Massapequa Bristal to Host PAWS Fundraiser

Love of a pet can last a lifetime and two Long Island organizations are holding a fundraiser Thursday to strengthen the relationship between seniors and their pets.

The Bristal Assisted Living in Massapequa will host the Cocktail and Bistro Night, benefitting Pioneers for Animal Welfare Society's Seniors with Animals Project.

PAWS Executive Director Melissa Gillespie says the group, which has been around for 35 years, provides a variety of services that allows seniors to care for and stay with their pets.

"Our goal is to maintain and sustain the bond between seniors and their pets," she said.

 The Seniors with Animals Project provides a number of services to meet that goal. They have an animal care outreach program which provides services to seniors such as walking, feeding and rides to the vet. PAWS reaches out to food pantries on Long Island and asks them to stock up on pet food. They train volunteers and animals for their pet therapy program.

They also have a senior animal placement program, which places pets in new homes or foster homes in the event of the pet owner's death or illness. 

"More than 500,000 senior are euthanized each year, when their owners die" Gillespie said. " A lot of time family and caregivers don't understand because they're so overwhelmed."

One place that does understand is the Bristal, which allows senior residents to keep pets at all of their Long Island location.

Janine Valentiner,  Bristal's Director of Business Development said that they use Bristal's animal placement service and take part in other programs to take care of their pets.

"It's a unique fit for our residents," she said.

The Fundraiser event runs Thursday from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Tickets are available on the PAWS website and can also be pu purchased at the door.

The Massapequa Bristal is located at County Line Road. For more information call 516-691-0706.