Little is known, but many elderly people hesitate to be hospitalized for fear of leaving their pet alone at home. This concern, although understandable, can sometimes lead to serious consequences for their health. To respond to this problem, Amiens town hall has put in place an innovative and supportive system. We’ll explain it to you.
To reassure animal owners, allow their hospitalization and protect their four-legged companions, the city of Amiens has come up with a simple but effective solution: a card entitled “I have a single animal at home”. This card, distributed free of charge, contains several essential pieces of information: contact details of the owner, details of the animal (or animals) concerned, as well as the numbers of people to contact in the event of an emergency.
Thanks to this device, emergency services can, in the event of an accident or serious health problem, immediately know that an animal requires care. They can thus alert relatives or activate other solutions planned to ensure that the animal is not left without care.
But the town hall does not stop there. In cases where no loved one is designated or available to care for animals deprived of their owner, a social concierge was also put in place. This municipal service’s mission is to find suitable solutions, whether it involves placing the animal temporarily, organizing its feeding or even ensuring visits to the veterinarian if necessary.
At the origin of this initiative, we find Chantal Modestemunicipal councilor in charge of animal welfare. For her, this card responds to a real social and medical emergency. Interviewed by France 3she explains:
“There were a lot of people who refused to be hospitalized for fear of leaving their animal alone. There are many widowers and widowers over a certain age. And it’s very interesting to have this card for these people. »
For now, 30,000 copies of the card were printed. The distribution mainly targets people aged over 75, considered the most vulnerable to this problem.
On its Facebook page, the city summarizes the goal and operation of the operation:
“In the event of an accident, the “I have an animal alone at home” card offered by the City of Amiens allows you to calmly ensure the care of your animal during your hospitalization.
Collect the “I have an animal alone at home” card by contacting the Municipal Social Action Center of the City of Amiens on 03 22 97 40 40 (the card will soon be available in area town halls).
Complete the card, specifying the presence of one or more animals at home, as well as the contact details of trusted people that responders (firefighters, paramedics, law enforcement, individuals, etc.) can contact to take care of the animals. . »
This initiative, which combines human solidarity and animal welfare, is a great idea to welcome. It shows that it is possible to meet simple but essential needs with pragmatic and inclusive measures. Amiens sets here an inspiring example that other cities could follow.
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