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'Even though there is a pandemic, pets deserve to die in the arms of their loved one'

Jeanne Houck
Cincinnati Enquirer

Founder Tammy Wynn had hoped to celebrate the 10-year anniversary of Angel's Paws, a business in Blue Ash that supports dying pets and their owners, with a celebratory open house on National Pet Parents Day in April.

Instead, the registered veterinary technician, hospice care specialist and licensed social worker found herself scrambling to find new ways to safely go into pet owners’ homes to provide the animals with hospice care and euthanasia services in the midst of the COVID-19 outbreak.

“Even though there is a pandemic, pets deserve to die in the arms of their loved one with dignity and in a cozy place they call home,” said Wynn, who is president-elect of the International Association for Animal Hospice and Palliative Care.

Tammy Wynn, owner of Angel's Paws in Blue Ash (front), helped the McCoy family of Ross Township when they had to euthanize their beloved boxer, Jake, earlier this year during the COVID-19 outbreak. The McCoys, from left, are Megan, Jessica, Sheri and Josh.

Wynn said that, thanks to her staff and other supporters, Angel’s Paws has been able to help more than 700 pets cross over the “Rainbow Bridge” since the end of March.

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Angel’s Paws was allowed to stay open during Ohio’s shutdown because the state classified end-of-life veterinary care as an essential business.

The challenge was to find ways to continue operating in the office and in people’s homes in the safest and most sanitary way possible for both the pet owners and Angel’s Paws employees, which include veterinarians, registered veterinary technicians, social workers, grief counselors, an administrative team and cremation specialists.

'We had true heroes who immediately stepped forward and answered our prayers' 

“After carefully reviewing the public health guidelines, we went into high gear and put out the call for PPE (personal protective equipment), and to our delight, we had true heroes who immediately stepped forward and answered our prayers,” Wynn said.

Matthew 25: Ministries in Blue Ash donated these medical and cleaning supplies to Angel's Paws.

One employee’s mother sewed more than 60 masks out of fabric covered with pawprints and hearts, one volunteer’s mother found a case of safety glasses and Matthew 25: Ministries in Blue Ash contributed hand sanitizer, antibacterial soap, cleaning supplies and gloves.

 “During the shutdown, we also began delivering the ashes of the pets directly to the pet parents’ doors, rather than scheduling an in-person pickup, and we also began offering our free grief support groups to pet parents virtually via Zoom,” Wynn said.

“We remain deeply grateful to our heroes who allowed us to continue to serve pets who were sick and suffering during this time of our region’s shutdown via both our Pet Parent Peace of Mind home hospice visits and also for home euthanasia.”

Even though Ohio has reopened, Wynn said, Angel’s Paws continues to hold grief support groups virtually twice a month.

People can make appointments online to arrange a time to pick up their pet’s ashes or spend time in the chapel.

“These visits are scheduled 45 minutes apart, and we sanitize our chapel between clients,” Wynn said.

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