The Keep Your Pet launch date is 13 November 2012
Two local organisations are offering a new service to help older and vulnerable people to look after their pets in times of illness. Following a need identified by both organisations for a Yorkshire-based service, RSPCA York has joined forces with local branches of Age UK to set up Keep your pet (KYP).
Keep your pet offers services including short-term fostering of animals during periods of illness or hospital stay, walking of dogs when the owner is unable, lifts to a vet, etc.
Sally Hutchinson, Chief Officer Age UK York said:
‘We often find that care of their animals is a particular worry for older people when they are unwell. But we also know how vitally important the animals are in speeding recovery & promoting wellbeing in the long term. We see this service as a natural extension of our work and are delighted to be collaborating with the RSPCA.’
For the owners, the contact & friendship with the volunteer is almost as important as the benefits to their animal, but experience elsewhere has shown that the service is equally valuable to the volunteers.
There are many people who are unable to have an animal of their own, or those whose own animals have recently died may not feel ready for another animal of their own but wish to have contact with animals.
KYP really does offer a win-win situation.
Your help needed
KYP now needs to recruit volunteers of all ages to provide the service throughout the York & Selby area to launch the scheme on 13th November 2012. Volunteers will be fully protected by insurance provided by KYP. Don’t be put off if you can only offer a small amount of time – volunteers can give as much or as little time as they wish and even a couple of hours a week can make all the difference to a housebound owner and their animal. We also need help with admin work.
Download the volunteer application form http://tinyurl.com/Pet-sitting-York
Details: http://www.ageuk.org.uk/york/our-services/keep-your-pet/
If you would be willing to help in any capacity please contact: York 634061