PETSMART CHARITIES AND MEALS ON WHEELS AMERICA PRESERVE THE BOND BETWEEN HOMEBOUND SENIORS AND THEIR FOUR-LEGGED FRIENDS
Arlington, VA – May 30, 2024 – Nearly 100 percent of
Meals on Wheels clients with pets say animals make them happier and
less lonely. But looking after these four-legged friends isn't always
easy for seniors facing mobility and financial constraints. In fact,
over 1 in 5 clients with pets actually forgo meals themselves to feed their companion animals and about 30 percent are forced to skimp on other necessities, like medical care and utilities.
To help these older adults provide for their floppy-eared hounds
and whiskered felines, Meals on Wheels America has a partnership with PetSmart Charities®, the leading funder of animal welfare in North America, to help deliver kibble to the doorsteps of homebound seniors across the country. Just in time for Pet Appreciation Week (June 2-8, 2024), the two organizations reached a pawsome milestone: 13 million pet meals served.
"For so many older adults, their pets are a sole source of
companionship," said Aimee Gilbreath, president of PetSmart Charities.
"We know their people will often choose to feed their four-legged
friends before themselves. And that's an impossible choice to make.
We're thrilled to pass this incredible milestone with Meals on Wheels
America. Together, we can ensure that people and their pets get the nutrition and care they need to thrive."
This momentous meal was enjoyed by Rebel, a 7-year-old Blue Heeler who lives with his owner, David, in Wyoming.
Before connecting with his local Meals on Wheels program, David had
resorted to paying only half his electric bill — just enough to keep the
lights on — so he could afford food for his pup.
"I was barely
making it," David said. Despite these challenges, Rebel plays an
instrumental role in David's life. As a registered service animal, the
dog helps David manage his anxiety and depression. He provides
much-needed companionship, too. "I talk to him all day like a human
because I got no family," David said. "He helps me more than people will
ever know."
Countless other seniors feel less lonely and are
more active because of their pets, which is why local Meals on Wheels
programs support pets too.
"No one should have to choose between their own well-being and that of their loving, furry companions," said Ellie Hollander, President and CEO, Meals on Wheels America.
In
addition to nutrition assistance, many Meals on Wheels programs provide
pet services such as veterinary care access, grooming, emergency
boarding and dog walking.
Of course, the success of these unique
initiatives hinges on the support of PetSmart Charities. Without their
generous giving plus donations from countless local pet supply stores,
veterinary clinics and other community-based businesses, pawrents like
David would struggle to provide for their four-legged friends.
"Rebel
the Wonder Dog — that's what I call him," David said of his pup. "I
wonder how he's still here and how he takes care of me so much."
For more information on Meals on Wheels America, please visit www.mealsonwheelsamerica.org. For more information on PetSmart Charities and how grants are making an impact across North America, please visit www.petsmartcharities.org.
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About Meals on Wheels America
Meals
on Wheels America is the leadership organization supporting the more
than 5,000 community-based programs across the country that are
dedicated to addressing senior hunger and isolation. Powered by a
trusted volunteer workforce, this network delivers a comprehensive
solution that begins with a meal and is proven to enable independence
and well-being through the additional benefits of tailored nutrition,
social connection, safety and much more. By providing funding,
programming, education, research and advocacy, Meals on Wheels America
empowers its local member programs to strengthen their communities, one
senior at a time. For more information, or to find a Meals on Wheels
provider near you, visit www.mealsonwheelsamerica.org.
About PetSmart Charities
PetSmart
Charities is committed to making the world a better place for pets and
all who love them. Through its in-store adoption program in all PetSmart® stores across the U.S. and Puerto Rico,
PetSmart Charities has helped 10 million pets connect with loving
homes. PetSmart Charities also provides grant funding to support
organizations that advocate and care for the well-being of all pets and
their families. PetSmart Charities' grants and efforts connect pets with
loving homes through adoption, improve access to affordable veterinary
care and support families in times of crisis with access to food,
shelter and disaster relief. Each year, millions of generous supporters
help pets in need by donating to PetSmart Charities directly at
PetSmartCharities.org, while shopping at PetSmart.com, and by using the
PIN pads at checkout registers inside PetSmart stores. In turn, PetSmart
Charities efficiently uses more than 90 cents of every dollar donated to fulfill its role as the leading funder of animal welfare in North America, granting more than $500 million
since its inception in 1994. Independent from PetSmart LLC, PetSmart
Charities is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that has received the
Four-Star Rating from Charity Navigator for the past 18 years in a row –
placing it among the top one percent of rated charities. To learn more,
visit www.PetSmartCharities.org.