09/01/2026
For many older adults, the pet waiting beside the door is family—and sometimes their most constant source of comfort. Webb County Community Action Agency has launched a Meals on Wheels Pets Program to help elderly clients feed their dogs and cats along with receiving their own meals. The program responds to a problem that is easy to miss: limited income, mobility and transportation can make buying pet food or reaching veterinary care extremely difficult. A national Meals on Wheels effort, supported by PetSmart Charities, has been working to close those gaps through food deliveries and access to services such as discounted veterinary care and grooming. A 2021 study cited by the organization found that half of surveyed clients could not access preventive, sick or emergency veterinary care. Webb County is seeking donations to sustain the local program. A bag of pet food may look like a small delivery, but it can protect a relationship, reduce isolation and spare a senior from having to choose between personal necessities and caring for a beloved companion.