Abby Bolger Fund to Help Seniors with Pets
When Kimberley Bolger’s aging parents decided to adopt what would be their last dog, their priority was to make sure, if something happened to them, that she would care for their pet. Kim watched as, after her mom died, their beloved Standard Poodle, Abby became the sole comfort for her dad. He took Abby with him everywhere.
Seniors can have significant challenges in keeping their pets, from day-to-day pet management, to affording pet food, supplies, and skyrocketing vet care. But the other side of it is the incredible importance of the companionship of animals that can keep our older communities connected and engaged.
Kim lost her dad in 2018, and dealt with her own grief by taking care of Abby. It was this continuum that led her to help our Foundation start a fund specifically for seniors with pets, named in honor of Abby.
Our first use of the The Abby Bolger Fund to Help Seniors with Pets was to establish a pet food pantry at Senior Connections, a local nonprofit that “empowers seniors to live with dignity and choice.”
“Pets help to mitigate social isolation and truly make a difference in their health,” said Amy Strite, the agency’s executive director. “This program means aging adults with limited funds are not having to make a choice between feeding themselves or feeding their pets.” One of our goals is to establish senior pet pantries throughout the Greater Richmond area, and the Abby Bolger Fund will help us do just that.