A few years ago, I was known as the go-to person in the neighborhood, if anyone wanted a kitten. Whichever mother cat I happened to have at the time hardly had a chance to get “fixed”, and I never had a problem giving kittens to kids and their parents. An amazing assortment of colors and expressive faces and all the usual “kitten appeal” was offered.

As time went on, and as I got older, having five or six kittens around under foot became a maneuvering nightmare and one summer, I had all three cats fixed – the long-haired beauty, her three-colored calico mom and the 16-year-old matriarch of the house. Now these three cats keep me amused with their activities, keep the field mice in the field and provide a lot of company. They ask very little in return and are always a comfort. I love dogs, but I always think a dog is more needy than a cat – cats are so independent.

Senior Pets for Senior People is a new community outreach program geared for seniors in the Greater Portland area. The Animal Refuge League of Greater Portland in Westbrook launched the program to help place senior cats in permanent homes with senior people in the community. The outcome will give senior cats a second chance at life as well as provide companions for local seniors.

Staff will, upon request from senior centers, senior recreation programs, assisted living facilities, nursing homes, conduct a short seminar discussing the benefits of the program, as well as cat care.

The benefits of pet ownership are many, especially for seniors. According to the Humane Society of The United States pets, ease loneliness, enhance general health and well-being, lower blood pressure, decrease stress, reduce bone loss, lower cholesterol levels, improve blood circulation, among other benefits (www.hsus.org).

The goal is to encourage seniors to come to the shelter to adopt a senior companion. The hope is that many homeless senior pets so deserving of a second chance at life will find their way to a home where they can live out the rest of their life being cared for and loved. The beauty of matching senior cats with senior people is that the felines tend to be easier to care for than a dog or even a younger cat or kitten that most likely has a lot of energy to burn. Most of the senior animals would be so content just to have a cozy lap or a bed to snuggle up in and a human companion to love them.

Although the shelter normally charges a modest adoption fee to help recover costs, they will be waiving the adoption fees with this program. The shelter understands that in difficult economic times money is a consideration when thinking about adding a pet to the home. “We would much rather have the adopter save what would be the adoption fee and put it toward vet care – it’s our way of helping out” said Sarah Ashe, the shelter’s feline manager.

In the program, cats will receive the same medical attention as all pets coming through the Animal Refuge League. This includes: spaying/neutering, all vaccinations, screening tests, de-worming, flea treatment, a veterinarian check and a free veterinarian exam with a vet of the adopter’s choice (from a list of more 30 participating veterinarians) after the adoption. Micro-chipping is optional for a nominal fee.

The shelter offers other programs that may prove helpful for seniors with pets, as well. There is the Furry Friends Pet Food Pantry, where people can come to get food for their pets if they cannot afford to buy food. The shelter will provide resource listings for help with the cost of spaying and neutering animals and for low-cost vaccine clinics, as well as listings for help with veterinary care. The shelter also works with a groomer willing to make house calls at a reduced cost for seniors. The shelter can even arrange for delivery of food if a senior that goes through this program to adopt does not have transportation.

To qualify for the Seniors-to-Seniors Program, you must be a senior 55 years and older and attend one of the seminars. At the seminar, you will be given a pass to visit the Animal Refuge League to adopt a cat (the pass does not expire). You may even adopt the cat that comes to the seminar. The shelter has already begun outreach meetings. If you are interested in having a representative speak at your facility or community center, contact Toni McLellan, director of operations, 854-9771.

See the cats at the shelter at www.arlgp.org.