Therapy cats big hit at nursing homes
A woman and her two therapy cats are bringing some joy to nursing home and rehabilitation center residents as part of a Grove City church’s outreach ministry.
Elaine Zalewski is also putting some miles on her cars’ odometer as she and her cats visit 27 facilities in Lawrence, Mercer, Venango, Crawford, Clarion and three facilities in Butler County, the VA Medical Center, the Lutheran Passavant Retirement Community in Zelienople and the Transitions Healthcare Autumn Grove Care Center in Harrisville.
Zalewski travels with 13-year-old Marbles, a Maine Coon cat and 2-year-old Autumn, a Siberian she rescued from an Ohio animal shelter.
“This is my job. I am on disability, so I do this full time,” said Zalewski. “We’re out five to six days a week, generally making two visits a day, mostly to nursing or personal care homes.”
“I average 25,000 miles a year. We cover an area from Titusville to Zelienople, from Clarion to the state line.”
This is an excerpt — pick up Thursday’s Butler Eagle or subscribe online to read the full article.
