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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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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