Rae of Hope

HSNT's Rae of Hope program serves a group of people in our North Texas community who struggle with the finances that accompany pet ownership - our older adult community. In 2014, HSNT created Rae of Hope to ensure that older adults in North Texas could keep their beloved pets by their side. 

Those who started this program tell us that older adults were coming to HSNT to surrender their pets. Not because they didn't care deeply for them but because their often fixed or limited income forced a choice between providing food for themselves, or providing even basic needs for their pets. 

Rae of Hope offers FREE basic veterinary care (vaccines, microchipping, one year of flea and tick treatment, heartworm testing and one year of prevention) for the pets of older adults. 

These free services to clients cost HSNT an average of $200 per pet to provide. 

Pet ownership is important for seniors and people of all ages, of course! But research has shown that pet ownership may be a factor in improved health for senior adults. In addition, companion animals can help reduce stress, lower blood pressure, and increase social interaction and physical activity. 

We know there is a significant need for help through Rae of Hope as we began surveying our clients. This is what we've learned from those who responded:

1. 87% say they do not have access to affordable veterinary care outside of Rae of Hope
2. 93% of pet owners surveyed are considered very low income to extremely low income by HUD income limits, with $2,500 or less in monthly incomes
3. 36% of pet owners surveyed said they have a disability

We wanted to do our part to help older adults in need provide these services and be able to keep their pets by their side. At HSNT, our motto is "Pets and People, Saving Each Other." Rae of Hope is a program that brings that motto to life. 

In 2023, HSNT provided 1,246 pets of older community members with much-needed basic veterinary care, keeping them where they belong - with their loving owners.