Will You Help Us During the
Despite the challenges that COVID-19 has brought us and the changes we’ve all had to make to adjust to the new way of living and practicing, one thing did not change – the need in our statewide community for the programs administered by Animal Care PA, PVMA’s charitable arm. Henry’s Helping Paws Program, our FEED initiative, saw a significant increase in the number of senior citizens applying for pet food and veterinary care for their beloved companions. The Last Chance Program, our CARE initiative, experienced higher than usual usage, with a large portion of applicants being those who were affected by COVID-19 in some way. The Scholarship Program, our EDUCATE initiative, had a new record number of applications received; however, we could only provide scholarships to a small amount of applicants. While utilization of our programs increased during the year, donations and financial support are on the decline. We know this is a challenging time for everyone and we are relying heavily on donations during our Season of Giving to keep up with the demand for our community-based programs well into the new year. Henry’s Helping Paws Program provides pet food and routine veterinary care for companion animals of senior citizens who demonstrate significant financial need. The pilot program, which started in Chester County, has expanded to include counties surrounding Chester. Our hope is to continue to expand the program throughout Pennsylvania in the coming years. Seniors receive food through several senior centers in their local communities or have it delivered directly to their homes through the Hills to Home program. Over 80 senior citizens are currently enrolled in the program, owning close to 150 cats and dogs. The program requires approximately $30,000 annually to support the current pet owners. With the expansion of the program across the state, we will need several times that amount to be able to help all of those in need.
My name is Mischief and I’m all of 16 months old. I can tell you for sure that my owner is more than grateful for Henry’s Helping Paws and the help we get. I got my name honestly by always getting into trouble and keeping my owner on her toes. My owner has Lymphedema in her arm and if I scratch her, I can put her in the hospital. So, I need my nails trimmed often. This is where Henry’s Helping Paws comes in. They pay for my nail trims every month. They also help with normal care vet bills and shots and pay for the exams I need. We are so thankful for Henry’s Helping Paws to be there when I need to see a vet! I know I have a very long life ahead of me and they’ll always be there for me! A sincere thank you from my owner too!! Candie Ward with “Mischief”
AnimalCarePA.org 10 | Keystone Veterinarian
