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Focus On: Senior Dogs
November 2024
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November Co-Founder's Note:
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Focus On: Senior Dogs
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When visiting shelters, the senior dogs always pull at my heartstrings. Many are confused. They may have lived in a home all their lives and the shelter environment is a shock. Often they don’t demand a lot, so they don’t get a lot. They are rarely the dogs barking nonstop, lunging at the gate, or spinning in place. Shelters are full of much needier dogs. But that doesn’t mean the senior dogs aren’t suffering more.
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One brilliant program we saw at Big Dog Ranch Rescue in Loxahatchee, Florida, matched senior dogs with senior people. It’s called Seniors for Seniors, matching dogs age 7 or older with senior adults in assisted adoption program. The rescue provides food, transport for veterinary care (and often the expense of veterinary care), and any other supplies the adopter might need.
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Too often, rescues are hesitant to adopt elderly people for fear that they will pass or become unable to care for their dogs before their dogs pass. Or maybe they worry that caring for the dog would be a challenge – especially for larger dogs or more energetic dogs.
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There is no reason a senior adult should not be able to have a dog. We just have to make adjustments to ensure success. Matching senior dogs with seniors is a brilliant way to help too populations that are too often overlooked. Dogs can bring purpose to a life, plus relieve loneliness.
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I know of one senior living center that has a resident dog. Dogs belong in all senior living centers, not just as occasional therapy dog visits. An innovative shelter or rescue will partner with senior living centers to provide an appropriate dog that can be ‘fostered’ at the facility or maybe begin a senior dog program for multiple residents.
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I’d love to see nonprofit organizations pop up with the purpose of finding and supporting senior dog homes. To my mind, it would be an opportunity to save not just a dog, but likely a person too. Meanwhile, innovative shelters could create their own Seniors for Seniors program and recruit volunteers to support it like they do at Big Dog Ranch Rescue.
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We’ve got to come up with new ways of finding homes for old dogs. It’s a matter of creatively addressing the challenge. Compared to so many challenges our shelters face, this one seems doable.
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Until Each One Has A Home,
Cara Achterberg
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Shiloh's Second Chance:
Cindy's Senior Dog Adoption Story
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I first met Shiloh at the veterinary clinic where I went to pick her up so I could begin fostering her. She bounded out from behind the counter in hot pursuit of a Shih Tzu entering an adjacent exam room. My arm tugged against Shiloh’s taut leash as she dragged me in a zigzag pattern across the waiting area. When we got home, she spied the basket of toys and dove in. Each ragged object was quickly sampled and tossed aside. Balls rolled. Squeakers squeaked. Shiloh flipped on her back and wiggled in delight. She did not act like a dog who had traveled two states, undergone surgery, and was living in a strange home. She settled into ours as if it were hers.
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Cindy and Shiloh enjoy a calm moment before the squirrels start scurrying. (photo by Jennifer Grace Portraits)
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When she wasn’t playing, Shiloh was smiling and following us from room to room. Her affection for us grew. And, with it grew my attachment to a dog who eerily resembled my soul dog, Snuka. Her rusty face and body weren’t a true match to his tan fur, but the black saddle, sweet smile, and feathered, curly tail were. Shiloh would round a corner or come from a room and my memory would leap to “perfect dog” Snuka, tugging my heart down the hall.
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My girls were aghast when I mentioned that Shiloh was ready for adoption. Neither could believe I’d let her go. They thought my yearning for Snuka and Shiloh’s resemblance to him would mean we’d be a three-dog family. When they realized “Resolute Mom” wasn’t budging – there would be no more foster fails - the kitchen grew quiet with unsaid words.
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I understood their shock. I hadn’t articulated my decision until that moment. Shiloh was ready for transition. I was anxious to get back to me. I also knew there would never be a shortage of dogs in need of a home. When the time would come to find my next companion, all I would need to do was open our door.
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I didn’t realize that Shiloh would be the dog standing at the threshold. She’d been adopted by a red-haired family four years prior. When life’s circumstances turned in a direction with no room for a young pup, they surrendered her to our rescue group.
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Shiloh came back to me a hot mess. Her weight, ideally 32 pounds, was pushing 60. Three molars were gray like decaying beef fat. Most of her toenails had grown inches long and curled like a ram’s horn. After surgery to remove her rotted teeth and to clip her nails, we began a family effort to restore her health. There were swimming sessions at the dog beach, games of fetch, and many miles of walking along our winding road. While we had welcomed her into our home as a re-foster, I knew we’d never part with her again.
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Shiloh has been with us for many trips around the sun. She’s entered her senior years beside my husband. I’m not far behind. We still play fetch, but now we launch the tennis ball with the help of a “Chuckit.” We no longer hike for hours, but we still walk miles through the woods and along the lake at the end of the road. I bought Shiloh a thick padded bed to lay next to mine. She sleeps more and plays less yet remains our vigilant watch dog.
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When Shiloh was obese, she struggled to breathe and move. Now at meals, we remove 15 nuggets from her kibble and set them aside to be doled out as treats. Some go in her puzzle game. Others are used to practice tricks. We’ve introduced more fresh fruits and vegetables – chunks of apple, piles of blueberries, shreds of cabbage, sliced peppers. To get a lick of the spoon after feeding the cat makes Shiloh’s tail wag like a metronome.
