Fairbanks Senior Center Launches 2026 “Pets Need Love Too” Campaign to Support Veterinary Care for Seniors’ Pets

All April long, the Fairbanks Senior Center is sounding the call through its 2026 “Pets Need Love Too” Campaign, racing to raise $25,000 so low-income seniors and the pets who are their lifelines won’t have to face illness alone. This is our moment to keep love, loyalty, and lifesaving care within reach.

For many older adults, pets are more than companions. They provide comfort, emotional support, and daily purpose. The Pets Need Vets program has served as a lifeline for seniors who struggle to afford veterinary care for the animals they love. Through previous grant funding, hundreds of pets have received critical services, including wellness exams, vaccines, medications, emergency treatments, and pet food.

Despite the program’s success, the needs of seniors’ pets are now outpacing the resources available to support them. Many older adults are still struggling to secure even the most basic veterinary care for their companions. Since FY2023, the Pets Need Vets program has assisted 241 pets, yet demand continues to grow. We now have a waitlist of 20 pets, all of whom need wellness exams, updated vaccines, and rabies shots. This reminds us that without additional community support, too many seniors must delay essential care for the animals who mean everything to them. Without renewed support from the community, many seniors may face heartbreaking decisions about how to care for their pets. To keep this vital service alive, we need your help.

Without renewed support from the community, many seniors may face heartbreaking decisions about how to care for their pets.

“The bond between seniors and their pets is incredibly powerful,” said the Pets Need Vets Program Coordinator, Shawna Chastain, from the Fairbanks Senior Center. “These animals provide companionship, reduce loneliness, and improve overall well-being. This campaign is about protecting that bond and ensuring seniors don’t have to choose between their own basic needs and the health of their pets.”

Funds raised through the campaign will help provide:

• Veterinary exams and wellness checks
• Vaccines and preventative care
• Medications and urgent treatments
• Peace of mind for vulnerable seniors who rely on their pets for companionship
• Support so seniors don’t have to sacrifice rent, food, or groceries to care for their animals

Every donation directly helps keep seniors and their pets healthy, together, and at home.

Community members are encouraged to donate, share the campaign, and help spread awareness using the hashtags #2026petsneedlovetoofbx.

About the Fairbanks Senior Center

The Fairbanks Senior Center’s Pets Need Vets program, launched in 2022 with support from Meals on Wheels America and PetSmart Charities, continues to expand its impact for older adults and their companion animals. Through funding from Meals on Wheels America, the Latter-day Saint “Light the World” Giving Machine, and generous private donors, the program provides essential veterinary care for low-income seniors age 60 and older.

From FY23 to FY25, Pets Need Vets supported 85 seniors, 98 pets, and 125 veterinary visits, resulting in 265 completed procedures ranging from wellness checks and vaccines to dental care, medications, grooming, and limited emergency services. In FY26, the program has already assisted 70 seniors, 143 pets, and 98 vet visits, marking its strongest year yet.

With a cap of $300 per pet, per visit, the program focuses on preventative care that helps seniors safely age in place with the pets who bring them comfort, companionship, and stability. Pets Need Vets ensures that financial barriers never stand between older adults and the well-being of their beloved animals.

Help us honor and uplift the cherished pets of our community’s elders this April by joining the 2026 Pets Need Love Too Campaign. Your support empowers seniors to continue aging safely and joyfully at home with the furry companions who bring them comfort, purpose, and unconditional love. Through your financial gifts, we can provide essential pet food, supplies, and medications—relieving the financial strain so no senior has to choose between their own needs and the well-being of their beloved animal. Your generosity ensures that both seniors and their faithful companions can enjoy healthier, happier lives together, right where they belong.

Additional information about the program is available at:
https://fairbanksseniorcenter.org/programs-services/pet-need-love-too/

Pets Need Vets Program Contact:

Fairbanks Senior Center Pets Need Vets Program Coordinator, Shawna Chastain
1424 Moore Street
Fairbanks, Alaska 99701
Direct Phone: (907) 452-2574
Main: (907) 452-1735
Email: office.admin@fairbanksseniorcenter.org
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FairbanksSeniorCenter