In January this year, WeekendPlus published an article introducing Paws with Friends, a program brought to you by Safe Pets Safe Families, supporting older people and pets.

Paws with Friends envisions a world with fewer limiting beliefs around pet ownership. They want older people to feel confident in their decision to enjoy a companion animal and assured that there will be support at times of need.

Clients of Paws with Friends are people aged 55+ who might require help with dog walking, vet care, vet transport, foster care, finding a pet suitable for their lifestyle, end of life planning, or some other pet-related matter. Services like these make a real difference: they enable access to important hospital and respite admissions, improve health outcomes and quality of life for both person and pet, provide a sense of community to those living alone and managing social isolation, and ultimately honour the profound meaning of the human animal bond.

Having recently completed its first year of operation, Paws with Friends is proving a resounding success. The team has received positive feedback from clients, grateful for the support provided and affirming of the need for services of this kind. Volunteers – the heart and soul of Paws with Friends – continue to report pleasure and reward as a result of their involvement. Without them, none of this would be possible.

Safe Pets Safe Families is putting a call-out to any readers who might be interested in volunteering for Paws with Friends. If you believe in the work that Paws with Friends is doing and feel you have something meaningful to contribute, they would love to hear from you.

Volunteers provide one-off services like assistance with vet visits or vet transports, as well as recurring services such as dog walking, animal grooming, and social connection. Some volunteers act as case workers, overseeing and coordinating the experience of individual program participants remotely. Whether performed in the community or from offices at home, every volunteer-led service contributes to supporting and maintaining the human animal bond and its many precious benefits.

Paws with Friends volunteers care about people and animals. Many play a meaningful role in the lives of older people living alone, so respect and kindness are a must.  Whilst it is understood and expected that volunteers have their own lives, reliability is valued immensely, however big or small the commitment. Volunteers are responsible for reporting back, following direction, and taking on feedback; they are representatives of Safe Pets Safe Families and follow policy and procedure accordingly.

All volunteers will need to pass a clearance as part of their registration and will be invited to attend a volunteer induction in preparation for the work they do.

If you are keen to register as a volunteer or are curious to explore your options, you can make contact with the Safe Pets Safe Families volunteer coordinator, Carrie, on volunteers@safepetssafefamilies.org.au or phone Mimi on 0434 419 480.

Paws with Friends was supported by a Positive Ageing Fellowship Grant from Office for Ageing Well. Read the evaluation report to learn about the findings of the pilot program.