Good morning, 

shelters intake animals for many different reasons. I'm focusing on the elderly and their pets. Could you all help me by letting me know if any of you track this population on intake? 

And, do you have special fosters designated to elderly animals. 

Thank you very much.

Judith, thank you very much for this detailed and caring response. It helps get some idea what we are facing with a burgeoning population in that age group. It seems there a few private rescues that are specific to this genre, I will keep your message for future reference as this topic is examined.  

It is very nice to hear of the winderful work you are doing. It is an uphill journey. 

Kind regards, 

Heddie


Sent from the all new AOL app for iOS

On Thursday, February 27, 2025, 12:42 AM, JUDITH PEARSON via Maddie's Pet Forum <Mail@maddiesfund.org> wrote:

We recently had to address this topic. We were asked by a local pet owner if she could leave her animals to us in her will in case of her untimely... -posted to the "One Health" community

One Health Post New Discussion Post New Discussion via Email Manage Profile Re: Elderly Pets/Elderly Humans Reply to Discussion Reply to Discussion via Email Reply Privately to Author Reply Privately to Author via Email Feb 26, 2025 10:41 PM JUDITH PEARSON We recently had to address this topic. We were asked by a local pet owner if she could leave her animals to us in her will in case of her untimely demise. She is older as are her pets, but we could not commit to accepting her pets. We don't have the resources to do that and, it's such suppressant for everyone in the community, leaving their pets to us at the end of life. We do however, help place animals left behind when someone dies, in appropriate homes. Such as older animals placed with older humans. It just makes sense. But would we actually track that not in any official capacity. We would keep a record of it somewhere, but we don't have a large number of animals coming in so there's no real need. We are in Northern New Mexico, where we have a serious over population problem. We have a couple of free spay neuter clinics and they are doing amazing work, but it's not yet enough. Hopefully in the next couple of years, we will see a significant decline in the unwanted puppies and kittens. Then maybe at that point it becomes easier to place animals and homes locally. One can hope. ------------------------------ JUDITH PEARSON President The Dixon Animal Protection Society NM ------------------------------   Reply to Discussion   Reply to Discussion via Email   Reply Privately to Author   Reply Privately to Author via Email   View Thread   Like   Forward   Flag as Inappropriate   Original Message: Sent: 02-26-2025 04:04 AM You are receiving this message because you followed the 'Elderly Pets/Elderly Humans' message thread. To unsubscribe from this message thread, go to Unsubscribe. Update your email preferences to choose the types of email you receive Unsubscribe from all participation emails

We recently had to address this topic. We were asked by a local pet owner if she could leave her animals to us in her will in case of her untimely demise. She is older as are her pets, but we could not commit to accepting her pets. We don't have the resources to do that and, it's such suppressant for everyone in the community, leaving their pets to us at the end of life. We do however, help place animals left behind when someone dies, in appropriate homes. Such as older animals placed with older humans. It just makes sense. But would we actually track that not in any official capacity. We would keep a record of it somewhere, but we don't have a large number of animals coming in so there's no real need. We are in Northern New Mexico, where we have a serious over population problem. We have a couple of free spay neuter clinics and they are doing amazing work, but it's not yet enough. Hopefully in the next couple of years, we will see a significant decline in the unwanted puppies and kittens. Then maybe at that point it becomes easier to place animals and homes locally. One can hope.

You're welcome. I wish there were better answers. And anyone and Rescue knows how hard this work is. But if we each can do a little bit then it's a little bit better!

Judith, thank you very much for this detailed and caring response. It helps get some idea what we are facing with a burgeoning population in that age group. It seems there a few private rescues that are specific to this genre, I will keep your message for future reference as this topic is examined.  

It is very nice to hear of the winderful work you are doing. It is an uphill journey. 

