Meals for Paws

              
         Meals for Paws, a Worthy Cause

Long Trail Canine Rescue in collaboration with K9 Insights are proud to have become closely involved with Grafton County Senior Citizens Council and Vermont Visiting Nurses Association.  By developing the program "Meal for Paws, a Worthy Cause", LTCR and K9 Insights have become the primary providers of donated pet foods for the Upper Valley Senior Center's home delivery meals program and a contributing member of pet foods for the VNA & Hospice Pet Peace of Mind Program. 


How did the Meals for Paws program come about?

Wanting to focus a portion of our efforts on our local community in an area that was not receiving the attention needed, we saw a need that had previously been overlooked and decided to take action. K9 Insights and Long Trail Canine Rescue developed the program "Meals for Paws, a worthy cause" after learning there was no local initiative for focusing attention on the vital relationship that exists between someone who is home-bound and their pets.

The first relationship we developed was with GCSCC.  Lacking the resources needed to integrate this important activity into routine program operations, Grafton County Senior Citizens Council positively responded to the idea of having a primary source to count on for donated cat and dog food. The core goal of the program is to ensure there is pet food available at all times on the vehicles that are responsible for getting the home delivered meals out to their recipients.

It's a little known fact that some of those receiving home delivered meals often resort to sharing/feeding their pet(s) the meal meant for them. Maybe they are home-bound, maybe they are unable to afford food this month. Maybe they are facing the difficult decision of giving up their pets because they no longer have the means to properly care for them. Having to give up a beloved pet can be as traumatic as asking someone to give up their own child (as many pet owners will attest). Receiving love and attention from a cat or a dog can drastically improve quality of life for some seniors. Sometimes just knowing there is another life to care for can bring a new meaning and joy to those going through difficult times in their lives. It hardly seems fair that some people in dire need might be forced to give their pets away when they need them most.

By advocating the addition of pet food to the home delivered meals program,  our hope is to increase the awareness of the significance of pets not only in the lives of seniors, but everyone.

How did you become involved with the VNA & Hospice Pet Peace of Mind Program?

The success of our Meals for Paws program has been tremendous and when we learned about the Pet Peace of Mind Program, it seemed more than obvious for our organization to be partnered with them.  Our goals are quite similar, keeping the pet in the home.  After meeting with VNA, we knew it was a relationship meant to be.                                                                                                                                             

Because the Meals for Paws program is an ongoing program, we will always be in need of donations of food.  Local drop-off locations include SAVES - 24 hour Small Animal Veterinary Emergency Services 63 Evans Dr.  and The Ranch at Etna Road, both located in Lebanon.  If you are interested in donating pet food, please feel free to contact us and we can arrange to pick it up. 

                                                                    
                   

 So far, we have donated:


1067 lbs of dry food & treats

and

1027 cans of cat and dog food