By Kathy Dean
As part of our anniversary, we’d like to reflect on another organization that has grown alongside us, one that contributes much to the Intown community – Pets Are Loving Support (P.A.L.S.). As a matter of fact, P.A.L.S. will be celebrating a major anniversary of its own next year. In January 2015, the non-profit organization will reach the 25-year mark.
P.A.L.S. mission – to provide ongoing care and support to pets of Atlanta area persons with critical illnesses, disabilities and the elderly – allows pets to stay with their owners at a time when they need each other the most. It’s well known that the powerful human-animal bond brings healing through love and companionship.
“We serve 450 animals every month, and we haven’t ever turned anyone away, not even when the economy had its downturn,” said Kevin Bryant, P.A.L.S. Executive Director. “It can be a challenge, of course, since a lot of the people are facing very tough health and financial issues, but when it comes down to it, we’re there for the pets – and that only makes the owners’ lives better.”
Bryant has been heading up P.A.L.S. for a little over eight years. While he’s the only staff member, and does everything from client services to grant writing, he was quick to point out that there’s also a core group of about 250 volunteers who all have their own special niches where they help, from food delivery to fund-raising.
Speaking of fund-raising, P.A.L.S.’ monthly bingo games are a well-known community event. The games are held at Jungle Atlanta and feature tasty food, lively music and exquisite drag queens who keep the party going strong. Bingo is an important part of the P.A.L.S. heritage, especially since it’s the group’s longest running source of income.
Last November, however, saw a new, exciting event—the Manly Miss America Pageant.
“It’s not your typical drag show,” Bryant explained. “It’s a bunch of guys who don’t normally do drag dressing up to represent the US states. It’s really more about creativity and originality.”
Photos are posted online and people vote for their favorites. The top ten then appear in swimwear and eveningwear competitions – as well as in the delightful question and answer segment. Last year, Bryant represented Alaska by dressing as Sarah Palin. As convincing as he was, the winner was a manly Dallas Cowboys cheerleader.
It’s through these fun events that P.A.L.S. raises money for serious work.
“We cover a lot of services for the people and their pets,” Bryant adds. “And we get no state or federal funding. We survive on donations and the goodwill of the community alone.”
Since it started in 1990, P.A.L.S. has delivered free pet food to more than 1,000 clients and 1,300 companion animals in the metro Atlanta area. Today, the group also transports pets to veterinary clinics and pays for basic care, like exams, annual shots, spaying/neutering. When necessary, the organization can even provide contacts for free foster care and adoption programs.
Bryant shared a story about a client that exemplifies the caring nature of P.A.L.S. Six years ago, a lady with a three-year old pet Lab contacted him. She was diagnosed with breast cancer and was going to be out of work for some time, so she was put on the program. Her breast was removed and she went into remission. Since she still had a lot of other health issues, P.A.L.S. continued its support.
“Two years ago, her cancer came back; it was spread throughout her body and she had a short prognosis,” Bryant said. “She came to me and was very concerned about her dog. She wanted to make sure that the dog was going to be cared for.”
Bryant spent some time with the dog and got to know its temperament and lifestyle. He looked over his list of people who foster pets, and he sent out some emails, introducing the dog and explaining that it would soon be available for adoption.
Several families responded. The client was able to help choose the family who would care for her dog once she passed. She died a week later.
“She couldn’t let go until she knew her dog, her baby, had a good home to go to,” Bryant added. “It doesn’t get more real that. It was comforting to know that we were able to help the dog make a good transition to a new home, and help the owner be at peace.”
The story of P.A.L.S. is a touching one: Two Atlanta businesswomen, veterinarian Dr. Susan Wynn and educator Dr. Margaret Schulte, were both volunteers for Project Open Hand. They met and discovered they shared a love of animals and a commitment to working with AIDS patients.
While talking with another volunteer, they learned that that was a nearby AIDS patient who lived alone with his cat. He so loved his cat that he was sharing his one meal a day with it. He was also using the little money he had for vet care instead of his much-needed medications.
This predicament touched the women’s hearts. They both understood that while this man was risking his life to care for his pet, the cat was his best friend, his only friend. The human-animal bond was critically important for his well-being.
They further realized that this was not likely to be an uncommon issue for AIDS patients, most of whom had lost their jobs, homes and savings once they’d been diagnosed. The disease also robbed many of the support and contact with family and friends.
Drs. Wynn and Schulte decided to take action and began to collect pet food. From this simple act of caring, P.A.L.S. was born.
For Bryant, as for the volunteers, working with P.A.L.S. is a labor of love. “I love my job,” he said. “And I love that I’m able to help so many animals in this city.”
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