Join us at The Jolly Coachman in Pitt Meadows on October 23rd for a special Pasta Night fundraiser in support of Paws for Hope Animal Foundation. Tickets are $30 or 2 for $55 and include a pasta dinner and a glass of wine.

Pasta Night

in support of Paws for Hope Animal Foundation
October 23rd, 2022 from 5:00–8:00 PM
The Jolly Coachman
19167 Ford Rd, Pitt Meadows BC

Tickets: 1 for $30 or 2 for $55

Many thanks to Dog Quality and Forte Law for sponsoring this event. Tickets are on sale now. Get yours today and help us help BC animals in need.

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Paws for Hope Animal Foundation is looking for a Lead Generation Specialist to help us raise funds and improve our corporate giving program. The full job posting is below. Eligible candidates are invited to submit a cover letter with their resume detailing their experience and qualifications to Paws for Hope’s Executive Director, Kathy Powelson, at kathy@pawsforhope.org.

Lead Generation Specialist

Summary of Position

The Lead Generation Specialist will be responsible for prospecting, qualifying and generation new leads for Paws for Hope Animal Foundation’s Corporate Giving program. This individual will be a highly motivated, self-starter able to identify and develop new corporate donor prospects from multiple sources. A fearless and dynamic personality is essential!

This is a home office position. The Specialist will need to have a home office set up and be located in British Columbia.

Duties and Accountabilities

• Conduct research to identify potential prospects
• Build and cultivate prospect relationships by initiating communications and conducting follow-up communications in order to move opportunities to the Executive Director
• Manage data for new and prospective donors within CRM, ensuring all communications are logged and information is accurate.

Experience

• 1 – 3 years of telemarketing and/or inside sales experience
• Demonstrated ability to meet and/or exceed determined activity quotas
• A proven track record of strong client relationships
• 1-3 years business to business sales
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills

Skills and Abilities

• Self-motivated, collaborative and a good listener
• Excellent interpersonal, verbal and written communication skills
• Values collaboration, maintaining an environment of honesty, openness and energetic exchange
• Excellent computer skills and proficiency in the use of Microsoft Office applications
• Passionate about animal welfare and the human-animal bond

Hours & Compensation

This is a temporary contract position with the potential for extension based on the success of the proof of concept. The position will start at 3 weeks at 20 hours a week at $24/hour.

How to Apply

Eligible candidates are invited to submit a cover letter with their resume detailing their experience and qualifications to Paws for Hope’s Executive Director, Kathy Powelson, at kathy@pawsforhope.org.

About Paws for Hope Animal Foundation

Paws for Hope Animal Foundation (Paws for Hope) is passionate about animals and their ongoing care and protection. We are leading the way in BC in finding innovative ways to support people and pets. By finding solutions that keep pets with their families, we reduce the burden on the animal welfare system and support the mental and social well-being of people who are often marginalized and/or experiencing a crisis. We have a vision for our province where every pet will be cared for and have a home. Each member of our team believes in the potential to transform our animal welfare system to create a truly protective animal welfare system for pets in BC.

The post Work with Paws for Hope! appeared first on Paws for Hope.

Our home is full of pets. It’s chaotic, often loud, and covered in hair. It is challenging to find a pet sitter when we go away. But I wouldn’t have it any other way. I cannot imagine our home without pets—except perhaps when all four dogs are barking at the same time at something or someone walking down our street.  

There is so much joy in caring for pets. But that joy can very quickly turn to stress and anxiety when they become sick. And your financial capacity to access the veterinary care they need directly affects that stress and anxiety. And some of us have more capacity than others. 

Recently, I was reminded just how stressful the situation can be for the many pet families that struggle to access veterinary care. In a span of a few short weeks, one of our dogs needed dental surgery; another who recently had knee surgery got an infection in that leg; and one of our cats developed what would turn out to be a brain tumour and would have to be euthanized. 

