Carrie Nydick Finch and Rachel Herman

Carrie Nydick Finch, the Deputy Director of Programs and Strategy for PAWS NY, and Rachel Herman, Founder of PAWS, recently guested on the People, Pets, and Purpose podcast hosted by Diaz Dixon, the Maddie’s Advisor for External Affairs and Partnerships for the Human Animal Support Service Project. Carrie spoke about PAWS NY’s new Substance Use Recovery Program, which provides foster and emergency care for pets whose guardians who are seeking in-patient substance use treatment.

“When it comes to the substance use program, I have a huge love in my heart for people who are battling those issues,” said Dixon, as she interviewed Carrie and Rachel. ” So often, people won’t engage and go into a program, because they don’t have a safe place to keep their pets – so they won’t go into a treatment program or domestic violence shelter because of their pets. So that’s phenomenal. You’re doing that!”

Check out Carrie and Rachel’s full episode of the People, Pets, and Purpose podcast to learn more about our House Call program, our Substance Use Recovery Program, and why Carrie and Rachel love helping people and their pets through PAWS NY. Thanks to Diaz for having us on the show!

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“This is huge. This is a revelation,” said Tawny in the introduction to the episode. “I love pets and I currently have two. I’ve always had pets. So this strikes a personal chord as a person in recover and an animal lover.”

Later on, Lisa added, “I have also seen a ton of people over the years who, one of the biggest things that kept them from going inpatient when they needed to was, ‘I cannot leave my cat. I cannot leave my dog. I don’t have anyone to take care of my animal.’ That is why what you’re doing with the Substance Recovery program is great.”

Check out Carrie’s full episode of the Recovery Rocks podcast to learn more about pets and mental health, our Substance Use Recovery Program, and more. Thanks to Lisa and Tawny for having us on the show!

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“Having a pet means that someone needs you and you have a responsibility to show up for them,” Carrie said in the article. “This provides purpose, as well as schedule and structure to one’s life. In addition, being active naturally reduces stress.”

Among other topics, Carrie shared her “Five Ways To Maximize the Mental Health Benefits of Having a Pet” in the interview. Check them out:

1. Prepare: Make sure you are choosing the right pet and that you have plans in place for unforeseen events.

2. Be Present: Put aside time to spend with your pet where you are not distracted, and you can both enjoy each other’s company.

3. Pay Attention: Notice when you or your pet might need extra support and take action to visit with your own therapist or set up a veterinary appointment as needed.

4. Do New Things: Join a cat lovers group, or make a point to get to know the other folks walking dogs in your neighborhood. It will stretch you outside your comfort zone and gives you the added benefit of a larger community network.

5. Educate Yourself: Learning basic animal behavior will help you and your pet develop an even closer bond. You will be able to more fully understand how they communicate with you in many small ways all the time.

Click here to read the full interview with Carrie in Authority Magazine!

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A strong human-animal bond means that dogs and cats are well cared for. In fact, up to 85% of pet guardians consider their animal companions to be a member of the family. That translates to better care and increased spending on their health and well-being. In 2022, Americans spent a whopping $136.8 billion on their animal companions! They spent the money providing the best food, accommodations, and medical care.

Click here to read the full blog post on Animal Wellness!

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Rachel Herman speaks at AMC’s Vet Tech Conference in October 2023.

On Friday, October 13, our Founder and Executive Director Rachel Herman was the keynote speaker at Animal Medical Center’s first ever Vet Tech Conference. In front of a crowd of veterinary technicians from all over New York City, Rachel shared a video featuring PAWS NY client Ruth and spoke about the mission and the programs PAWS NY provides.

The following week, Carrie Nydick Finch, our Deputy Director of Programs and Strategy, spoke at the 2023 conference from The State Society on Aging of New York in Saratoga Springs, New York. The event, for professionals working in older adult services, was several days long and featured sessions related to health, caregiving, fighting discrimination, and aging in place, among other topics. Alongside Robin Strashun from our partner Search and Care, Carrie presented  a session called “Helping Older Adult Guardians and Their Pets Age in Place Together” on Monday, October 16.

Additionally on October 18, Adrianna Ruiz, PAWS NY Foster Administrator, gave a presentation at Mount Sinai West for social workers and mental health counselors who work at the institution’s outpatient treatment center. The focus of the presentation was on PAWS NY’s new Substance Use Recovery Program and sharing more information about eligibility requirements and how to refer individuals to the programs.

Panelists and moderator at the Animal Grantmakers Conference.

Rounding out our presentations in October, Rachel Herman took the stage again at the Animal Grantmakers Annual Conference in Philadelphia, where she was on a panel discussing Social Services for People and Their Pets. Moderated by Kate Atema, Director of Community Grants and Initiatives for PetSmart Charities, the panel also featured Katie Campbell, Director of Collaboration and Outreach at RedRover; Dr. Bryna Donnelly, Vice President of Pet Programs for Greater Good Charities; and Nathaniel Fields, Chief Executive Officer of Urban Resource Institute.

