The Guelph Humane Society is offering a new pet care service for seniors who need to be hospitalized.
The Seniors Support Program provides free boarding services to seniors in Guelph and Wellington counties who cannot afford it themselves.
The funding came from a $55,000 grant from Canada’s PetSmart Charity.
Katherine Leonard, community program and outreach coordinator at the Guelph Humane Society, said: “In recent years, there has been a lot of focus on the importance of human-animal connections, especially for older adults who are more likely to experience loneliness or social isolation.”
“Unfortunately, when an elderly person is hospitalized or needs medical care, there are limited options available without friends or family to help and financial hardship. We would never think of someone in the community because there is nowhere to get their Pets go and delay necessary medical care, that’s where advanced support comes in.”
The program is not limited to cats and dogs. While cats and dogs will likely account for the majority of care needs, free boarding for up to eight weeks is available for any pet, and boarding is usually provided in a foster home rather than a shelter setting.
Those in need of pet assistance are encouraged to contact GHS at 519-824-3091 to discuss how to help.