None of our pets have pet insurance (a discussion for another day) and the costs piled up very quickly—costs that we didn’t have the cash for. However, I did have access to a line of credit and credit cards but I know very well that this is a luxury that is not available to everyone. As I watched my cat struggle with the symptoms of her tumour (which we initially thought was an ear infection) and my dog struggle with the discomfort of an infected leg, I struggled to imagine how truly horrible it would have been if I were not able to access any of the veterinary care they needed. 

But I know very well that this is a reality that many people face every single day. 

And in addition to the financial constraints that limit people’s access to veterinary care, where you live also determines how accessible veterinary care is. Veterinary deserts (areas where there are no veterinary hospitals) exist across the country, particularly in remote, northern communities.  

In these places, even those who can afford to take their pets to a veterinary hospital are required to drive for 8 hours or more or forced to take a plane or water taxi. In many places across our country, emergency veterinary care simply isn’t an option at all. 

Put quite simply, we are facing a veterinary crisis. More animals suffer because of a lack of veterinary care than there are who suffer from intentional acts of cruelty or neglect.  

At Paws for Hope, we experience this every day. We are currently receiving an average of 200 calls a month from people who are desperate to get their beloved family members to a veterinarian. And with soaring inflation rates, we anticipate this will continue to worsen as everything else gets more expensive.  

In response, some may say that “owning” pets is a privilege. Some people argue that if you cannot afford to care for an animal then you shouldn’t have one.  But by asserting that pet ownership is a privilege, we are ignoring the very real social inequities that exist in our society—inequities that create advantages for certain groups of people over others simply by characteristics or conditions that are beyond anyone’s control. 

Our society is structured to marginalize people because of their race, gender, disability, sexuality, mental health, or history of abuse and neglect. These are people who face barriers simply because of circumstances or who they are, people who are blamed for their situation, as if it were a choice or a character flaw rather than a symptom of colonialism, racism, bureaucracy, prejudice or stigma. The way our society is structured means they will never know the various privileges that many of us have spent our lives taking for granted—the ways we benefit from the laws and systems that neglect and harm them.

Declaring pet ownership as a privilege asserts that only certain groups of people can have access to this privilege. It denies the tremendous benefits of pet companionship to groups of people who are already disenfranchised and isolated. It reinforces the notion that certain groups of people are valued more than others.

And given the current state of our animal welfare system, where shelters and rescues are beyond capacity with animals in need of homes, this perspective (that some families are more deserving of having a pet than others) increases the likelihood that healthy and adoptable animals will be euthanized due to the lack of “suitable” homes.

The world is changing fast and we need to do our best to catch up. Our role as animal welfare champions can no longer be solely about advocating for the animals. We also have to work toward understanding and dismantling these harmful systems and prejudices and work towards building communities of care and support for all people and their pets.  

The post The pain and privilege of caring for pets appeared first on Paws for Hope.

Vancouver, BC – The Paws for Hope Animal Foundation (Paws for Hope) is sounding the alarm as the need for crisis short-term foster care for animals has become more urgent and dire than ever.

“So many people in our province are in crisis right now but don’t have a safe place for their pets to go while they get the help they need,” says Kathy Powelson, Executive Director. “So many people are struggling. Demand for our crisis foster care program is higher than it has ever been and we can’t keep up.”

Paws for Hope’s crisis foster care program—No Pet Left Behind—helps ensure people in crisis have a safe place for their pets to stay while they get the support they need to get back on their feet. As such, foster homes are an integral part of the program. “Women and children are fleeing violence, families are losing pet-friendly housing, and individuals are seeking vital treatment. People’s lives are at stake. And without enough foster homes for their animals, we unfortunately have to turn people away.”

Research has shown that many individuals will delay leaving an abuser for fear of their pet’s safety should they leave the pet behind, thus prolonging the abuse. And there are few places to go for people facing violence that allow pets. Paws for Hope is filling this important gap—ensuring pets are included in the social safety net for individuals fleeing violence and others experiencing crises.

