The Somerset-Pulaski County Humane Society has a plan to help pair senior animals with senior citizens – it just needs the people to carry it off .
Lisa Schultz , a core volunteer with the local Humane Society , said the proposed program can ’ t get off the ground unless there are enough foster homes on board .
Of course , the program also needs financing , and Schultz said monetary donations are always welcome , but there is grant money that is available as well . There is even funding specifically for the care of senior animals .
“ But we haven ’ t even gone after the grant money because we don ’ t have the fosters .”
The idea behind the program is mainly to care for aging animals or those who have medical conditions that make it difficult for those pets to be adopted due to the expense of their care .
Those pets would essentially become permanent foster animals for the humane society .
But if foster families could be found – mainly people who
may be in their 50s , 60s or 70s – those animals could find loving homes .
“ The Humane Society would cover all costs , but we need someone to care for that animal for the rest of its life ,” Shultz said .
She said the program would
be ideal for seniors , because as they get older , they may want the love of a dog or cat , but worry about taking on what could be a 15-year commitment .
Schultz said she and her husband , Mark , have thought about that themselves as they get older . They love to adopt dogs , but understand that when the members of their current “ pack ” eventually pass away , they could be in their 70s .
“ That doesn ’ t mean we ’ re dead , it ’ s just no time to adopt a puppy . That ’ s a great time to adopt a senior animal ,” she said .
It also doesn ’ t mean that animal will be gone in a few months , either , she points out . Even if they have medical needs , they can still live a long and healthy life .
She gives as an example a dog that she took in when she lived in Atlanta . She adopted a 10-yearold from a highkill shelter , and because of its age , her husband was skeptical that the dog would live very much longer , she said .
“ That was George . We called him George because we wanted to ‘ Love him and hug him and call him George ,’” she said , referring to the well-known Bugs Bunny cartoon .
“ That dog lived to be 20 or darn near short of it ,” she said .
“ So its not like you ’ re fostering a dog that has one foot in the grave and another on a banana peel ,” as she put it . It just means taking in an
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