Local group provides pet care, peace of mind for seriously ill patients

When Ann Marie Glaviano was diagnosed with lupus in 2000, she was a single mother trying to keep a household running for her two children and their pet dog.

While dealing with her illness, she felt unsure of her ability to care for her dog physically and financially. Yet she knew she loved Medici and Medici loved her - and that their bond would be therapeutic during her treatment. With help from friends and family, she was able to keep Medici close by.

Now that she's feeling better, Glaviano wants to make sure others disabled by serious illnesses can maintain relationships with their pets, too. She's founded PetsNPatients, a nonprofit network of volunteers ready to care for pets while owners are hospitalized or in treatment.

"We want to stop needless give-ups to animal control units and pet rescues. Sometimes, time affords a solution," she said. "We want patients to look toward their future in adapting to life changes if support systems are not readily available for their pet. Newly disabled patients' pets are valuable companions in healing and wellness, and they should be given an opportunity to keep this beneficial relationship."

With its Healing Tails Story Event, PetsNPatients is looking for owners to share stories of how their pets helped them through health crises. Following an online contest, which closes Sept. 30, owner-pet teams will be selected to be featured in the organization's 2009 fundraiser calendar.

Glaviano discusses PetsNPatients and its search for funding and volunteers.

Q. What is your mission?

A. Our grass-roots mission is to generate a greater national awareness of the positive healing nature of companion animals for patients enduring serious health crises.

We seek to help maintain relationships between patients and their pets during health crises and work to network additional options for patients. Our motto is "It's all about love, laughter and healing, one tail at a time."

Q. How do you work toward accomplishing your goals?

A. PetsNPatients is in the process of getting our contact cards to social service organizations, hospice centers and support groups with medical associations that support patients during serious illness.

We are recruiting program partners to grow our base of volunteer pet respite homes.

We seek volunteers and invite pet rescue volunteers, boarding centers, pet sitters and other responsible parties to help patients facing the most severe health crises.

Q. Whom do you serve?

A. We are new and seamless in service. To date we are serving patient needs in DuPage County but are not limited.

Given time to network and interview, we seek to fill the need and find help for pets close to the patient residence, if possible, to keep the communications and visitation possible.

Q. When and why did PetsNPatients start?

A. The outreach of PetsNPatients started in 2005. My dog, Medici, and I are both lupus patients. We told our story to area media and started to conduct small outreach events at the Whole Foods Store in Wheaton.

I survived a serious, life-threatening challenge with systemic lupus in June 2000 to 2002. My love of pets generated volunteers to help with pet care and kept the family intact as a single mother of two young children.

Q. How has it grown?

A. In 2006, permanently managing my chronic disability, my application to the Community Economic Development law project produced interest from the law firm of Jenner and Block. They donated over a year of service to form the organization as a 501(c) 3 not-for-profit organization.

I lead the all-volunteer network at this time and hope to grow operational funding to afford paid staffing.

Q. What kind of successes have you had?

A. Our very first grant application, written to seed the mission, was funded by Banfields Charitable Trust last summer. Another sponsor helped us produce 2008 "A Year in Celebration" calendars and our "disabled person with pets" emergency safety decal.

Q. What challenges does the organization face?

A. We need support for patients now trickling into the program; gas cards to make runs for patients; donations to support vet care for patients' pets.

Corporate sponsors are needed to cover the $5,000 expense to print our next "A Year in Celebration" outreach calendar. All graphics and photography are donated.

Q. What do you wish the community at large knew?

A. Disability is not a choice. Patients are already on reduced income on disability or no income for the long term, and pets are often at risk of relinquishing their companions because the patients can't financially take care of even their own needs with less income or diminished savings.

If patients have any personal property, a home, etc., few if any benefits can be found through state programs for their families. A companion pet is part of that family and pets can impart significant motivation for a patient's wellness when all else is changing.

Q. How can readers get involved?

A. Our volunteer needs are listed on our Web site, petsnpatients.com. We need more respite homes to help with ever changing needs.

We need help with volunteers in all areas to distribute our contact cards in their neighborhood animal clinics or veterinarian offices. Churches, synagogues and other faith-based groups can help us by running an item in their congregation newsletters, and health organizations can help promote our story campaign and adopt our cause.

We need volunteers to adopt our mission and help us contact businesses for gift cards for distribution to patients to use for their pets.

Readers can visit our online shop and support businesses; purchase a GemTek GPS unit, a Cat Den for their cats and many others listed.

Or simply make unrestricted donations through PayPal online or directly to PetsNPatients NFP through Harris Bank Naperville.

Healing Tails Story Event

PetsNPatients is seeking patients, caregivers or pet therapists to submit a story online of the value of pets in wellness and recovery. Selected PetsNPatients Ambassador Teams will be featured in the next print production. All photography is donated and selected patient-pet ambassador teams may receive gifts. If they are working at home when recovered, PetsNPatients will feature their home business on its Web site, petsnpatients.com.

If you go

PetsNPatients has volunteer recruitment and outreach events scheduled throughout the next month. Here's where you can learn more:

• 10 a.m. to noon Sept. 6 at Dog Days of Summer, Oxford Bank, 1260 Book Road, Naperville; pet parade at 11 a.m.

• 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sept. 7 at Sun-Top Dog Productions Competition, DuPage County Fair Grounds, 2015 Manchester Road, Wheaton

• 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sept. 13 at I'll Be DogGone Fundraiser, 9620 Willow Lane, Mokena

• 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sept. 27 at Canine Companions for Independence - Snoopy Fest, Hollister Corp. Campus, Libertyville

• 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Oct 5 at PAWS shelter's Barktoberfest, Howe Development Center, 7600 W. 183rd St., Tinley Park

Vital statistics

Annual budget: $15,000 plus in-kind donations

Sources of funding: Grants, gifts

Number of full-time employees: 0

Number of volunteers: 25 locally, 30 online

Current donation wish list: See the list on the Web site, petsnpatients.com

To donate: 220 Elmwood Drive, Naperville, IL 60540

To volunteer: (630) 355-0958, ext. 1, volunteermatch.com or petsnpatients.com

Contact: (630) 355-0958, ext. 1, annmaire@petsnpatients.com; petsnpatients.com