“Our foster families are very special. They care for the pets of people in crisis, knowing that they will not have the opportunity to adopt their foster animal. But by being there for a pet and person in need, they are saving lives and keeping families together.”

Paws for Hope provides all necessities and covers veterinary expenses for all foster pets during their stay in a foster home. People and families interested in becoming a foster home or seeking further information can visit the Paws for Hope website or contact Cassie, the Program Coordinator at cassie@pawsforhope.org or 604-509-9297.

About Paws for Hope Animal Foundation

Paws for Hope Animal Foundation is a provincial animal welfare charity whose mission is to keep pets and people together, ensure BC pets survive and thrive, and support positive change in the BC animal welfare sector.

For more information and to arrange interviews, please contact:
Kathy Powelson, Paws for Hope Executive Director
kathy@pawsforhope.org or 604-396-9297

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Support for Indigenous communities identified as focus of the initial cohort for the trailblazing grant program

Maple Ridge BC – Paws for Hope Animal Foundation has received a grant from PetSmart Charities of Canada in the amount of $60,000 to address challenges in accessing veterinary care in Anacla, supporting Huu-ay-aht First Nation in partnership with CARE Network (based in Tofino, BC).

Rising costs combined with geographical and cultural barriers have left many communities out of the veterinary care system altogether. This grant program supports innovative and culturally relevant veterinary programs focused on Indigenous communities, which have been historically excluded from veterinary care.

Early in 2023, PetSmart Charities of Canada, the top funder of animal welfare in the country, announced an $18 million commitment over the next five years toward improving access to veterinary care. The “Incubator” grant program, focused on changing how to support veterinary care in historically excluded Indigenous communities, is a significant pillar of that commitment.

“Access to veterinary care is the number one animal welfare issue impacting companion animals in our country,” states Kathy Powelson, founder and executive director of Paws for Hope. “This, a first of its kind funding opportunity, enables us to work in partnership with both the community and a local animal welfare organization (CARE). They bring a decade of experience working with remote communities to build a sustainable, replicable solution to inadequate access to veterinary care in a culturally relevant way.”

While nearly 60% of Canadian households include pets, access to basic veterinary services has not kept pace. This is particularly felt in Indigenous communities that have additional barriers beyond cost, including cultural barriers and a lack of veterinary services in the vicinity. In Indigenous regions, pets play important roles in their communities, but accessing resources to keep animals healthy can be challenging. With reconciliation considerations integrated into the approach, grantees will build relationships and assess specific needs before helping to design long-term veterinary services. This ensures that communities that have been left out are deliberately included in deciding how and when they will access the healthcare they need for their pets.

“Nearly 1 in 5 Canadians struggle to access even basic preventative care such as spay/neuter procedures, vaccinations and annual exams,” said Kate Atema, director of community grants & initiatives at PetSmart Charities of Canada. “While this issue affects families in nearly every community, those who have been historically excluded from human social services are most in need of pet services. We’re proud to support an innovative approach that meets the unique needs identified by those with lived experiences that have struggled to gain access to veterinary care themselves.”

Huu-ay-aht citizens living on Anacla can find out more about the project and how they can access support by contacting James Rogers at info@carenetwork.ca.

About Paws for Hope Animal Foundation

Paws for Hope Animal Foundation is a provincial animal welfare charity whose mission is to keep pets and people together, ensure BC pets survive and thrive, and support positive change in the BC animal welfare sector.

About CARE Network

CARE has been partnering with rural and remote communities for over ten years to innovate animal care and controls to keep all members of these communities safe and healthy, whether they have two legs or four. Connect with us to join a network of compassion and care.

