Pets Are Loving Support (P.A.L.S.) was founded in 1990 by two Atlanta residents, Dr. Susan Wynn, a veterinarian, and Dr. Margaret Schulte, an educator, who met while doing volunteer work for Project Open Hand. Not only did they have a common interest in working with AIDS patients, but also they were animal lovers. One day another volunteer mentioned that there was a person with AIDS who was living alone with his best friend, a cat. He was sharing his one meal per day with his cat and foregoing some of his medications in order to pay for vet care for his animal. Wynn and Schulte immediately realized that the human-animal bond was extremely important to persons living with AIDS. So many lose the support and contact of family and friends, not to mention their financial independence, jobs, homes and savings. This was an area in the life of persons living with AIDS that needed to be addressed. So, they began collecting pet food. From this humble beginning started P.A.L.S. Since its beginning, P.A.L.S. has provided services to more than 1000 clients and over 1300 companion animals. P.A.L.S. has evolved since its beginning and now helps persons with critical illnesses, disabilities and the elderly keep their companion animals by providing free pet food and delivery to homebound clients in the Metro Atlanta Area. also pays for basic veterinary care: including annual immunizations, vaccinations and flea control.
