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The love and support of William and Pepper
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8/4/2010
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At PAWS, we are often fortunate to meet people who leave an impression upon our hearts. In 2008, we received a referral call regarding an ailing senior citizen with severe dementia, kidney failure, mobility impairment, and signs of self-neglect. The client’s name was William and the call came from his social worker at On Lok Lifeways, a comprehensive health care program that provides full medical care and support services to seniors. William’s social workers realized that he and his cat, Pepper, would benefit greatly from the services that PAWS provides. 
When Tara, PAWS Case Manager, first visited William, he was frail and confused, but Pepper’s attentive nature was priceless. William spoke of how Pepper slept beside him every night and it was clear when he spoke of her that she was an integral part of his overall health and well-being.
Earlier this year, William reached a point where he needed to be moved into a higher level of care. On Lok’s social worker contacted PAWS for assistance in placing Pepper in a new home. Happily, right before Pepper was to be placed, we received word that the convalescent hospital was considering allowing Pepper to continue living with our client! Pepper was accepted into the hospital after a meet-and-greet with John Chalich, Hayes Convalescent Hospital Administrator. William unfortunately passed away after a few months of moving into the hospital, but due to the generosity of the Hayes Convalescent Hospital and their understanding of the human-animal bond, William was able to spend his last days with Pepper. | Providing comfort to a resident of Hayes Convalescent Hospital.
| The teamwork of everyone involved, from social service/medical providers to the PAWS volunteers who assisted William with food delivery and cat care, made this senior’s end stage of life more positive because he was able to share it with his animal companion. We're glad to announce that Pepper will continue living at Hayes Convalescent Hospital and has already become a regular visitor to other residents where her unconditional love brings comfort and hope. -- Tara Whitefield, PAWS Case Manager
| Pepper enjoying a tussle with Kirby, the original hospital resident cat.
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Taking animals to the vet
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7/21/2010
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[Editor's note: Ellen Sinaiko is a volunteer who takes animals to their vet appointments. For more info about how you can be a vet transport volunteer, see the job description page. The names of the client and his cat are changed to protect confidentiality]
 It was my first “assignment”, as a freshly minted PAWS volunteer. I was to take "Steve" and his cat, "Whiskers", to an appointment at Pets Unlimited. I gave myself plenty of time, found parking and got to Steve’s building early. The fellow at the front desk told me to go on up the elevator to the 10th floor. Steve’s apartment door was slightly ajar. Oh, good, I thought, he’s ready and expecting me. I tapped. “Steve? It’s Ellen from PAWS.” “Come on in,” he said. I did. And immediately saw Steve, bathroom door open, sitting on that one piece of furniture upon which one would sit in a bathroom. I may have let out a tiny squeal and zipped down the hall to the living room. Steve came out a minute or two later. We introduced ourselves and then he said, gesturing to the bed, “There he is.” Whiskers lay on the far end of the bed, looking at me suspiciously. Let me say right now, at the risk of causing offense, I am really more of a Dog Person than a Cat Person. In my ensuing years of volunteering for PAWS, I have taken numerous kitties to the vet and we have gotten along famously. But I grew up with dogs, I’ve always had dogs, and in my own defense, I am allergic to cats. That said, on the day in question, my cat experience was, shall we say, limited? I assumed Steve would have already crated Whiskers and the two of them would be sitting by the door, eagerly awaiting my arrival, ready for our fun trip to the Vet. Nope. The crate was sitting there and apparently it was my job to put Whiskers in it. Okay, I thought, what’s the big deal? It’s only putting a cat in a carrier. I gingerly reached out to Whiskers and…he was gone. A mad dash or two around the room, me in hot pursuit, with Whiskers landing underneath the bed, at the far end, directly in the middle, as far away from me as he could possibly get. Smart guy, that Whiskers. Thus began what seemed at the time to be an endless round of “Here, Kitty, Kitty!” I asked Steve for some cat food. Put it in a bowl and shook it enticingly beside the bed. How was I to know cats are notoriously indifferent to food? It works like a charm on dogs. I was beginning to panic, perspiration beading on my upper lip. I even took a moment to call then-Volunteer Coordinator, Ned Howey. He wasn’t there. “Ned,” my message hissed, “I’m not sure I can do this!” I lay down on the small strip of carpeting between Steve’s bed and the wall. Am I really doing this? I thought. I’m lying down on the floor of a complete stranger’s apartment, attempting to trap a cat? Will this ever make a funny story? Will this cat scratch me to death? As I mentioned, slightly lacking in basic cat knowledge. I screwed up all the courage (and energy) I had left and launched myself as far underneath the bed as I could. And there was Whiskers, firmly in my grasp. He did his cat-best, digging his claws into the carpet, but he was no match for me. I am Cat Woman, hear me mew. Did I tell you the part about having to put Whiskers in his cat carrier?