About PetSmart Charities of Canada

PetSmart Charities of Canada is committed to making the world a better place for pets and all who love them. Through its in-store adoption program in all PetSmart ® stores across the country, PetSmart Charities of Canada helps thousands of pets connect with loving families each year. PetSmart Charities of Canada also provides grant funding to support organizations that advocate and care for the well-being of all pets and their families. Our grants and efforts connect pets with loving homes through adoption, improve access to affordable veterinary care and support families in times of crisis with access to food, shelter, and emergency relief. Each year, thousands of generous supporters help pets in need by donating to PetSmart Charities of Canada directly at PetSmartCharities.ca, while shopping at PetSmart.ca, and by using the PIN pads at checkout registers inside PetSmart stores. In turn, PetSmart Charities of Canada efficiently uses more than 90 cents of every dollar donated to fulfill its role as the leading funder of animal welfare in Canada, granting more than $25 million since its inception in 1999. Independent from PetSmart LLC, PetSmart Charities of Canada is a registered Canadian charity. To learn more visit www.PetSmartCharities.ca.

Media Contact:
24-Hour PetSmart Charities Media Line: 623-587-2177

Paws for Hope Animal Foundation
Kathy Powelson
604-396-9297
kathy@pawsforhope.org

CARE Network
James Rodgers
250-266-9663
info@carenetwork.ca

Huu-ay-aht First Nation
Amanda-Lee Çunningham
250-720-7772
amanda.c@huuayaht.org

The post Paws for Hope Animal Foundation to Address Lack of Accessible Veterinary Care in Historically Excluded Community with Support from PetSmart Charities of Canada appeared first on Paws for Hope.

You have likely heard me make the statement, “access to veterinary care is the number one animal welfare issue for companion animals”, and this is certainly the case for animals living in remote communities across the province. How to bring consistent veterinary care to remote communities is a major challenge – but an important challenge to address.

We are very excited to be part of a cohort of organizations across the country working together, with PetSmart Charities to address this important need. To do this, we have partnered with the CARE Network and Huu-ay-aht First Nation to support citizens and their furry family members living in Anacla (off the west coast of Vancouver Island).

Last week our teams were invited to the community to meet citizens and their pets, provide vaccines and parasite control and develop a better understanding of what the community would like to see in terms of animal welfare and veterinary care support. In total, we saw 35 pets (28 dogs and 7 cats). The hope is that over the next few years, we will develop important relationships and a model of mobile veterinary care that can support the community over the long term and be replicated across the province.

The well-being of animals impacts community well-being, and we are committed to supporting healthy and thriving communities across the province. Your support helps to sustain this important work.

The post Bringing veterinary care to remote communities appeared first on Paws for Hope.

Vancouver, BC – The Paws for Hope Animal Foundation (Paws for Hope) is announcing the creation of a $10,000 Fire Relief Fund for pet owners who have been affected by the BC fires. The fund will assist pet owners with the costs of food, supplies, boarding, and veterinary care during this crisis.

“This has been such a devastating time for so many BC residents and we want to do our part to help ensure families are able to provide for their pets,” says Kathy Powelson, Paws for Hope Executive Director.

Paws for Hope is also encouraging businesses and individuals who would like to offer their support to donate to the fund on our website at: www.pawsforhope.org.

“You can help us to ensure this fund is available beyond the immediate crisis so families receive ongoing support while they get back on their feet.”

Families in need of assistance for their pets can contact, Emily Aono at emily@pawsforhope.org or 778-991-7729. Those wanting to donate to the Fire Relief Fund can contact Kathy Powelson, Paws for Hope Executive Director at kathy@pawsforhope.org or 604-396-9297 or online at can visit the Paws for Hope website.

About Paws for Hope Animal Foundation

Paws for Hope Animal Foundation is a provincial animal welfare charity whose mission is to keep pets and people together, ensure BC pets survive and thrive, and support positive change in the BC animal welfare sector.

For more information and to arrange interviews, please contact:
Kathy Powelson, Paws for Hope Executive Director
kathy@pawsforhope.org or 604-396-9297

The post Paws for Hope announces Fire Relief Fund for pet owners appeared first on Paws for Hope.