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In her senior years, Shiloh is no longer the wild, exuberant pup who tore through the house with boundless energy. As she settles into her golden years, I’m reminded that sometimes, the love we give isn’t just about forever. It’s about being present for whatever time we’re given. And for that, I’m beyond grateful. Shiloh isn’t just a dog. She’s a reminder that the path to home is not always linear, and that love, in all its forms, is worth every moment.
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Cindy Ojczyk is a WWLDO volunteer who writes a weekly post, Like People, Like Pets, at cindyojczyk.substack.com.
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From the Resource Guide
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Following is a roundup of ideas from the WWLDO Resource Guide to assist shelters in placing senior dogs into caring homes.
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Do Myth-busting. There are many myths surrounding the adoption of senior dogs, which often suggest that adopting them means taking on someone else’s problems. One effective way to combat this misconception is by sharing adoption stories. The Animal Harbor Shelter, TN, collects adopters’ stories about how rescued pets changed their lives and compiles the best stories into their end-of-the-year “Love Saves” Pet Adoption Awareness Campaign. To help find homes for adult dogs the Rockingham Harrisonburg SPCA, VA launched a Mutt-Urity Matters campaign. The campaign promotes the many benefits of adopting an adult dog. The shelter enlisted the help of the local community to spread the message by inviting them to purchase colorful Mutt-Urity Matters signs and post them in their yards.
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Senior-Specific Programming. Memphis Animal Services, TN held a “senior prom” to shine a spotlight on senior shelter dogs available for adoption. The public was invited to dress up and attend the prom held in one of the shelter’s play yards. The dogs were glammed up for prom photoshoots, enjoyed a special doggy cake, and received votes for prom king and queen. The Animal Harbor Shelter, TN has declared the last Sunday of September as Senior Sunday. This initiative helps to highlight the older animals at the shelter and informs the public about loving pets being overlooked simply because of their age.
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Find Partner Organizations. The Grey Muzzle Organization improves the lives of senior dogs by providing funding and resources to animal shelters, rescue organizations, sanctuaries, and other non-profit groups nationwide. The Grandpaws Initiative enlists animal-loving senior citizens to paint portraits of senior pets. Shelters can get involved in this initiative by reaching out to Draw for Paws and connecting with local nursing homes and assisted living facilities to find artistic seniors interested in volunteering.
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WWLDO Volunteer Corner
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Virtual Volunteer Opportunities
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Would you like to help raise awareness and resources for homeless dogs and the heroes who champion their cause? As a Shelter Liaison you can make a difference from the comfort of your own home. Shelter Liaisons play a crucial role in virtually supporting our shelter partners. As a Shelter Liaison, you will be monitoring our shelter partners' posts on social media and sharing their news, ideas, and needs.
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If interested, please reach out to Volunteer Coordinator Courtney Clayton at courtney@wwldo.org.
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Tips for Shelter Partners
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Grant Assistance
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The most well-known foundation that offers grants for senior dogs is the Grey Muzzle Foundation. This past year they set a record, awarding over $1 million in grant funding to 100 animal welfare groups in 32 states. Grey Muzzle invites shelters, rescue groups, sanctuaries, and other nonprofit organizations who help senior dogs to apply for grant funds. Grants typically range from $2,500 to $15,000.
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To be eligible to apply, you organization must be a 501(c)(3) and willing to host an on-site visit by a Grey Muzzle board member. Also, the specific program for which you apply for funding must:
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Benefit senior dogs exclusively
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Include measurable outcomes
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The 2024 grant cycle is closed but watch for it to re-open in February 2025. It’s a smart idea to join their mailing list to stay informed about the next grant cycle.
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Another organization that offers grants for senior dogs is the Petfinder Foundation. Through their Senior Pet Adoption Assistance Grant program, you can apply for up to $1000. Awards are made monthly throughout the year; last year they awarded 35 senior pet grants totaling $31,000. The program helps Petfinder members provide an adopter with financial assistance when adopting a senior pet or a bonded senior pair, and funding must support the adopter to cover the adoption fee and/or post-adoption expenses. If awarded, the adopter must agree to care and pay for their senior pet’s expenses for the duration of the pet’s lifetime.
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The Foundation has depleted its funds for 2024, so please check back in January 2025 to review and apply for grant opportunities next year.
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Please don't hesitate to reach out to WWLDO grants advisor Nicole Sandler (nicolemiasandler@gmail.com), if you’d like to chat about the many grants opportunities listed in the WWLDO Resource Guide or simply how to apply for grants.
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November is
Adopt A Senior Pet Month
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The ASPCA and Petfinder.com established Adopt a Senior Pet Month to raise awareness and encourage people to open their hearts and homes to older animals. Throughout November, shelters can showcase their senior residents through heartwarming videos and images. This month is also an excellent opportunity to share uplifting stories of successful senior pet adoptions, helping to find loving homes for these wonderful dogs.
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Further Reading
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Learn some of the benefits of adopting a Senior Dog from 24PetWatch.
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Senior dogs, for example, have a 25% adoption rate, compared to the 60% adoption rate of younger dogs and puppies. Read more at ASPCA Blog.
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