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Show Humane Society hopes to match seniors, pets The Humane Society of Utah is kicking off the second year of a national campaign to match area senior citizens with homeless shelter shel-ter pets as part of the Purina Pets for People Program. The program has helped bring more than 15,000 senior citizens and pets together during the first year. In addition to making more Salt Lake City area seniors happy, the program has helped reduce the number of homeless pets in the Humane Society of Utah shelter. The Pets for People program, sponsored by the Ralston Purina Co., enables qualifying seniors to adopt a dog or cat from their local shelter completely free of charge. The program covers adoption fees, initial veterinary care, including in-noculations in-noculations and spaying or neutering, neuter-ing, and provides the senior with a starter kit that includes a leash, collar, col-lar, food and water bowls and a starter supply of food. The Humane Society of Utah provides these services to qualifying qual-ifying senior citizens in the Salt Lake City -area. About 15,000 pets for people adoptions have been made nationwide since the program prog-ram began. More than 100 shelters or Humane Societies in 90 cities nationwide participate in the program. prog-ram. An additional 100 shelters will join the program on a part-time basis this year during August and September, a time when pet overpopulation over-population at shelters traditionally is at its highest. Studies show that pets can provide pro-vide health benefits to senior citizens. In addition to companionship, companion-ship, a dog or cat provides a sense of security and protection as well as a source of entertainment and unqualified affection. "The program was successful last year, both in terms of helping seniors experience the love of a pet and in reducing the number of pets in our shelter,'.' said Gene Baiers-chmidt, Baiers-chmidt, director of the Humane Society of Utah. "We hope even more area seniors learn about the program and participate this year." For more information, contact the Humane Society of Utah, 4613 S. 4000 W., Salt Lake City, 968-3548. |