Man’s best friend benefits from new Healthy Pets initiative

Humane Pennsylvania is boosting its pre-existing programs and services and implementing new ways to inspire a healthier community for pets and their owners with its new initiative, Healthy Pets, Healthy Lives.

The mission of Healthy Pets, Healthy Lives is to express the importance of healthy pets in the community and to provide opportunities for local pet owners to support their pets’ health by creating awareness for Humane Pennsylvania’s public programs and services.

“Maintaining an animal’s health before they come to us is the key to saving lives,” says Karel Minor, President and CEO of Humane Pennsylvania. “That’s why we’re improving and expanding our current programs and implementing new projects with the help of our donors and friends.”

Last year alone, Humane Pennsylvania partners Humane Veterinary Hospitals provided more than $700,000 in charitable veterinary services to homeless and stray pets, and The Humane Society of Berks County and The Humane League of Lancaster County together helped 3,250 animals get adopted. And, the organization continues to support the community through charitable programs such as AniMeals and Safe Haven.

With financial support from the Giorgi Family Foundation and Quaker Maid Meats, Humane Pennsylvania will be able to provide additional services in Reading and Berks County, including an increase of financial emergency assistance for veterinary care to impoverished clients; vaccination and microchip clinics targeting at-risk communities; and a Trap-Neuter-Return program to help control the city’s feline population. Humane Pennsylvania plans to produce additional programs in Lancaster County as well.

“A healthy pet stays healthy because the owner is able to care for it,” explains Minor. “When an owner is able to provide their pet with the appropriate care it needs, the less likely that pet will be surrendered to our shelters because of a lack of accessibility to veterinary services or other supportive programs.”

“When an owner is able to provide their pet with the appropriate care it needs, the less likely that pet will be surrendered to our shelters because of a lack of accessibility to veterinary services or other supportive programs.” — Karel Minor, President and CEO of Humane Pennsylvania

For more information on Healthy Pets, Healthy Lives and how you can support this initiative in your community, please visit www.humanepa. org/services/healthy-petshealthy-lives/.