Ramapo-Bergen Animal Refuge, Inc.: Senior Pet Adoption Assistance Grant Report

How did this grant help your organization and the pets in your care?

Foster and Santino are a bonded pair of seniors with special medical needs who lost their home when their owner passed away. The funds requested were used for Foster and Santino's medical expenses in their foster-to-adopt home. They were placed as a supported-senior adoption, in which we assist with medical costs as the pet transitions to ease the burden on the adoptive family and make them more likely to find a home.

Foster and Santino require regular rechecks and bloodwork at our specialty vet, where we received a 50% discount on care. Both dogs are on D/D prescription diet for allergies. Santino is on gabapentin for seizures. Foster is on melatonin, omeprazole, Pprednisone, Atopica and mycophenolate for his ITP [a bleeding disorder caused by a low platelet count]. Funding assisted with their ongoing medical care as a supported-senior adoption, where we will assist the adopter with medical costs to ease some of the financial burden as they transition into a new home. Taking on one senior with medical concerns is commendable, but taking on two requires an incredible and committed home.

How many pets did this grant help?

2

Please provide a story of one or more specific pets this grant helped.

Foster and Santino are a bonded pair of senior cocker spaniels. Our local veterinary hospital referred them to us because of their special needs. They have always lived together. Their owner recently passed away, and they are confused without her, but they have each other to find comfort in. They have received specialized medical care and been well cared-for, and now they have no one. Foster has ITP (an autoimmune blood disorder in which he doesn’t produce enough platelets and has clotting issues), so he is on immunosuppressive drugs and an allergy diet. Santino is epileptic and on medication as well as an allergy diet. They are a sweet, senior bonded pair. Not only is it a challenge to place them because they are seniors, but they both have special medical needs and are on a special diet, which is costly. They are in a foster-with-intent-to-adopt home together thanks to the Petfinder Foundation.