The Hand2Paw Foundation

Hand2Paw has many aspects, each of which provides different benefits for the youth who participate.

Volunteering

Hand2Paw designs programs for social service agencies that bring groups of youth to volunteer at local animal shelters. These youth are assisted by Penn Vet students, animal shelter staff, and other volunteers, who help them train and bathe dogs, care for cats, and perform basic cleaning tasks such as laundry and mopping. The youth also have the opportunity to learn basic veterinary and animal care skills from staff veterinary technicians and vet students.

Humane Education

Hand2Paw programs educate youth by constantly reinforcing the idea that all animals are to be treated with unconditional respect. We teach our youth to treat animals as individuals with unique personalities and feelings. We teach the importance of providing veterinary care, vaccinations, and spaying and neutering for all animals. Finally, we encourage our participants to go back into their communities and empower their peers to treat animals with kindness and respect.

Reducing Violence in our Community

Hand2Paw teaches kindness for all living creatures. It is our hope that Hand2Paw’s programs teaching youth to treat animals with respect will translate into a reduction in overall violence in our communities.

Therapeutic Experiences

Hand2Paw gives youth the chance to interact with animals in a therapeutic way, encouraging them to reflect during the time they spend with the animals. Every group session ends with “kitten holding time,” and many youth have reported that this is their favorite part of the program.

Internships

In partnership with social service providers such as Covenant House PA and Project HOME, Hand2Paw supports internships for youth who wish to volunteer frequently with animals. Youth that demonstrate exemplary compassion towards animals, impressive work ethic, and an interest in working in the animal care industry are encouraged to spend more time volunteering at animal shelters, learning real job skills and the rituals of the professional world. Interns are assisted in utilizing hand2Paw's deep connections with local animal shelters and businesses to achieve full time employment or to pursue vocational training in an animal related industry.

Job Connections

Hand2Paw maintains connections with animal shelters and progressive local businesses that support our mission and believe in a brighter future for homeless teens and shelter animals. Hand2Paw helps interns use these connections to network and apply for paid jobs. We have successfully supported the placement of several interns into paid jobs in the animal care industry!  An employer who has successfully employed a Hand2Paw graduate for nearly a year states: “He has such a wonderful personality! He is constantly met with adversity, and has had a very difficult time with housing arrangements. Even with all these problems, he continues to work with a smile, and give a hundred percent.” 

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