Our Why
At Sunny’s Helping Paws, our work begins with a simple belief: no one should have to choose between their health and the well-being of their pet.
For many people facing medical treatment, concern for a beloved pet can add an extra layer of stress during an already difficult time. Pets are family. They offer comfort, routine, and unconditional companionship, and the thought of leaving them without care can weigh heavily on people when they need to focus on healing.
Sunny’s Helping Paws exists to help ease that burden.
Why this work matters:
We serve people who need temporary care for their cats or dogs while they receive medical treatment. Often, these are individuals who do not have an existing support network that can step in. They may be far from home, navigating complex medical decisions, or managing circumstances that make pet care especially challenging.
In these moments, worry about a pet’s safety can influence health decisions, recovery, and peace of mind. By providing loving, temporary care for pets, we aim to remove one barrier so people can focus on what matters most: their health.
Our work sits at the intersection of human care and animal care, recognizing that the two are deeply connected. When pets are safe and well cared for, their people are better able to rest, recover, and heal.
How Sunny’s Helping Paws started:
Sunny’s Helping Paws was founded by Nora Bennani, MD, a physician and researcher whose work caring for people undergoing complex medical treatment made one thing clear: patients often worry deeply about their pets while they are receiving care.
Through her experience in medicine, Dr. Bennani saw how frequently concern for a pet’s well-being added stress during treatment, and how limited the options were for safe, temporary pet care. As a pet owner herself, she also understood the comfort and stability animals bring during difficult times.
What began as an observation became a commitment to build something better. Sunny’s Helping Paws was created to ensure that no one has to face illness alone or feel torn between their own care and the safety of a beloved companion.
What we do:
We provide temporary, volunteer-based care for cats and dogs while their owners receive medical treatment. This includes coordinating appropriate care plans, supplies, transportation support when needed, and ongoing communication so owners can feel reassured about their pet’s well-being.
Our focus is always on safety, dignity, and kindness. Every pet is treated as an individual, and every family is met with respect and understanding.
We currently serve Rochester, Minnesota, and surrounding communities across southeastern Minnesota, with a commitment to growing thoughtfully and responsibly.
Why building our community is important:
Sunny’s Helping Paws is built on the belief that care is strongest when it is shared. Volunteers, foster families, donors, partners, and supporters all play a role in making this work possible.
Some people offer their time. Others offer resources, expertise, or financial support. Many simply help spread the word. Each contribution matters.
We are especially mindful that the people we serve may be navigating stress, uncertainty, or fear. Our goal is to meet them where they are and to offer support that feels steady, respectful, and trustworthy.
Why we’re starting a blog:
This blog is a space for longer-form storytelling, updates, and reflections from Sunny’s Helping Paws. Here, we’ll share:
Updates about our work and growth
Reflections on the human–pet bond
Insights into the challenges people face when balancing health and pet care
Stories from our community
Information for future volunteers, donors, and partners
We believe transparency builds trust, and this blog is one way we hope to stay connected with our community beyond social media.
Looking ahead…
Sunny’s Helping Paws is still growing, and we are learning every day. What remains constant is our commitment to compassionate care and to building a future where pets and people are supported together.
Thank you for being here, for reading, and for caring about this work. Whether you’re a volunteer, donor, partner, or simply someone who believes in keeping pets and their people supported during hard times, we’re grateful to have you as part of our community.
