Food Fur All campaign launches to fund pet care for Meals on Wheels clients
Bend, Ore. (KTVZ) --- The Council on Aging of Central Oregon launched its annual Food Fur All fundraising campaign today. The campaign raises funds for Pet Pals, a program that provides pet food, supplies and veterinary care to Meals on Wheels clients across Central Oregon.
The Pet Pals program currently serves 164 Meals on Wheels clients with 275 pets across Bend, La Pine, Madras, Prineville and Sisters. Since its founding in 2022, the initiative has provided pet food and veterinary care for 373 seniors caring for 560 pets.
Over the past year, Pet Pals expanded its services to include in-home veterinary visits through a partnership with the Humane Society of Central Oregon. The program also added dental care services in collaboration with FIXbend.
The dental service assisted Alan, a Pet Pals client whose dog, Angel, broke a tooth that became infected. Through the program, Angel received dental treatment at no cost to Alan.
Cassie Regimbal, executive director of the Council on Aging of Central Oregon, highlighted the burden of medical expenses on older adults. “Stories like Alan and Angel's show why this program matters,” Regimbal said. “A veterinary bill can be difficult for anyone to manage, especially for someone living on a fixed income. Pet Pals helps make sure cost doesn't have to mean going without necessary care.”
Regimbal emphasized that pets provide essential routine and emotional support for homebound individuals. “Pets are an important part of our clients' lives,” Regimbal said. “When we support an older adult, we also want to make sure we're supporting the relationships and routines that matter to them. For many of our homebound clients, the most important relationship in their life is with their pet.”
Pet Pals is supported through community donations, grants and sponsorships, including Cascade Natural Gas. Community members can contribute through direct donations, mail-in checks or the organization's Amazon wishlist.
Established in 1975, the Council on Aging of Central Oregon serves as the designated Area Agency on Aging for Deschutes, Crook and Jefferson counties, offering services for adults ages 60 and older.