In an era marked by increasing social fragmentation and disengagement, “Unleashing Community Power: A Blueprint for Strengthening Families” offers a perspective on aligning community resources and activities with a biodiverse society. Join us as we connect with colleagues across sectors to discuss what a blueprint for supporting pet families through a One Health lens could look like.

Unleashing Community Power

October 28th, 2023 from 12:00–3:00 PM
Registration opens at 11:30 AM
Vancouver Fairmont
900 West Georgia Street, Vancouver BC

Tickets: $50 (registration form below)

Most families in the U.S. (7 out of 10) and Canada (6 out of 10) have pets. Ninety-five percent of U.S. households consider their pet a family member (The Harris Poll 2015), a rate believed to be similar among Canadians. Thus, the definition of family has been changed by society.

Healthcare is among the most critical services families need. Yet, a 2018 national study found that more than 1 out of 4 U.S. families desiring veterinary care did not receive any during the previous two years. “Not able to afford” was the overwhelming reason. This disparity in healthcare impacts the health and well-being of the family, the people working to support animal welfare, and the community.

Healthy communities are built upon policies, systems, and programs that yield healthy, biodiverse families. The people and organizations that attend to the needs of pets, many of whom are homeless, perform a crucial social service function. A One Health approach is essential and can be achieved by better aligning community resources and activities. Efforts to improve family health and well-being will always factor in (the likelihood of) pets and reflect the objective of equity.

Panel

Amy Fitzgerald, BC Society of Transition Houses
Dr. Emilia Gordon, Haven Veterinary Services
Dr. Michael Blackwell, University of Tennessee
Kathy Powelson, Paws for Hope Animal Foundation.

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• Public health
• Animal welfare
• Veterinary services
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The post Unleashing Community Power: A Blueprint for Strengthening Families appeared first on Paws for Hope.

Paws for Hope Animal Foundation is a registered charity based in British Columbia (BC) with a mission to shift the culture of companion animal welfare in BC by creating new models of practice and remediating the underlying causes of harm through cross sector collaboration, education and advocacy.

Paws for Hope values the human-animal bond and believes that, whenever possible, loved pets should be supported in the community in order to keep them with their families. In addition to preserving the significant bond between people and their pets, it helps to free the rescue and shelter system for those pets who are truly homeless and/or survivors of intentional acts of cruelty and neglect.

No Pet Left Behind is a Paws for Hope program that provides temporary foster care for pets whose people are fleeing violence. We work in partnership with veterinary hospitals, animal shelters and rescue organizations and volunteer foster homes to ensure pets and their people can find safety.

We are looking for community coordinators across the province to assist in service delivery outside of the Lower Mainland and Fraser Valley.

Summary of position

The Community Coordinator is a volunteer position reporting to the No Pet Left Behind Program Coordinator. The Community Coordinator will be the primary liaison between community partners and fosters and our No Pet Left Behind Program Coordinator, and duties and responsibilities include:

• Assist with pets transports as needed
• Data entry
• Follow up with potential and existing fosters”
• Provide pet supply delivery to fosters as needed
• Building relationships with social and housing services and other first responders in the community to promote Paws for Hope services
• Promoting foster and other volunteer opportunities in the community

Skills and Abilities

• Self-motivated, collaborative and a good listener
• Excellent interpersonal, verbal and written communication skills
• Values collaboration, maintaining an environment of honesty, openness and energetic exchange in a professional manner
• Excellent computer skills and proficiency in the use of Microsoft Office and Google Drive
• Passionate about animal welfare and the human/animal bond
• Proficient in handling cats and dogs (other animals an asset)
• Pet First Aid not necessary, but considered an asset

Hours

Approximately 2 hours a week. The coordinator must have regular access to a vehicle.

