PAWS Extern Programs: Public Health
Who do you know who acts tirelessly on animals’ behalf? I don't know them personally but when I saw this question, I immediately thought of the many people who have participated in the PAWS (Pets Are Wonderful Support) Public Health Externship Program.
If you don't know them already, San Francisco is home to Pets Are Wonderful Support (PAWS), a volunteer-based organization that provides for the comprehensive needs of companion animals for low-income persons with disabling HIV/AIDS and other disabling illnesses, as well as senior citizens. Here is one recent person sharing his gratitude on the PAWS Facebook Wall
Billy Jean Kanios - Preserving the Human Animal Bound. How fanstastic you did this for me. I am so grateful to u all. Also let me not forget Andrea and her work around the law and companion animals.
Today is Blog the Change for Animals. We chose to share a little about the PAWS (Pets Are Wonderful Support) Public Health Externship Program. The students who complete this program, and the many PAWS volunteers whose tireless work for folks like Billy Jean deserve our support and recognition.
Be, Blog and Read the Change for Animals!
PAWS Extern Programs: Public Health. The PAWS (Pets Are Wonderful Support) Public Health Externship Program is a 1 month externship at the PAWS San Francisco office. The objectives of this program are to educate future and current public health workers about the significance of the human-animal bond, promote public health via education on the health benefits and risks of animal companionship, and provide experience with the operation of a community-based, nonprofit organization.
In addition to engaging in an educational project at the PAWS office and participating in the Food Bank, students have opportunities to participate in field days with Vet SOS mobile veterinary services to homeless camps in San Francisco and Pets Unlimited, a nonprofit animal hospital and community partner of PAWS. In the past, externs have assisted with:
- assessing health and social service providers attitudes towards pets and health
- evaluating the efficacy of conferences a means for information distribution
- assessing the values and cultural sensitivities surrounding pets within the Asian, African-American and Latino communities.
Be the change for animals. Pets are wonderful support for people. Our dog Cleo has provided us with so much over the past five years. Her very nature is curious and engaging. She insists on our attention and returns our love, with love and devotion. We are encouraged to see programs like this one aimed at educating public health workers about the health benefits of animal companionship.
Learn more about PAWS ~