Berkis has been a New Yorker and an animal lover her whole life. She currently lives in Washington Heights (shout out the Heights!) and she works as a caregiver. In her free time she loves helping out with sweet little fur-babies and catching up on current events.

Hi Berkis! Can you start by telling us how long you’ve volunteered with PAWS NY?

I’ve been volunteering with PAWS for about 8 months now.

What made you originally want to volunteer with our organization?

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Khadeja signed up to become a PAWS NY volunteer in May 2022, after reading about PAWS NY in an article about loneliness during the pandemic. She loves animals, but can’t have any in her apartment, and she has been volunteering with the organization since that time.

“I’ve always loved caring for animals, and I knew PAWS NY would be a great place to volunteer, where I could contribute to the community and their furry friends,” Khadeja said. “There are many resources to assist the elderly, but there aren’t many that will tend to their pets also. Pets are great companions, and it is important that they are cared for just the same.”

As a volunteer, Khadeja helps care for two cats named Barnum and Bailey, as well as a Rat Terrier named Bruno. She’ll take Bruno out for walks along the Hudson River and help clean and refill the litterbox for the two cats.

“I remember my first day volunteering with PAWS; I was both excited and nervous,” Khadeja said. “I remember vividly how excited Bruno was on our first day meeting each other: his tail was wagging, and he jumped up to meet me. Immediately all my nerves went away, and I knew it was a great match!”

Plus, she added, it’s been a great experience to get to know the human clients as well. Bruno and his guardian John are always so welcoming when she picks up Bruno for his walks. And after cleaning the litterbox for Barnum and Bailey, “I have fun chats with Carol while we watch the kitties chase each other.”

Khadeja has enjoyed seeing PAWS NY continue to grow and change as we emerged from the pandemic and one of her favorite memories was the Volunteer Holiday Party in December 2022—the first time we hosted something in person since 2019.

“All the volunteers got together and made gift baggies for our clients and their pets. It was an amazing night filled with fun and laughter,” she said. “What was also special about that night was the commitment we had to curating the perfect gifts to bring some joy to our clients.”

Thanks to Khadeja for her commitment as a PAWS NY volunteer and for bringing joy to Bruno and John, and Barnum, Bailey, and Carol each week!

Khadeja’s Volunteer Spotlight was included in the PAWS NY Annual Report for FY 2023. Click here to download the read the full Annual Report [PDF].

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Kathryn

“I think we all need that sense of companionship and it’s really beautiful that we can help people keep that. New York City can be a lonely place and being able to have your cat or dog—or guinea pig—is incredible.”

 

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Samuel:

“I had just lost my dog and we missed her so much. We weren’t ready to get another dog. This organization is such a great way to help people, help dogs, and help me spend more time with dogs.”

 

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Heather:

“It’s the relationship. It’s the relationship that you form with the client. The relationship you form with the pet. And really knowing that the work we’re doing at PAWS is keeping them together.”

 

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Kelly:

“Bella is just the sweetest, smartest, best dog ever. I walk her one hour at a time and the hour goes by so fast.”

 

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Diana:

“I love Laura! We met and we had an instant connection. Laura and I now see each other most days. She helps me; she’s going to teach me embroidery. I lost my mother a few years ago and I value Laura so much. She fills a void in my life. Now they are really part of my family.”

 

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NEW YORK, November 15, 2023 – Pets Are Wonderful Support (PAWS) NY is thrilled to announce that the organization recently trained its 5,000^th volunteer. Since launching on November 11, 2009, PAWS NY has helped more than 1,500 older adults and individuals living with illness or disability care for their pets—thanks to the hard work of volunteers all over New York City.

At PAWS NY, volunteers help clients with dog walking, litterbox maintenance, administration of pet food and water, basic grooming, and transporting pets to and from the veterinarian’s office. Plus, they chip in extra visits to help deliver pet food and supplies, as well as the annual Holiday Gift Bags.

“Without our amazing volunteers, the work of PAWS NY is simply not possible,” said Rachel Herman, Founder and Executive Director of PAWS NY. “We truly have the most dedicated and passionate volunteers who love helping their fellow New Yorkers and their animal companions every day. We are so excited to have trained more than 5,000 volunteers since our inception and can’t wait to bring 5,000 more into the mix in the coming years.”

Reaching 5,000 Volunteers

As of March 15, 2020, PAWS NY had trained 2,332 volunteers, and the organization more than doubled its numbers over the past three and a half years. Between March 2020 and November 2023, more than 2,660 volunteers joined PAWS NY.

