Non-Profit Shows Paws Pride for Animal Community

The family behind Miller Foods and Oma’s Pride consists of animal lovers that has long been involved in giving back to the community. Miller Foods most recently spearheaded the Wagon for Wheels fundraising campaign to raise money for a new Avon-Canton Animal Control Vehicle.

Now the family has a non-profit organization called Paws Pride, Inc., which launched in May.

“We try to help as much as we can, anyway we can,” said founder Sandi Trudeau, who said it was her love of dogs that inspires her to give back to the pet community.

Since 2004, the family has had an Oma’s Pride Canine, Feline and Needy Animal Fund, accepting donations to redistribute to smaller nonprofits across the country, according to Capri Frank, Trudeau’s daughter. It started off as a grassroots effort and became a bereavement fund to facilitate donations in memory of people’s deceased pets and loved ones.

That function will continue with the new non-profit, according to Frank, who is the director and treasurer of the Paw’s Pride board. The new Animal Welfare Fund will also encompass fundraising for animal organizations like Fidelco, shelters and rescues.

"These funds are then distributed to animal rescue organizations to assist with veterinary, food, fostering, adoption and other expenses," according to the Paws Pride website.

It will also help fund medical care and surgery for pets in situations where financial assistance is needed. The non-profit will vet applications for aid.

“We’re ready to start fundraising efforts now that we’re officially nonprofit,” Frank said, noting they are in the process of planning an event for Spring 2013.

Miller Foods will match one-third of all donations, Frank said.

In the meantime, the organization plans to be at Avon Day to spread the word and will participate in the Fidelco Walk.

“This one is just an addition to what miller foods does for the community,” said Avon-Canton Animal Control Officer Beverly LaPlume, who is one of the board members. “I know how much Miller Foods cares about the community and pets out there.”

Donations can be made through PayPal on the non-profit’s website, pawspride.bbnow.org or by sending a check to Paw’s Pride, 308 Arch Road, Avon, CT 06001.