Kind regards, 

Heddie


Sent from the all new AOL app for iOS

On Thursday, February 27, 2025, 12:42 AM, JUDITH PEARSON via Maddie's Pet Forum <Mail@maddiesfund.org> wrote:

We recently had to address this topic. We were asked by a local pet owner if she could leave her animals to us in her will in case of her untimely... -posted to the "One Health" community

One Health Post New Discussion Post New Discussion via Email Manage Profile Re: Elderly Pets/Elderly Humans Reply to Discussion Reply to Discussion via Email Reply Privately to Author Reply Privately to Author via Email Feb 26, 2025 10:41 PM JUDITH PEARSON We recently had to address this topic. We were asked by a local pet owner if she could leave her animals to us in her will in case of her untimely demise. She is older as are her pets, but we could not commit to accepting her pets. We don't have the resources to do that and, it's such suppressant for everyone in the community, leaving their pets to us at the end of life. We do however, help place animals left behind when someone dies, in appropriate homes. Such as older animals placed with older humans. It just makes sense. But would we actually track that not in any official capacity. We would keep a record of it somewhere, but we don't have a large number of animals coming in so there's no real need. We are in Northern New Mexico, where we have a serious over population problem. We have a couple of free spay neuter clinics and they are doing amazing work, but it's not yet enough. Hopefully in the next couple of years, we will see a significant decline in the unwanted puppies and kittens. Then maybe at that point it becomes easier to place animals and homes locally. One can hope. ------------------------------JUDITH PEARSONPresidentThe Dixon Animal Protection SocietyNM------------------------------   Reply to Discussion   Reply to Discussion via Email   Reply Privately to Author   Reply Privately to Author via Email   View Thread   Like   Forward   Flag as Inappropriate   Original Message:Sent: 02-26-2025 04:04 AM You are receiving this message because you followed the 'Elderly Pets/Elderly Humans' message thread. To unsubscribe from this message thread, go to Unsubscribe. Update your email preferences to choose the types of email you receive Unsubscribe from all participation emails

We recently had to address this topic. We were asked by a local pet owner if she could leave her animals to us in her will in case of her untimely demise. She is older as are her pets, but we could not commit to accepting her pets. We don't have the resources to do that and, it's such suppressant for everyone in the community, leaving their pets to us at the end of life. We do however, help place animals left behind when someone dies, in appropriate homes. Such as older animals placed with older humans. It just makes sense. But would we actually track that not in any official capacity. We would keep a record of it somewhere, but we don't have a large number of animals coming in so there's no real need. We are in Northern New Mexico, where we have a serious over population problem. We have a couple of free spay neuter clinics and they are doing amazing work, but it's not yet enough. Hopefully in the next couple of years, we will see a significant decline in the unwanted puppies and kittens. Then maybe at that point it becomes easier to place animals and homes locally. One can hope.

------------------------------
Heddie Leger
Intern
IAVSW
TN
------------------------------

Over the past couple of decades I'm sure I've read about a couple of places, one of them may have been in Texas, where you could pay them to take care of your dogs for the rest of their lives. I assume it was expensive. I wonder if they're still around.

------------------------------
Heddie Leger
Intern
IAVSW
TN
------------------------------

We have or had an attorney who specialized in writing arrangements, setting up a trust etc. forces if we predecease them. The planning would include placement, either with family, friends, rescue or sanctuary. Specialized estate planning. I have wondered how many offer this service.  

Over the past couple of decades I'm sure I've read about a couple of places, one of them may have been in Texas, where you could pay them to take care of your dogs for the rest of their lives. I assume it was expensive. I wonder if they're still around.

------------------------------
Heddie Leger
Intern
IAVSW
TN
------------------------------

Over the past couple of decades I'm sure I've read about a couple of places, one of them may have been in Texas, where you could pay them to take care of your dogs for the rest of their lives. I assume it was expensive. I wonder if they're still around.

------------------------------
Heddie Leger
Intern
IAVSW
TN
------------------------------

Good morning,

We do not specifically track this, however one of our surrender reasons is 'health/unable to care for' which is designed to help us distinguish when the human caretaker is unable to care for the animal any more. As you might imagine, elderly do often fall into that category. As Animal Services, if we respond to welfare checks with an elderly population & their animals we typically leave information regarding the MAAP Plan to help them prepare. In our community there is also an elderly focused pet feeding program that works closely with that population.

We do have foster preferences that include medical animals, and elderly, and end of life/hospice.

Best,

Good morning, 

shelters intake animals for many different reasons. I'm focusing on the elderly and their pets. Could you all help me by letting me know if any of you track this population on intake? 