“One of the ways we adapted at the beginning of the pandemic was by switching from in-person to Virtual Volunteer Orientations,” explained Liz Raganella, the Senior Program Manager at PAWS NY who leads all orientations. “By doing this, we’ve been able to train significantly more volunteers. Additionally, one of our current goals is to do more outreach and recruitment in the outer boroughs, and offering virtual orientations has made it much easier to connect with folks in these areas as well.”

PAWS NY volunteers have made more than 120,000 visits to New Yorkers and their pets since the organization began and are currently on track to make more than 22,000 visits during this fiscal year. Of the volunteers trained since March 2020, about 38% live in an outer borough, which has been helpful as PAWS NY focuses on further increasing its presence beyond Manhattan, ensuring that the organization is bringing services to those in need no matter where they live in NYC.

Volunteer Kathryn found PAWS NY after moving to New York City from St. Louis more than six years ago: “The most rewarding part is allowing people to keep their pets in their lives, especially as they get older,” she said in a video about PAWS NY. “I think we all need that sense of companionship and it’s really beautiful that we can help people keep that. New York City can be a lonely place and being able to have your cat or dog—or guinea pig—is incredible.”

If you are interested in becoming a PAWS NY volunteer, visit our website to register for an upcoming Virtual Volunteer Orientation on one of these dates:

• Monday, December 4 at 6:00pm
• Wednesday, December 20 at 6:00pm

———-

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.

Related Links:
http://www.pawsny.org

———-

Contact:

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

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Stress Relief

According to the Mayo Clinic, “Volunteering reduces stress and increases positive, relaxed feelings by releasing dopamine. By spending time in service to others, volunteers report feeling a sense of meaning and appreciation, both given and received, which can have a stress-reducing effect.”

Expand Your Community

As a volunteer, particularly with an organization such as PAWS NY, you get to meet new people and build relationships with the individuals—and pets—you’re helping. You can also get to know your fellow volunteers, and all of this builds up the social safety net and friendships across the board.

Get Happy!

Researchers at the London School of Economics found that people become happier by volunteering more: “Volunteering has a positive, causal influence on self-reported happiness,” they found. Other researchers measured hormones and brain activity, to discover that being helpful to others delivers immense pleasure.

Animal Love

Particularly as a volunteer with PAWS NY, you also gain all the benefits of interacting with pets!

Specifically, research has indicated that pet guardianship and the Human-Animal Bond (HAB) can help reduce fear, anxiety, and stress-related parameters such as cortisol, heart rate, and blood pressure; increase trustworthiness of and trust toward other persons; enhance levels of empathy towards others; and improve physical health, especially cardiovascular health.

In honor of World Kindness Day, which is November 13, sign up to volunteer—with PAWS NY or another worthwhile nonprofit organization—to reap the benefits and bring more kindness into this world!

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Julia found out about PAWS NY online and started volunteering a few months ago. She’s had many pets over the years, and currently lives with her cat Luna, an ESA. Read Julia’s full Q&A below to learn more about her shifts with PAWS NY and fun hobbies! 

Thanks for volunteering with PAWS NY, Julia! If you’d like to volunteer with PAWS NY alongside Julia, register for a Virtual Volunteer Orientation now!

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NEW YORK, NY – Pets Are Wonderful Support (PAWS) NY has partnered with the New York City Department for the Aging (NYC Aging) to connect with the agency’s ­­network of volunteers to provide support to PAWS clients and pets in need.

New York City is home to approximately 1.7 million older adults, and NYC Aging works to eliminate ageism and ensure the dignity and quality of life of the City’s diverse older adult population. NYC Aging also works to support caregivers through service, advocacy, education, and volunteerism.

Earlier this year, PAWS NY—which provides pet care support to older adults and individuals living with illness or disability—presented about its programs and services to staff at NYC Aging. This led to discussions around a volunteer partnership, as NYC Aging recruits and refers hundreds of volunteers across the five boroughs for opportunities to give back at local nonprofits. PAWS NY is the latest to join the list of organizations that volunteer with the agency.

“We are thrilled to be partnering with NYC Aging to find more New Yorkers who want to volunteer with people and pets in their communities,” said Rachel Herman, Founder and Executive Director of PAWS NY. “We are hopeful the partnership will broaden our reach as we expand our programs and help to serve more folks in need.”

