These volunteers are helping older Vermonters care for their pets

Vermont Public | By Olivia Conti
Published May 23, 2024 at 5:00 AM EDT

John Chittenden lives in a small apartment in Shelburne with his two cats, Bam Bam and Pebbles. They’re siblings — Bam Bam is territorial and acts like Garfield the cat, while Pebbles is more gentle.

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Olivia Conti / Vermont Public / Community News Service
John Chittenden holds one of his cats at his home in Shelburne in April. For over a year, he’s had help caring for his cats through a volunteer program called Aging in Place with Pets.


For over a year, he’s gotten assistance through a volunteer program to help older adults age in place with their pets. It’s a partnership with the senior housing community [PDF] where he lives, Cathedral Square.

The program helps him with things like bringing his cats to the vet and trimming their nails. And he gets a discount on pet food. Right now, around a dozen interns regularly assist about 30 people at three Cathedral Square locations.

There are a number of other pet assistance programs in the state, but not many help pet owners directly in their homes.

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