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A Story of Hope
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7/8/2010
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Why PAWS is part of the San Francisco AIDS Walk
 Five years ago Phoenix, age 44, arrived at the hospital and flat lined twice during the first four hours. He was intubated both times and was placed into a medically-induced coma for eight days. Due to his dire health conditions he lay bedridden with only two remaining T cells left in his body. He was kept in the hospital for 30 days where he fought for his life. Faced with his own mortality, he was struck with the realization that he urgently needed care for himself. Two weeks into his recovery his cardiologist walked into his room and said the seven words he didn’t expect to hear but that would change his life forever, “You have got to get a dog.”
Phoenix visited San Francisco Animal Care and Control and met the miracle that would heal his soul. The two moist little eyes peeked shyly out at him from the kennel. When they met, the little dog rolled over and covered his eyes with both paws…and at that moment Phoenix knew that he had found the one. He had found Dusty. Or, perhaps Dusty had found Phoenix.
Dusty has been the miracle catalyst that has changed Phoenix’s life. He has become his “reason for getting up in the morning” and has given Phoenix the reason he sought to take his own health seriously, “If I don’t take care of myself then I may not be around to take care of Dusty. Then what would happen?”
PAWS is the reason that Phoenix and Dusty have been able to stay together. They utilize PAWS partner, Pets Unlimited, to provide Dusty with his yearly wellness exam. PAWS matters so much to Phoenix because “a lot of time our pets may be the only thing we have left.”
The daily care for Dusty has grown into a love and a commitment beyond anything he’s ever known. Dusty is his best buddy, his motivation, his reason to fight and his reason to love.
On July 18th, 2010, Phoenix and Dusty will be an integral part of team PAWS: Doggone Fun Run for the San Francisco AIDS Walk. They will walk to help PAWS continue to support their inspiring story of hope. Please click here to help Phoenix and Dusty support PAWS and the power of the human-animal bond.
-- Nora Gervais, a Friend of PAWS
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Remembering Maya
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6/21/2010
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 | Adrienne Jonas with former clients Nalli and Lucy
| When PAWS Volunteers sign up to walk dogs, they often underestimate the impact that meeting the pet owner will have on their lives. Not only do they work with the same dog each week, but they also work with that owner. They quickly get to know the clients, learn more about their lives, and are touched by their stories.
Maya is a client who had been with PAWS off and on since 1998. Throughout those twelve years, volunteers helped with Maya’s various pets including Abyss the cat, Nalli the Yorkie, Canela the German Shepherd, and her most recent dog, Sombra the Dachshund. After long battles with her health issues, Maya passed away in May, 2010. Two volunteers who helped walk her dogs reflect on Maya’s passing.
Adrienne Jonas: I was very saddened recently to hear that Maya had passed away.
As a volunteer dog walker and cat carer I got to know Maya quite well. I walked two of her dogs, Nalli and Canela, and helped with her cat Abyss. We would often sit and talk and there was mutual  | Canela
| trust between us – so much so that she had designated me to take care of Nalli (her 8 lb Yorkie) if anything happened to her. However, Nalli preceded Maya in death, as did Canela and Abyss. I attended services with Maya and friends for Nalli in Stern Grove, one of her favorite places to go, and where her ashes were buried beneath a tree (before the parking area was renewed).
Maya had a birthday at the end of June and I had a card ready to send her and planned on taking her to lunch. I had no idea she had been ill – which reminds me of the old saying “never put off until tomorrow what you can do today”. I regret that I hadn’t called Maya in a while but am sure she knew I always thought of her.
Ketty Mobed: I met Maya and Canela 3 years ago. Maya would often talk about how she inherited Canela from her previous guardian while she was volunteering as a companion at a hospice. This really showed me what a kind and caring person Maya was.  | Sombra
| Maya, on occasions when she felt better than other days, would accompany Canela and me on our walk and she would often share her sad stories about her life, as well as her joyous and fun stories like taking belly dancing or going to the movies.
Maya was truly a wonderful, kind and genuine person and loved her animals as much as they loved her. I and the world will miss Maya.
