New type of animal shelter helps people avoid difficult good-byes
12:37 p.m. Tuesday, October 7, 2008
How PANT works
- A client arrives with a pet at a partner agency. The client signs an agreement and receives a PANT voucher good for sheltering the pet at a pre-determined kennel or vet for a specific number of days. Other services, like spaying, neutering and medical care, are also provided as needed.
- The provider determines the pet's suitability for boarding. If the pet is accepted, it receives the services on the voucher, billed at a rate that PANT has pre-negotiated.
- The shelter pays the provider's bill using PANT funds. PANT funds come from donors.
- The client reclaims his or her pet when circumstances improve.
Do you need help?
Call the Topeka Rescue Mission at (785) 354-1744 or the YWCA Battered Women Task Force at 1-888-822-2983.
A new organization hopes to serve Topekans who are experiencing homelessness by alleviating one of their worries: What's going to happen to my pet.
It's an often-overlooked issue for people dealing with homelessness. Some people who are faced with homelessness for the first time may not know that area homeless shelters do not accept pets. So often, people abandon their pets.
"There was simply no place for the animals; but now with our organization, there is," said Ruth Maus, a PANT representative.
The Pet Assistance Network of Topeka, an all-volunteer non-profit organization, works hand-in-hand with the Topeka Rescue Mission and Battered Women's Task Force.
"So when clients go to those two shelters -- and they are wonderful shelters for people -- we take care of their pets by placing them in licensed care facilities around the county," Maus said.
And, the organization has already helped a number of people, she said.
A number of veterinarian offices have agreed to help out.
PANT is 100 percent supported by donations, Maus said. So, if you want to help out this new organization, just mail your donation to:
PANT
c/o Topeka Community Foundation
5431 SW 29th St.
Topeka, KS 66614
Or you can donate safely online at TopekaPANT.org.
PANT official formed in April 2008.
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