Studies show pets can be literal life savers, protecting against isolation and improving mental health. HSHV’s Friends for Life helps protect the bond between people and their companion animals, particularly for seniors and others struggling to care for their pet. 

Are you a senior or someone in Washtenaw County/Plymouth experiencing difficulties caring for your companion animal?
Or know someone who is?
 

Free Pet Vaccine Clinics

 

Our next Friends for Life free pet vaccine clinic will be held in the spring of 2026.

More details and information can be found at hshv.org/freeclinic.

Essential Services & Supplies

Providing basic care for beloved pets can sometimes be challenging, whether due to an owner’s health, transportation issues or financial difficulty.  If you live within Washtenaw County/Plymouth we can help with:

  • Dog and cat food
  • Essential care items (collars, leashes, litter boxes, etc.)
  • Short term, in-home pet care support such as dog walking or litter scooping

In addition to distributing pet food onsite at HSHV, we also work with other well-known organizations in the community to get supplies to those who need them. Our current partner list is below, with more to come. (Interested in partnering with us? Please contact us!)

  • Meals on Wheels Ypsilanti and Ann Arbor 
  • Community Action Networks 
  • Manchester Family Services 
  • Avalon Housing
  • Carpenter Place
  • Cranbrook Towers

Veterinary Assistance

Pet injuries and illness often cause seniors to give up their companion animals. We’d like to prevent this. Our full-service nonprofit veterinary clinic may be able to  assist through:

  • Discounted service rates for senior pet owners
  • Financial assistance (as available)
  • Free cat and dog vaccine clinics
  • Transportation assistance for appointments (as available, Ann Arbor and Ypsilanti only, 7 days notice requested)

Please call our veterinary clinic for more information @ 734-662-4365.

Short-Term Housing Help

Are you in need of short-term emergency housing for your pet and have nowhere else to turn? Thanks to our wonderful foster families, we are sometimes able to provide temporary housing during challenging periods and emergencies. For more information, please visit our Safe Harbor page. To request help, please submit a Safe Harbor request, or call 734-661-3552 or 734-661-3528.

Pet Behavior Advice

Behavior issues don’t have to be a reason to part with a beloved pet. Changes in behavior often have roots in medical issues or may be alleviated by providing enrichment or by making simple changes at home. We can help with:

Animal Visitation and Group Programs

While HSHV’s adoption center is open 7 days/week to visitors, we know not all are able to make it here. So we’re bringing the joy of animals to those in the community, too! To learn more about our programs or get one scheduled, please visit our Friends for Life programs page

We offer:

Are you a senior or someone experiencing exceptional difficulties caring for your companion animal?
Or do you know someone who is?
 

Many thanks to the Grey Muzzle Foundation for their support of Friends for Life.