On September 6, we joined with many other nonprofit organizations, community groups, and on-campus clubs for the New York University Fall Service Fair. This gave us a chance to meet with hundreds of NYU students who are interested in giving back to the community, and we hope many of them will join us as volunteers in the coming weeks and months.

Later that week, on September 9, the PAWS NY team headed up to Harlem to participate in the first-ever Harlem Dog Fashion Show, hosted by Harlem Mothers & Fathers S.A.V.E. and the NYPD’s Patrol Borough Manhattan North. It was amazing to meet so many pups and see their fabulous outfits—what a day!

We continued our college tour with a visit to the Community Partners Fair at Pace University on September 21, where we had the perfect spot right under some funky lights. This was the first time in several years that this event was held in-person, so we were happy to make some IRL connections with Pace students.

On September 21, we also stopped by the recently-renovated Stavros Niarchos Foundation Library, where we set up a table in the lobby to spread the word about PAWS NY among library patrons.

During the month, Carrie Nydick Finch, our Deputy Director of Programs and Strategy, gave several presentations at partner organizations across New York City, including at the Rodney Kirk Center, a social services program in Manhattan with a focus on older adults. On September 20, she presented at the Project FIND Pet Expo alongside our partner Search and Care, connecting with dozens of older pet owners looking for resources.

And then last week during a break in the rain, we hung out at the NYC Office of Emergency Management’s Pet and Service Animal Preparedness Fair on September 28 in Union Square. We spoke with New Yorkers about PAWS NY programs and making emergency plans for their families that include pets!

In addition to all of the September festivities, PAWS NY also participated in the Macaulay Honors College Community Resources Fair on August 21, and we were out and about at The Baroness Bar in Long Island City for their Haute Dog Fashion Show on August 30.

Thanks 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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The results of an exciting new survey were released last month from researchers at the

Survey: Pet Care During Health Crises

More than half of survey respondents, 63%, reported difficulty figuring out pet care during their own hospitalization and/or that of a loved one. In addition, nearly a third of the respondents said that pet care needs impacted their decision, or the decision of someone they knew, about whether to stay in the hospital even when medically recommended. Additionally, 16% of respondents said that they know someone who has left the hospital against medical advice in order to care for their pets. These results are striking and highlight this incredibly challenging issue. The researchers even noted that, due to its small scale, the survey likely under-estimates the scope of the problem.

“We see a rising need for a formalized services to identify patients early in their course who need assistance with pet care, and a need to provide better resources, before it becomes a crisis and impacts their care or the welfare of their pets,” said Tiffany Braley, M.D., M.S., the senior author and principal investigator. Read more about the survey here.

How PAWS NY Tackles This Issue

Here at PAWS NY, we have long known that pet guardians make decisions about their health care based on whether or not they have access to care for their furry family members. We have personally heard over and over from guardians who either delay medical care or leave the hospital against medical advice, because their pets are home alone. Because our clients are socially isolated and under-resourced, they often do not have the support needed to arrange for pet care and freely seek medical care when necessary.

PetSmart Charities has also recognized this challenge and wants to help address the issue. The organization recently awarded funding to PAWS NY, Animal Haven, and Search and Care in order to assist the most vulnerable pet guardians at risk of losing their animals due to health crises and hospitalizations. The resulting project, “Preserving Families in Times of Crisis,” will support older adults and other vulnerable populations by helping them prepare for emergencies with their pets, and providing emergency and foster care for pets while their guardians recover and are ultimately reunited.  

We are excited that scholarly research is supporting the importance of tackling this issue on the ground level and hope our work continues to highlight the importance of emergency planning for pets.

If you or someone you know is in need of pet care while dealing with a health crisis, email PAWS NY at Referrals@pawsny.org. 

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Thank you to everyone who has continued to support PAWS NY during this unusual time!

PAWS NY’s Clients & Pets

PAWS NY has stayed in close contact with all 100 clients during this time, making sure they are still able to care for their pets and have all the food and supplies they need. We are providing 100% of all pet food and supply needs for our clients’ pets for the entirety of this situation. We do not want clients leaving their homes and increasing the risk of exposure to secure supplies for their pets.

