MAKING A DIFFERENCE : One Group’s Approach: Sustain People With AIDS and Their Pets
An added worry for many people with AIDS-related symptoms and illnesses is how to continue caring for their pets while they contend with lengthy hospital stays and difficult medical treatments. They can be overwhelmed by the effort and expense their animals require and the prospect of giving up pets that sustain them through their illness. A group called Pets Are Wonderful Support/LA helps people with AIDS to keep and care for their animals. PAWS coordinates a network of volunteers to walk, groom, feed and transport pets to veterinarians who provide free or low-fee services. Businesses and individuals provide free pet food and supplies. PAWS also helps find temporary homes for pets and educates clients about how to find permanent homes for their pets as the need arises. More than 700 volunteers provide services to more than 900 people with AIDS and their 1,400 pets in Los Angeles County.
A CLIENT’S VIEW
Christopher Colvig lives in West Hollywood with his dog, Rocky, an American foxhound.
A friend of mine had help with his dog from PAWS. I remembered that and I volunteered with PAWS later and took care of cats mostly--even though I have a dog. As I got sicker and started to go into the hospital, I needed someone to take care of Rocky. PAWS set me up with a bunch of volunteers who came in and fed him every day and walked him two or three times a day.
I was in the hospital a lot. These days, I’ve had quite a recovery, (but) I probably would have had to give Rocky up if I didn’t have the PAWS volunteers.
Once when I got sick and went into the hospital, PAWS had someone come by and pick up my keys and start feeding (the dog). Everything I needed for Rocky was taken care of. It was such a relief for me. Maybe it’s the daytime when you go into emergency and, while you’re undergoing all of (these thoughts of) “Am I going to make it or not,” the dog is literally in the dark, with no food. When they told me, “Rocky’s OK,” it was a lot of stress reduced for me. And it allowed me to concentrate on getting better.
It’s real nice to have a pet to come home to when you’re recuperating. You know that you’re loved and cared for. I’ve had girlfriends and there’s only so far I can lean on them. I guess it’s my own personality, but with a dog I can show more weakness. I can show that I’m hurt or that I need attention. Times would be very lonely without my dog.
A VOLUNTEER’S VIEW
Clark Carlton, screenwriter, Los Angeles.
I’ve volunteered with PAWS for two years. I have my own animals: three dogs and two cats. They’re all rescues. They’re very valuable to me. I wanted to do something on a very personal level to help people who have AIDS. If I ever had HIV, one of the very important things to me would be for me to still have my animals. People with AIDS give up so much already. For a lot of them, if they had to give up their pets, it would be like asking them to give up a member of their family.
For just about every client of PAWS I’ve ever met, their dog or cat is even more important to them as they get sicker. Pets really help to sustain them in health and sickness.
Each time PAWS calls me it’s for something different. I’ve done some office work, stuffed envelopes. Sometimes I’ll take a cat into the vet or bring a dog to spend a few days at a temporary home while his owner gets better. Two beings are sustained by PAWS: pets as well as people.
TO GET INVOLVED
For information about pet adoption, volunteer, or donation opportunities or to order PAWS holiday cards, call Pets Are Wonderful Support at (213) 876-PAWS.
