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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Alexis (Chung Ah)

Alexis has fostered two dogs who were part of our Preserving Families in Times of Crisis program, which is funded by PetSmart Charities: Tiny and Noelle. “I remember waking up every morning to see Noelle staring at me because she wanted to go out, and it makes me smile,” Alexis says. “She was really like my Christmas gift last winter!”

Read her full Q&A below to learn more about her time with Tiny and Noelle!

Why are you passionate about PAWS and our mission of helping people by helping pets? 

I grew up with a lot of pets and have a nearly 19-year-old(!) mini Yorkie named Louie back home. My dad has even started a pet food business back home in South Korea. My parents are extremely dedicated to providing good care to our pets and have instilled those values in me. I know what an emotional and mental boost pets can provide, so the idea of taking care of animals (and helping others through that same act) appealed to me.

What do you do as a PAWS NY volunteer? Which clients & pets do you help? What do you do with the pets during your shift? 

I have helped and fostered two dogs so far: Tiny and Noelle. Tiny, I had for about a week. Noelle, over two months. I did what I expect volunteers typically do with their foster pets! I took care of Noelle as if she were my own pet: taking her out on walks in Bryant Park (I think I know every corner of Bryant Park by now), playing with her, bathing her, etc. 

Noelle walking in Bryant Park

What is your favorite part about volunteering? Do you have any favorite memories?

I have so many fond memories from my time with Tiny and Noelle that it’s hard to choose a specific one. There are some sad memories from when I had to say goodbye to them, and especially with Tiny because he wasn’t going back to his owner and he was such an anxious dog. But I also look back fondly at the time when Tiny first sat on my lap (and pooped on me!) and my numerous walks with Noelle in the freezing winter weather. I remember waking up every morning to see Noelle staring at me because she wanted to go out, and it makes me smile. She was really like my Christmas gift last winter! 

What do you do for work? What brought you / keeps you in NYC?

I’m a corporate lawyer and moved to New York in January 2020. After moving to the US for college I hadn’t been around a lot of animals and really missed the interaction. Louie’s mom, Poly, passed away when I was in law school and I had been looking to volunteer with organizations like PAWS ever since. I’m grateful that I learned of PAWS NY and that I’ve had such great foster experiences. 

What do you like to do in your spare time (besides volunteer with PAWS NY)?

Pilates, golf, watching NBA games, independent movie theaters, cooking, shopping…

Thanks so much to Alexis for her support and dedication! If you’d like to volunteer for PAWS NY, sign up for an orientation now.

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“Lessening someone else’s stress by volunteering is a small gesture that hopefully goes a long way,” Connie says. Read her full Q&A below to learn more about the adventures she’s had with Sonny and what she likes to do in her free time!

Connie and Sonny

How did you hear about PAWS NY? 

A colleague posted about fostering for PAWS NY, so I applied, as I figured that I should get involved in some kind of community activity. (The pandemic brought out my inner homebody, maybe a little too much!)

Why are you passionate about PAWS and our mission of helping people by helping pets? 

Though I am new to PAWS, I support their mission as I’d imagine that worrying about your pet’s well-being while juggling your own needs can be overwhelming. Lessening someone else’s stress by volunteering is a small gesture that hopefully goes a long way.

Do you have pets of your own? Or have you in the past? Tell us about them!

No pets right now—I had a dog growing up, and I took care of a lot of his needs in the last few years of his life, as my parents took care of the hard stuff when I was younger (he lived until age 15!). Seeing my dog enjoy his golden years, despite his health issues, motivated me to help out another senior dog in the future.

What do you do as a PAWS NY volunteer? Which clients & pets do you help?  

As a volunteer, I have been long-term fostering an 11-year-old special needs dog named Sonny. I haven’t had the chance to meet Sonny’s guardian due to their extenuating circumstances, though I’m sure they have some great stories to tell about him. I’ve also kept in contact with his previous foster, who has been really helpful in giving me tips for Sonny’s care.

Sonny out for a walk

What is your favorite part about volunteering? Do you have any favorite memories?

My favorite part about volunteering is seeing Sonny slowly grow more confident and curious, as he is very anxious and shakes whenever he goes somewhere new. To see him go from shaking to curling up and relaxing is a rewarding process that requires patience. 

