Meals on Wheels for Pets of Elderly

By Francine Maglione
NEWS-TIMES CORRESPONDENT

For more than 50 years the Meals on Wheels program has aimed at providing food for the elderly and homebound, but what happens to the pets of those unable to leave their houses?

That's where AniMeals comes in.

Developed in 1984 at the Helen Woodward animal shelter in San Diego County, Calif., the AniMeals program has worked to bring food to the pets of those unable to go out and buy pet food for their furry little friends.

"We understand that it is a big responsibility to have a pet or pets in the home," said Lynn Alexander of the Danbury Animal Welfare Society and coordinator of AniMeals, "and that it's often difficult for the older people to get out and buy the pet food."

After the director of the Helen Woodward shelter came to town to give a talk, Alexander and the rest of the DAWS officials were inspired.

"We thought it was a worthwhile program to start," said Alexander.

Many elderly Meals on Wheels clients were giving their food to their pets because they were unable to leave the house to buy pet food.

AniMeals began a pilot program last July in conjunction with Meals on Wheels by handing out fliers to Meals on Wheels clients that owned pets.

"(DAWS) approached us," said Calleen Benson, coordinator of the Elderly Nutrition Program which runs Meals on Wheels. "(Clients) have really appreciated and enjoyed it."

DAWS gets the food, which is donated from local grocery stores, and a driver from Meals on Wheels delivers it once a week to provide regular meals for dogs and cats of Meals on Wheels recipients. The service is free.

"I deliver it to Meals on Wheels, and they deliver it to the homes," said Alexander.

Alexander packages dry food and occasionally canned food if it's available.

"We cannot guarantee that the client will get the same food," she said. "We have to give them what we have available."

DAWS has put donation bins in various participating grocery stores in the area to allow anyone to donate pet food.

Meals on Wheels covers Danbury, New Milford, New Fairfield, Bridgewater, Bethel, Redding and Brookfield.

AniMeals only covers Danbury now and has seven active clients, but Alexander said she hopes to expand to other towns in the future.

So far the feedback from clients has been positive.

"They will say that they like it," said Alexander.

In order to sign up for the AniMeals service, Meals on Wheels clients can fill out an application and send it in.

To be eligible for Meals on Wheels, a person must be homebound and 60 years of age or older.

"At this point," said Benson, "a lot of their pets aren't just pets anymore, but companions."

For information on the AniMeals program, call (203) 744-DAWS. The Elderly Nutrition Program is located at 54 Main St. in Danbury, California. For information, call (203) 743-5418.