PAWS NY Receives $20K Grant from PetSmart Charities

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Press release: Pets are Wonderful Support NY

Pets Are Wonderful Support (PAWS) NY has received a $20,000 grant from PetSmart Charities to help keep more pets in loving homes and out of shelters in New York City. PAWS NY is the only nonprofit organization in New York City that is dedicated exclusively to providing services to help vulnerable New Yorkers and their pets remain together, and is the only organization providing foster care for hospital patients.
As the face of family changes over the years, what remains constant is the role pets play in our lives. Many people consider pets family members and it can be challenging to find resources when facing life changes and issues such as illness or lack of pet-friendly housing. Pet parents in these and other at-risk situations often determine they have no options beyond surrendering their beloved pet to a local shelter.
With this grant, PAWS NY will help preserve the bond between pets and their people by providing services to keep them together through its Foster & Emergency Care program. When individuals need to be hospitalized or are otherwise unable to care for their pets, PAWS NY will manage foster care services for the pets so the people can get the healthcare and recovery they need. Through this grant, PAWS NY hopes to support more than 35 pets with this program.
“Often times, individuals put off healthcare services, surgeries, or procedures, and don’t want to spend time at a rehabilitation facility because they are worried about who will care for their pet at home,” said PAWS NY Founder and Executive Director Rachel Herman. “Thanks to the support of PetSmart Charities, PAWS NY will be able to provide foster care for dozens of pets in these situations, allowing the individual to get the healthcare they need and helping to keep pets and their people together.”
“For many people, pets are considered beloved family members and a pet can reduce feelings of stress and lift our moods, particularly when facing life challenges,” said Kelly Balthazor, regional relationship manager at PetSmart Charities. “We’re proud to partner with PAWS NY to support pet families in New York City, so pet parents never have to choose between their beloved pets and their own well-being—especially through the uncertainty of this pandemic.”
Since 1994, through its partnership with nearly 4,000 humane societies, SPCAs and pet rescues across North America, PetSmart Charities has helped more than 9.3 million pets to find loving homes via its in-store adoption program in over 1,600 PetSmart stores. The leading funder of animal welfare has also donated nearly $430 million to improve access to veterinary care, to positively impact communities, to connect people and pets and to help preserve families through initiatives like this with PAWS NY.