Volunteers needed to purchase pet supplies

Once again, the Golden Hour Senior Center is participating in the Care for Critters program.

According to a press release, the Care for Critters program helps seniors pay for food, vaccines and other items for their pets through donations, as well as funding from AARP Wyoming. This year’s Care for Critters event is scheduled for April 22-May 17.

GHSC activities and marketing coordinator Irish Kreis said the center currently has 72 tags filled with requests from 34 pets. Kreis is encouraging residents to stop by the center and pick up a tag before May 17. Once the resident takes a tag, they purchase the items listed on the tag and return the tag and items back to the center.

Items most commonly asked for are food, vaccinations, treats, toys, grooming and veterinary services. Last year, in Green River alone, the program filled out 126 tags, providing more than $1,050 in veterinary services, and helping 26 dogs, eight cats, two birds and one family of fish, the press release states. In  2017, the Sweetwater County community fulfilled 88 requests in Rock Springs and another 53 in Green River. This program is important because it helps seniors over 50 who may need help from time to time covering the costs to take care of their pets.

“Seniors will go without to provide for their pets,” Kreis said. “A good portion of seniors are living alone with only a pet for company, so these pets are vital to the happiness of our seniors.” 

For those who may not have pets and aren’t familiar with what to purchase or don’t have time to pick up the items themselves, they can still help out.

“Cash donations are also welcome. If you or your business would like to help, but don’t have the time to do the shopping, they can make a cash donation and we will fill the tags for them,” Kreis said.

The items will be delivered by volunteers on May 30 to those who made the pet requests.