And, do you have special fosters designated to elderly animals. 

Thank you very much.

Rachel, thank you so much for this wonderful information. As I formulate ideas, I will be in touch with you personally. 

kind regards, 

Good morning,

We do not specifically track this, however one of our surrender reasons is 'health/unable to care for' which is designed to help us distinguish when the human caretaker is unable to care for the animal any more. As you might imagine, elderly do often fall into that category. As Animal Services, if we respond to welfare checks with an elderly population & their animals we typically leave information regarding the MAAP Plan to help them prepare. In our community there is also an elderly focused pet feeding program that works closely with that population.

We do have foster preferences that include medical animals, and elderly, and end of life/hospice.

Best,

Good morning, 

shelters intake animals for many different reasons. I'm focusing on the elderly and their pets. Could you all help me by letting me know if any of you track this population on intake? 

And, do you have special fosters designated to elderly animals. 

Thank you very much.

Good morning, 

shelters intake animals for many different reasons. I'm focusing on the elderly and their pets. Could you all help me by letting me know if any of you track this population on intake? 

And, do you have special fosters designated to elderly animals. 

Thank you very much.

------------------------------
Heddie Leger
Intern
IAVSW
TN
------------------------------

Hello Heddie and the other folks reading through this discussion.  My name is Monica, I am the former Operations Director at our local open intake facility.  About 7 years ago I left there after obtaining a BA in Human Social Services.  My goal was to combine my 38 years of animal welfare experience with human social serve skills to really work towards a complete balance for pets and their owners.

In 2004 the local animal shelter where I worked received a significant amount of money to ensure that the senior aged animals in our care were placed with older folks without having to worry about their limited budget becoming a hurdle towards adoption.  We partnered with the local Office on Aging and began a program called Knox PAWS (Placing Animals with Seniors).  This donation not only helped the shelter decrease euthanasia but also gave new life to the seniors who adopted these older pets.  The money was used to cover the initial adoption fee, pet deposit (if needed) as well as veterinary services for 1 year.

Of course, in an open intake shelter these funds were used up rather quickly.  Because of the success (and positivity) of this program the Office on Aging decided they would continue to fund raise for these efforts and continue the program to the best of their ability, they still relied on the local shelter for guidance in appropriate animal welfare/husbandry and care.

Fast forward to 2016, I left my position at that local shelter and began working for the Knox PAWS program at the Office on Aging (I am currently still here).  In order to continue the program, I needed to be able to find more funding to support the needs of the program.  Also added along the way was a pet food feeding program for those seniors that already had pets in their homes and struggled to feed them.  

In 8 years, the programs have tripled in the number of participants, the services provided have increased and all funding comes from grants and or donations.

Our total participants to date is 133 clients with 246 pets.  We now provided all veterinary services (routine or diagnostic care) for the life of the pet; we recycle the pet back into the program should the original owner pass away (to keep the shelters from having to encounter increased intake of senior aged pets).  We only adopt from local shelters or rescues.  We provide grooming services for any of the pets that need it.  We provide heartworm and flea prevention to all pets in the program.  We do require that all pets are S/N and if not, we are able to provide those services as well, through community programs.  We deliver a months' worth of quality pet foods (Purina products, and even some prescription foods) to 188 pets each month. In addition to the pet care, I also work as a case manager for the clients, connecting them with resources for just about anything they may need.  Rental assistance, utility assistance, healthcare. My annual budget is about $125K (and that includes my salary and mileage for transporting these folks and their pets all over.  

I am proud to say these programs really embodied the ONE health care philosophy 

Knox PAWS and Feed-A-Pet are two of the most amazing emotion driven programs I have ever worked with....I am honored to be a big part of the services provided.

I would absolutely love to share the successes of these programs with others if you are interested.

HUGGZ and WAGGZ

Good morning, 

shelters intake animals for many different reasons. I'm focusing on the elderly and their pets. Could you all help me by letting me know if any of you track this population on intake? 

And, do you have special fosters designated to elderly animals. 

Thank you very much.

