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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Launched during National Recovery Month, this new program will provide foster and emergency care for pets as their guardians seek inpatient treatment for substance use.

NEW YORK, NY, September 13, 2023 – Pets Are Wonderful Support (PAWS) NY expanded its services with the launch of a new Substance Use Recovery Program, with the mission of caring for your pet while you care for yourself. This new program, which will provide foster and emergency care for pets as their guardians seek inpatient treatment for substance use, is specific to low-income individuals who are unable to establish care for their pets in their absence. The organization has a network of committed and vetted volunteers who are eager to open their homes for temporary foster care.

According to a July 2023 survey from health policy group KFF, 66% of U.S. adults reported that they have, or a family member has, dealt with substance use disorder. Of those, only 46% say the affected individuals ever received treatment for their substance use disorder. Additionally, data shows that returning home to a beloved pet may lead to more successful outcomes for people post-treatment. Individuals managing a substance use disorder often face concurrent disturbances including but not limited to high stress levels, elevated anxiety, and an increase in depression. Human-animal interaction (HAI) contributes to a reduction in these symptoms, leading to a higher likelihood of a positive recovery.

“For individuals seeking inpatient treatment for a substance use disorder, not having a reliable and safe option to care for their pets can present a significant barrier,” said Carrie Nydick Finch, LCSW, the Deputy Director of Programs and Strategy for PAWS NY. “No one should be faced with the choice of giving up their family member or taking care of their health. PAWS NY wants to eliminate this barrier, so individuals are more inclined to seek out, enter, and complete a treatment program.”

Dr. Emily Weiss, the inaugural funder of the PAWS NY Substance Use Recovery Program, saw the positive impact of human-animal interaction first-hand. Dr. Weiss came to PAWS NY to help start this program in memory of her sister, Susan Sydney Weiss, who struggled with substance use and ultimately lost her battle. Through it all, Susan’s beloved dogs Nugget and Chance were by her side, providing comfort and hope.

“My sister Susan was a brilliant, funny, and passionate woman, who found peace and purpose in both helping others dealing with addiction and caring for her dogs,” said Dr. Weiss. “Nugget and Chance brought her so much peace and comfort throughout her journey. While my sister’s illness limited our opportunities to work together on projects such as this during her lifetime, this program provides an opportunity to do so in her memory. It is a way to honor her and ensure that others don’t lose their battle—or their pets.”

The program is both welcomed and needed in the community, a fact that PAWS NY has seen firsthand throughs its initial outreach to treatment centers and community groups. “PAWS NY Substance Use Recovery Program will be a huge asset to the community and helping people to get the recovery services they need while their pets are cared for,” said a staff member at Elev8 Center in New York City. “This program will remove barriers and PAWS NY will be a great partner.”

Dr. Weiss has generously provided seed funding for PAWS NY’s Substance Use Recovery Program, along with a commitment of ongoing support, but in order to ensure the growth of the program, PAWS NY welcomes additional donor contributions. Donations can be made via give.pawsny.org.

“We are deeply honored that Dr. Weiss has entrusted PAWS NY to carry out this important work in memory of her sister, Susan, and allow us to help even more New Yorkers,” said Rachel Herman, the Founder and Executive Director of PAWS NY. “The bond a person shares with their pet and the unconditional love they receive can be a source of strength and inspiration, and this is especially true for those seeking treatment for substance use. By providing a loving and safe environment for pets, we hope to achieve better outcomes for both the people and animals we support.”

If you or someone you know is in need of pet care support while seeking treatment for substance use, please reach out to PAWS NY at referrals@pawsny.org or 212-203-4760, ext. 4307.

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About PAWS NY

The mission of PAWS NY is to help New York City’s most vulnerable residents remain with their pets by delivering critical programs and services through a community of partners and volunteers. Our programs help keep pets in their homes while protecting and promoting the human-animal bond that is so physically and psychologically valuable to our clients.  Thus, our motto: helping people by helping pets. To learn more, visit www.pawsny.org.

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PAWS NY is in need of a foster home for Sonny, whose guardian is hospitalized. 

Tiny

We need a foster for Tiny, an 11-pound, housebroken, older mini pinscher mix. Tiny is very friendly, and has weak back legs likely due to age. He is going to the vet right now to get checked out! Tiny can be timid with other dogs, so he would do best with another calm, older, small dog or cat, or by himself.

Precious

Precious is a 40-pound, housebroken, older pittie gal who is gentle and sweet. Currently, the ASPCA is boarding Precious, but she just saw a vet and is up to date on all her vaccinations, so we’d like to find her a foster home soon. Precious doesn’t mind other pets, but prefers to be alone, so we’d like her to be the only pet in the home so she is most comfortable.

 

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The Foster and Emergency Care Program ensures that clients have access to pet care so they do not deny their own need for hospitalization or otherwise put their health at risk. During the COVID-19 pandemic, PAWS NY expanded this program to provide additional support to clients who are unable to care for their pets without services like PAWS visiting their homes on a regular basis.

During our most recent fiscal year, PAWS NY coordinated 28 foster care situations that were unrelated to the COVID-19 pandemic and 11 specifically during the stay-at-home orders, for a total of 1,842 days of foster care. Thanks to ongoing support from the Marta Heflin Foundation, PAWS NY is able to provide food and supplies to each foster family, and coordinate veterinary care as needed.

We are grateful that the Marta Heflin Foundation understands the importance of this program. Thank you!

