Our founder and Executive Director Rachel Herman sat down with Dr. Ann Hohenhaus on Ask The Vet to talk all things PAWS.

When asked about her favorite part of working at PAWS NY, Rachel responded “Honestly it’s hearing the longevity and relationships of some of our longstanding clients. For example one of our first clients we ever had – because of our support, that man and his dog got to spend another 10 years together. Thats what means the most to me.”

Check out the episode wherever you listen to podcasts! https://www.amcny.org/ask-the-vet-podcast/

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On January 18th, we were beyond excited to be featured on the new CBS show Extraordinary World with Jeff Corwin! Our episode explored our partnership with The Brady Hunter Foundation, specifically one of our recent Pet Pantry Food Distribution Events in Astoria, Queens.

The episode also shone a spotlight on three of our Housecall clients, ending with a spotlight on Eric and his black Lab Lex. Said Eric in the episode, “I gotta be there for my boy, you know.” Eric then high fives his trusty pup!

You can check out the episode on the streaming service Paramount+. Our episode is Season 1 Episode 3!

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What an honor! On October 10th, our Founder/Executive Director, Rachel Herman, was named a “Drew Gooder” on The Drew Barrymore Show.

When asked about how PAWS NY provides care for guardians who need support, Rachel said, “we provide physical pet care for individuals who are going through hard time. As we age we may face limited mobility and difficulty caring for your pets. That in no way means you don’t love your pet. In fact– that’s when you need the love of your pet the most.”

“If you have a pet, your pet is your family. And you shouldn’t have to give that pet up for any reason,” said Herman.

A huge thank you for the recognition, and thank you to Tidy Cats and Purina for your generous support! Also thank you to Drew Barrymore for spotlighting the amazing work we’re doing to preserve the human animal bond for so many New Yorkers! Check out the full 4-minute interview here!

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PAWS NY Barks & Blooms was recently featured in Forbes!

The article handpicked a few of Manhattan’s most glamorous galas from the past month and PAWS NY’s annual benefit was first on the list! It’s a real who’s who of NYC best-dressed humans (and dogs).

Thanks to our incredible community of supporters, we raised more than $70,000 to support the human-animal bond and help New Yorkers stay with their pets. Shout out to the creative team Blonde and Co as well as Annie Phaosawasdi of Hunt Auctioneers for helping us reach our fundraising goal.

Photos courtesy of Getty Images.

Check out the full article on Forbes.com! 

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Our Bronx volunteers and clients were surprised to see a nice treat last week when PAWS founder and Executive Director Rachel Herman dropped by for an interview on BronxNet Open TV!

Rachel mentioned how our Housecall Program connects hundreds of PAWS volunteers with New Yorkers who can’t properly care for their pets. She also mentioned ways to get involved with PAWS, including attending our Barks & Blooms Benefit on May 20.

“If you have a pet, your pet is your family. And you shouldn’t have to give that pet up for any reason,” said Herman.

Thank you @bronxnettv for having us on the show to talk about the amazing work we’re doing to preserve the human animal bond for so many New Yorkers! Check out the full 8-minute interview here!

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Nellie and Jango cuddle on a couch, photo by Beth Schwartz

Attention Upper West Siders: this one’s for you: the West Side Rag featured PAWS in an article!

Journalist Lisa Kava sat down with Victoria, Will, and Rachel from PAWS to talk about three specific clients and how PAWS is helping them care for their puppies. The article also goes into detail describing the lore from how founder Rachel Herman originally started the nonprofit.

“Rachel Herman, executive director of PAWS NY, founded the nonprofit in 2008, when she was a graduate student at New York University. PAWS, which stands for ‘Pets Are Wonderful Support,’ was inspired by a homeless couple and their dog that Herman saw each day on her way to class.

‘It broke my heart that someone would give up a warm bed at night to stay with their dog, because at the time shelters did not allow pets,’ Herman told West Side Rag. ‘I began to think about older adults and how as we age taking care of pets might become more difficult for some.’ While working in development at the ASPCA, Herman pursued her PAWS idea, eventually raising the funding to make it a full-time job in 2012.”

We’re so happy Rachel took that first major step in 2008 towards making an impact on New Yorkers and their adorable pets. The animals are happy too!

Check out the full article and learn about some of the amazing guardians and volunteers that help make PAWS such an impactful organization.

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PAWS NY was recently featured in a Bored Panda article! The article shines a spotlight on seven different clients of PAWS and their adorable animal companions. PAWS supports pet guardians by offering services like dog walking and litter maintenance to things like medication administration and fostering when a pet’s guardian is hospitalized.

