Home-delivered meal clients receive food for pets

Gwinnett County Health and Human Services and Animal Welfare and Enforcement have partnered to provide Health and Human Services’ Home-delivered Meal clients pet food. Deputy Department Director Blake Hawkins said when they realized their senior clients shared their own food with their furry friends, the two Department of Community Services divisions joined forces to provide the dogs and cats the nutritionally balanced food they need as well.

Animal Welfare and Enforcement currently funds the program and Health Human Services’ volunteers deliver the sealed Hill’s Science Diet dry dog and cat food along with dietician-approved five-day supply of nutritious frozen meals for seniors.

Approximately 400 seniors receive home-delivered meals, and about 30 of those clients currently receive pet food. Hawkins said they hope to increase that number in the next year and expand the program to provide clients access to low cost vaccination and veterinary care for their animals.