Compensation

This is a volunteer position. The coordinator will be reimbursed for mileage, and any out-of-pocket expenses.

To Apply

The post Volunteer Position: Community Coordinators appeared first on Paws for Hope.

In our most recent survey of BC animal rescue organizations, half of all respondents reported being at capacity and unable to take in more animals. Over three-quarters reported a decrease in adoption applications and over half reported a decrease in available fosters. Making the situation even worse, these trends are occurring at a time when owner surrenders of animals are increasing.

• 77% of respondents reported a decrease in adoption applications
• 69% of respondents reported an increase in owner surrender requests 
• 50% of respondents reported a decrease in available fosters

In addition to the above pressures, a rise in large-scale animal cruelty cases and a significant decrease in donations to animal rescue and welfare organizations are making our work even more difficult and stressful than it already was. Because adoptions are down so drastically, animals need to stay in shelters and foster homes longer. This affects our capacity and ability to help other animals in need because there is simply no space for new animals.  

Making things even worse is the fact that access to veterinary care for these animals is also becoming more difficult. There is a severe shortage of veterinarians across BC resulting in long waitlists and, in some cases, clinics that are closed to new patients altogether. In some parts of the province, even if there is a veterinarian, the closest clinic is hours away.

What’s going on?

The state of BC’s animal welfare sector is influenced by many things—including broader social issues like the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, rising inflation rates, the Russian invasion of Ukraine, and the catastrophic fires and floods our province experienced in 2021. Individuals and families are struggling and this directly affects BC’s non-profits and charities. An in-depth discussion on how this is impacting pet families can be found here.  

People and families who are used to having disposable income are feeling the impact of inflation and supply chain issues; some may be unemployed. Many are forced to prioritize their spending. As a result, more and more people feel unable to donate to the charity or cause of their choice. 

At the same time, the lack of pet-friendly housing is both the main reason for owner surrenders and affects the number of people who are able to provide foster homes for animals in need. The lack of pet-friendly housing in BC has long been an issue for individuals and families and is now resulting in more and more people and animals being left homeless. This is a devastating and preventable outcome and we have been demanding more pet-friendly housing options for years. 

How you can help

In that same survey, animal welfare and rescue organizations were asked: “What one thing would you ask for from the community?” The three most common responses were: donations and funding, help with fostering or adoptions and spaying and neutering your pets.    

Animal rescue professionals and organizations are incredibly dedicated and resilient. Despite all of these challenges, they continue to show up every day (and often on evenings and weekends) and do the best they can with what little they have.  

But this work shouldn’t have to be so selfless and demanding. This situation is unsustainable and more and more advocates and experts are growing concerned and calling for significant changes—in legislation, funding, and priorities—before we lose more organizations and animals. We are at a critical point. Now more than ever we need your help!

• Donate to your animal charity of choice. Click here to see a list of our Network Partners.
• Consider adopting from your local shelter or animal rescue. And be sure to adopt from a responsible, established organization.
• Consider fostering for your local shelter or animal rescue. It is a cost-free and short-term way of helping out big.
• Share this post with your social media network to help spread the word.

Help us help animals

In this time of stress and chaos, we also encourage you to be kind and patient with the animal rescue organizations and veterinarians in your community. Our sector is doing the best it can to deal with a significant increase in demand with extremely limited resources. Most of the people in our sector are overburdened and burning out.

But you can help change that. You can help make things better. We can work together to ensure animals are not forgotten as we navigate through these difficult and confusing times. Volunteer some of your time and energy, use your influence to raise awareness, share your space with an animal, or donate to a worthy organization. The results are in… we need your help.

About Paws for Hope

Paws for Hope Animal Foundation is a provincial animal welfare charity whose mission is to keep pets and people together, ensure BC pets survive and thrive, and support positive change in the BC animal welfare sector. Learn how you can support our work here.

The post Survey says… We need your help to help animals appeared first on Paws for Hope.