A nonprofit started by the parents of a Sandy Hook victim is helping seniors stay with their pets.

The Catherine Violet Hubbard Foundation recently expanded its Senior Paw Project to a total of 24 towns.

The referral-based program provides food and veterinary care assistance to senior pet owners struggling to keep or care for their animals.

The foundation was created by the parents of Catherine Violet Hubbard, killed almost a decade ago at Sandy Hook, who loved animals.

"I don't know whether Catherine would have been a veterinarian," Jennifer Hubbard says, "because she was 6 when she died but I do know that whatever she did it would have included animals."

The foundation also created the Catherine Violet Hubbard Animal Sanctuary.

The sanctuary will hold its annual benefit, Catherine's Butterfly Party Saturday at noon.