“As a dog mom myself, I know firsthand the many great benefits and advantages of a companion animal. Pet ownership has shown to improve physical wellness and mental health, as well as reduce emotional stressors,” said Department for the Aging Commissioner, Lorraine Cortés-Vázquez. “NYC Aging is excited about our new partnership with PAWS NY to connect older New Yorkers in need of help caring for their pets due to physical, mobility, and other challenges with volunteers to provide that support.”

Visit www.pawsny.org/volunteer to learn more about volunteering with PAWS NY, providing dog walking, litterbox maintenance, and other daily pet care support to New Yorkers and their pets.

# # #

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.

——

Contact:

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

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Heather and China

In today’s Volunteer Spotlight, meet Heather! She first heard about PAWS NY from a sign on a streetlight during the early days of the pandemic and has been volunteering for a little more than a year with a cat named China and her guardian. 

“My grandfather had to give up his cat years ago when he was no longer able to bend over to do litter box maintenance,” she said. “He didn’t tell any of us and I was devastated by the implications for him and for his cat, Katy. Since then I’ve been committed to helping prevent other pets and people from enduring the same loss.”

Read more about Heather in her Q&A below and learn about her own pets, favorite activities in NYC, and more!

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

Yes! I have two rescue cats and a yellow lab. Sweet baby Gus is a 2-year-old Siamese mix from North Carolina who came to me with ringworm, roundworms, and a timid personality. Nineteen-year-old Bing, a rare female ginger kitty, is the saucy and opinionated leader of the household. And Winston, who just turned 1, is my hiking companion, personal therapy dog, and genuine pal. They are an incredible trio!

Heather and Winston

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 support a client who lives with mobility and mental health challenges, and has no immediate family or friends in the area. She has a sweet and gentle Siamese rescue cat who came to her front and back declawed and with mobility issues herself. I provide weekly visits to clean the litterbox, but more importantly to be a friend to both of them. 

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

The mission speaks for itself. Without us, my client and her cat couldn’t remain together and she frequently describes her cat as the reason she is still here. My favorite memory is the day that “China” let me pick her up, looked into my eyes and purred. So wonderful being able to build a bond with a shy pet and with the client themselves. 

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

My grandfather had to give up his cat years ago when he was no longer able to bend over to do litter box maintenance. He didn’t tell any of us and I was devastated by the implications for him and for his cat, Katy. Since then I’ve been committed to helping prevent other pets and people from enduring the same loss.

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

Originally from Pennsylvania, but have lived in NYC for 20 years. I’m in Greenpoint, Brooklyn now!

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

Vaccine R&D for a nonprofit that focuses on emerging infectious disease and unmet global health needs. It’s my job and my friends that keep me in NYC. And maybe the food. 

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

Hiking, traveling, gardening are my favorites but my perfect day is a long hike in the Hudson Valley with Winston. 

Share 1-3 fun facts about yourself!

1. I grew up in a log cabin that my dad built.
2. I spend at least a month a year visiting my (retired) parents in Montana.
3. I have kayaked around the island of Manhattan (on multiple occasions).

Thanks for volunteering with PAWS NY, Heather! If you’d like to volunteer with PAWS NY alongside Heather, register for a Virtual Volunteer Orientation now!

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In today’s Volunteer Spotlight, meet Kat, a lawyer who has been volunteering with PAWS NY for about two years. Originally from Michigan, she now lives on the Upper West Side of Manhattan and has spent a lot of time traveling around the United States and the world!

“For those of us who have a passion for animals and have been fortunate to have pets of our own, we know how important the bond is to both the human and the pet,” she said, which is why she’s so passionate about volunteering with PAWS NY.

Read Kat’s full Q&A below to learn more about the clients and pets she has helped, her travels to all 50 states, and her own pups, Garbo and Bear!

How did you hear about PAWS NY?

During the pandemic, I wanted to become more actively engaged in animal welfare organizations. Through my research, I came upon PAWS NY and immediately fell in love with the mission of helping both pets and humans, knowing how important that bond is to both. 

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

For those of us who have a passion for animals and have been fortunate to have pets of our own, we know how important the bond is to both the human and the pet. Before learning about the mission of PAWS NY, I hadn’t even considered a situation where someone who loves their pet may no longer be able to care for them. It felt like winning the karmic lottery to find an incredible organization like PAWS NY, with Rachel’s vision and devoted leadership, dedicated staff, and supportive team of volunteers. It provides an elegant solution to the unfathomable alternative of surrender and I have found another family in the people and pets I have met through PAWS.

