PAWS of CNY, Inc., is a proud recipient of a grant from the NBT Bank Fund, a component fund of the Oswego County Community Foundation (OCCF). The funds were received in 2017 for use in 2018 to expand PAWS of CNY’s marketing efforts in Oswego County to increase its volunteer base and expand its reach of pet therapy services. The organization projects its grant-funded marketing efforts will result in a 70 percent increase in Oswego County volunteers by the end of the year. Also, it has established partnerships with two new long-term care facilities to provide pet therapy services.

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PAWS of CNY, Inc., in partnership with the Syracuse University Maxwell School of Public Affairs’ Community Link Program, has conducted research that indicates the positive emotional benefits of pet therapy for college students. The data was collected from 46 Syracuse University students and faculty members who attended an on-campus PAWS of CNY pet therapy event, and 41 students who attended a similar event at the State University of New York (SUNY) at Oswego. Seventy-seven percent of respondents were aged 18-24. The survey findings demonstrated a potential causal link to positive health and emotional benefits of pet therapy, as 83 percent of survey respondents reported that they felt “extremely happy” after attending the PAWS of CNY event.

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