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Tuxedo Boy still needs a forever home!
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6/11/2010
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 Alex is still waiting for a new home. He came to us about a month ago when his dad, a PAWS client, died. Although he remains very shy and cautious, he has warmed up to the PAWS staff. He really likes to be pet and came out for a belly rub just this morning.
He is 7 years old, in good health and will have a check-up soon.
He has lived indoors all his life and has lived with another cat. If you or someone you know is looking for a sweet feline companion, please contact us so you can meet Alex.
Contact PAWS at 415.979.9550
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Alex needs a forever home
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5/25/2010
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 Alexander, aka Alex, is a 7 year old tuxedo kitty looking for a new home. Alex has spent his entire life in a quiet apartment with his dad, a PAWS client, and his now deceased feline brother. Unfortunately, his guardian died last week, and now Alex is the only surviving member of his little family.
In the comfort of his home, Alex is an affectionate boy who likes to play with his toys and really enjoyed the company of his fellow feline. Although he is slowly coming out of his shell, Alex is still very distressed by the sudden changes in his life.
If you, or someone you know, could give this guy a stable home and patiently earn his trust with affection, he will eventually warm your lap in gratitude.
Interested? Please contact PAWS at 415-979-9550.
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Emergency Help Needed!
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5/20/2010
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 Our friends at The Berkeley East Bay Humane Society just suffered a devastating fire. They lost their entire cat sheltering area as well as laundry facilities and offices. They are currently without water, electricity and phone service. Sadly, they lost 15 cats that were ready for adoption. All the dogs survived and are being cared for in kennels and at veterinary emergency service.
They are in critical need for people to foster animals and, of course, donations. We work closely with this wonderful organization - they run the East Bay PAWS - and anything you can do to help is very appreciated. Below is a link to their web site.
http://www.berkeleyhumane.org/
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Remembering Carol
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4/9/2010
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[ed. note: Tony Michaels is a PAWS Volunteer who walked Charlie, a dog who belonged to Carol, a recently deceased client.]
I’ve been volunteering for the wonderful PAWS organization for about a year and a half now, doing many different types of volunteer tasks. I started by driving pet food to clients on Saturdays, then working the Food Bank, taking pets to vet appointments, working the PAWS booth at the Pet Fair in Golden Gate Park, and even picking up a dog or two and driving them to the dog wash for some sprucing up. But, my greatest pleasure so far has been as a dog walker for Carol’s wonderful little Charlie.  Charlie immediately won me over on my very first walk, when I rang Carol’s door bell, and saw Charlie waiting patiently through the glass door for her to open the door. No barks, no yelps, just a smiling face waiting to greet me. I introduced myself as a new walker for PAWS, and Carol was so happy to welcome me in to get the leash, and take her little friend for his walk. At first, it was a slow-going affair, but we got him to the park for a little sunshine and a good brushing.
My walks with Charlie were on Saturday mornings, and that’s how I always looked at starting my weekends. It was a joy to be able to have some pet companionship, if only for a short hour at a time.
As Carol became more ill, and it took her longer to answer the door, I felt such a saddened heart to see her having such difficulty even walking to the door. But, Charlie was always patiently waiting at the door for his walk. The other walkers for “Team Charlie” also noticed Carol’s weakening condition, and our email connection with each other become a way letting the others know what to expect on their next visit. It was a great group that I’ve never met face to face, but somehow I felt I got to know personally.
When we got word that Carol was in the hospital and probably would not be able to go home again, the email link between “Team Charlie” become clear how Carol, Charlie and Poppy grew to be apart of our lives. The concern by all was very evident. Then we got word that Carol had passed, and I think I can speak for our team, that it was truly sad news to get.
I hope that sweet little Charlie and Poppy will find the caring and loving homes that Carol would want for them.
I will always think fondly of meeting Carol and being able to help her in any way I could.
It was a joy!!
- Tony Michaels, PAWS Volunteer
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Charlie and Poppy Updates
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4/7/2010
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 We posted a blog entry last month about a PAWS client who passed away on St. Patrick’s Day and left her dog Charlie and cat Poppy behind. We have some good news! Charlie and Poppy weren’t bonded so we were able to separate them. Poppy went into foster care with a new PAWS volunteer who has decided to permanently adopt her! Congratulations to our volunteer and Poppy, we wish them the best!