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

I currently have two very friendly dogs: Garbo and Bear, who bring joy to me, my family and most people they encounter, every day. 

Rocky

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?

My first clients were Rene and Rocky. My current clients are Cydney and Dewdrop. I walk their dogs after work.

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

I love the authentic and interesting conversations I have when I pick up and drop off the dogs. I also love my time with the dogs.  

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

I am originally from Michigan and now I live on the Upper West Side.

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

I am a lawyer. My spouse was the reason I came to NYC, but New Yorkers are the reason I have stayed. I often say I get to travel the world every time I step on the subway, walk down the sidewalk, or enter Central Park.

Dewdrop

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

I spend as much time as I can outside: walking the dogs, attending my kids’ soccer games, walking with friends, hiking, running, listening to audiobooks, etc. I also am a member of an animal law committee and volunteer for my alma mater, including a committee focused specifically on women’s issues and a subcommittee focused on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.

Share 1-3 fun facts about yourself!

1. I backpacked on a shoestring around the world for a year, focused on seeing as much wildlife as I could. 
2. I got my first dog by surprising my family with a puppy when I was 16. 
3. I have traveled to all 50 states, some by way of an RV with three teens, a dog, and a puppy.

Thanks for volunteering with PAWS NY, Kat! If you’d like to volunteer with PAWS NY alongside Kat, register for a Virtual Volunteer Orientation now!

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Michelle heard about PAWS NY on Instagram and started volunteering about nine months ago. She says walking Tappy and Angelina is the highlight of her week, as is getting to know their guardian Zerline. 

Michelle with Tappy & Angelina

“My favorite part of volunteering is not only walking the cutest pups, but my chats with Zerline,” Michelle said. “Zerline is such a sweet soul and has put the biggest smile on my face every time I’ve gone over there to walk Angelina and Tappy. It’s so rewarding to know that I’m helping make their day a little brighter.”

Read Michelle’s full Q&A below to learn about her favorite walks with Tappy & Angelina, her family’s French Bulldog, and her current TV obsession!

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

I am passionate about PAWS NY and its mission because I believe that pets can bring tremendous joy and emotional support to people. Pets can provide companionship, comfort, and unconditional love, and I believe that no one should go without these amazing benefits. PAWS ensures that all people have access to the health and happiness that pets can bring, making their mission extremely meaningful to me.

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

Yes, but he is my family’s dog so he lives at home with my parents. Leo’s such a sweet and loving French Bulldog who loves nothing more than snuggling up for a nap. I miss him a lot, especially now that I live in NYC and don’t have a pet of my own.

Michelle and Leo

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 walk Tappy and Angelina for Zerline Johnson every Tuesday night. It is the highlight of my week! We usually walk to Madison Square Park during our walks. Tappy and Angelina are very popular girls and are always making new friends!

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

My favorite part of volunteering is not only walking the cutest pups, but my chats with Zerline. Zerline is such a sweet soul and has put the biggest smile on my face every time I’ve gone over there to walk Angelina and Tappy. It’s so rewarding to know that I’m helping make their day a little brighter. I wish they knew how much brighter they were making mine as well! One of my favorite memories is when we walked over to Madison Square Park in September and hung out in the grass. I’ve never seen Tappy so happy!

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

I work as a Creative Services Manager for Kidpik and I live in Nomad.

I’m originally from Long Island, but always loved visiting NYC as a kid. The energy and excitement of the city is so unique and I love that there’s always something new happening. There’s also a great sense of community here, with people from all different backgrounds coming together to create something truly special. It’s also a great place to find creative inspiration and opportunities, which is why I’m still here and loving it.

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

In my spare time I love spending time with my friends and family. I also love watching new shows (currently obsessed with The Last Of Us), going for runs in Central Park, checking out new museums, trying new recipes, and finding new restaurants / cocktail bars around the city!

Share 1-3 fun facts about yourself!

1. My last meal would be Maruchan ramen noodle soup.
2. I’m a pickle connoisseur.
3. If I won the lotto, I’d buy an island and house for as many dogs as I possibly could.

Thanks for getting involved, Michelle! We’re glad to have you on board. If you’d like to volunteer with PAWS NY alongside Michelle, register for a Virtual Volunteer Orientation now!

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