2 minute read
Pets for Life
Kind volunteers help keep pets and owners together for longer
There’s nothing like the love and companionship that a pet can bring. However, through stages of life it can become a little more difficult to stay on top of our pet’s physical needs. Thankfully, there is a group of local pet-loving volunteers who are eager to connect with seniors and people with mobility limitations to help keep their pets at home with them for longer.
The Pets for Life program was conceived through seeing the distress experienced by people who, as they found it increasingly difficult to meet their pet's ongoing needs, had to surrender their beloved companion.
From this, the Caloundra Community Centre set up Pets for Life with the aim to connect pet owners with screened and trained volunteers to provide regular assistance, such as dog walking, access to veterinary services and assistance with the general wellbeing and care of pets. The program has been operating for more than ten years and currently has 60 pet owners and 70 volunteers across the Sunshine Coast region.
One volunteer who has been involved with Pets for Life for almost four years is Beerwah local, Tricia Field. When she retired, Tricia, who has always had a love for dogs, jumped at the opportunity to become involved with the program. Tricia currently volunteers her time once a week to help loving pet owner, Max, with his best mate, Bailey.
“It’s very rewarding and gives me a reason to get out of bed, too,” Tricia said.
“It’s important to people that they’re able to keep their pets and I love that I’m able to help them with that.
“On top of that, I’ve developed a strong friendship with Max over the years, and enjoy our time catching up each week.”
As well as helping people care for pets, the program also aims to reduce social isolation for older people, fostering relationships in the community and offering further support to those who may be housebound.
Recently, the program has had an increase in local volunteers in the Landsborough, Mooloolah, Beerwah and Maleny region who are eager to connect with pet owners in the area who may like a little extra support looking after their pets.
Pets for Life is a free program that will introduce volunteers to owners and their pets to discuss what their individual needs are. Volunteers can assist with both short- and long-term support options and individuals will usually have more than one volunteer helping them.
