Pets for the Elderly

Delaware Humane Association is able to offer adoption fee discounts to senior citizens thanks to support from The Pets for the Elderly Foundation (PFE), a nonprofit organization that provides the gift of health and happiness to senior citizens in need while saving the lives of cats and dogs.

The most serious disease for older persons is not always cancer or heart disease — it can be loneliness. Pets offer affection, unconditional love, relief from loneliness, and can help ease the loss of a loved one.

“Having a pet in my home makes me smile and feel young again. I recommend DHA because I was treated so well, ” said PFE program particpant Kathleen Elam.

The PFE Board of Trustees includes celebrities such as Helen Gurley Brown, former editor-in-chief of Cosmopolitan Magazine, and actress Jaclyn Smith, best known for her role on the long-running TV series “Charlie’s Angels” and more recently, hosting the competition series, “Shear Genius”.

PFE helps pay the fees to participating animal shelters throughout the United States for senior citizens who adopt a companion dog or cat from a participating shelter — including pre-adoption veterinary exams and spay/neuter, if part of the adoption fee.

Starting in 2006, DHA became the first (and only) organization in Delaware to participate in the PFE program.

What You Need to Know
•You are eligible for the Pets for the Elderly discount if you are age 60 or over.
•The dog you are adopting must be at least 3 years old to qualify; cats can be any age.
•There is a maximum of two pets per senior adopter in any calendar year.
•Qualifying adopters will receive a $50 discount off their pet’s adoption fee.
•Shelter staff will need to take a picture of you with the animal(s) you are adopting before you take them home.
•A PFE representative may randomly call adopters for the sole purpose of verifying current status of the adopted animal(s).

For more information, go to: www.dehumane.org