" in their name. We are not part of an umbrella organization such as the ASPCA or the Humane Society of the United States. We do actively collaborate with other local shelters and rescues to promote animal welfare.