Charlie has been making good progress. He’s lost a little weight and is now on pain medications for his arthritis. He may have some other medical issues which need more investigation but our friends at Muttville, a senior dog rescue organization, have taken him under their wing. A rescue organization is the best place for Charlie to begin his search for a forever home. We are incredibly grateful to Muttville for providing a place for Charlie to search for a home, and for keeping him out of a shelter environment which could be scary for such a sweet guy. If you are interested in learning more about Charlie, please visit the Muttville website at: www.muttville.org. While getting to know Charlie we have found that he should probably remain in a quiet household since he previously lived with a senior citizen in a mellow home.
-- Tara Whitefield, PAWS Case Manager
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Two PAWS companion animals need a home
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3/19/2010
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Hello potential adopters! One of our longtime PAWS clients passed away on St. Patrick's Day and left behind two adorable animal companions. They are now in the custody of PAWS and if anyone is interested in adding to their home or knows of a friend, please do let us know! These two lovebugs need a warm home after all they've been through. Charlie and Poppy can be adopted separately, and do not need to be placed together.
Charlie is an adorable 11 year-old Brittany Spaniel mix. He is overweight and is taking medications for arthritis, but with some regular exercise he should be able to shed some of those pounds. He has some other medical issues which could be costly. He's such a charmer though and gets along with cats, other dogs, and adapts to any situation. Charlie likes to spend most of the day on his doggy bed and just enjoys being near someone. He's a quiet dog and would be great in a home with a senior, but could probably adapt to any situation.
Poppy is a loveable 6 year-old domestic long-haired cat with a beautiful gray and orange coat. She enjoys being petted, held and is very friendly. Both Poppy and Charlie have won the hearts of us at PAWS. Let them warm yours! Please contact me if you are interested in learning more about Poppy or Charlie.
-- Tara Whitefield, PAWS Case Manager, 415-979-9550, x302
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A Little Extra Help from PAWS Volunteers
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2/25/2010
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 One of the most popular volunteer tasks at PAWS is walking dogs. Volunteers go to clients’ houses, visit the clients and take their dogs out for walks. One of these dogs is a special-needs dog named Henry Miller.
Henry Miller is a service animal for his client, a senior client named Ana who is legally blind. While he was task-trained to help with his owner’s disability, he is now a senior himself, and relies on help from PAWS volunteers and others to tend to his needs. Last year, Ana had a brain tumor removed, which severely limited her mobility and her ability to lift. At that point, she asked PAWS for help walking Henry Miller.
In his old age, Henry Miller is afflicted with osteoarthritis and hip problems that are typical in older German Shepherd mixes. For him, it is a struggle to get up and to start moving. Complicating that was that his owner lived in an apartment up a flight of stairs. The arthritis in his hips left him unable to climb those stairs, so to get him out for his bathroom breaks, volunteers needed to pick him up and carry him downstairs. PAWS had a few volunteers help with this, including Greg Varni, who helped Henry Miller for about four months. Greg comments, “After knowing Ana and Henry for a few months you become used to the physical restrictions - carrying him up and down the stairs and the short walks only on the flat parts of SF around Ana's place as normal. Henry never complains about his restrictions and the love they have for each other fills their home.”
Ana finally decided that a new home was in order, for both herself, and for Henry, and thanks to a grant from the Community Living Fund, she was able to move. Her new home features an elevator, so Henry no longer needs someone to pick him up and physically carry him downstairs. Nonetheless, aging continues to take its toll, and he still has a hard time walking. He has a new PAWS Volunteer now, Katy Schweigerdt, who has been walking Henry since October. Katy notes that his stamina is limited, his balance is precarious on slick surfaces, and he feels a bit frail, which makes it a challenging walk. She also says, “Despite the hardship of working with a senior dog, he is really such a sweetheart, and though walking him is more like just going out for potty breaks, I love to rub his ears; when I stop he'll nudge me because he loves all of the attention! So yes, it's not what I expected for "dog walking," but his personality and flopping ears make up for it!”
In the meantime, Ana has come to hold her volunteers in deep regard. She says, “when I think about Greg coming every Monday after a full day of work. He would come and lift Henry up and down the 32 stairs, and he was just dedicated. Katy comes rain or shine. She’s always here. They both spend time with me and we have become friends. Their dedication and commitment to Henry and me… and I am happy to be a part of PAWS.”
PAWS would like to give a special thanks to Katy, Greg, and all the other volunteers who have helped with Henry Miller. Henry could use a few more volunteers as well. If you would be interested in volunteering with him or the various other PAWS dogs, see our dog-walking page. For more about Henry Miller and Ana, see this article from UCSF or a video feature from KGO.
