Elderly and disabled people often live on fixed incomes that leave little room in the budget for pet care items. The Helen Woodward Animal Center of San Diego County, Calif., helps keep senior citizens and their pets together by offering free pet food to the cats and dogs of elderly or disabled owners. In most cases, shelter staff arrange to have the food taken to the pet owners.
The AniMeals program, which began in 1984, serves pets throughout San Diego County, working in cooperation with Meals-on-Wheels. It is one of only a handful of such programs in the United States. Interested residents can donate pet food at special bins located in area Petco, Ralphs and Vons stores. Dedicated volunteers pick up, package and help deliver donated items to homebound pet owners.
For more information about the AniMeals program, visit the Helen Woodward Animal Center website.