What is P.E.T.S?
P.E.T.S (Pet emergencey Transport and Shelter)  is a non-profit organization with the goal or providing emergency first aid, transportation and shelter to animals displaced by disaster. 

P.E.T.S was started in  2001 when Ginny Kremer, a Red Cross Disaster worker and employee at Hopewell, noticed that disaster victims were reluctant to cooperate with the Red Cross workers in assisting them until they were sure that their pet would be taken care of and taken somewhere safe.  Ginny brought her concerns back to Hopewell where she and Ron Whetstone, also a Hopewell employee, began working together with the help of the staff and owner of Hopewell to find a way to help.  Six years later we are a strong organized group with about 15 members and all of our own supplies including leashes, carriers, a first aid kit specifically for animals that goes to every scene and our own group name.  P.E.T.S. members are on call 24 hours a day, seven days a week awaiting a call from a Red Cross disaster worker at a scene where animals need our help.  When we are called, we pick up the pets from the disaster scene and take them to Hopewell where they are then examined by Dr. Rutkowski, Hopewell’s owner, and treated if needed.  The pets are given a bath, especially after a house fire, and are then given a temporary home at Hopewell for up to three days.  This gives the owners one less thing to worry about while they try to recover from the disaster.  This is all at no charge to the owners. 

Currently, Hopewell and P.E.T.S are the only ones providing this 24/7 help for animals in disasters. This would not be possible without the kindness of Hopewell’s owner Dr. Timothy Rutkowski and the volunteers that make up P.E.T.S.  For more info on P.E.T.S you may email me at roncvtpets@msn.com or info@hopewellvet.com.