Page 11 - The Jewish Voice - July '24

The Jewish Voice, Page 11

Local Happenings from page 10 behavior, responses, and needs of individuals and groups • What if I am unable to
impacted directly and indirectly by emergency incident/ care for my pet long-term?
psycho-social response to crises. Over the last few months, crisis,” said Singer. “Importantly, the learning from the ITC • I want a pet in my life,
representatives from the Israel Trauma Coalition have been professionals will strengthen our South Florida community’s but need backup support just
training professionals from Goodman JFS, Ferd & Gladys foundation to respond to crises and implementation of in case.
Alpert JFS, Ruth & Norman Rales JFS, and Jewish Community community preparedness plans.” This is where The Pet
Services of South Florida so they are able to respond Cottage Lifelong Guardianship
immediately following a tragedy to provide on-the-ground The Pet Cottage Post Program shines by providing
trauma response. seniors and people with
“We know that it is essential for communities to be You know The Pet Cottage serves disabilities — who otherwise
more prepared for crisis, be it a natural disaster, industrial/ pets that lose their humans due to death, might not feel comfortable Wendy and Zack
work accident or a terrorist attack, active shooter incident or disability, or deployment. But did you with full pet ownership — the
violent crime,” said Randy Colman, president & CEO of host know, they are also committed to helping opportunity to experience the joys of pet companionship.
Goodman JFS of Broward County. “Prepared communities senior people and the loneliness crisis The role of forever guardianship is essential to The Pet
are more likely to survive an emergency, to maintain its many of them face? Cottage’s mission.
cohesiveness, to heal, and to recover faster.” Take Paulette, a senior with a chronic Many of The Pet Cottage pets are senior pets that have health
The Israel Trauma Coalition, founded in 2001 at illness that keeps her at home most of the time. issues and require more resources. Their forever promise to
the initiative of the UJA Federation of New York, is the In November 2023, Paulette, a widow in her late 60s, each pet in their care means that, no matter what happens to a
cornerstone in the national treatment of trauma and emergency became Forever Guardian to Arya the gray tabby cat. Paulette guardian, the pet will have a loving home.
preparedness in Israel and around the world. The organization often sleeps late and has little energy. She was feeling lonely Becoming a Forever Guardian is a unique opportunity to
provides leadership and resources before, during, and and distraught. She discovered The Pet Cottage and knew this share your heart and home with a pet and have the full support
after a crisis and provides train-the-trainer sessions around could be a way she could share her home with a pet without of The Pet Cottage.
the country. Protocols and services, trained personnel, worry. Arya needed a home when her person joined the Coast Do you feel called to open your home to a pet who has lost
coordination mechanisms, and specific and designated models Guard and Paulette desperately needed companionship. This their human?
of intervention and support are provided by the Israel Trauma was a match made in heaven. The Pet Cottage provides and covers the cost of all
Foundation during each session. Paulette says: “Arya gives me purpose and gets me out of medical care – routine, specialty, emergency, and even
“The Israel Trauma Coalition sessions demonstrate the bed. She makes me laugh and has made a difference in my every prescription medications and preventatives – for their pets,
importance of the psycho-social response in a crisis,” said Marc waking hour. I recently had family visit and they noticed a huge forever. Forever Guardians provide food for their pet, along
Hopin, CEO of Alpert JFS. “The local tri-county leadership of change in my happiness and disposition.” with lots of tender love and care, of course!
community service organizations are essential in carrying out The Pet Cottage acknowledges the loneliness and hesitancy Your guardianship commitment means pets avoid
measures to support community members and their families, many senior people feel when it comes to pet ownership. shelters and instability and find happiness, a warm bed, and
community institutions, and preserving the community as a • What will happen to my pet if something happens to me? a doting companion for life.
whole during crises.” • What if my pet needs medical care I can’t afford? To apply to become a Guardian visit: https://www.
“It was important for the four south Florida JFS agencies thepetcottage.org/forever-guardian-application.
to collaborate on this training because, unfortunately, we know The Pet Cottage is a 501-(c)(3) non-profit located in
that there will be another incident in Florida at some point Jupiter Farms that celebrates and protects the magical
which will require an immediate trauma response and we want relationship between people and pets. We provide homestyle
to have trained JFS staff in place to be deployed throughout care for pets who lose their humans due to death, disability,
Florida immediately when called,” said Danielle Hartman, or deployment.
president & CEO of Rales JFS. We provide pet companionship for senior people and
The funding for this training was secured by Miriam Singer, cover all veterinary expenses. We are a promise and our
president & CEO of Jewish Community Services of South promise means forever. You are invited to join our pack!
Florida, and is funded with a $50,000 donation by the Miami The Pet Cottage,
Foundation, Coral Gables Foundation, and Key Biscayne Wendy Derhak, Founder/Executive Director;
Foundation. call 561-818-5025 for more information.
“The sessions will focus on better understanding of Claire and Dashie Girl Cynthia, Gigi, and Dr. V www.thepetcottage.org

“Whether buying or selling a home I will treat you

like I would treat my own mother.”

Andrew Levy

Andrew Levy 3 3 3 3
561-891-9262
7100 Fairway Dr. Suite 44
Palm Beach Gardens, FL 33418