Initially, I was nervous about how I’d manage this, along with his mobility issues and his stroller, as I tend to be a bit of a worrier myself. However, seeing Sonny handle car drives, the vet, the groomer, new friends, and new places (given what he has gone through recently) reminds me of how resilient animals can be. I am also grateful for the patience and care that my friends, their pets, and my family have shown Sonny. My other favorite part is his gait—we call it his ‘trot’. That, and how he stomps his feet when he gets excited for walks or treats.

Where are you from? Where in the city do you live now?

From NJ and now live in Brooklyn.

Connie with Sonny and another pup

What do you do for work? What brought you / keeps you in NYC?

I am an editor working in healthcare/pharmaceuticals. Work brought me to NYC, and I stay for the friends, family, and well, work!

What do you like to do in your spare time (besides volunteer with PAWS NY)?

Snowboarding, hanging out in the park, watching documentaries, writing to-do lists.

Share 1-3 fun facts about yourself!

I’ve kept some form of a journal, written or digital, since elementary school. It’s sort of surreal to read your random thoughts from decades ago!

Thanks so much to Connie for her support and dedication! If you’d like to volunteer for PAWS NY, sign up for an orientation now.

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Let’s kick things off with Scott, a brand-new volunteer who joined PAWS NY about four months ago. Right away he started working as a Housecall volunteer and signed up to foster Tappy and Angelina for a few weeks while their guardian was hospitalized. 

Scott, who has spent much of his life volunteering and working with nonprofits, says, “There is so much in the world I cannot affect, but this is one way I can help.” Learn more about Scott, his work in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and his favorite memories with Tappy and Angelina in the Q&A below!

Scott with Tappy and Angelina

How did you hear about PAWS NY? 

After I retired, I did some investigating to find a nonprofit to support. I had worked with an organization with the same name in Los Angeles during the worst of the AIDS crisis. Back then, they were focussed (at least in LA) with AIDS patients that had pets but needed help. I found PAWS NY, which does a similar thing with people that need support for their animals in NYC. Animals are one of the best means of support for people.

Why are you passionate about PAWS and our mission of helping people by helping pets? 

I have seen first-hand the way pets improve people’s lives. I think it is one way that I can help others that is immediate and fulfilling. I also have to thank my husband, as he did not sign up, but he was a huge part of my being able to foster PAWS pets for so long.

Do you have pets of your own? Or have you in the past? Tell us about them!

I have had terriers for the past 30 years. Our most recent boy, Trevor, died in April 2020 during the beginning of the COVID lockdown. It was a hard time without him.

What do you do as a PAWS NY volunteer? Which clients & pets do you help? What do you do with the pets during your shift? 

We fostered Tappy and Angelina for a little over a month. I also walk a different little dog in Hell’s Kitchen twice a week for a woman with mobility issues.

Scott’s Husband with Tappy and Angelina

What is your favorite part about volunteering? Do you have any favorite memories?

I like volunteering because of the way it helps others. There is so much in the world I cannot affect, but this is one way I can help. My favorite unexpected memory from our time with Tappy and Angelina is hearing them both snore! My dogs used to dream, but never snored.

Where are you from? Where in the city do you live now?

I’m from Los Angeles, born and raised. I lived there for most of my life, but I have been in New York now for 16 years.

What do you do for work? What brought you / keeps you in NYC?

My husband got a transfer here (for a two-year gig, 16 years ago!). I transferred with Citibank until I semi-retired, but I still teach Project Management every now and then. I love everything about New York, except the weather. I’m a real LA person: I do not like seasons.

What do you like to do in your spare time (besides volunteer with PAWS NY)?

I reviewed off-Broadway shows for years up until COVID (over 200). I worked for a site in England. I also write, but just for fun.

Share 1-3 fun facts about yourself!

1. I worked with a U.S. nonprofit in Bosnia Herzegovina for many years. It is called Project1948.ngo and we worked in Sarajevo to help young adults with the aftermath of war in Bosnia and Herzegovina.  
2. I presented at the United Nations for Bosnia, in support of the UN’s goals for women. Note: Bosnia is not represented deeply at the UN and so Project 1948 often attended the United Nations in representation for Bosnia in the ECOSOC meetings (Economic and Social Council).
3. I won $22,100 on Jeopardy in 2013!

Thanks so much to Scott (and his husband) for their support and dedication! If you’d like to volunteer for PAWS NY, sign up for an orientation now.

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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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