CTV News at Five had the pleasure of presenting Kathy Jones of ElderDog Canada with the Maritimer of the Month Award on Friday.
While there is plenty of research around the benefits of pets for seniors, ElderDog Canada is an organization that helps maintain the special bond between aging dogs and their aging owners.
The non-profit organization helps find homes for canines whose owners may have gone into a nursing home.
ElderDog Canada also provides temporary foster homes for dogs if an elderly owner ends up in the hospital.
The organization makes in-home support available for seniors who need help caring for their pets, whether it’s with walking, grooming or getting to vet appointments.
Kathy Jones is one of the valuable volunteers who make the organization function by acting as the in-home support coordinator.
"She’ll get a call in the middle of the night that a dog can't get up and she'll go and help,” said Halifax Pawd leader, Tanya Ozard. “She’ll get a call that a senior's in the hospital and the dogs are home alone and she's right over there helping. She’s amazing."
Jones says she loves working for the organization because of her admiration for both old dogs and seniors.
“I think they have a lot to offer our society and just knowing that they have their companions with them at home is just a great thing,” said Jones. “I just agreed with the whole philosophy of the human animal bond with seniors and their dogs."
Congratulations to Kathy Jones, our Maritimer of the Month!
If you know someone deserving of our Maritimer of the Month award, we want to hear about it.
It doesn’t matter how old they are, the nature of the good deed they’ve done, or what part of the region they live in — we want your ideas!
Please send your nomination to:
or
Maritimer of the Month
P.O. Box 1653
Halifax, N.S.
B3J 2Z4
