2022 Open Arms Challenge

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  • 1.  Adoptions or Fosters in Assisted Living/Retirement Communities?

    Posted 10-14-2021 10:13 AM

    Hello, All,

    This is my first Open Arms Challenge, and for our project, we are working on involving community members of all ages in our community. We currently have local college sports teams volunteering and residents of local youth group home volunteering. 

    We are looking into outreach to local retirement homes and assisted living facilities to see if they would allow pet adoptions to individual residents or a foster or adoption for the entire facility. (Such as a cat for one wing of a nursing home, etc.)

    Has anyone done a program like this? Do you have tips or materials I could look at? So far, I have a list of places to reach out to and some preliminary questions:

    Are your residents allowed to have pets?

     Cats or dogs? (Ask about restrictions on dogs – weight, breed, etc.)

     Would the facility be interested in fostering a pet to be "shared" by the facility or a part of your facility such as an individual wing or building?

     If you are interested in fostering or adopting, what could PAWS do to make this attainable for your facility/residents?

    --

    Thank you for any help you can offer!

    Shaindel Beers, Vice President, PAWS (Pendleton Animal Welfare Shelter -- Pendleton, Oregon)



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    Shaindel Beers
    Pioneer Humane Society/PAWS Pendleton Animal Welfare Shelter
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  • 2.  RE: Adoptions or Fosters in Assisted Living/Retirement Communities?

    Posted 10-15-2021 04:19 PM
    Hi Shaindel,

    We're so glad your organization is participating in the Open Arms Challenge! What a great question. 

    We have seen some "Seniors for Seniors" adoption and foster programs. You may want to try scrolling down this list of winners from our April 2018 grant cycle and reaching out to organizations directly: https://chewonthis.maddiesfund.org/2018/07/innovative-foster-care-for-the-win/

    @Nicole Ferguson-Morrison - Lee County Domestic Animal Services was a Maddie's Fund grant recipient for this type of program. Are you able to share insight on your organization's experience?

    @Shari Cahill also shared a link to Companion Animals for Seniors: Pets for the Elderly in another thread.  

    We can't wait to hear more about how you implement your program!

    Irene 



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    Irene Chansawang
    Maddie's Fund
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    Original Message


  • 3.  RE: Adoptions or Fosters in Assisted Living/Retirement Communities?

    Posted 10-18-2021 08:16 PM

    Hello, Irene and Amber,

    Thank you so much for these resources! I'm an English professor and currently buried in grading, but as soon as I finish the pile of essays I'm working on, I will check out the resources --hopefully tomorrow! 

    We have a Seniors for Seniors program, which is reduced adoption pricing:

    Seniors for Seniors: Senior Citizens 65+ Discount
    Cats 7+ years old $49
    Dogs 7+ years old $99 
    , but I thought it would be interesting with the increase of retirement communities/group homes, etc. of trying to broaden who we can adopt to that way.

    Thank you again!

    Take care,

    Shaindel 



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    Shaindel Beers
    Pioneer Humane Society/PAWS Pendleton Animal Welfare Shelter
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    Original Message


  • 4.  RE: Adoptions or Fosters in Assisted Living/Retirement Communities?

    Posted 10-18-2021 07:25 PM
    Hi Shaindel!

    It was so nice to meet you on the Huddle last week.  We really appreciate you joining the conversation, and I'm sorry I mispronounced your name.

    Muttville Senior Dog Rescue also has a Senior for Seniors Program: https://muttville.org/seniors_for_seniors.

    Might be worth reaching to their organization and seeing how their program works, too!

    Hope to see you on the future Huddles!
    Amber

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    Amber Eby
    Maddie's Fund
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    Original Message


  • 5.  RE: Adoptions or Fosters in Assisted Living/Retirement Communities?

    Posted 10-25-2021 10:48 AM
    Morning Shaindel,

    Such a wonderful idea!

    Heaven Can Wait Animal Society operates a small cat companion program for less adoptable cats and seniors on a fixed income. We work with a local non-profit offering affordable housing for seniors called Nevada HAND. We cover all expenses, supplies, and send our cat coordinator for regular check ups.

    I am happy to discuss this further with you if you have any more questions. 

    Melina Ramos 
    mramos@hcws.org

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    francesca fulciniti
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    Original Message


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