“At PAWS NY, we believe that pets are family, and we work to help keep families together,” said Rachel Herman, the Founder and Executive Director of PAWS NY. “When you see our clients together with their pets, their strong bond is evident. That happiness that exists between the person and the pet—that’s what we’re about.”

Check out all the great photos taken by the amazing PAWS NY photographer David Andrako, of some of the people and pets who are part of the PAWS NY program, showcasing the strength and beauty of the human-animal bond.

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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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PAWS NY film THE BRIDGE inspired by true story about abandoned dog that pushes man suffering from depression back from the edge

NEW YORK  – January 12, 2023 – Grammy-winning musician Lou Reed’s haunting 1972 hit “Perfect Day” and an animated, gritty New York cityscape set the scene for a beautiful love story in THE BRIDGE, the bittersweet short film from nonprofit PAWS NY spotlighting the mental health benefits of pets. Written and produced by Klick Health and animated by Lightfarm Studios, the film debuted today on YouTube.

The four-minute film tells the story of a lonely New Yorker having suicidal thoughts and an abandoned dog experiencing parallel lives of rejection, until their paths repeatedly cross and a quiet bond begins to grow. THE BRIDGE uses a raw, edgy illustrative style with distorted proportions, and blue and gray undertones to express the main character’s inner turmoil and mental state until the film’s climax on the Brooklyn Bridge.

Inspired by a true story, THE BRIDGE explores how the characters’ connection ends up saving both their lives. Co-writer and Klick Health ‘Maker’ Bernardo Romero conceived of the animated short after losing his own dog and hearing the heartwarming tale from a stranger on the New York subway.

“I hope THE BRIDGE will serve as a catalyst for more life-changing encounters between pets and people, and will help PAWS NY in their fundraising efforts so they can continue ensuring these important, but often overlooked, life-saving bonds form,” Romero said.

“Our goal with this film is to get people talking about the positive impact pets can have on our mental health,” said PAWS NY Founder and Executive Director Rachel Herman. “Mental health issues are prevalent this time of year, due to the post-holiday blues and darker, colder days, but studies show having a pet can reduce stress, anxiety, depression, and loneliness all year long. Now more than ever, it’s important to keep these life-saving connections alive.”

Trigger Warning: This story contains themes of depression and suicide.

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About PAWS NY

The mission of Pets Are Wonderful Support (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. As a 501(c)3 organization, 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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Contact:

PAWS NY: Kimberly Green
(o): 212-203-4760, x304
(e): Kimberly.Green@pawsny.org

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PAWS NY is thrilled to present a workshop session at the annual National Conference of Best Friends Animal Society! Our Deputy Director of Programs and Strategy, Carrie Nydick Finch, will be presenting the session titled “Keeping Families Together: A Holistic Approach,” which will take place on Wednesday, June 23 at 4pm ET.

Carrie will outline how PAWS NY keeps families together and protects the Human-Animal Bond by providing comprehensive services focused on quality over quantity. We hope to provide more evidence that surrender prevention and owner retention services result in more pets kept in homes, rather than relinquished to the overburdened shelter system. 

PAWS NY Services

Some key aspects of the PAWS NY approach include:

• Focus on vulnerable pet guardians’ need for wrap-around services
• Ongoing support is vital
• Partnerships and linkages allow for more thorough service provision
• Addressing the mental and physical needs of both client and pet is necessary

The Human-Animal Bond

Carrie will also review the research that confirms the mental, emotional, and physiological benefits of the Human-Animal Bond, including:

• Increased socialization
• Decreased feelings of depression
• Decreased feelings of fear and anxiety, and promotion of calmness
• Faster recovery from stressful events
• Decreased feelings of loneliness
• Lower cortisol levels, lower blood pressure, and increased release of dopamine, serotonin, oxytocin
• Improved cardiovascular health
• Improved immunity
• Fewer doctor visits

(Siegel, 1990; Enders-Slegers, 2000; Allen, et al., 2002; Shiloh, et al., 2003;  Charnetski et al. (2004); Headey, et al., 2008; Nagasawa et al., 2008; Odendaal and Meintjes, 2003; Beetz et al., 2012; Levine, et al., 2013; McNicholas, 2014; Mubanga et al., 2017)

Finally, Carrie will present the challenges an organization like PAWS NY may face, as well as opportunities for growth in the future.

If you are interested in attending this workshop, or any of the other varied animal welfare workshops being presented, visit the website for the Best Friends National Conference.

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