Home Again Cats for Seniors program
For the previous couple decades, there has been a terrific program at Residence Once again that pairs senior cats with senior people of Bancroft and the bordering space. Called the Cats for Seniors Method, it delivers adore and link for equally the cats and senior citizens. Mary Freeman, a volunteer with Dwelling Yet again for the previous 9 many years, describes the program in element and its benefits. For more information, you can get in contact with Property Again’s cat manager Clarice Smith at 613-202-2258.
Freeman claims that Smith arrived up with the notion to pair senior cats with seniors back again in July, 2019. The application provides seniors the companionship of a cat but assures the cat will have a house if the senior human being passes away ahead of the cat. They pay no adoption fee mainly because they are supplying a residence for a cat that would otherwise not be adopted mainly because of its age or delinquent mother nature. The seniors pay out for the cat’s food items, litter and veterinary treatment for lifetime. If they pass away ahead of the cat, Residence Once again provides the cat back into the plan so he/she will be out there for the subsequent senior.
According to the Property All over again web site, the Cats for Seniors program allows them to save lots of cats that need to be rehomed because their operator died or went into a nursing home and the cat is used to a tranquil property without having any other pets. Adult cats can be complicated to rehome for the reason that they are so set in their means and like what they are accustomed to.
Freeman claims that a great part of Bancroft space inhabitants are seniors and several are pressured to leave their dwelling to go into lengthy term care, a seniors’ residence or settle for assisted residing in a relative’s residence.
“Usually, their animals are not welcome in the new house. Other seniors phone Home Again seeking to adopt an grownup cat for their tranquil lifestyle as kittens are far too active for them. Residence Once again caters to the greater part of locals, who desire kittens, not adult cats. These seniors hesitate to acquire a pet that would outlive them and come to be a load to their survivors. You can see the match, to the edge of the cats,” she claims.
Freeman claims that some college and higher education towns have a related lease a cat for the college yr for college students who want a peaceful companion in their university residence and will not want the cat for the summer season when they are generally active performing. She says that House Again senior cats Baby, Babe, Will, Maynooth and Boots went by the Cats for Seniors method and Thor is still obtainable for adoption in the software.
“We do not anticipate any changes to this system. The obstacle with it is locating fosters exactly where senior cats can wait around for their subsequent adopter,” she says. “Home Once more has no shelter and does not feel that any cat should really dwell in a cage, so fosters are the backbone of our group.”
Michael Riley, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, The Bancroft Occasions
