Meals on Wheels for Pets by Terri Rimmer - first published by Associated Content

Their first delivery for these special creatures was made in July 2009.

The Meals-on-Wheels Association of America would like to have the Meals on Wheels for Pets in Nassau County, FL's pet program associated with all of its meals programs.

"Currently, we have 52 clients with over 120 animals - 59 cats, 66 dogs, two cockatiels, and 19 volunteers," says Deborah Watford, East Nassau Coordinator of the MOW4Pets Nassau. "There are similar programs throughout the country but since there is no national organizational effort, each program creates its own process."

One of the agency's initial volunteers has moved from the county and is investigating beginning her own program in central Florida.

"My mother, Beatrice and her poodle, Dolly, were my inspiration for the creation of MOW4PetsNassau," said Watford. "She is still independent and lives alone."

Dolly is her constant companion and provides her with a social outlet, as well as gives her reason to get out and exercise.

"I know how important Dolly is to her and to her health and I knew there must be other seniors in similar circumstances," stated Watford. "I have found that most of our clients depend on their pets for their mental and emotional well-being."

Watford states that the agency is grateful that the service they provide eases peoples' financial burden and improves the lives and health of their pets.

"The program began as a food program only," Watford wrote. "We have now expanded to include spay/neuter services and vaccinations."

Watford writes that she hopes to institute a program in the near future to educate and prepare clients and their pets for emergency evacuations during hurricane season.

"We would also like to provide bathing and grooming services as well," she reported. "We have been blessed with great support from the community."

The agency's two fundraisers, "Rollin' on the River" and "Singing for Suppers" brought a lot of attention to the program and garnered funds to carry them through for at least another year.

"We hope to make both these events annual fundraisers for the program," Watford explained.

Watford was a legal secretary for most of her career. When she moved to Gainesville, FL in 1986, she returned to school and received a B.F.A. in Sacred Music.

"During that time, I also managed my husband's consulting firm," she said.

Watford came up with the idea for MOW4Pets Nassau because of her mother and Dolly, trying to find ways to help the less fortunate in her community to take care of their pets.

"Also, I was looking for a way to help reduce the number of unwanted pets through spay/neuter programs," she revealed. "In my internet research I came across the Meals-on-Wheels Association of America site."

Their W.A.L.O.P. initiative (We All Love Our Pets) planted the seed and the program grew from there.

Watford's advice for success is to talk to other program directors and ask questions such as How do they obtain their food? Where is it stored? How is it packaged? Who does the deliveries? What kinds of fundraisers do they do?

"Get good volunteers and let them know often how appreciated they are," she advises.

Watford said her mother is her greatest role model. Her mom raised her brother and she by herself after Watford's father died at the age of 35.

"She is strong, courageous, loving, kind, adventurous and forgiving," Watford reveals.

"I'd personally like to thank the Meals-on-Wheels drivers," she continues. "They volunteer their time each week to deliver meals to our clients and they have graciously agreed to deliver the pet food along with those meals. Also thanks to our volunteers who meet each week to repackage and box up the food for delivery, jump in to help in any way they can for fundraisers, and who contribute their time, energy and money to our common cause. An additional thank you goes to our local animal rescue groups through which we provide the spay/neuter services - Cat's Angels and R.A.I.N."

Watford said Beth Hackney and Lynda Mixon are two of "the real animal heroes in our community."

"I respect and admire their visions, their tenacity, and their commitment to the betterment of the animals in Nassau County," she says.

For more information on the program, email MOW4PetsNassau@yahoo.com.

The company Facebook page is https://www.facebook.com/pages/Meals-on-Wheels-for-Pets-Nassau/358488680590.