One service HHF provides, but doesn’t necessarily advertise, is help with pet deposits for seniors moving out of their homes and into assisted living. Can you imagine how traumatic it would be to lose your home and beloved companion animal at the same time? That almost happened to Rose, who had to move into a memory center, but couldn’t afford the pet deposit to bring her 10 year old cat, Dane, with her.

Research abounds regarding the important health benefits pets provide to the elderly, including increased socialization with other people, lower blood pressure, increased life span, and, perhaps most important, a reason to get out of bed in the morning.

While funding is traditionally tight this time of year as we wait for grants to come in and for our fundraising events to occur, we just couldn’t say no. Rose is now settling into her new environment and Dane is right by her side, helping her adjust and providing the unconditional love pets bring to our lives.