The River Region Animal Rescue wants to unite senior citizens with adoptable older dogs.
The rescue has received a $7,500 grant from Grey Muzzle Organization, said Nicole Sellars, the rescue’s social media coordinator. The grant will allow the organization to adopt out the dogs at no cost to the seniors, covering vaccines for the rest of the dogs’ lives.
The group is also partnering with Pike Road Mobile Veterinary Services to bring veterinary services to the seniors at reduced prices.
The grant will also cover an emergency fund for boarding if the owners have extended hospital stays, and in the case that the seniors die before the dogs, the rescue has a built-in program to allow people to easily re-adopt them.
“So, every reason that a person might not be able to get a pet, we’re trying to combat that, like every single one,” Sellars said.
Sellars said she hopes to adopt out at least 10 dogs to older owners. The exact number will depend on how much medical care each dog needs.
Volunteers established River Region Animal Rescue in February 2024, and in its first year, they adopted out 221 cats and dogs. Volunteers completely run the group. It does not have a physical location, since all the animals are fostered until adoption.
The rescue has two dogs and 12 cats in its foster program. Sellars asked that people volunteer to donate, foster or adopt animals. People can do so by going to the website at www.rrarsquad.org.
The benefits for older people who adopt pets are myriad. A 2019 study from the National Poll on Healthy Aging stated that:
- 79% of pet owners between the ages of 50 and 80 indicated reduced stress because of pets,
- 73% indicated their pets gave them a sense of purpose
- And 64% reported getting more physical activity because of their pets.
“(Caring for a pet) gives them purpose. It eases the loneliness. It helps with exercise,” Sellars said.
River Region Animal Rescue’s program is also a benefit for these older dogs, who often struggle in shelters and are not readily adopted.
“Senior dogs struggle really hard in the shelter,” Sellars said. “A lot of times they’ve been in homes before.”
READ MORE (Source: Montgomery Advertiser)
Find a typo or grammatical error? Let us know by CLICKING HERE. (Please include the article name.)
