ELDERDOG CANADA HELPS SENIORS AND THEIR PETS LIVE BETTER LIVES AND FIND NEW HOMES

ElderDog Canada is a national charitable organization that helps aging people and dogs who need homes.

Elizabeth Newman works with ElderDog outreach. She said as people get older, they may need help caring for their pets.

“We have volunteers who go in and help seniors walk the dog, take the dog to the vet, take the dog to the groomer. All those things,” said Newman.

“The goal is to keep the dog with its person as long as possible.”

Pet ownership is excellent for health and gives seniors a sense of purpose, a schedule and a reason, Newman said.

Dale Jollota is an ElderDog foster parent but when she adopted her dog, it was a “foster fail.”

“A foster fail is when you take in a dog to foster and you wind up keeping them as your forever dog,” Jollota said.

Jollota said she fostered 11 or 12 dogs before her first fail. She said her tiny, adopted dog leaves enough room in her life to take in new fosters during their journey to forever homes.

“Fostering is so rewarding,” Jollota said. “Every dog that comes into our home immediately becomes a part of our family.”

Jollota said her family integrates their dogs into their lives and loves them like their own.

“Each dog is unique and special,” she said. “We allow them the time that they need to let their personalities come out so we can give a potential adopter as much information as possible about the dog.”

Jolotta said fostering can be challenging, especially when working with sick or injured dogs.

“But they all teach us so much,” she said.

Newman said when you adopt a senior dog you give them a second life and they don’t require training like a new puppy.

“They’re just looking for love and it works very well,” she said.

People who are interested in volunteering or fostering through senior dogs can get information and sign up on the website.

“I’ve done a lot of volunteering over the years but with ElderDog it’s so hands on and it’s immediate and it is very worthwhile.”