No pet-adoption fee in Nov. for seniors and disabled adults

[WSB]

This news release just in from Seattle Animal Shelter. Doesn’t really fit on the home page but does fit for “freebies and deals,” so here ’tis:

>>In recognition of November as Adopt-a-Senior Pet Month, the Seattle Animal

Shelter waives the adoption fee for seniors and adults with disabilities who adopt a

dog or cat aged six years or older. If you are considering adding a pet to your

household and you are eligible, consider the shelters Golden Pets for Golden Years

program.

Anyone holding the city of Seattles Gold Card or FLASH Card is eligible to adopt a

dog or cat aged six years or older, free of charge, and receive a 50-percent

discount on a pet license. This offer is in addition to another program offering

cardholders a 50-percent discount on adoption fees for cats aged 2 years or older.

Through the Mayors Office for Senior Citizens, residents of greater Seattle, who are

60 years of age or older, are eligible for the Gold Card for Healthy Aging and

adults with disabilities are eligible for the FLASH Card.

“These cards offer many benefits and can make life a little easier for our seniors

and people with disabilities,” Mayor Greg Nickels said. “Through this special offer

from the shelter, we have a win-win situation. We help senior dogs and cats by

placing them in loving homes, and cardholders can bring a sparkling companion into

their lives.”

For many people, adopting an adult cat or dog is the right thing to do. Adult cats

and dogs are often already socialized with people and other pets, theyve been house

trained, and they usually have more mellow temperaments, according to Shelter

Director Don Jordan.

“Numerous studies have shown having a pet as an integral part of the family unit

helps pet owners lead longer and happier lives,” Jordan said.

Adopting a cat or dog from the Seattle Animal Shelter not only saves that animal

from unnecessary euthanasia, but through these special offers, it is also a

tremendous value. With the 50-percent discount, a two-year Seattle cat license costs

$11, and a two-year dog license costs $15. A full-price adoption package for the

general public ranges from $60 to $65 for a cat, and $95 to $135 for a dog, and

includes:

Initial vaccinations

Deworming

Feline Leukemia testing

Certificate for free health exam at local veterinarians

Spay or neuter

Microchip (About the size of a grain of rice, the microchip is injected under the

cats skin, providing an identification number associated with that animal. Animal

shelters can then scan a lost animal and retrieve its records from the microchip.)

The Gold Card and FLASH Card are part of a countywide campaign to promote health and

access to services by publicizing toll-free assistance telephone numbers.

Cardholders can also use the cards to register for services and programs, and as

library cards at Seattle Public Libraries. Eligible residents of greater Seattle can

obtain the Gold Card or FLASH Card at any of the 13 Neighborhood Service Centers;

the Mayors Office for Senior Citizens, Central Building, Suite 350, 810 Third Ave.;

and at the Seattle Animal Shelter, 2061-15th Ave. W., approximately one mile south

of the Ballard Bridge.

For more information about the Gold Card and FLASH Card programs, call the Mayors

Office for Senior Citizens at (206)684-0500.

To talk with an adoption counselor or preview cats and dogs available for adoption,

the Seattle Animal Shelter is open every day, noon to 6 p.m. For more information,

please call (206)386-PETS(7387). You may also preview animals currently available

for adoption at: http://www.seattleanimalshelter.org

<<

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[charlabob]

Thanks for reminding us — now I just have to walk a mile and talk the bob and the katskys into a dog. This is a very good deal — they also have scholarships for people who need to spay and neuter and can’t afford it. I know because I’ve bought neutering for people so they could get a cat.

Maybe next year :-)

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[tea_drinker]

Coming to West Seattle Saturday! Reduced fees for adult cats!

Cats and kittens from Seattle Animal Shelter’s foster care program will be available for adoption from 12-3 Saturday Nov. 8 at Southwest Community Center. November is Adopt A Senior Pet Month and we are featuring many wonderful adult and senior cats who have so much love to give! Please note that even if you are not a Gold Card holder adoption fees for adult and senior cats are greatly reduced and include spay/neuter, vaccinations, microchip and pet license. Kittens will also be available. Now’s the perfect time to adopt a cuddle buddy for those cold winter nights. Check out some of the sweet cats that will be there:

Mulder:

http://www.petfinder.com/petnote/displaypet.cgi?petid=12294862

Miss Callie:

http://www.petfinder.com/petnote/displaypet.cgi?petid=9374392

Arana:

http://www.petfinder.com/petnote/displaypet.cgi?petid=10593178

And many more!

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[WSB]

That’s in the Weekend Lineup – great foster cat adopt-a-thon tomorrow at SWCC. One of our two ex-shelter cats is from a similar event in a different part of the city 6 years ago. Here’s hoping many more of these little sweeties (that’s her name, in fact, Sweetie) get new homes manana.

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[mellaw6565]

I will also give a discount on pet walking/house sitting services to any low income senior or disabled adult. If you know anyone that falls into these two categories, please email me at sitstaynplay08@yahoo.com.

Helping the elderly and disabled to have and maintain their pets is a dream of mine that I would like to put into action one day via a non-profit. Maybe this will be a good way for me to get started:)

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[changingtimes]

this is so great! but i always wondered what happens to the dogs and cats that get adopted by the seniors and then when the the seniors pass away (im sorry i know morbid right) what happens to the animals? dont they go right back to the shelter? that is sooo sad :(

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[mellaw6565]

Changing – that’s exactly the issue I want to address with a non-profit. As a result of growing up and living in Florida until 10 years ago, I know that most seniors desperately want the companionship of a pet, especially an older one, but are afraid of what will happen to the pet if they pass away. Also, they often don’t have the money to take care of an older pet’s needs.

From personal observation, the match of an older pet to an older person is a wonderful relationship and often the most awesome thing for both. The senior gains mellow, non-demanding companionship with an older, settled pet and the older pet avoids being one of the first to be put to death in a shelter. Besides, a senior with arthritic hips, for example, can definitely relate to a dog with arthritis – lol!

Both groups (older pets & older people) suffer higher rates of depression, especially when they lose someone they have been with for a long period of time. Parrots are especially vulnerable to this because of their long life spans.

I envision an organization where I could match an older pet that has lost its’ owner with an older person looking for companionship. If an owner passes, then the pet can be adopted by another senior who needs a companion, etc…..

I would offer a guarantee that all pets in the organization would be found homes with another if the owner dies and no family members will adopt. I would also want to fund the cost of veterinary care for seniors & the disabled on limited income; also food and supplies subsidies.

I have a dream…….I just haven’t figured out how to get it started.

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[angelescrest]

What a beautiful idea, Mellaw!

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[tea_drinker]

Hi Mellaw, many local shelters and rescue groups share your interest in matching senior pets & people. You may be able to volunteer right away for one of their programs rather than going through the difficult process of starting another non-profit. The Humane Society has some special programs along these lines, http://www.seattlehumane.org/services/services/lowincome-senior, as does Old Dog Haven http://www.olddoghaven.org/. There is also an amazing group called the Doney Memorial Pet Clinic that supports the pets of Seattle’s low income & homeless. They don’t have a web presence yet but they operate at the Union Gospel Mission every 2nd & 4th Saturday and you can email them at cdougherty48@yahoo.com. I know they could REALLY use support. Supporting one of these groups might be a step toward seeing your dream realized.

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[mellaw6565]

Thanks Tea!! I will check them out. I know I had done some web searching a few months ago and only found one program in California that closely resembled what I wanted to do. So it’s good to know there may be others out there.

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[mellaw6565]

Bump! Give your turkey a cat this Thanksgiving:)

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