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LUCY:

? 12-year-old Russian White cat
? Very sweet, enjoys a good pet on the head and occasional laser pointer or playing with a feather toy
? Most of the time you can find her cuddling/snoozing
? Needs to be the only pet in the household

We aren’t certain of the client’s care plan at this time, so a foster with a flexible schedule for the next several weeks would be ideal. Again, email Liz.Raganella@pawsny.org if you are interested in opening your home to this sweet cat!

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Forget Saturday morning cartoons! On Saturday, August 29, tune in to NBC’s Weekend TODAY around 7:50am to hear an update from PAWS NY! (Please note: this is a new date. The segment was originally scheduled to air on August 15, but has been pushed back by two weeks.)

Founder & Executive Director Rachel Herman speaks with correspondent Anne Thompson about PAWS NY’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Plus, we’ll hear from Lorraine, who has been a part of our program since 2013, along with her pup Frenchie and Frenchie’s foster mom, Anne!

The show runs from 7-8am on NBC (channel 4 in NYC) and barring any breaking news, the PAWS NY segment should air around 7:50am. Tune in on Saturday, August 29, to see PAWS NY on Weekend TODAY!

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July 29, 2020— New York, NY – Pets Are Wonderful Support (PAWS) NY has received a $20,000 grant from PetSmart Charities® to help keep more pets in loving homes and out of shelters in New York City. PAWS NY is the only nonprofit organization in New York City that is dedicated exclusively to providing services to help vulnerable New Yorkers and their pets remain together, and is the only organization providing foster care for hospital patients.

As the face of family changes over the years, what remains constant is the role pets play in our lives. Many people consider pets family members and it can be challenging to find resources when facing life changes and issues such as illness or lack of pet-friendly housing. Pet parents in these and other at-risk situations often determine they have no options beyond surrendering their beloved pet to a local shelter.

With this grant, PAWS NY will help preserve the bond between pets and their people by providing services to keep them together through its Foster & Emergency Care program. When individuals need to be hospitalized or are otherwise unable to care for their pets, PAWS NY will manage foster care services for the pets so the people can get the healthcare and recovery they need. Through this grant, PAWS NY hopes to support more than 35 pets with this program.

“Often times, individuals put off healthcare services, surgeries, or procedures, and don’t want to spent time at a rehabilitation facility because they are worried about who will care for their pet at home,” said PAWS NY Founder and Executive Director Rachel Herman. “Thanks to the support of PetSmart Charities, PAWS NY will be able to provide foster care for dozens of pets in these situations, allowing the individual to get the healthcare they need and helping to keep pets and their people together.”

“For many people, pets are considered beloved family members and a pet can reduce feelings of stress and lift our moods, particularly when facing life challenges,” said Kelly Balthazor, regional relationship manager at PetSmart Charities. “We’re proud to partner with PAWS NY to support pet families in New York City, so pet parents never have to choose between their beloved pets and their own wellbeing – especially through the uncertainty of this pandemic.”

Since 1994, through its partnership with nearly 4,000 humane societies, SPCAs and pet rescues across North America, PetSmart Charities has helped more than 9.3 million pets to find loving homes via its in-store adoption program in over 1,600 PetSmart® stores. The leading funder of animal welfare has also donated nearly $430 million to improve access to veterinary care, to positively impact communities, to connect people and pets and to help preserve families through initiatives like this with PAWS NY.

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About Pets Are Wonderful Support (PAWS) NY  

The mission of PAWS NY is to help New York City’s most vulnerable residents remain with their pets by delivering critical programs and services through a community of partners and volunteers. Our programs help keep pets in their homes while protecting and promoting the human-animal bond that is so physically and psychologically valuable to our clients.  Thus, our motto: helping people by helping pets. To learn more, visit www.pawsny.org.

Follow PAWS NY on Instagram: @PAWSNY
Follow PAWS NY on Twitter: @PAWSNY
Find PAWS NY on Facebook: Facebook.com/PAWSNY
See PAWS NY on YouTube: YouTube.com/PAWSNYvideo

About PetSmart Charities®

PetSmart Charities, Inc. is committed to finding lifelong, loving homes for all pets by supporting programs and thought leadership that bring people and pets together. Through its in-store adoption program in all PetSmart® stores across the U.S. and Puerto Rico, PetSmart Charities helps to find forever homes and families for more than 600,000 shelter pets each year. 

Each year, millions of generous PetSmart shoppers help pets in need by donating to PetSmart Charities using the PIN pads at checkout registers inside PetSmart stores. In turn, PetSmart Charities efficiently uses more than 90 cents of every dollar donated to fulfill its role as the leading funder of animal welfare in North America, granting almost $430 million since its inception in 1994. Independent from PetSmart Inc., PetSmart Charities is a 501(c)(3) organization that has received the Four-Star Rating from Charity Navigator, a third-party organization that reports on the effectiveness, accountability and transparency of nonprofits, for the past 17 years in a row – placing it among the top one percent of charities rated by this organization. To learn more visit www.petsmartcharities.org.

Follow PetSmart Charities on Instagram: @PetSmartCharities
Follow PetSmart Charities on Twitter: @PetSmartChariTs
Find PetSmart Charities on Facebook: Facebook.com/PetSmartCharities
See PetSmart Charities on YouTube: YouTube.com/PetSmartCharitiesInc

Media Contact:

Kimberly Green                                                          24-Hour PetSmart Charities
Community Outreach Manager, PAWS NY             Media Line:  623-587-2177
212-203-4760, ext. 304
Kimberly.Green@pawsny.org

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