Dog Support System w/ Rachel Herman

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Helping The Vulnerable Keep Their Dog Bonds Intact

About The Episode

When people find themselves in difficult circumstances – whether that be with their health, finances, or more – they are unfortunately often forced to give up their dogs. This contributes to crowded shelters and there being endless dogs that need to be rescued. Not to mention that when people are in these vulnerable situations, they’re the ones who often can need their canine companion by their side the most.

Rachel Herman was walking to her graduate school class one day when she noticed a young homeless couple with a dog. She kept seeing them, and found it unfortunate that they had to choose between having a shelter bed and other necessities, or giving up their dog. As someone who had been volunteering in the animal shelter space, Rachel was aware of this hurdle and how it can often lead to these sacrifices.

These types of issues apply to other vulnerable groups, too, and another in particular that Rachel kept thinking about was the elderly. For example, someone may get a dog when they are good and healthy, but then as they get older, they can’t always keep up with all the same responsibilities. Yet if a dog already has a good loving home home, she thought, why do they have to be separated? Seniors lose a key source of emotional support and companionship in surrender cases, and the dogs lose their favorite person.

As a result, PAWS NY was born in 2008 as a nonprofit to help provide basic pet care for those in need – so that the pets could stay out of the shelter system (and more importantly, remain with their guardians). PAWS NY, which stands for Pets Are Wonderful Support, provides an invaluable set of free services to those who may be facing these obstacles, with a focus on senior citizens.

Nearly 15 years later, the nonprofit has continued to expand the types of programs available. PAWS NY’s core initiative is their Housecall Program, where volunteers go into the home and provide daily assistance on tasks such as walking the dog, food administration, grooming, and more. There's a Veterinary Care program, which arranges and pays for the visit and any transport necessary – whether it's a house call or on-site at a clinic. There's a Pet Pantry sponsorship program, where they deliver pet food and supplies every month. There's also a Foster & Emergency Care program, where they can take care of someone's pet if they have a medical crisis and/or are hospitalized. These are only a few of the variety of services that PAWS NY provides.

Clients such as 76-year-old Joseph Paul have greatly benefited from PAWS NY’s services. When Joseph got his basset hound, Bonnie, he was very active and galavanting across the city and country. However, at one point he developed leg arthritis and it slowed him down, limiting his mobility. He needed help for someone to take his energetic Bonnie on long walks and give the dog the proper active time outside. Over time, the organization also expanded its support to pay for pet food and medical visits. Only because of PAWS NY has Joseph and Bonnie been able to stay together, and Bonnie remains an important part of his daily routine and focus, keeping him happy and engaged.

While dog companionship is very important to these individuals, the animal connection also opens the door to a key human connection that PAWS clients have with the volunteers. Since dogs are such a conduit for introducing us to others we might not meet or get to know otherwise, this relationship with the volunteers also becomes important to clients in having a special human-to-human bond that otherwise would not come to fruition or be a regular presence in their lives. And the volunteers get to help out someone in need, spend time with a dog, and contribute to helping keep dogs out of shelters. It’s a win for everyone involved.

About The Guest - Rachel Herman

Rachel Herman founded PAWS NY in 2008 after working in the nonprofit sector, including the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA). She identified that there was a huge need for ongoing pet care assistance and no organization in New York City to provide for that need. Now 15 years later, PAWS NY is a nonprofit providing key services for vulnerable individuals and their dogs/animals across NYC. She has been named “New Yorker of the Week” by NY1, “Holiday Hero” by The New York Times, and “Young Social Impact Hero” by Thrive Global.

Featured Links

InterviewJack SommerRescue / Service