PWC shelter offers free senior pet adoptions for seniors

Senior citizens age 60 and older can now adopt a senior dog or cat (age five or older) for free through a new program at the Prince William County Animal Shelter. 

The Prince William County shelter is the first in the area to offer the free program. Fairfax, Loudoun and Stafford counties and the City of Manassas have similar programs but they charge a reduced fee to senior citizens, according to a news release from Sharon Richardson, Prince William County police department spokesman.

The shelter is partnering with the organization Let Us Consider Adopting Strays (LUCAS) on the “Seniors for Seniors” pet adoption program. LUCAS provides the funds for animals adopted from the shelter, according to Animal Control Lieutenant Pauline S. Shatswell. “LUCAS has been a great help in making this program possible,” she said.

The way the program works is that the senior resident will go to the Animal Shelter, located at 14807 Bristow Road in Manassas (20112), across the street from the landfill and new the School Board offices, find an appropriate pet, and complete the adoption paperwork. The person adopting the animal must be present and complete the paper work. If the dog or cat has been spayed or neutered the applicant can take the pet home then. If the animal has not been spayed or neutered, the pet will stay at the shelter and staff will set up an appointment and transport the pet to the veterinarian for the surgery. After the surgery the new owner may pick his or her new pet up at the vet’s office, at the Animal Shelter, or, if the owner needs transportation assistance and lives in Prince William County, Shelter staff can take it to his or her residence.

Lt. Shatswell said that since the animals in this program must be five or older, shelter officials expect that many of them are already spayed or neutered. When the animals are adopted they will already be given their first shots – if they do not already have them – a current rabies shot, and they will be micro-chipped.

“The new owner will have to pay the registration fee for the micro chip, and these are all items in our normal adoptions,” Lt. Shatswell was quoted as saying. She said the adopting senior should still take his or her new pet to a veterinarian for a routine physical.

This new program hopes to find good homes for older animals that many people may not consider due to the age of the dogs and cats. There are demonstrated health benefits for older citizens who own pets, Richardson added in a statement.