Our Commitment to Helping Homeless, Neglected, and Abused Animals
At Buddies with Paws, we proudly support the mission of the Healthy Hearts and Paws Project (HHPP), a 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to promoting animal welfare through education and providing care for heartworm-positive and emergency medical-needs dogs. Our shared goal is to give every dog a second chance at a happy, healthy life.
About The Healthy Hearts and Paws Project
Founded on April 25th, 2019, and based in Warren, OH, HHPP was established to save the lives of heartworm-positive and medical-needs dogs. However, the seeds of this life-saving organization were sown nearly a year earlier, on July 26th, 2018, during a Mahoning County commissioner’s meeting. It was here that HHPP founder Jason Cooke, along with concerned community members, raised their voices against the euthanasia of heartworm-positive dogs at the Mahoning County Dog Warden.
Following weeks of intense discussions, a collaborative effort emerged. Jason took on the responsibility of fostering heartworm-positive dogs from the pound, guiding them through their treatments. With only his home’s den and five crates, he began the challenging work of saving these dogs, turning a simple space into a beacon of hope for many.
What We Do
The road to recovery for heartworm-positive dogs is long and often met with skepticism. Traditionally, these dogs are expected to recover in a calm and quiet environment. However, with limited resources, Jason’s home became the treatment center where these dogs began their journey to health. Despite the challenges, and against the odds, the majority of these dogs survived, recovered, and found loving homes.
Since those first steps in August 2018, HHPP has continued to grow. By March 2019, the number of dogs needing care was overwhelming, leading to the formal establishment of The Healthy Hearts and Paws Project on April 25th, 2019. What started with a few dogs in Jason’s home has blossomed into an organization that has treated 345 heartworm-positive dogs as of March 15th, 2021, with expectations to help several hundred dogs every year.
How You Can Help
With your support, we can continue to make a difference in the lives of these deserving dogs. HHPP is 100% volunteer-based, relying on the dedication of volunteers, fosters, and donors to continue its mission. The organization has answered hundreds of calls to rescue animals found in heartbreaking conditions—emaciated, abused, locked in abandoned homes, hit by cars, or left tied outside for years. Thanks to the support from people like you, these dogs receive the care they desperately need and the chance to live the lives they deserve.
By supporting Buddies with Paws, you are helping HHPP continue its critical work. Together, we can make a pawsitive impact on the lives of these animals, one rescue at a time.