ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Sunday, May 19, 1996 TAG: 9605170090
SECTION: SENIOR STYLE PAGE: 2 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: SARAH COX
Seniors and pets go together as naturally as smiles and sunny weather, which is just what those two bring to each other.
Ask anyone who has a pet - Al Alexander, executive director of the Roanoke Valley Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, said he can have the worst day in the world, and "there my dog is, in all his glory, and happy to see me,'' when he gets home. Pets give companionship, emotional security, communication and love. Plus, they need you, and people need to feel as if they're needed.
Dr. Kathie Neel, a veterinarian with Vinton Veterinary Hospital, said she sees a lot of older people with pets.
"They get so much enjoyment out of their animals. They value their animal's life so much, and the pets add a lot of meaning to their lives,'' she said.
Neel said there have been studies that show pets lower people's heart rates and aid in their recovery.
Having a pet depend upon you helps you forget your own problems, she said. And as you get older, your children move away, you're no longer working and you need to have someone or something depending upon your presence.
"The fact that there's something to touch and love in a stage of life when you don't have that as much,'' is important, she said. Pets can also help you overcome a loss, such as the death of a lifelong partner. A person can lose a husband, or another pet, and give up on getting attached to anything again, said Neel, "but then a pet comes into their lives and it will really brighten up their life.''
Bridget Quatmann, a veterinarian at Roanoke Animal Hospital, said there is pending legislation before the House of Representatives regarding pets for seniors in federally assisted housing. Now, seniors can keep pets in these dwellings only if the housing is designated for seniors or the disabled. The National Senior Citizen Pet Ownership Protection act proposes that seniors shouldn't be kept from having pets in any federally assisted housing, said Quatmann.
There are also programs encouraging the pairing of seniors and pets. Senior Pets and People Program currently is being developed by Quatmann through the SPCA.
This program would remove some of the barriers that keep seniors from adopting pets. For instance, it would provide transportation to a veterinary clinic, it would ensure that the pet would be re-adopted if the senior became unable to care for it, and it would provide some financial assistance, based on need.
"Many of our senior citizens' pets are their only companions, and their only source of companionship. Many fear what could happen to a pet if they died before the pet does. Our program will benefit senior pets and senior citizens,'' she said.
The basis of the program, according to Quatmann, is to provide senior citizens with a pet. The seniors would apply, any financial or transportation need would be determined. Then they would be assigned a care-level.
"There're a lot of seniors who have money, but no support to have a pet,'' said Quatmann, who added that the committee developing this program included other vets, senior citizens and a member of the SPCA board.
Another program aimed specifically at pets and seniors is the Purina Pets for People Program, this year aimed at people over the age of 60. Through the SPCA, this program provides some starter items such as a leash, pet dish, care video and pet food coupons; $20 off the spay or neuter of the pet; a free vet visit within seven days of adoption; and a pet which has received its first set of vaccines and has been de-wormed.
Purina donated $5,000 to this year's program, said Alexander, and the program will last as long as the money does.
Alexander said the SPCA adopts more than 50 percent of the animals that come into the shelter, but more than 50 percent of those that are not adopted are older pets.
"They are destroyed. You just cannot find homes for over 13,000 animals every year,'' he said. "We find the biggest reason older folks don't adopt animals is they don't want to die and leave them. But older pets don't need to be trained. Younger dogs need more exercise.
Older pets need less, and give companionship,'' he explained.
LENGTH: Medium: 82 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: TIM TREVILIAN. 1. Diane Farren of the Roanoke Valleyby CNBSPCA and Georgene Bolyard of Vinton spend a few minutes with an
older dog. 2. Al Alexander of the Roanoke Valley SPCA and his friend
cuddle up.