The Keep Your Pet (KYP) service gives the older people of York help and support to care for their pets when they are unable to do it themselves. The service started in 2012 due to concerns that too many pets were being given up by older people because they were struggling to care for them due to health issues, and that some were also avoiding essential medical treatment because they had no one to care for their pets. Some older clients were also reluctant to engage with other essential support services due to fear of their pet being taken away from them.
The service aims to prevent older people from missing medical treatment, whilst encouraging them to engage with other appropriate support services and alleviating isolation and loneliness by helping them to care for their pets during times of ill health or injury.
Keep Your Pet offers services including:
- Dog walking
- Visiting a home to feed an animal
- Taking an animal to the vet
- Short term and long-term fostering for most domestic animals
- Collecting pet food and medications
- Advice and signposting