Are you interested in helping the Paw in Hand Project reach more individuals in need? Your local veterinary clinic can be a valuable ally to our cause through partnership. Here's how to talk to your vet effectively about our mission and how they can play a crucial role in our efforts to support those in need.
Who We Are
The Paw in Hand Project provides extensive assistance to individuals navigating life transitions, especially those contending with housing instability, mental health concerns, substance use disorders, partner violence, and other challenging circumstances. Our agency has an emphasis on supporting pet owners in their journey towards stability and recovery. Eligibility for our program requires individuals to have a pet and be at risk of losing them due to external circumstances during a period of transition.
The Paw in Hand Project has 2 programs we operate through, the Paw Connect Program and our Paw Care Program.Â
The Paw Care Program, within our agency, offers vital support to pet owners experiencing housing insecurity, partner violence, or undergoing substance use treatment. This program safeguards the well-being of our client’s pets by providing temporary foster care or boarding services. Referrals for pets in need are received through our agency’s referral line, and our staff assesses each case to ensure a suitable match for our client’s pets. Pets are then placed with trained Paw Care Families for temporary fostering or in a local boarding kennel as needed.Â
Paw Care Families, these volunteers play a crucial role in ensuring the well-being of pets during periods of separation from their owners by providing temporary housing, training, and care for our client’s pets. We also offer an option to assist our Paw Care Families through donation sponsorships. The funds are used to help support these volunteers through mileage reimbursements and other expenses the Paw Care Family may have helped contribute to taking care of an individual’s pet. Â
The Paw Connect Program offers robust and supportive services to all our clients. Our primary goal is to assist individuals in need of achieving stability in their lives by providing comprehensive support throughout their recovery and healing journey. Our committed trauma-informed volunteers build strong relationships with clients and act as advocates, ensuring that their individual needs are met and essential services are received.
How We Can Help
We also encourage our vets to reach out to the Paw in Hand Project if they have an individual in mind that would benefit from our services. Our referral process is quick and easy. Referrals can be made by phone, email, or through our website (please note that phone referrals will receive faster responses).Â
Partnership
A partnership with the Paw in Hand Project would involve a collaborative effort between your veterinary clinic and our agency to provide comprehensive support to individuals in need within our community. As partners, your clinic would play a vital role in assisting individuals who reach out for help by referring them to the Paw in Hand Project when appropriate. This would involve providing information about our services to clients in need, assisting with the referral process, and collaborating with our team to ensure the well-being of individuals and their pets during challenging times. Additionally, your clinic may have the opportunity to participate in assisting our mission through raising awareness about our causes, offering discounted vet services, offering prioritized scheduling, and promoting our services to those in need. By working together, we can reduce potential barriers in the lives of individuals, providing them with the support and resources they need on their healing journey.Â
Spread the Word
Please contact your veterinarians directly to inform them about our agency. Share our contact details, including phone number, email, and website, and assure them of our openness to partnerships, referrals, and other forms of support for the Paw in Hand Project. Once you've informed your vet, please let us know so we can follow up with them regarding potential partnership opportunities and discuss ways to make a difference in the lives of the people we serve.
Written by Weston Lock
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