Pets Are Wonderful Support, or PAWS, was founded in 1993 by volunteers in San Diego to help people living with HIV/AIDS to keep their animals. Since then, the nonprofit group has expanded to include low-income disabled and elderly people.

PAWS has two distribution warehouses. In 2006 volunteers delivered more than 75,000 pounds of pet food, litter and supplies to their 570 clients (more than 725 pets). They also subsidized almost 600 veterinary visits, including two dozen lifesaving emergency surgeries. PAWS is funded through grants, donations and fundraising events.

Volunteers make house calls delivering food, walking pets, changing litter boxes, feeding animals and providing transportation to and from veterinary visits.

A 2006 survey of client profiles revealed:

Fifty-five percent are recovering from mental illness, 44% are living with HIV/AIDS, 39% are living with another physical disability, 27% are over age 65, and 87% live alone with pets as their only companions.

According to volunteer coordinator Richard Casiano, the unconditional love of an animal gives thousands of people a reason to continue on with their lives despite challenging physical, mental and financial hardships.

For more information visit www.pawssdc.org.

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