Volunteering boosts Pets of Older Persons (POOPS)

Pets of older persons (POOPS) is a not-for profit-organisation run entirely by volunteers, who run a free pet care service for disabled or elderly pet owners. The organisation started in the Perth Metro area in 2010 and then started their first regional location in Busselton four years ago. “We walk dogs for mainly the elderly, so people aged 65 years and older, people with disabilities or just having illnesses of any age, who can no longer walk their dogs,” POOPS Busselton co-ordinator Cathy Gibson said. “We can also take them to the vet and sometimes volunteers can help to groom them, or give them a wash.” Ms Gibson said she first got involved with the organisation when her friend sent her a clip of it from the news. “I was already walking dogs for a couple of people who weren’t well, so I contacted them and then we started (a) branch down here, they came down and we were the first regional town outside of Perth to get POOPS,” Ms Gibson said. “We are walking about 60 dogs at the moment with about 140 volunteers.” “The number walks the dogs get a week just depend on how many volunteers I can find, but most of our dogs are getting anywhere from three to seven walks a week.” The Pets of Older Persons organisation allows people who may not be able to physically do all the tasks required to own a pet, to have the company and companionship of a dog. “it absolutely gives it a purpose in life and also when the volunteers visit, it’s an unofficial welfare check, so if the volunteer thinks that something’s amiss with the client, then they can contact their emergency contact or even go find an ambulance if necessary,” Ms Gibson said. “It also provides some of our clients a social connection as many volunteers stay for coffee and have a chat.”