It’s well-documented that pets bring health benefits to their owners. But what happens when caring for a pet becomes too great? Let’s first talk about the positives of owning a pet. 

Benefits of Pet Ownership

If you’ve owned a pet, you know how much joy they bring. Beyond enjoyment, countless research studies prove the link between pet ownership and improved health benefits. 

Some of the benefits include:

• Reducing overall stress and anxiety
• Boosting serotonin (the happy hormone) through petting an animal 
• Lowering blood pressure
• Greater overall positivity

For older adults, there are even more benefits to pet ownership. For seniors struggling with loneliness and isolation, having a pet can also:

• Provide a sense of purpose and meaning
• Help them feel less stressed
• Offer them opportunities to meet new people
• Bring a sense of security and safety
• Increase resilience against mental health disorders, which may positively influence their mental health outcomes

But What Happens When Seniors Struggle Caring For Their Best Friend?

Owning a pet can help seniors who live alone. They are their best friends. But what happens when tending to a pet becomes too challenging? For some seniors, owning a pet becomes stressful when:

• Cleaning, caring, grooming, and feeding a pet can’t always be done due to physical limitations
• Buying food and supplies becomes expensive on a fixed income
• Pets age and need more care and attention

Lending A Hand

We never want seniors to choose between feeding their pets or feeding themselves. We’ve seen seniors share meals meant for them with their pets. 

That’s why our Pet Care and Food Assistance Program is so important. It helps seniors feed their four-legged companions while removing some of their worries. 

How The Pet Care and Food Assistance Program Works

The Pet Care and Food Assistance Program collects pet food donations from local organizations and individuals for seniors who need assistance caring for their pets. We also accept monetary donations for the purchase of pet food and supplies.

Partner Spotlight – Lombard Veterinary Hospital

One of our partners in the Pet Care and Food Assistance Program is Lombard Veterinary Hospital.

Each year since 2018, Lombard Veterinary Hospital has given back to the community through their annual “Giving with a Thankful Heart Pet Food Drive” campaign which collects new and unused pet food and distributes them to where it’s needed.

Lombard Veterinary Hospital collects pet food and supplies for seniors in need. The collected food is given to DSCC and our volunteers deliver the supplies to seniors who struggle caring for their pets.

Turn Your Love Of Pets Into Real Help

If you love pets and understand how they enrich lives, you can help by supporting the Pet Care and Food Assistance Program. 

Here are 3 ways you can help:

• Drop off pet food and supplies – You can drop off any unopened pet food and new/gently used pet supplies to DSCC.
• Purchase pet food and supplies from Amazon – We have a pet supply wish list on Amazon. Simply add an item or two to your shopping cart and ship them to DSCC.
• Donate to the program – If you’d like to help but don’t know what supplies to purchase, you can make a cash donation. We will purchase needed items and deliver them to seniors. 

Learn more about the Pet Care and Food Assistance Program.