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A New Home for Buffy
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1/25/2010
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Good news about Buffy the Tabby cat! PAWS sent out the below notice in search of a home for Buffy, whose previous owner passed away in early January. A good number of potential adopters contacted PAWS with interest in Buffy. The first person to contact us was a man named Kit who lives in the East Bay. Kit's last furry companion was also a rotund Tabby cat who passed away after 23 years. Buffy's situation and story sparked a chord in Kit and although he was nervous about adopting again, decided to contact PAWS immediately for a meet-and-greet. On 1/15/2010, Kit brought a friend along for his first meeting with Buffy, and we are pleased to announce that it was love at first sight! Kit took Buffy home the very next day and they bonded immediately. PAWS staff was sad to see Buffy go, but are glad to know that he is in a good home. Thanks for Kit and everyone who reached out to offer to help Buffy!
--Tara Whitefield, PAWS Case Manager
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Tabby Looking for Love
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1/8/2010
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Happy New Year to all of our clients and friends of PAWS! The new year has brought a surprise furry visitor to the PAWS office. Buffy the cat has an interesting story. He's a 5 year old Tabby cat in the "more to love" department. Last year Buffy's dad passed away from a heart attack and PAWS was able to find him a new home with one of our senior clients. He was in a happy home for 6 months and adapted like a charm! However, Buffy's new mom recently passed away as well. While we're not an official adoption agency, when our clients pass away we will do everything in our power to find good homes for their companion animals. We have consequently had quite a few unexpected furry visitors at the PAWS office over the years. Many of them are timid and hide in a corner during their stay. Buffy, on the other hand is a bundle of love! He has an adorable "meow," loves to purr, and likes being brushed so much that we've joked about renaming him "Brushy." There is no question that he will be a joy to someone who is looking for a cuddly friend to add to their home.
Please contact me if you are interested in a meet-and-greet with Buffy. We are hoping to find a loving home for him very soon! --Tara Whitefield, PAWS Case Manager, 415-979-9550, x302
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PAWS delivers nearly 1,000 stockings!
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12/16/2009
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Our annual PAWS Stocking Delivery went off with a bang! Sixty delivery teams set out across the city on December 6 with almost a thousand goodie bags for our clients' little angels. While we don't fly around the world in one night with eight reindeer -- it's still pretty impressive! What a project. . . but what a reward. The Stocking Delivery starts long before the holiday season as we begin asking generous community partners to contribute toys and treats. Pet Food Express came through in a HUGE way -- organizing the donation of 1,000 toys and more than 3,500 treats! The Animal Company once again helped make our birds happy with donations of great bird toys! Our volunteers, of course, are the greatest. From stuffing the stockings to delivering them, they really make this possible.
Nothing beats the "thank you" calls from our clients. As life, especially around the holidays, gets more and more hectic, I can always stop for a moment to savor the warm feeling that this event brings. Just one of the reasons I love being a part of the PAWS family!
-- Laura Nelson, PAWS Director of Client Services
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Welcome to PAWS 2.0!
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11/2/2009
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Welcome to PAWS 2.0 - the culmination of an almost two years planning process to reimagine the PAWS website, With this new site, we hope to: - Better connect to our supporters;
- Share information in real time;
- Inspire a renewed passion for our mission;
- Share resources with others who believe in the healing power of the human-animal bond;
- Better tell our life-changing stories; and
- Make all of our outreach efforts a little more green.
I am especially grateful for Victoria Long, Director of Finance and Administration, who had the vision for PAWS 2.0 and, most importantly, held onto it. What you see today would not have been possible without the incredible talent of Mags Cronin, our Front Office Coordinator, and Cheryl Shiflett, our Development Coordinator. Together, they turned the vision of PAWS 2.0 into a reality. If you're reading this blog post, it probably means you're an early adopter -- and one of the first to visit our new website. Like any big project, it's a work in progress and in order to make it even better, we really need your feedback. So please ... tell us what you think! What's working, what could be improved, and what you would like to see as we add new features to the website. You can send us an email at info@pawssf.org. All of us at PAWS will be taking a turn on the PAWS In Action blog. I hope you check back often -- or make us an RSS feed! -- so that you'll get to meet some of the incredible people who make the PAWS mission possible and hear their inspiring stories. Thank you for your belief in our mission and your ongoing support to keep people and their beloved pets together.
-- John L. Lipp, PAWS President
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