The “Guardian” program of the shelter provides pets if the owners die

Last month, when a woman with leukemia entered the hospital, she strongly felt that she wanted to continue taking care of her two cats as much as possible. Remained in close contact with a member of the staff in Friends of Animal ShelterA non -profit organization in St. Petersburg, Florida, who took time to visit both home and hospital.

When it was time, the shelter welcomed the two cats to a special pet grief area. After their former owner died and the cats were ready, the friends of the Strays adopted them in a new home.

Cats enrolled in the shelter Pet guardian The program, which offers a way for people to ensure that their pets are taken care of if they die, are hospitalized or unable, according to Dara Worthington, Managing Director of the Friends of Stras.

“The main goal of this is to give people the opportunity to have a pet in their lives for as long as they can,” he said. “So many people, as they grow older, do not want to take the opportunity to take an animal and then die or not be able to take care of them – and the stress that comes with it.

The love that brings a pet to life also offers us health benefits. Research shows pets can be an important part of healthy aging, from reducing stress and loneliness Preservation of physical function and deceleration of cognitive decline.

How does the pet guardian program work

The pet guardian program in Friends of Stras is open to people of all ages, although most participants are over 65 years old. The way in which it works is for participants to have a $ 5,000 donation to their will for each pet who would like to register.

They also complement a form with extensive information about their pet – from personality traits and medicines to favorite foods and toys – to help move to a new home as easy as possible if the need arises.

“We want to know everything about this animal so that we can find the best race after they come to our shelter,” Worthington said. “We take photos of them and we also ask the people who are involved to let their friends and family know that they have been registered with this program so that once something happens, we can take the animals in our care, take care of any medical issues that may have and prepare them.”

The reason why Strays’ friends ask for $ 5,000 per pet is to help other homeless animals. The shelter is almost entirely on the generosity of the donors to help redefine about 2,000 animals each year to create scheduled gifts such as those in the pet guardian program helps the shelter provide medical care, adoption and “whatever the house”

“So you don’t just help your own pets when you sign up for this program, but you also help many, many others,” he said. “We always want to say that” love saves life “, and this is a primary example of that.”

Why is there a need for the pet guardian program

Many pets land in shelters when their owner dies, he noted. Cats can have a particularly long life. Worthington’s cat, Max, lived to be 21 years old.

Years ago, Worthington knew a family who chose to cheer a healthy, 8-year-old basset hound after his owner died and none of his children could take the dog.

“This has stayed with me all my life since then,” he said. “I don’t want any animal to be able to be healthy and should have a good long life and it is euthanized because the family just doesn’t want to deal with them.”

So she hopes that people with pets will carefully think about where their pet will go if something unexpected happens. If there is no family member, friend or neighbor who is willing to adopt their pet if they die, hopes they will consider shelter programs such as the pet guardian program.

Although Worthington is only 56 and will probably surpass her pets, she has already made emergency plans for her dogs and cats – only in case. It is something that feels that pet lovers have to do.

“I want to make sure my dogs and cats go to the best possible place when my time comes,” he said. “People should always make a plan for their pets.”