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?
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.
Group Programs
We bring the joy of animals to those in the community through various programs! To learn more about our programs or get one scheduled, please visit our Friends for Life programs page!
We offer:
- Shelter tours for groups of 20 or less
- Animal visits and programs to community centers, living facilities and more!
- Senior focused programs and free senior drop in hours at Tiny Lions Lounge and Adoption Center
Are you a senior or someone experiencing exceptional difficulties caring for your companion animal?
Or do you know someone who is?
Many thanks to DTE for their support of Friends for Life.