Hello Heddie and the other folks reading through this discussion.  My name is Monica, I am the former Operations Director at our local open intake facility.  About 7 years ago I left there after obtaining a BA in Human Social Services.  My goal was to combine my 38 years of animal welfare experience with human social serve skills to really work towards a complete balance for pets and their owners.

In 2004 the local animal shelter where I worked received a significant amount of money to ensure that the senior aged animals in our care were placed with older folks without having to worry about their limited budget becoming a hurdle towards adoption.  We partnered with the local Office on Aging and began a program called Knox PAWS (Placing Animals with Seniors).  This donation not only helped the shelter decrease euthanasia but also gave new life to the seniors who adopted these older pets.  The money was used to cover the initial adoption fee, pet deposit (if needed) as well as veterinary services for 1 year.

Of course, in an open intake shelter these funds were used up rather quickly.  Because of the success (and positivity) of this program the Office on Aging decided they would continue to fund raise for these efforts and continue the program to the best of their ability, they still relied on the local shelter for guidance in appropriate animal welfare/husbandry and care.

Fast forward to 2016, I left my position at that local shelter and began working for the Knox PAWS program at the Office on Aging (I am currently still here).  In order to continue the program, I needed to be able to find more funding to support the needs of the program.  Also added along the way was a pet food feeding program for those seniors that already had pets in their homes and struggled to feed them.  

In 8 years, the programs have tripled in the number of participants, the services provided have increased and all funding comes from grants and or donations.

Our total participants to date is 133 clients with 246 pets.  We now provided all veterinary services (routine or diagnostic care) for the life of the pet; we recycle the pet back into the program should the original owner pass away (to keep the shelters from having to encounter increased intake of senior aged pets).  We only adopt from local shelters or rescues.  We provide grooming services for any of the pets that need it.  We provide heartworm and flea prevention to all pets in the program.  We do require that all pets are S/N and if not, we are able to provide those services as well, through community programs.  We deliver a months' worth of quality pet foods (Purina products, and even some prescription foods) to 188 pets each month. In addition to the pet care, I also work as a case manager for the clients, connecting them with resources for just about anything they may need.  Rental assistance, utility assistance, healthcare. My annual budget is about $125K (and that includes my salary and mileage for transporting these folks and their pets all over.  

I am proud to say these programs really embodied the ONE health care philosophy 

Knox PAWS and Feed-A-Pet are two of the most amazing emotion driven programs I have ever worked with....I am honored to be a big part of the services provided.

I would absolutely love to share the successes of these programs with others if you are interested.

HUGGZ and WAGGZ

------------------------------
Monica Brown
Knox PAWS and Feed-a-Pet Manager
CAC Office on Aging
Ross Building, 2247 Western Ave., Knoxville, TN 37921
PO Box 51650, Knoxville, TN 37950-1650
(865) 524-2786 | Fax: (865) 546-0832
monica.brown@knoxseniors.org
knoxseniors.org Facebook Instagram Twitter

Original Message:
Sent: 02-26-2025 04:04 AM
From: Heddie Leger
Subject: Elderly Pets/Elderly Humans

Good morning, 

shelters intake animals for many different reasons. I'm focusing on the elderly and their pets. Could you all help me by letting me know if any of you track this population on intake? 

And, do you have special fosters designated to elderly animals. 

Thank you very much.

------------------------------
Heddie Leger
Intern
IAVSW
TN
------------------------------

Good morning, 

shelters intake animals for many different reasons. I'm focusing on the elderly and their pets. Could you all help me by letting me know if any of you track this population on intake? 

And, do you have special fosters designated to elderly animals. 

Thank you very much.

Good morning, 

shelters intake animals for many different reasons. I'm focusing on the elderly and their pets. Could you all help me by letting me know if any of you track this population on intake? 

And, do you have special fosters designated to elderly animals. 

Thank you very much.

Some shelters track whether a pet came from an elderly owner, but it varies. Adding an intake question can help.

For senior pets, many rescues have specialized foster programs to meet their needs. If not, partnering with senior-friendly fosters could be a great option.

Good morning, 

shelters intake animals for many different reasons. I'm focusing on the elderly and their pets. Could you all help me by letting me know if any of you track this population on intake? 

And, do you have special fosters designated to elderly animals. 

Thank you very much.