Mission Statement
Providing aging and special needs pets and their families the resources and support they need.
Our Story
When you lose a pet, you’re saying goodbye to an important, loved member of your family. Angel’s Watch is committed to helping everyone say goodbye to their special pet in the comfort of their own home – even if funds are tight. Angel’s Watch was established by an outpouring of support from families who have experienced pet hospice and compassionate end of life care.
The donated funds have been collected since 2010. In 2015, two dedicated volunteers, established Angel’s Watch as a 501(c )3 non-profit allowing all contributions to be tax deductible.
Consider supporting Angel’s Watch and help those that otherwise could not afford the calm, peaceful passing that every pet deserves. Your support shows fellow pet owners in your community that you understand the difficult time they are going through. Showing them that you care, with your donation, will give them peace of mind knowing that you supported them and their pets on this journey.
We have a big crazy dream… one day we want to create a respite care facility where people caring for special needs pets can rest assured leaving them with intensive loving care when they need to leave town.
“sometimes a special relationship becomes a calling”, Here’s the story of how Angel’s Watch began…”.
Angel’s Watch is a registered nonprofit organization under section 501(c)(3) under the IRS code; contributions are tax deductible as allowed by law.
Our Federal Tax ID Number: 32-0470942
Angel’s Watch Board Members
John Wagner, President
John is a licensed Clinical Counselor, and a former college Dean and Professor Emeritus. He is also a professional motivational speaker encouraging optimistic attitudes and actions in business and personal lives.
The loss of his best “Buddy” his dog Knipper when John was ten years old inspired his commitment to help pet parents through difficult times. His enthusiasm for engaging with people and their pets led him to serve as President for Angel’s Watch, always encouraging our organization to reach for the stars. John has two adult children, Abby and Zane.
Pam Hayes, Treasurer
As far back as she can remember Pam has been fond of dogs. She takes every opportunity to say hello to dogs walking with their owners to brighten her day by interacting with their energy.
When her 15 week young golden retriever puppy, Jasper, passed away in her arms she contacted Angel’s Paws for private cremation. She was so touched by the compassion of their service and allowing her to spend time saying her goodbyes in her home. Days later at the memorial service for Jasper she learned that no organization was set up to allow for charitable donations. As a retired CPA she helped to navigate the tax logistics of establishing Angel’s Watch as a 501©3 organization allowing donations to be tax-deductible. Donations are used to help families experience meaningful pet hospice and end of life services that otherwise could not afford to do so. It warms her heart and brings her to tears when she learns how many families and their beloved pets we have been able to help each year since Angel’s Watch establishment.
Pam is grateful to have two furry companions, a cat named Lucy and mixed breed dog, Spirit. Based on all she knows, Spirit was born the day Jasper made his transition. He is very special, her “soul pet”. She has always believed that every dog she has had in her life has been the most perfect one she could have at the time and Spirit is no exception.
One of Pam’s favorite quotes is “If you think you can, or you can’t, you are right”. She believes much is attainable if we just keep trying. She strongly supports the goal of Angel’s Watch to one day have a hospice respite home, a place for pets with special needs to stay when their persons need to be away.
Julie Bodnar, Member
Julie’s love for animals started when she was 7 with an outdoor tabby named Tiger and continues to this day, welcoming any stray cat or dog in the neighborhood and helping reunite them with their owners or take feral cats to be neutered and keep them on as outdoor pets.
In December, 2013, Oreo’s (Julie’s beloved 18yr old mini-poodle/chihuahua) health started failing and couldn’t take oral medication for pain. Julie contacted Angel’s Paws and with their hospice services, Oreo was treated with different medication and lived comfortably another 6mo. When it was time to say goodbye, Oreo was with her loving family, sitting on Julie‘s lap and passed on in a beautiful, touching, serene manner.
Julie wanted to make a donation to the organization that had treated Oreo with such a high level of care, respect and love but found there was no charitable branch of Angel’s Paws. That’s when she and Pam Hayes helped established Angel’s Watch nonprofit so families who didn’t have the resources could have the same wonderful experience for their furry loved ones.
Julie has been an estate planning and tax attorney for over 33 years but started transitioning to a second career 5 years ago as a vegan/plant-based culinary coach & cooking instructor. She is passionate about sharing this alternative, tasty and nutritious way of eating with anyone interested and also advocating for animal rights. Julie resides in Westwood with her husband Mark, and fur-babies Iggy (lab mix) & Momma (feral cat who adopted Julie).
Julie’s two favorite quotes:
Just Do It.
– Nike
The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated.
– Mahatma Gandhi
Tammy Wynn, Member
Tammy is the founder and CEO of Angel’s Paws. The idea was placed in her heart when she lost two loved ones…with two very different experiences. When her father died of cancer he had hospice and pain care while the family also received help through the process of dying and grief. “They took the most difficult day of my life and made it manageable…” she said.
However, when her 18 year old cat died, she was single, alone and grieving. There was no pet hospice care for her dying cat or end-of-life plan. There was also no help for Tammy as she grappled with the loss of her feline companion of 18 years.
It was a lonely and spiritually confusing place and that’s when she received the calling to provide pets and their owners with the same end of life care and counseling that our human loved ones and their families receive. With that, she left her successful career as a consultant and prepared to open one of the first pet hospice’s in the country and the first practice in the country that provides complete end of life services from the time the terminal illness in the pet is diagnosed through the array of aftercare services.
Angel’s Paws opened in 2010 and has provided compassionate care to thousands of families. Many families have been so grateful for their experience that they have donated money to help other families that could otherwise not afford it. This money was always set aside and used just for that purpose until two dedicated clients, a lawyer (Julie) and CPA (Pam) came together in 2015 to establish Angel’s Watch, a 501©3 tax-exempt organization to allow these donations to be tax-deductible.
Tammy serves as a vital member of Angel’s Watch and the President of the International Association of Animal Hospice and Palliative Care (IAAHPC), is a licensed social worker, human therapist and registered vet tech. She strongly supports the goal of Angel’s Watch to one day have a hospice respite home, a place for pets with special needs to stay when their persons need to be away.
Heather Ratliff, Secretary
Heather has been a pet lover her entire life, always trying to rescue or help any pet in need.
Heather experienced the meaningful pet hospice services with her cat, Cooper, after his cancer diagnosis. She was grateful to be able to maintain his quality of life until his passing, and that his bonded sister, Chloe, would know when he crossed the rainbow bridge with services in the home.
After this experience she made it her life’s mission that every pet parent know of the services Angel’s Paws offers and never have to hear “I wish I would have known about them when…”. She answered a call for volunteers in 2014 and has been an integral part of social media, marketing, event planning and “everything in between” ever since. She joined the Angel’s Watch board after it’s establishment to provide the same awareness to our charitable organization and lead fundraising efforts.
Heather is an interior designer by day and a passionate advocate for pet rescue.