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Pets Are Loving Support
Intown nonprofit nears 25th anniversary of helping people and pets
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 nonprofit 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 fundraising.
Speaking of fundraising, 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 got such an
overwhelming response, it’s being repeated this year on
Nov. 8.
Photos are posted online and people vote for their
favorites. The top 10 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.”
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 there 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. 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.
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 and spaying/neutering.
When necessary, the organization can even provide
contacts for free foster care and adoption programs.
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” EE)
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November 2014 | INtOWll 17
