When Local Isn’t Local Anymore

People Are Calling Us From Florida. Here’s Why That Matters.

At The Paw in Hand Project, we focus on helping people right here in the Cincinnati Tri-State area. But lately, our phones have been ringing from far beyond our region—Columbus, deep into Indiana, Southern Kentucky, and even as far away as Florida.

In fact, 14.2% of the calls we receive are from outside of the area we serve.

Why? Because there are so few options for people fleeing abuse, homelessness, or addiction who also have a pet. And even when a program does exist, it’s often at full capacity or impossible to access in time.

People are desperate. They’re doing what any of us would do—they're searching everywhere, calling anywhere, just hoping someone will answer.

We hear things like:

“You’re the fifth place I’ve called.”

“I don’t know who else to try.”

“Can you help me, even though I’m not close?”

Sometimes, we can. Other times, we can’t. But we always listen. We always try. Because when you’re the only one answering, you become the lifeline—whether you meant to or not.

This is what 14.2% really means: the need is bigger than we thought. Bigger than one city, one region, one program.

And it's growing.