Lastly, PAWS NY volunteers have continued to stay in touch with their clients via phone, text messages, or mailed letters. One supporter wrote and mailed letters to all of the PAWS clients, while other volunteers have sent small gifts. One package was a special NYC pizza delivery! Follow us on social media for more updates like these: Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram!

For clients who have been unable to care for their pets without PAWS NY’s ongoing in-home support or have had non-COVID-related health issues, we have also managed foster care situations for 11 pets during this time for a total of 443 days of foster care.

Additionally, the PAWS NY program team has coordinated emergency vet care for clients as needed during the pandemic. As the city starts to re-open, we are now coordinating wellness and vaccine appointments as well.

Our team communicates with volunteers each week to hear heartwarming stories of how they’ve been connecting with clients during this time.

Citywide COVID-19 Response

Responding to the needs of the city’s pets during the COVID-19 crisis has been a citywide collaboration. PAWS has played a role in the New York City Animal Planning Task Force during this time. This group set up the NYC COVID-19 Pet Hotline to provide pet-related services to New Yorkers affected by COVID-19. This initiative has been covered my several major media outlets, including The New York Times, ABC-7, Time Out NY, and Telemundo, among others.

Please note: As of September 22, 2020, the NYC COVID-19 Pet Hotline has had significant reach, impacting over 17,000 animals since it began on April 20, 2020. As time has progressed, the volume of need, specifically, COVID-related need, has declined. As a result, the NYC COVID-19 Pet Hotline will sunset as planned on September 30, 2020.

We’ve also helped distribute information about emergency preparedness, pets and COVID-19, and other citywide initiatives as needed.

Virtual Volunteer Orientations

PAWS NY is hopeful we will soon be able to get back out to visiting our clients in their homes and helping care for their pets. To that end, we introduced Virtual Volunteer Orientations to train more volunteers who can help our clients and pets soon! As of July 1, PAWS has hosted four Virtual Volunteer Orientations and trained 49 volunteers.

Ongoing Operations, Fundraising, and Events

PAWS NY continues to regularly communicate with our supporters and stakeholders through email communication and social media outreach. The team has also coordinated several online fundraising campaigns and events, including a major Online Spring Campaign in lieu of our annual in-person Spring Benefit; virtual fundraisers such as a Dance Class and Trivia Night; and give back partnerships with brands like gorjana and Chewy.

Do you have additional questions about our COVID-19 Update? Email us!

The post COVID-19 Update: July 2020 appeared first on Pets Are Wonderful Support (PAWS) NY.

UPDATE on 9/22/2020: The NYC COVID-19 Pet Hotline has had significant reach, impacting over 17,000 animals since it began on April 20, 2020. As time has progressed, the volume of need, specifically, COVID-related need, has declined. As a result, the NYC COVID-19 Pet Hotline will sunset as planned on September 30, 2020.

NEW YORK — The New York City Emergency Management Department and the Mayor’s Office of Animal Welfare today announced the launch of the NYC COVID-19 Pet Hotline. The Pet Hotline will serve as an information, planning, referral and service coordination hub for NYC residents who need support for their pets during the COVID-19 pandemic. Pet Hotline operators can be reached directly at 877-204-8821, from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily.

The Pet Hotline and supportive services are being provided by the City’s Animal Planning Task Force, which is coordinated by NYC Emergency Management. The Task Force is a collaboration between City agencies and nonprofits. These include the Humane Society of the United States, the ASPCA, Animal Haven, Animal Care Centers of NYC, Bideawee, American Red Cross, Mayor’s Alliance for NYC’s Animals, NYC VERT, New York State Animal Protection Federation, Best Friends Animal Society, and PAWS NY.

“Pets and service animals are a part of our family, and we want to alleviate any concern associated with having to take care of these family members during these trying times,” said NYC Emergency Management Commissioner Deanne Criswell. “We are thankful to our task force members who have stepped up to help New Yorkers who need this service.”

“This Administration has always understood that animals share our homes, our lives, and are sometimes our closest companions,” said Mayor’s Community Affairs Unit Commissioner Marco A. Carrión. “We must support and plan for all New Yorkers, including four-legged ones, during these times, and we are grateful to all of the animal welfare partners who have stepped up to create the Pet Hotline and provide lifesaving services to animals.”

