In this new column of L.I.G.H.T. FOR CHARITY™ (‘Long Island Giving Help Together For Charity’), I shine a light on a Long Island-based charity named PAWS OF WAR. This is a charity that my younger sister Jenna is now working with.
PAWS OF WAR was formed 10 years ago and provides veterans, first responders and Gold Star families (people who sadly lost an immediate family member during military service) with a wide variety of important services through the power of love and support of rescued animals.
The charity has a mission: “To honor and support our veterans, active military members, firefighters and other first responders with services that enrich their lives through the rescue and training of service dogs for independence, adoption of companion animals, rescue of overseas animals in war zones, and other essential services to assist our heroes in need.”
If a veteran or first responder adopts an appropriate dog, PAWS OF WAR will train the dog to become a service dog to suit the owner’s needs. This is an extremely important and meaningful service because many veterans return from combat with life-changing physical injuries, anxiety, depression and/or post-traumatic stress disorder. These service dogs improve the quality of life for our returning soldiers, allowing them to sleep more peacefully and engage in day-to-day activities they otherwise couldn’t.
In addition to service dog training (which includes training the dog, pairing the dog with a hero in need and teaching the two how to interact together), PAWS OF WAR also provides the following additional services: (1) providing companion animals; (2) animal rescue for deployed military, including transporting pets across war borders; (3) no cost mobile veterinary clinic; (4) housing assistance for veterans with pets; (5) lifetime care for retired military working dogs; (6) therapy dog program for veterans and seniors; (7) Ukraine animal rescue and care; (8) disaster response and animal rescue; and (9) emergency foster and temporary pet placement services for veterans during hospital stays.
Because PAWS OF WAR helps both dogs and the heroes in need of dogs, PAWS OF WAR is proud to help on “both ends of the leash.”
All of the services provided by PAWS OF WAR are provided to veterans, first responders and Gold Star families free of charge. PAWS OF WAR therefore relies upon charitable donations to fund its operations. To help support PAWS OF WAR, you can visit its website at www.pawsofwar.org.
Special thanks to Jodie Cohen, who serves as a volunteer and Adoption Coordinator for PAWS OF WAR, for taking the time to speak with me to teach me so much about this important cause.
Kayla Donnenfeld, shining a LIGHT for Charity
OPEN THE BUILDINGS, HELP CLEAR THE ANIMAL SHELTERS
In these distressing times, our companion animals so often are left by the wayside. Those of us who can are needed to be their voice.
A staggering number of cats, dogs and other companion animals are being brought to shelters. Even worse, pets are being left behind, abandoned due to the overwhelming effects of inflation and the rising costs to pay for food, medicine, and healthcare. The scarcity of Pet Friendly housing adds significantly to this tragic situation.
People are being uprooted, experiencing job loss, some becoming homeless, they no longer can afford the cost of housing. They live the heart-wrenching reality of having no choice but to give up their beloved pets. They cannot afford to care for them any longer. In this country, it should never have come to this. Think about the heartbreak from the animal’s perspective. They do not understand why their people are giving them up.
There are so few rental apartments, co-ops and condos that are Pet Friendly. Long Islanders must urge landlords, residential building owners and co-op and condo boards to accept companion animals in apartment buildings. Have incentives for those buildings that welcome pets.
A powerful friend to animals is Sandra Atlas Bass, Sol G. Atlas Realty Co., Inc. For decades Sandra Bass has made all her apartment buildings Pet Friendly, and does not charge additional fees for pets. Building owners are needed to follow her lead.
Animal Rescue shelters are overwhelmed due to disasters and war torn areas throughout the world. Many are going above and beyond to rescue animals and bring them to safety. Burdened financially, having limited space, they need a tremendous amount of assistance. The animals they rescue need homes.
Local officials including town mayors and supervisors, county executives, council and assembly members, and state senators must be called upon to advocate for animals.
Encourage your local village halls, libraries, food markets and places of worship to have pet food bins to help those in need to feed their companion animals. Imagine having to part with your pet because you cannot afford to feed them.
Create a community that can change the landscape for companion animals. Be a champion for buildings that welcome pets, and advocate for pet food bins to be placed in our communities. Help dogs, cats, and other companion animals to stay with their families, and more rescues to be adopted.
Express your comments to your local papers. Mention your pet friendly building, or if you would like your building to be pet friendly.
Mahatma Gandhi said, “The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated.”
If you are fortunate, open your heart and home to share your life with a companion animal. They truly are family. They save lives in countless ways.
Gary Feldman
Food, Health, Environment Instructor/Writer garyteach1@gmail.com