Sue Harris had gone through a number of changes over the past few years. She lost her husband six years ago, moved into a Madison condo two years ago, and in the summer of 2024, she hit the big 8-0.
Even though her only child visits her multiple times a week, daughter Shannon Barry worried that her mom and best friend was lonely.
“My mom loves animals. When I was growing up, we had a house full of rescue animals,” Shannon recalled. But, Shannon said, “My mom told me repeatedly that she didn't think she should adopt another animal because of her age.”
Yet, Shannon decided to take a chance, and she told her mom about Sooper, a 14-year-old cat available for adoption at Dane County Humane Society (DCHS). “We pretty much hopped right into the car and headed over. When my mom saw her and the other cats, she teared up and I knew that it was going to work out and that this was what she needed,” Shannon said.
DCHS practices an Adopters Welcome philosophy, meaning anyone who wants to love and care for a pet should have the opportunity to do so. DCHS does not require adopters to go through a lengthy form or application process. Instead, DCHS counselors engage in a discussion with adopters to help them find the pet that best fits their lifestyle.
Despite removing these barriers, the cost to bring an animal companion home may seem out of reach for some on a fixed income.
To overcome this challenge, DCHS has been partnering with Pets for the Elderly (PFE) Foundation to reduce the cost of adopting a companion animal for seniors age 60 and older. Thanks to an initial grant from PFE, DCHS discounted adoption fees up to $50 for senior adopters.
In its first six months since the program was introduced in June of 2021, 41 dogs, 57 cats, and 2 guinea pigs were adopted. The Pets for the Elderly program has grown in popularity at DCHS since then, helping seniors adopt 210 dogs and 124 cats between 2022 and 2024.
DCHS continues to partner with the Pets for the Elderly program, and in 2025 increased the discount to up to $75 per adoption.
Even though Sue could have afforded the adoption fee for Sooper, now named Luna, Shannon said, “Having it waived made it so much easier. This is such an incredible service. Bringing Luna home has been life-changing for my mom.”
Sue brought Luna home in January 2025, and she immediately made herself at home.
“It is my sense that they both need each other, and I was overjoyed to see how quickly they seemed to fall into a rhythm with one another,” Shannon said about Luna’s first day at her new home. “I know it sounds cliché, but I think DCHS may have saved two lives and for that, I am eternally grateful. To see my mom happy for the first time in many years was literally the best thing ever!”
More than a month after Sue brought Luna home, the two are thriving together. Shannon said, “My mom absolutely dotes on Luna and now has a reason to get up in the morning again. Luna is gaining weight and playing more. My mom also spent hours grooming her to get the knots out of her fur. Luna looks amazing and is such a sweet cat. Every time I go to my mom’s house, I find the two of them cuddling together on the recliner in my mom’s sunroom. They are two peas in a pod.”
To see the available pets waiting for new families to love, visit our website or stop by our Adoption Center.