“During this time of uncertainty and fear, we understand people need the comfort of their companion animals more than ever,” said Christine Kim, Senior Community Liaison for the Mayor’s Office of Animal Welfare. “In order to keep people and their animals together, we have ensured that animals are included in the safety net we have created for all New Yorkers. I thank all of our partners within NYC Emergency Management’s Animal Planning Task Force for stepping up during the COVID-19 crisis to support pets and the people who love them.”

The Pet Hotline will help mitigate people’s questions and concerns about keeping their pets during the COVID-19 crisis, as well as connect callers to pet relief resources such as subsidized emergency veterinary care and food and supply distribution services. For NYC residents with pets requiring a higher level of care, cases will be escalated for coordination of temporary placement or supplemental care of animals. NYC’s COVID-19 pet response plan is the first of its kind in the country.

“The COVID-19 crisis affects all New Yorkers, including pet owners seeking information and resources to keep their companion animals safe,” said Brian Shapiro, New York State director for the Humane Society of the United States. “This pet hotline offers valuable direction and assistance to those most in need. We’ve seen through other disasters that providing services for people and pets during such emergencies is necessary and enhances public safety. The Humane Society of the United States is proud to be a member of the NYC Animal Planning Task Force, which continues to meet the needs of animals during disaster.”

“Although critical animal care resources are now available for pet owners who need them—including  pet food, urgent medical services, and emergency boarding—knowing how and where to access these services during a crisis can be challenging. The NYC COVID-19 Pet Hotline will significantly help solve that problem,” said ASPCA President and CEO Matt Bershadker. “As a longstanding member of the New York City Animal Planning Task Force, we’re proud to be among the collaboration of agencies and organizations connecting vital supplies and services to the people and animals who need them most.”

“Working together with national and NYC based animal welfare organizations to help people and pets during this crisis is the best way we can ensure everyone gets the help they need,” said Risa Weinstock, Chief Executive Officer of Animal Care Centers of NYC. “We are grateful for the support of everyone on the Animal Planning Task Force and for the continued commitment the Administration has shown for our companion animals.”

“During this unprecedented time, Animal Haven is committed to helping dogs and cats and the community of pet owners throughout New York City,” said Tiffany Lacey, Executive Director of Animal Haven. “As part of the animal welfare community, we believe we are stronger together and we will all get through this together. The NYC COVID-19 Pet Hotline is a critical resource for those affected by this virus and those who need assistance and our support. We are proud to participate and do our part in this effort.”

“The pet hotline is a lifeline for New Yorkers seeking information and assistance with pet-related issues during this challenging time,” says Jane Hoffman, President of the Mayor’s Alliance for NYC’s Animals. “As a participant on NYC Emergency Management’s Animal Planning Task Force, we feel privileged to be a part of the City’s efforts to ease some of the burdens facing New York City’s pet owners. The pet hotline is a vital component of a multifaceted and collaboratively engineered response plan to assist pet owners under these unprecedented circumstances.”

“The COVID19 pandemic created new challenges for pet owners in New York City and across the state,” said Libby Post, Executive Director of the New York State Animal Protection Federation. “The Federation has arranged for over 140 placements of companion animals in shelters across the state if they are needed. NYC Animal Care and Control is a Federation member and shelters throughout NY stand at the ready to help.”

“The NYC Covid-19 Pet Hotline is an excellent resource for our community –  designed to share out pet related information and assistance during these difficult times,” said Elizabeth Jensen, Northeast Regional Director for Best Friends Animal Society. “But more than a hotline, it is a manifestation of New York City’s heart. New Yorkers understand that pets are family, and the NYC Covid-19 Pet Hotline will work to keep those families together. Best Friends Animal Society in New York is honored to be part of the NYC Emergency Management’s Animal Planning Task Force and for the opportunity to work in collaboration with our animal welfare peers in this essential work.”

“This is an extremely difficult time for everyone, and especially so for our city’s most vulnerable populations. The NYC COVID-19 Pet Hotline will serve as a critical resource for isolated pet parents who need additional support, including financial and physical assistance. PAWS NY is honored to be a part of this endeavor that will certainly have a positive impact on the lives of so many New Yorkers and their animal companions, hopefully keeping more families together,” said Rachel Herman, Founder and Executive Director of PAWS NY.

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