Megan, an eight-year-old rescue dog, is making an office visit to a place dedicated to keeping pets in homes and out of shelters.
PAWS stands for “Pets Are Wonderful Support.” For more than 20 years PAWS San Diego has dedicated itself to helping low-income seniors, and people with chronic illnesses and disabilities keep their pets at home. Earlier this year, PAWS merged with the San Diego Humane Society, strenghtening both organizations.
PAWS Executive Director Geraldine D’ Silva still remembers how the organization first started back in 1993, out of a woman's home in North County.
"(It was) a lady named Nancy Lubin, and she started offering service to the HIV and AIDS community and providing pet food out of her dining room," D’ Silva recalled.
When PAWS celebrated its 20th year anniversary in 2013, they decided to add a food pantry, the PAWS supplemental food program.
PAWS Pantry Manager Quinn Douglas-Hiley says the new service provides bags of food for anyone struggling to make ends meet and feed their animals.
"This is a program where we are able to hit the masses,” he said. “Anybody that can prove low-income status, with a federal or state ID, like a EBT or a Medi-Cal card, they’re able to get food right then and there.”
D’Silva said, "Seven out of ten requests that come in every day are for people needing just pet food. And we thought, 'what better way to celebrate than to launch a new program.'"
Anyone with proof of low-income status can pick up a bag at the PAWS office, or at one of the group's monthly distribution events. Families with cats can get a 3.5-pound bag and those with a dog can get an 8-pound bag.
PAWS also offers free in-home delivery of pet food and supplies once a month.
