People in the community who are having trouble walking or caring for their beloved pets due to age, disability or illness are being encouraged to contact Pets of Older Persons Busselton.
POOPS is a not-for-profit organisation with an army of volunteers in Busselton and Dunsborough who regularly walk dogs for people who are experiencing mobility or health issues.
Busselton coordinator Cathy Gibson said they had just celebrated their first anniversary and had 48 active volunteers who currently walked 20 very happy dogs.
"Due to the number of volunteers in Busselton and Dunsborough, some of our dogs are now being walked up to seven days per week," she said.
Despite coronavirus restrictions, the group were still operational and had put measures in place for their volunteers to continue helping their clients.
Ms Gibson said they had minimised contact time with clients and setup a designated pickup spot on a porch or in a yard.
Their volunteers had also been encouraged to use their own leashes and to wash their hands thoroughly before and after visiting clients.
"We have had two clients who wished to cease walks for the present time despite the distancing arrangements we have in place, which of course is completely understandable," she said.
Ms Gibson started POOPS Busselton after seeing a news item about POOPS WA last year. She was already walking two dogs for people who were unable to do so themselves.
"I was hoping that when I retired I might start a group if I could enlist more walkers. Then someone sent me a link to the news story," she said.
"I quickly made contact with POOPS in Perth and after a committee meeting they agreed I could commence the first regional group outside of Perth."
POOPS is completely volunteer run and all about keeping people and their pets together.
Ms Gibson said if anyone was experiencing difficulty in caring for their beloved companions due to age or disability, POOPS might be able to help them.
"Our fully police-cleared volunteers can assist in taking pets for a vet check, walking dogs or driving the pet to a boarding facility if the client's absence from home was likely to be extended," she said.
"Our service is intended to help out in times of either crisis or where age, illness or injury makes it difficult for people to care for their animal."
If anyone is interested in becoming a client or volunteer please phone Ms Gibson on 0417 935 434 or email busselton@poopswa.org.au or visit the POOPS WA website poopswa.org.au/.
