$1,000 – PAWS of Teton Valley
The 2022 Youth Philanthropy students were pleased to fully fund a grant of $1000 to PAWS of Teton Valley for the purpose of providing veterinary care for homeless pets in Teton Valley.
On Jan 1, 2022, PAWS of Jackson Hole acquired the Teton Valley Community Animal Shelter in Driggs, ID, because it was going out of business. Renamed, PAWS of Teton Valley, it is the only open-admission shelter accepting all stray, surrendered, and abandoned pets in Teton Valley, ID, and providing a safe haven while they await their forever homes. PAWS of Teton Valley plays a vital role in keeping local pets and communities safe, providing veterinary assistance, educating the public, and providing spay/neuter resources to prevent pet overpopulation in Teton Valley. Communities without animal shelters report a variety of issues concerning uncontrolled populations of at-large dogs and feral cats. PAWS is a vital component of Teton Valley’s public health. Due to the housing crisis, shelter pet populations are higher than they’ve been in years. In the first 9-months of 2022, PAWS of Teton Valley cared for twice the number of pets the shelter cared for at this time last year. Animal care, veterinary, and staffing costs have all increased with the number of homeless pets in-house. Because PAWS is operating an open-admission animal shelter, they accept every pet who comes through our doors. They do not say no to an animal in need. Because of this policy PAWS cares for pets with a wide range of illnesses, injuries, and medical needs. In addition to critical veterinary care, PAWS provides routine vaccinations and wellness checks for all pets to decrease the spread of illness. With a total budget this year for veterinary care that will exceed $50,000, the fees PAWS charges to adopt a pet covers only part of the care they provide. The remainder of the needed funds is raised through public donations and grants.
The Youth Philanthropist recognized that without funding for critical and routine veterinary care, PAWS cannot continue to shelter homeless pets. Moreover, veterinary care supports the pets’ health and well-being and enhances their opportunity for adoption. The students were pleased to award a grant to support these outcomes.
