Friends Who Care is designed to keep senior citizens and their pets together.
Through this initiative, Anti-Cruelty facilitates the delivery of pet care kits directly to the homes of individuals who are elderly, homebound, and ailing using a third-party vendor. Originally launched in partnership with the City of Chicago’s Department of Family & Support Services, the Friends Who Care program fortifies the human-animal bond, assisting struggling seniors in caring for their companions while enhancing each pet’s quality of life.
Using a case management approach, we utilize services from across our organization to provide individualized assistance for each client. To qualify for the program, pet owners must live within the surrounding Chicagoland area, be at least 65 years of age, and have a referral from a local social service agency. The Friends Who Care program provides support for an average of 350 pets and their families each year.
Please note that we are not accepting new clients for the Friends Who Care program at this time. If you are in need of support, visit our Pet Owner Support Services and Pet Food Pantries pages for additional resources.