For many senior citizens, pets are precious long-time companions. The Silver Paw senior pets initiative ensures that seniors can continue to enjoy the company of their beloved pets. Often, seniors have to part with their pets with a sore heart, because they are unable to take care of them properly; they are no longer able to walk their dogs, carry heavy bags of cat litter or, due to old-age poverty, they are unable to feed their pets or pay vet bills. The pets, mostly senior too, commonly end up in an animal shelter. Since the founder of the Margarete Müller-Bull Foundation enjoyed the company of pets up until a ripe old age, our support of the Silver Paw senior pet initiative is a commitment to which we attach special importance. It helps seniors to take proper care of their pets. The seniors and their pets can thus stay together for as long as possible despite age or health-related limitations. Drawing on support from neighbours and volunteers, the initiative enables intergenerational cooperation that effectively combines and promotes animal and human welfare in a special way. It is a win-win situation for all involved. The elderly can keep their pets, while the pets are well-cared for in their familiar surroundings. The volunteers, who are often unable to keep a pet of their own, enjoy the contact with animals and the happy feeling that comes with doing good deeds. With its generous donation, MARGARETE MÜLLER-BULL FOUNDATION has enabled the purchase of a new service vehicle for the initiative. It is required for visiting the elderly, taking animals to the vet, conveying volunteers to events, collecting donations in kind and many other services. Thanks to the support of MARGARETE MÜLLER-BULL FOUNDATION, the first project vehicle went into operation as early as 2015. Because the Silver Paw initiative has grown steadily since it was founded in 2014, and is now active throughout Baden-Württemberg and beyond, greater demands are now also placed on the service vehicle. The new vehicle is more spacious and can carry several people and animals. It is more fuel-efficient and above all, it is fitted out to transport both passengers and animals very safely, all aspects that are invaluable to the initiative’s work.
