“Resilient old girl” finds herself back at RSPCA shelter for second time
She may be missing some teeth and her fur might have lost its youthful gloss, but at 20 years and six months (that’s 98 in human years) Pippin is doing alright aside from one sad fact – she has outlived her previous two owners and is once again in need of a new home.
Jacky Barrett, who leads RSPCA South Australia’s cat care team, hopes the next home for Pippin will be the one where the still spritely nonagenarian lives out her twilight years in comfort and loving care.
“Pippin has been a much-loved companion for her two previous owners – her last owner’s main concern when she became unwell was that Pippin be well cared for while she was in the hospital,” Jacky said.
“Very sadly, this elderly lady passed away, and Pippin has ended up back with us for the second time after being adopted last December. She’s very agile and acts like a cat half her age – we’ve all got a soft spot for this resilient old girl.”
Pippin’s situation highlights both the benefits of pet ownership at any age and the need to make provisions for our pet’s care if we’re no longer able to take care of them ourselves.
RSPCA SA offers a program called “Home Ever After”, which is open to all pet owners who leave a gift to the charity in their will. If someone who has registered with the program is no longer able to care for their pets, the RSPCA provides care and accommodation for the animals while matching them with new owners.
“We use the information provided by the pet’s owner about their animal’s care needs and quirks to ensure we find just the right new home for them,” Jacky said.
“Being registered with Home Ever After is a way to not only sleep soundly, knowing that your pet’s future care is safeguarded should you be unable to care for them. “It’s also a way to pay it forward for the far less fortunate animals who come to us having suffered cruelty, neglect and abandonment.”
