- Casper is one of only 165 cats nationally who are registered Pet Partners. He is one of only 3 cats registered in the MO-KS region, and the only cat to have completed his skills and aptitude tests similarly to a dog, that is, being on a leash during the entire testing period.
- Casper is a "special needs" cat. In addition to his age, Casper has feline high blood pressure and age-appropriate chronic kidney disease. He receives a daily dose of high blood pressure medicine and must have his blood pressure checked routinely during the year.
- "As an older cat and one with chronic health conditions, Casper was not likely to be adopted or find something valuable to do in his spare time", Grim says. Passing his tests and becoming a Registered Pet Partner is a tribute to him and older rescue pets everywhere.
"Casper’s ability to survive and thrive given his medical condition and age is a testament to the older rescue cat and dog, most of whom are overlooked as adoptable by many families," according to Shannon Kasmann, CSC Board Member. "Casper’s registration as a Delta Society Pet Partner speaks even more to the fact that the older cat or dog can still contribute something back to their family or the community through service as a Pet Partner. I really hope Casper’s example encourages people to adopt an older or special needs cat or dog. We have a lot of these special pets in need of a forever home."
Grim also hopes that the media will focus attention on Casper’s achievement, not just to celebrate his status as 1 of 165 cat Pet Partners nationally, but also to increase the likelihood he and other special needs or older cats and dogs residing with CSC, the Central MO Humane Society, or Happy Tails Animal Sanctuary will be adopted.
Right now however, she notes, "Casper has a home with me if the perfect adoption does not occur. He has the support of a great cat rescue organization who has not given up on him in the last 15 months. And most importantly he is going to be doing something he loves doing – bringing joy and some soft purrs to people needing an animal touch or hug."
Grim has already approached Boone Hospital Center and Bluff Creek Terrace about having Casper visits patients and residents in each location. "The response has been very positive," she notes. "Boone already has a visiting dog team but not a cat team. As they told me, there are dog people and there are cat people. I am so excited about Casper serving as their visiting cat as well as the cat rescue ambassador for Columbia Second Chance."
For more information about the Delta Society Pet Partners Program visit www.deltasociety.org. Benefits of becoming a Registered Pet Partner include formal team identification badge and inclusion, as a volunteer, under Delta Society’s commercial general liability insurance.
For more information about CSC Casper, visit www.citykittypets.com and click on Casper’s page.
For more information about adoptable older or special needs CSC cats, contact Shannon Kasmann at 573-268-4042 or visit the CSC website at www.columbia2ndchance.org.
