Imagine having a life threatening illness.

Now imagine having to go through it alone...

PAWS NY Capital Region assists people living with HIV/AIDS in maintaining and caring for their pets. We provide individualized support, information, supplies and assistance at no cost to eligible residents of the NY Capital Region.

PAWS currently serves 75 clients with 110 pets throughout the Capital Region, and we are proud to be able to offer such a valuable and needed service to our community.

Why We Do It

Pets are important for health and emotional well being. For people living with HIV/AIDS, the mental and physical health benefits of having pets are even more important.  In addition to providing companionship, pets give their owners joy, comfort, and unconditional love so needed while battling this terrible illness.

Many Capital Region residents dealing with a loss of income, medical bills, and extended hospital stays, can no longer afford pet food, proper veterinary care or to take proper care of their pets.  Tragically, many well-loved animal companions are given away.

History - PAWS NY Capital Region was started locally by a caring group of AIDS service providers, veterinarians, persons living with HIV/AIDS, local funding agencies, and other community members who saw the need for this service.  The Albany Damien Center agreed to administer the program.  Paws groups all over the US have played a vital role in ensuring that people are not separated from their animal companions when they need them the most.

Who is eligible – Residents of Albany, Schenectady, Saratoga, and Rensselaer counties who are living with HIV/AIDS. Certain services are determined on an income basis.  Pets include dogs and cats.  To become a client of PAWS, contact PAWS at 518-449-7119 or email us at info@pawsnycapitalregion.org .

PAWS Policy Changes and Reminders

1) Contact Information – A reminder to let us know if any of the contact information in your initial paperwork has changed.  This may include your address, phone, emergency contacts, case manager, etc.  If you have a question as to what was included in your initial form, please contact Greta Smith, Albany Damien Center Administrative Assistant from 10 AM to 5 PM at 449-7119.

2) Pet Food and Supplies:  At present, if you wish to obtain food or supplies for your pet, call 449-7119 to give us at least 48 hours notice so we can make arrangements to accommodate you.

3) Safe Pet Guidelines – A reminder that it is important for your health and the health of your pets to read and fully understand the Safe Pet Guidelines (the pamphlet with the blue cover you received upon becoming a PAWS Client).  You should become familiar with the Guidelines especially in relation to the type of pet you have or pets that you may come into contact with.  Please contact Michael Broderick should you have any questions or are in need of another copy of the blue Safe Pet Guidelines.

 4) Client Agreement Addition – Veterinary Bills - PAWS values our relationships with our participating veterinary offices.  As you know, our veterinarians work hard to provide our clients much needed services for our pets at substantially discounted prices and often donate much of the pet food we give out on a regular basis.  Thus, it is important that all PAWS clients remain in good standing with the veterinarians we use for the program.

We understand that the $150 veterinary assistance, at times, may not cover all of the necessary veterinary bills for your pet.  At PAWS, we are working hard to establish an emergency fund, but until then it is your responsibility to pay any bills you incur that are not covered by the PAWS veterinary voucher assistance.  Most veterinary offices are willing to let you make payment arrangements that will fit into your budget and we are always willing to assist you in setting up these payment arrangements – providing you are willing to keep to the agreement.

Thus effective immediately, please note the following addition to the Client Policy Agreement:

Client agrees they will keep their account(s) with PAWS veterinary offices current.  Should client exceed the PAWS veterinary voucher allowance, client agrees to make and keep payment arrangements for services rendered. Please note that any client who is not able to comply with the Client Agreement for Services will be terminated from the program.