It’s a puppy! That’s what Charlie said when his son came to visit and brought him a new companion. Sick and abandoned, the pup was in need of some help.At 94-years old, Charlie was homebound and living alone so he needed a little help too. Charlie named the pup Abby, and an amazing relationship quickly developed as he nurtured her back to health. Now Abby helps Charlie when she reminds him to eat as she nudges him to the table at mealtime. Their bond was meant to be, each providing the support the other needs.
While Charlie and Abby can help each other inside their home, they receive help from an outside agency called LifeSpan Resources, Inc. Lifespan Resources provides homebound seniors and their pets with meals delivered to their door. LifeSpan is a “Meals on Wheels” organization and is also the designated Area Agency on Aging for four Southern Indiana counties.
Lucy Koesters is the Nutrition and Senior Centers Director for LifeSpan. She says “Pets provide an important component of engaging with life for many homebound elderly and disabled. We estimate that at least half of our “Meals to Go!” clients have pets, and we know that those pets mean the world to them. Charlie and Abby are a perfect example of this vital relationship.”
The LifeSpan organization recognized the growing need for pet food assistance due to the low-income status of many of its clients. Their representatives would see clients trying to stretch their limited dollars to cover housing, medicine, and food. In 2013, LifeSpan established a pet assistance program for its clients and has been receiving funding from Banfield Charitable Trust to assist with this need.
Thanks to donors and supporters (You), Banfield Charitable Trust has awarded more than a million dollars for Pet Assistance Grants to more than 400 Meals on Wheels organizations. Charlie and Abby thank you for your support, as do many other senior citizens across the nation that need just a little bit of help to enable them to keep their pets.
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