Bobbi Cucco is nearly 90 years old, and she’s got a plan for the future. Well, for tomorrow morning anyway.
Tomorrow, she’ll wake up, at six with a black paw poking her face and two yellow eyes, inches from her own.
It’s time to get up and make breakfast. Lexi the cat is hungry.
Cucco lives on her own at the Roosevelt at Salt Creek, a luxury retirement community in Elmhurst and when her little chihuahua, Willie, died recently, she knew she had to get another animal. She’s always had animals.
“Otherwise, I’m by myself in that apartment,” she said. “I’ve had pets all my life, dogs and cats. God knows, everything. When I lost Willie I was a basket case.”
She didn’t want a young animal and she didn’t want anything too big and so, armed with those requirements, Cucco’s daughter and granddaughter set out on a search. They only had to go to Hinsdale.
“They went to the Humane Society and said they wanted to adopt a cat that wasn’t too big, under 7 pounds or so, and they said, ‘we’ve got just the pet for you.”
They’ve got just the pet for anyone of any age, and Cucco and Lexi were on hand recently to make the case for senior pet adoption at Roosevelt at Salt Creek. Lexi was riding around in a covered stroller, taking in the sights and smells near the entrance of the residence as guests and residents mingled, stopping by a couple of rooms to meet dogs and cats on loan for the evening from the Humane Society.
November was senior dog adoption month so Tam Wagner, Roosevelt’s executive director, organized Paws for a Purpose, a program that put senior volunteers to work on behalf of senior animals. Wagner said the cause seemed particularly fitting given how many people at the Roosevelt enjoy animals.
“We have many of our residents who have animals here,” she said. “We thought it would make sense to partner with the Hinsdale Humane Society with Paws for a Purpose.”
The event coordinated volunteers from throughout the facility. Wagner said memory care residents assembled the doggie gift bags, while others helped create posters at one of Roosevelt’s art events. In addition, community volunteers from IC Catholic Prep High School in Elmhurst helped distribute posters throughout the community and spread the word of the adoption event itself.
Wagner said she particularly wanted to highlight the work of the students, who regularly volunteer with the seniors.
“The intergenerational partnership has been one of the most inspiring parts of the project,” she said.
In addition, Roosevelt donated money to offset adoption fees and residents put together treat bags for the Humane Society pets.
“Everybody wants to give back,” Wagner said. “Sometimes you give up things in your life as a senior, and not all seniors can care for a pet, but they can give back.”
It wasn’t hard getting residents on board, Wagner said.
“Most people have a pet story of a favorite pet they had in their life,” she said.
Carol Benson has had quite a few favorite pets.
“I have had four dogs and three cats and all have been rescues,” she said. Benson designed the posters and while these days she’s got a rescue dog, it doesn’t live with her. But still, Benson said she loves supporting the Humane Society. With so many dogs without homes, she thinks it’s a win all the way around to get a shelter pet.
“You always know they’re going to be happy you came home,” she said. “Since 1977, we’ve not been without an animal. For me not to have an animal right this moment is kind of lonely. … I just feel adopting is so much better. Those dogs need love. People have been mean to them, some of the time.”
Jodie Arquilla, the president of the Hinsdale Humane Society, agrees it’s a win all the way around. In many cases, older pets, which have already grown into their personalities and may not be as needy, offer specific benefits.
“We’re a big believer in senior citizens and our older adults continuing to have animal companions in their lives,” Arquilla said. “Studies show how important it is to have companionship in their lives. We don’t want people to think that for older adults there are barriers to pet ownership.”
Jesse Wright is a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press.