Last but not least, PAWS NY got into the spooky spirit at the 3^rd Annual Great Hill Dog-Tastic Parade and Costume Competition for Howl-o-Ween in Central Park. From Barbie to astronauts to dinosaurs to rainbows and Kinky Boots, the costume contest was awesome, and our own Adrianna Ruiz served as one of the judges.

The group, which meets regularly with their pups at Great Hill, also collected pet food to donate to the PAWS NY Pet Pantry and solicited donations during the event for our organization. Thank you for all your support!

Thanks again to everyone for inviting us to participate in these wonderful events! Have an event that you’d like PAWS NY to attend? Email Kimberly.Green@pawsny.org.

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Carrie Nydick Finch, the Deputy Director of Programs and Strategy at PAWS NY, contributed to an article about how pets can positively impact your health.

“What’s one of the strongest prescriptions for better health? According to decades of scientific research, it may be owning a pet. There is a wide range of proven health benefits,” she included in the piece. But it’s important to remember, “a relationship with an animal companion is a relationship: Take the time to develop it. Spend time with your companion every day. Take your dog for a walk; play games with your cat. This will build a strong bond and provide the best health for you and your friend.”

Read the full article in Bottom Line Health here.

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Thanks to PIX11 News for featuring PAWS NY! Watch the full interview below!

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“I honestly don’t know what we would do without Carrie!” says PAWS NY Executive Director Rachel Herman. “Over the last seven years, she has made an incredible impact on the lives of our clients and their pets. Her passion for our mission, her compassion for people and animals, and her work ethic are what make her an outstanding Program Director. Her contributions are instrumental, and we are lucky to call her a colleague and friend.”

Carrie currently manages the pet food deliveries to the PAWS NY clients, and she is our organization’s representative on the NYC Emergency Management Animal Planning Task Force, which coordinated the launch of the NYC COVID-19 Pet Hotline. Learn more about Carrie’s work, and what she’s doing while in quarantine, by reading her Staff Shoutout Q&A below!

1. What is a recent highlight or success story of your work at PAWS NY?

I consider it a highlight that recently I oversaw the deliveries of almost 1,500 pounds of pet food and 900 pounds of litter and wee-wee pads to our clients, in the hope that we can provide some relief during the COVID-19 outbreak.  

Overall, the most gratifying part of my job is helping to facilitate foster care for the pets of clients that face medical emergencies and need to enter the hospital. With PAWS providing foster care in these instances, clients will hopefully access medical care immediately when needed because they know they have someone reliable to care for their beloved family member. It is incredibly rewarding to reunite pets and their guardians after a hospitalization, knowing that they were able to stay together because of our services.

2. Tell us about your pets: past & present!

I grew up with the sweetest, cuddliest little dog named Caesar, who put up with me carrying him around and snuggling him constantly. As an adult, I fostered both dogs and cats, and then adopted my current pup Emmylou in 2012. Emmylou is queen of our household and her favorite activities are hiking, napping, and treats, treats, treats.

3. What is your favorite thing (or things) about living in NYC?

Riverside Park, Coney Island, the amazing social service agencies in the city, the diversity, the theater, the museums, the history, the ambition.

4. How are you spending your time in quarantine? Are you learning or trying something new?

I’m continuing to work to provide our clients with as much help as possible, plus I’m trying to hike as often as I can. I’m cooking a ton and petting Emmylou at every possible opportunity. I finally started a yoga practice during this time at home, and I am trying (again) to teach myself how to play guitar!

5. Anything else you want to share with the PAWS community?

I am incredibly inspired to help in any way I can to protect and promote the Human-Animal Bond, particularly as more and more research validates the mental and physical benefits of pet guardianship. I believe that trying to leave the world even the tiniest bit better than you found it is the most important philosophy to live by.

We’re sending a big THANK YOU to Carrie for all her hard work during this time, and we can’t wait to have Emmylou visit the PAWS office again soon. Stay tuned for another Staff Shoutout soon!

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Carrie Nydick Finch is PAWS NY’s Program Director and was also the first employee we hired in 2013. Carrie first learned about PAWS NY when she came across the open job posting on Idealist.

“I had been an animal lover and advocate since I was a child. While working as a Clinical Social Worker, I completed a certificate in Animal-Assisted Activities and began looking for a job that would marry my social work training with my passion for animal welfare. It seemed like the perfect fit.”

For several years, it was just Carrie and PAWS NY’s Founder & Executive Director, Rachel, sharing a small office while building partnerships that have been critical to our success, growing our client and volunteer base, and implementing the strategic programs and services that we provide for clients and pets to this day.

When asked how she feels to be celebrating PAWS NY’s 10th Anniversary, Carrie says “It’s exciting! I can’t believe I’ve been with PAWS for 6 1/2 years at this point, and it’s extraordinary to see how far we’ve come.”

We are so incredibly lucky to have Carrie on our team and would not be where we are without her hard work and dedication. Thank you, Carrie!

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