Pets for Seniors

Goal 1: We help seniors find a compatible pet from our shelter or another. When a senior is interested, we can take several compatible choices to their home for what we called "an interview". If they meet one that they want to adopt, we offer a reduced adoption fee, bathe or groom the animal, take it to the vet for any remaining vet work it might need, and deliver it to their home.

Goal 2: We reassure the senior - If an animal is chosen and it doesn't work out, we will always take the animal back and either refund the senior's portion of the adoption fee or let them try a different animal. The animal returned is not euthanized and we find it a more compatible home.

Goal 3: We help seniors with some of the financial costs. We offer a discounted adoption fee and can also provide start-up supplies that have been donated to us for that purpose. This include collars and leashes, beds, dog coats, toys, litter boxes and litter, food bowls and food.

Goal 4: We make sure that the animal is spayed or neutered, given all vaccinations, wormed, given flea protection, tested for heartworms/or Feline Leukemia/FIV, micro-chipped, and given a dental, if needed. The adopter doesn't need to pay for any initial vet costs. We would not knowingly saddle a senior with sick dog or cat.

Goal 5: We provide free transportation to take the pet to a veterinarian (the adopter's choice) or to a groomer. We will even give a bath, trim toe nails or clean ears ourselves for a senior for a small donation or no fee. We can also drop off food or kitty litter to a senior who doesn’t drive or have access to these supplies.

Goal 6: We offer free respite care if an adopter needs to spend time in a hospital or nursing home. We will take care of an adopter’s pet at no charge until they are home and able to care for it themselves. We have taken care of hundreds of adopted pets under these circumstances. Most stays average a few days to a few weeks. Occasionally an animal needs to stay with us longer. We are prepared for that as well.

Goal 7: We will take a pet back if an adopter is no longer able to care for their beloved pet. In the case an adopter enters a nursing or retirement home on a permanent basis or passes away, we will take the animal back and find another loving home.

Other: We are available to help in any way we can.

• We can stand in for owners who can’t face being present for a pet's euthanasia, kissing it good bye and stroking its head.
• We can help search for lost pets in dirty attics or special hiding places for newly adopted pets
• We can negotiate some discounts at veterinarian offices for our senior adopters who are experiencing financial difficulties

We have a very active volunteer base who are committed to serving seniors and our animals. We have a website where we provide information, provide an opportunity for donations and showcase our animals. We are also on Petfinder and have a FB page. In addition to these platforms, we have volunteers ready to meet our senior's needs and are in the process of working with our local Neighborhood House who provides seniors with Meals on Wheels for Critters.

All of the services mentioned above are part of our budget and our donors, resale shop and fundraisers are a huge part of who we are and what we are accomplishing. In addition, our volunteers are commited to our seniors and to all of our goals.

We are 23 years old and have had this program since our very beginning. We are looking to collaborate more with area not-for-profits who also serve the elderly. We would like to serve more seniors and adopt our more senior pets. We would like to have more money in our Helping Hands line item so that we can provide more financial assistance to seniors with vet costs for their pets. We would also like to eventually grow to the point financially where we can provide respite for seniors' pets who were adopted through other shelters and rescues. Right now, we only provide that service to our own senior adopters.