By Laura Hipshire
THE ERICKSON TRIBUNE

Lincoln aka “Kitty-Cat” is feeling like the king of the castle lately, thanks to a new cat adoption program sponsored by the Friends for the Dearborn Animal Shelter that pairs seniors with cats needing homes.

Lincoln recently adopted his new owner, Jeanne Gardner, and couldn’t be happier.

“He’s very curious,” Gardner says. She chose her new companion as part of the Cat Placement Program for Seniors in conjunction with Henry Ford Village in Dearborn.

Pet friendly community great for cats
The program, aimed at placing more than 200 homeless cats currently housed in the shelter, pairs cats one year and older with someone who lives at Henry Ford Village.  The shelter waives the normal $80 adoption fee.

Elaine Greene, executive  director for the shelter, decided the program would be a great fit for Henry Ford Village for many reasons.

“My parents, Glen and Mabel Greene, as well as the Friends’ president’s mother, Nancy Spilker, live at Henry Ford Village, so we are quite familiar with the community,”  Greene says.

“Given that the community is pet friendly and full of wonderful folks who may be interested in adopting a companion, we started the program there,” she says.

Gardner, who moved to Henry Ford Village from Birmingham, was quite impressed with the program. “It was very well organized,” she says. “They provided a free shuttle to the shelter and answered all my questions.”

According to Greene, seniors make great pet owners.

“They are generally more settled and capable of caring for a pet. On the other hand, pets can enrich their lives,” Greene says. “We know pets can provide health benefits, such as lowering blood pressure, and encouraging exercise and social activity.”