Residents asked to help pet owners

The community is being asked to help seniors care for their pets by purchasing items for them.

Monday, the Care for Critters pet care drive kicked off in both Green River and Rock Springs. Even though the Young at Heart Senior Center and the Golden Hour Senior Center have partnered up for this drive’s kick off and culmination of the event, they will each run their drive at their facilities. The Young at Heart Senior Center hosted a spaghetti dinner Monday to officially start the event. GHSC will end the event on May 24 at 11:30 a.m. with a lasagna lunch.

Irish Kreis, GHSC activities and marketing coordinator, said in Green River this drive is to help seniors and homebound meal delivered recipients’ pets. Those who were in need of pet food, toys, blankets, beds or money for vaccinations filled out a form specifying what items their pet needed.

So far, 75 tags have been filled out for pet’s requests at the GHSC, Kreis said.

The tags were put out for residents to come by and pick up Monday. Kreis said they are encouraging community members to help out with this project because most of the seniors at the center are on a fixed income.

“We would really love for people in the community to pick these up,” she said.

Those who want to participate, can stop by the center, pick out a tag for either a dog, cat, bird or fish. Once they have selected a tag, they need to make sure to sign a sheet stating which number they selected. Then the participant is asked to go purchase the items on the list and bring it back to the center. Those who choose a tag with a money amount request on it can either pay for the item with cash or by check for the amount requested.

“We will have our volunteers deliver these items to the person and their pet,” Kreis said.

As for the cash and check donations, the GHSC will make sure they get to the animal clinics the pet goes to. The money will then go into that pet’s account, which will be used to pay for vaccinations.

“A lot of seniors will forego their own needs to provide for their pets,” she said.

According to Kreis, the amount of pet requests they received is about the same as last year, however, she divided them up into more than one tag so it will be more affordable for someone who wants to help. She said this drive does make a big impact on those who are making the requests.