It is a well known, and often cited, fact that companion animals increase happiness, reduce blood pressure, decrease feelings of isolation and generally contribute to an overall feeling of well being. So I got to thinking, if this is such a well known and well researched concept, why aren't there organizations available for elderly or disabled persons to obtain a companion animal? So after doing a little *ahem* "research" *ahem* googling for such a topic I came across two wonderful local organizations that do just that and felt I would be remiss if I didn't highlight them in at least one blog post.
The first organization I came across was called Canine Companions Inc. They are based out of Roseville, MN and offer several adoption options for elderly persons or those with a disability. The adoption options include no fee adoption or full adoption fee (which varies depending on several factors including duration of time at their facility) depending on if certain requirements are met. The even more wonderful thing about this organization is that they work to relieve some of the burden of training a new companion by teaching the dog basic commands like sit, stay, come and house breaking. This organization works with responsible breeders and rescue organizations only and can help to keep vet bills to a minimum through their program. To find out more about this program, visit their website at caninecompanionship.org or call at 651-403-6400.
The other organization I cam across is called Pet Accolades, this group provides service, therapy and companion dogs for people with psychiatric disabilities and brain injury. They assist their clients in finding resources and provisions to care for their dogs and provide continued support for the client. For more information, go to their website at petaccolades.org or call at 651-315-1166.
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