The Wonderful Animals Giving Support (WAGS) program, created in 1999, is the first of its kind for the Midwest AIDS Prevention Project and provides direct services to people infected with HIV or AIDS. Recognizing the positive impact that pets and companion animals provide their owners, the Midwest AIDS Prevention Project created the WAGS program, designed to keep people with HIV or AIDS and their companion animals together. W.A.G.S. assist persons with HIV or AIDS who are surviving on a limited or fixed income in keeping, feeding, and caring for their pets when extended hospital stays, physical exhaustion or daily expenses seem insurmountable.
Many of us know the comfort and pleasure we receive from our own companion animals. Pets are very important for our health and emotional well-being. For people with HIV or AIDS, the psychological and physical health benefits of having pets are very significant. In addition to providing companionship, pets give their owners consistency, pleasure, joy, comfort and unconditional love – commodities that can often be in short supply for people with HIV and AIDS.
The service area for the W.A.G.S. program includes Metro Detroit and its surrounding counties.Services provided to the participants include:
- providing monthly gift certificates that can be used to purchase pet food and pet supplies at no cost to the participant;
- pays for veterinary services for each enrolled pet up to $100 per calendar year;
- offers support for temporary foster care when participants are faced with an extended hospital stay, but have no one to care for their pets;
- provides educational information to pet owners;
- and assists with permanent home placement for orphaned pets as an alternative to euthanasia.
Currently, the program focuses on pet owners with cats and dogs, however, exceptions can be made on a case-by-case basis for pet owners of other animals.
In addition to these services, W.A.G.S. also tries to educate the community by informing them about the healing benefits of pet ownership for people with HIV or AIDS.
All of this is made possible through W.A.G.S. dedicated volunteers who help with outreach services to participants, fundraising, special events, education, clerical duties and answering phones. As a non-profit charitable organization, W.A.G.S. volunteers participate in many fundraising activities such as AIDS Walk Detroit, Thanksgiving Basket Project, and Dog Wash and Nail Clip Events.
In recognition of their pioneering work on behalf of the human animal bond, SPCA International has selected Wonderful Animals Giving Support as Shelter of the Week.
Your generous contribution to the Shelter of the Week Program will allow SPCA International to continue to recognize future organizations for their lifesaving efforts.
