The program provides Foster and Emergency Care services to New Yorkers who are hospitalized and don’t have anyone to help care for their pets. Additionally, the program will support older adults and other vulnerable populations by helping them prepare for emergencies with their pets.

Earlier this year, All for Animals TV produced a segment all about the Preserving Families in Times of Crisis Program, discussing what happens in the event of an emergency, as well as the emergency pre-planning that is so important.

The post PAWS NY on All for Animals TV appeared first on Pets Are Wonderful Support (PAWS) NY.

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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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. 

The post The Importance of Pet Care During Health Crises appeared first on Pets Are Wonderful Support (PAWS) NY.

September 28, 2021—New York, NY—PetSmart Charities has awarded a three-year, $400,000 grant to three New York City-based organizations as part of their Preserving Families Initiative. The grant will support a new partnership between Pets Are Wonderful Support (PAWS) NY, Animal Haven, and Search and Care. The funding promises to impact the most vulnerable pet guardians at risk of losing their animals due to hospitalizations and other crises. 

While most people see their pets as integral family members, few services exist to help pet guardians facing extraordinary crises. As a result, these individuals often have no option but to surrender their beloved animals to local shelters. With this grant, these three organizations will launch and implement the “Preserving Families in Times of Crisis” project, an innovative collaboration that aims to preserve the bond between pets and their people by offering emergency support, as well as engaging healthcare institutions and community-based programs to join them in this work.

“Pets have a profound impact on a family — and for the elderly, can often be their only source of companionship,” said Aimee Gilbreath, president at PetSmart Charities. “New York City is home to 1.7 million older adults, and we estimate about 170,000 of them have pets and need some support. A warm greeting from a beloved pet after a hospital stay can build emotional well-being — and stimulate the healing process. The innovative collaboration among these stellar organizations is exactly the kind of work we’re proud to support.”

PAWS NY, Animal Haven, and Search and Care each have extensive experience combining animal welfare and human welfare. The organizations champion the value of human service agencies proactively engaging clients in emergency planning for the entire family, including pets. The new project’s outreach to a network of New York City agencies will highlight not just the benefit of asking about pets and documenting them, but the cost saving that can also occur by helping pet guardians plan for these emergencies.

Overall, 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.

“Thank you to PetSmart Charities for supporting this innovative collaboration between PAWS NY, Animal Haven, and Search and Care,” said Rachel Herman, the Founder and Executive Director of PAWS NY. “Through the dual lens of human services and animal welfare, we will develop and implement a first-of-its-kind program that aims to preserve families in times of crisis. Together, we will do everything we can to maintain the beneficial relationships shared between New Yorkers and their animal companions. We are excited for this amazing opportunity!”

“We are excited to be part of this partnership because we get calls all the time from social workers looking for help for their clients’ animals,” said Tiffany Lacey, Animal Haven’s Executive Director. “This three-year grant is a true opportunity from PetSmart Charities to develop solutions that will lift barriers experienced by the most vulnerable and help pets and their guardians before a crisis like an unexpected hospitalization. While our goal here is pet retention, we also hope that the services we offer will allow these pets and their people not just to remain together but to thrive.”

“Search and Care helps older people and their pets age in place together, and our collaboration with these two New York City organizations is both exciting and challenging,” said Robin Strashun, Outreach, PET and Medical Escort Coordinator. “Together we are encouraging social service, homecare, and healthcare organizations to incorporate vital pet-related information during intakes so that both owners and companion animals have every opportunity to remain together. New Yorkers are devoted to their pets and, with the help of PetSmart Charities, we are united in raising awareness about the importance of advance planning for companion animals as they are an integral part of the family.”

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About Pets Are Wonderful Support (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. 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.

About Animal Haven

Animal Haven is a nonprofit organization that finds homes for abandoned cats and dogs throughout the Tri-State area and provides behavior intervention when needed to improve chances of adoption.  Founded in 1967, the organization runs an animal shelter in Manhattan and provides programs, including the Community Engagement Program, that provides support and services to pets and their people in crisis. To learn more, visit www.animalhaven.org.

About Search and Care

Founded in 1972 as a church outreach program, Search and Care’s mission is to seek out vulnerable older New Yorkers who need help managing life’s daily activities or accessing essential services. Having served over 20,000 clients, community stakeholders continue to refer older adults in need (age 60+) to the agency for in-home, fee-free Care Management and complementary services such as bill paying (“Money Matters”), telephonic/virtual mental health support (“Talkin’ It Out”), medical escorting, PET (Pets + Elders Together), and a groups component that fosters virtual communities. Staff members, and a multigenerational volunteer team, try to meet the varied needs of a multicultural and diverse client base regardless of race, gender, religion, creed, sexual orientation, or economic capabilities.  To learn more visit www.searchandcare.org.

About PetSmart Charities®

PetSmart Charities, Inc. is committed to making the world a better place for pets and all who love them. Through its in-store adoption program in all PetSmart® stores across the U.S. and Puerto Rico, PetSmart Charities helps nearly 600,000 pets connect with loving families each year. PetSmart Charities also provides grant funding to support organizations that advocate and care for the well-being of all pets and their families. Our grants and efforts connect pets with loving homes through adoption, improve access to affordable veterinary care and support families in times of crisis with access to food, shelter and emergency relief. Each year, millions of generous supporters help pets in need by donating to PetSmart Charities directly at PetSmartCharities.org, while shopping at PetSmart.com, and by 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 more than $475 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 for the past 17 years in a row – placing it among the top one percent of rated charities. 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:

PAWS NY: Kimberly Green
212-203-4760 ext. 304
Kimberly.Green@pawsny.org                       

Animal Haven: Shannon Kirkman
212-274-8511
ShannonK@animalhaven.org

Search and Care: Robin Strashun
212-289-5300 ext. 203
strashun@searchandcare.org

24-Hour PetSmart Charities Media Line:  623-587-2177

The post PAWS NY, Animal Haven, and Search and Care Receive Three-Year $400,000 Grant from PetSmart Charities® to Help Keep Pets and People Together appeared first on Pets Are Wonderful Support (PAWS) NY.