The Dubuque Regional Humane Society (DRHS) is a proud participating shelter with the Pets for the Elderly Foundation (PFE)! This organization helps pay the fees to participating animal shelters throughout the United States for senior citizens (age 60 and over) who adopt a companion dog or cat from a participating shelter – including pre-adoption veterinary exams and spay/neuter, if part of the adoption fee.
About Pets for the Elderly
When the late Avrum (Avvy) Katz founded the PFE in 1992 while in his seventies, his vision was to provide companionship to senior individuals through pet ownership, while saving the lives of companion animals in shelters.
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Mr. Katz personally understood the importance of animal companionship for senior citizens living alone. He attested that the dogs of his golden years, first Caesar and then Sammy, were not only his best friends, but that their company positively impacted his mental and physical health, and he wanted to share that positive experience with other seniors.
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Today, the PFE mission is stronger than ever. They’ve helped facilitate over 78,000 happy ending adoption stories between seniors and shelter animals across the U.S.
Why we do it
Research shows the most serious disease for older persons is not cancer or heart disease - it's loneliness. Pets offer affection, unconditional love, fight loneliness, and can help ease the loss of a loved one. Owning a pet also offers many physical and social benefits for seniors as well.
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Learn more about the PFE here.
