Austin groups collaborate to help the pets of homebound individuals.
By Jennifer Hayes, Best Friends Network
There is nothing better than when multiple agencies successfully collaborate, particularly when it is the animals who benefit. This was the case when
Meals on Wheels and More,
Blue Dog Rescue,
Town Lake Animal Center, and
EmanciPET recently partnered together to provide health care to the pets of some recipients of Meals on Wheels care.
The people who utilize Meals on Wheels services are homebound and some of their clients suffer from mild to moderate depression. A pet may be their only companion and can be the one element in their lives that gives them joy. However, because of their inability to get out of the house, in addition to financial limitations, these individuals may have difficulty in providing health care for their animals. Helping such people in need was the focus of the first-ever Senior Pet Fair.
The idea originated early last year, when Frances Hutchinson, a volunteer for both Meals and Wheels as well as Blue Dog Rescue, suggested initiating a program to provide pet food in addition to human food for Meals on Wheels clients. When Hutchinson delivered their meals, she realized many were sharing their own food with their pets, meaning that neither was receiving adequate nutrition. Thus in October, Meals on Wheels developed
P.A.L.S (Pets Assisting the Lives of Seniors) and deliveries began in November 2007. Meals on Wheels provides the clients and Blue Dog Rescue supplies the pet food, which they deliver once a month. The program currently assists 12 individuals and already has a waiting list of people wanting to participate. Unfortunately, they are limited by the amount of food donated on a consistent basis. Linda Perez, Meals on Wheels Assistant Vice President of Client Services stated, “We hope to be able to expand the services and get more donations so we can assist more clients.”
Hutchinson herself not only makes the deliveries, but is also responsible for obtaining and storing the food, though the effort is well worth it. “The folks just do not have the funds to give their pets the care they know they deserve,” noted Hutchinson. “They are overwhelmed with gratitude. They weep and they smile at the same time. I can’t wait for the program to expand.” However, Amy Waggoner, Volunteer Coordinator for Blue Dog Rescue, explained “We had a moral dilemma delivering dog food for animals not fixed.”
Fortunately for everyone involved, while the P.A.L.S. program was being launched, Kimberly Hart, Program Manager of Outreach and Education for Town Lake Animal Center had also been in contact with Meals on Wheels since last June. She was eager to help provide education and other city funded services to their clients with pets. Following a needs assessment last October, planning began on the Senior Pet Fair.
EmanciPET, Austin’s low-cost spay/neuter clinic, jumped at the opportunity when invited to take part in the Senior Pet Fair. “We’re really excited about this because we feel like we are serving the community we want to focus on, the people who need it,” commented Carrie Voss, Clinic Manger for EmanciPET. “These are the people that
really need us.” EmanicPET veterinarian Dr. Kimberly Bodner, along with Dr. Alice Runk of
Central Texas Veterinary Specialty Hospital, volunteered their time to perform all the surgeries and wellness checks.
Transportation volunteers met the Saturday prior to the event to become oriented with the program, pick up supplies, and receive their client assignments. Those pets needing spay/neuter surgery were to be picked up Saturday morning and returned that evening. Cats and dogs who were already fixed were transported throughout the day for their wellness checkup and returned home within a couple hours.
Early the morning of the clinic, Blue Dog Rescue volunteers Jenny Fritz and Laura Jackson were involved in picking up Chaos, a pit bull in need of neutering. Chaos’ paperwork noted he was “not aggressive to owners, but barker to strangers,” although nothing could be further from the truth. The only noise coming from him was when his quickly wagging tail would bump against objects. He was friendly and welcomed the opportunity to make new friends. His guardian explained that most of her family has passed away and her son is in jail. She was appreciative of the bags of food she receives for Chaos and stated, “The Meals on Wheels people know that I don’t have much and they help me out.” While picking him up, both Fritz and Jackson utilized the time to educate her on additional ways to help care for him.
A little later in the day, Fritz and Jackson picked up 10 year old Prissy for a wellness exam, since she had already been spayed. Her 87 year old guardian has had the little dog since she was a puppy. Her guardian noted, “She’s my little baby,” and looked at Prissy as family, not just a pet. In just a few hours, Prissy was returned home after an exam, nail trim, and other services.
The process ran smoothly from start to finish. With two veterinarians, multiple technicians, and three tables to work from, the process of spaying and neutering ran simultaneously with the wellness checks. There were nails to be clipped, scanning for microchips, vaccinations to administer and more. Though some of the pets were less happy than others to be there, all went safely home that same day.
All animals participating in the Senior Pet Fair received a health screen, vaccinations (rabies and DHLPP or FVRCP), microchip, city registration, collar, leash, crate, goodie bag of toys and treats, one year of flea treatment, and six months of heartworm preventative for the dogs. The intact pets also received sterilization surgery, injectable antibiotic, pain medication, dissolvable stitches, and an e-collar. All of this was provided free to the clients.
In all, the Senior Pet Fair serviced 43 pets from 32 clients. Pleased with the day’s success, but still looking to the future, Hart noted, “We’ve been able to do such great stuff with city funding, donations, and collaboration, but there is no funding or monies for treatment for sick or injured animals.” It is hoped that as the program expands, systems will be put in place to assist more people and provide medical care for the animals diagnosed with illnesses. However, financial support is necessary for this to happen.
THREE WAYS YOU CAN HELP:
1. Regular donations of quality cat and dog food are needed to grow the P.A.L.S. program and provide services to those on the waiting list. PetSmart and Petco gift cards are particularly welcomed. If you wish to donate or help, please contact
bsakow@mealsonwheelsandmore.org or call 512-476-6325 and request the P.A.L.S. Coordinator. Make sure any donations are earmarked for the P.A.L.S. program.
2. Funding is needed to provide follow-up treatment and/or medicines for the animals diagnosed though the Senior Pet Fair wellness check. Donations may be mailed to:
Town Lake Animal Center
PO Box 1088
Austin, Texas 78767
Attn: Senior Pet Fair
3. Though no date has been set up for the next Senior Pet Fair, sponsors are needed for the flea and tick treatment, heartworm preventative, and other services provided to the clients. The services of veterinarians who will volunteer their time for spay/neuter and wellness checkups would be greatly appreciated. If you have any questions or can help, please contact
kimberly.hart@ci.austin.tx.us.
For more information:
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First Annual Senior Pet Fair•
KXAN video coveragePhoto credit: taken by Jennifer Hayes, the lead photo features Chaos being neutered.