It’s no easy task running a successful animal rescue.
There’s funding to secure, animals to transport and foster homes to find, not to mention the ultimate goal of adopting these four-legged orphans into permanent homes.
But what about the unexpected? What happens when an animal is sick or injured and the rescue cannot shoulder this sudden financial burden?
That’s where Paw It 4ward Foundation steps in.
In April 2013, Azita Kay founded Paw It 4ward Foundation to help provide medical funding for animal rescues. The Cherry Hill resident was in animal welfare for more than five years when she decided to start the new venture.
She knew from the start she wanted to help existing rescues.
“If we have the right rescues around us and they’re doing the right thing, why reinvent the wheel?” Kay asked. “I wanted to do something that would really benefit the rescues that are already out there.”
When animal rescues have a medical case, it can apply to Paw It 4ward for financial aid. The goal of Paw It 4ward, Kay said, is to help with as much of the cost as possible.
Applicants — which must be 501(c)3 organizations, or in the process of becoming one — can become partners of Paw It 4ward or use the group’s specific fund application, which would be submitted for each medical case. Everything is verified through a veterinarian’s office. The application process ensures the rescue applying is legitimately in need.
Paw It 4ward then pays the veterinarian directly.
“You know exactly where your donations are going,” Kay said. “I wanted to make sure that’s how we handled things. A lot of times people don’t know where their donations go and that holds them back from helping.”
Medical cases
Paw It 4ward has helped a number of local rescues with all types of medical cases.
“The rescues are so responsible. They don’t abuse the medical fund in any way. They really utilize it as a last resort,” Kay said. “It shows the standard of the rescues that we work with and that they’re providing the right care for their animals.”
Earlier this year, One Love Animal Rescue received funding to help Sasha, a rescued American Staffordshire terrier mix with severe back wounds.
One Love Chairman Sherri Smith said Paw It 4ward was quick in its response and awarded the grant almost immediately.
“Having the support of the Paw It 4ward Foundation means that we have an extra fundraising arm to help us when we run into an unexpected, serious medical case,” Smith said. “They are passionate animal advocates, and they make the hard work of rescue easier. Paw It 4ward keeps us going when debt would otherwise slow us down. They partner with us to promote our events, and they collect and share resources that rescues always need. When you support Paw it 4Ward, you support homeless animals and the work of local rescues in your community.”
All They Need Is Love Animal Rescue received funding from Paw It 4ward twice — once for a mastiff named Naja who needed heart surgery at the cost of $3,500, and a second time for a beagle named Madison in need of a $4,000 splenectomy. Paw It 4ward was able to donate $1,000 to both cases.
“It’s a really great foundation. There’s a huge need for what they’re doing,” All They Need Is Love founder Emily Richardson said. “We take in all kinds of sick dogs that others aren’t able to help. The bills add up really quickly.”
Further outreach
Since its inception, Paw It 4ward has grown to help beyond its initial premise of medical funding. It hosts adoption events — like the upcoming Rock 4 Paws festival in Medford — where partners can bring adoptable pets to showcase. The organization collects food and items for rescues, too.
“We want to create that community setting,” Kay said. “We have an open forum on Facebook for rescues to speak to each other and work together. It’s been going really well.”
More recently, Paw It 4ward has started a small rescue of its own, completely fundraised by Kay and her husband, Bill. Money raised for the medical fund is never utilized for the rescue — the two are separate ventures.
“The concept of the rescue is going to be medical cases,” Kay said.
Fundraising
During its first year, Paw It 4ward fundraised primarily through events and donations. Now with its 501(c)3 status, the organization hopes to fundraise through more grants, too.
In April, the group is also starting an online store where a percentage of purchases will go directly to the medical fund or rescue.
“It’s going to be a regular ecommerce store — things for pets, things for people,” Kay said. “You don’t have to love rescues or rescued animals, but if there’s a really cool bed on our website and you want to purchase it, you’re still helping.”
Kay said Paw It 4ward has never denied a medical application, and that is the hope going into the future.
“If there’s money in the fund and it’s a legitimate rescue, even if we can donate $200, we’ll do it,” she said. “My goal is to always have enough funds in the medical fund that we can take care of the entire bill.
“There’s these amazing animals that we’re going to keep fighting for,” Kay said. “They deserve a chance just as much as everybody else.”
