Barbara Krupa has lived by by herself for the last 17 years. The only one that is there for her every day is her little dog, Ginger.
“I’ve dated some men and none of them, none of them have been as loyal and loving as she has,” says Krupa, “even my family isn’t here for me the way she is.”
Krupa rescued Ginger from a puppy mill nine years ago. They’ve since formed a special bond, a connection that occupational therapist Kate Crowley says can help anyone, not just seniors.
ATVN's Lexie Cook takes a look at a local program that allows low-income seniors to pay for their pets. (Video by Lexie Cook)
“Caring for an animal, a pet, is really important to our sense of humanity. It’s something we all need: that uncritical, unconditional acceptance that the last time we had it we were two and on our mother’s lap,” says Crowley.
However, pets need more than just love. There are visits to the vet, food and other costs, making it hard for seniors like Krupa to enjoy the benefits of having a pet if they can’t afford or physically take care of it on their own.
Krupa is only able to keep Ginger with the help of PACE, a program for low-income seniors that’s funded by PAWS/LA.
The PACE program provides low-income seniors with monthly pet food supplements, subsidized veterinary costs, dog walking, litter box cleaning and other services to help the seniors continue living with their pets.
“If they call us and say the cat is sick, the dog is sick, that’s where we want to step in and make sure they’re ok,” said client services manager Scott Dunlevie.
Around 1,700 elderly and terminally ill people in the Los Angeles area use services from PAWS/LA in order to keep living with their beloved pets.
Jill Saint-Amant is another Los Angeles senior using the PACE program to keep her two cats. She says she can’t imagine living without them and would go to extremes to make sure that they are comfortable.
“I really am a cat lady, you know. I would go without food rather than they,” Saint-Amant said.
Seniors like Saint-Amant and Krupa can’t afford to pay there veterinary bills when their pets are sick. However, PAWS/LA staff members say that losing a pet might be a threat to their health and happiness.
“It’s their reason for going forward and keeping going and keeping active. Just the companionship; the animal is there for them every day,” says Dunlevie. “That’s what we’re here for is to keep the animals with their parents.”
