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    $1.1 Million in Grey Muzzle Grants Give Old Dogs New Beginnings

    Making Senior Dogs Feel Like a Million Bucks

    As animal shelters and rescue groups across the country cope with an unprecedented number of homeless pets, there’s new hope for at-risk old dogs:  The Grey Muzzle Organization, the largest national nonprofit focused specifically on the well-being of senior dogs, is awarding a record-breaking $1.1 million in lifesaving grants to 100 animal welfare groups nationwide. 

    “Senior dogs are the ideal match for many people, but they are often overlooked by adopters and among the first to be euthanized in overcrowded facilities,” said Lisa Lunghofer, PhD, Grey Muzzle’s Executive Director. “These grants will help thousands of old dogs overcome barriers to adoption by providing medical and dental treatments, foster and hospice care, adoption promotions, and programs that give people the resources and support they need to keep senior dogs in homes and out of shelters.”

    Here are a few examples of how senior dogs and the people who love them benefit from Grey Muzzle grants:

     

    Angie and Rocky are a ten-year-old bonded pair who had nowhere to go after their special person died. Finding Shelter in Southeastern Pennsylvania gave them a safe place to land in a loving foster home. Thanks to a Grey Muzzle grant, both dogs are receiving critically needed medical and dental care. In addition to providing senior dogs with veterinary care, Finding Shelter will use their grant to expand their Finding Peace program, which educates the public on the need to plan for pets who may outlive them, supports pets of the terminally ill, and creates planning and outreach materials for pet guardians. 
     

    The Humane Society of North Texas will use their Grey Muzzle grant to help senior dogs like 12-year-old Buddy stay in loving homes. The grant will provide free primary veterinary care to 100 senior dogs of low-income older adults through their Rae of Hope Program. This program offers essential services like vaccinations, microchipping, flea/tick prevention and heartworm medication at no cost, helping people keep their dogs happy, healthy, and out of shelters. 
     

    Nearly all senior dogs entering shelters—whether strays or owner surrenders—need veterinary care. Thanks to support from Grey Muzzle, Dorchester Paws in Dorchester County, South Carolina, can provide essential care for senior dogs, significantly improving their chances of adoption. This funding ensures that dogs like eight-year-old Birdy receive high-quality medical treatment, so they are ready to find new homes. 
     

    Support from Grey Muzzle is helping Pet Savers in Spokane Valley, Washington, launch a new dental service with a special “Top Gum” promotion that will benefit up to 70 senior dogs. This means that dogs like 11-year-old Rue will have access to high-quality dental care to help make their senior years healthy ones. 
     

     

    The Grey Muzzle Organization’s Executive Director Lisa Lunghofer thanked donors for funding more than $5.7 million in grants over the past 16 years. “We are so grateful to the donors who make these lifesaving grants possible, the shelter and rescue workers on the frontlines of saving senior dogs, and every person who opens their heart and home to an older dog. Because of you, we are closer to our vision of a world where every senior dog thrives, and no old dog dies alone and afraid.” 

     

    Meet the 2024-2025 Grey Muzzle grantees:

     

    A Doggie 4 You

    Angels of Assisi

    Animal Fix Clinic

    Animal Friends, Inc.

    The Animal Foundation

    Animal League of Gaston County

    Animal Protection Society - Friday Harbor

    Animal Rescue, Inc.

    The Animal Welfare League of Alexandria

    Arizona Humane Society

    Asheville Humane Society

    Aster Aging

    Austin Humane Society

    Austin Pets Alive!

    Beautiful Together Animal Sanctuary

    BirchBark

    The Bond Between

    C.A.R.E.4Paws

    CARE™ Humane Society

    Central Vermont Council on Aging

    Chesapeake Humane Society

    Compassion Without Borders

    Connecticut Humane Society

    Community Spay Neuter Initiative Partnership (C-SNIP)

    Dane County Humane Society

    Doberman Underground Rescue

    Dorchester Paws

    Fences for Fido

    Finding Shelter, Inc.

    First Coast No More Homeless Pets

    Forever Loved Pet Sanctuary

    Found House Interfaith Housing Network

    Foundation for Animal Care & Education (FACE)

    Friends of Foothills Animal Shelter

    Friends of Homeless Animals

    Fur Ever Yours Dog Rescue

    Gateway Pet Guardians

    Gold Ribbon Rescue

    Guardian Angel Basset Rescue

    Hawaiian Humane Society

    Hearts & Bones Rescue

    Hearts Alive Village

    Home Fur Good

    Humane Society of Greater Dayton

    Humane Society of Huron Valley

    Humane Society of Indianapolis

    Humane Society of North Texas

    Humane Society of Sonoma County

    Humane Society of the New Braunfels Area

    Humane Society of Utah

    Jacksonville Humane Society

    Kentucky Humane Society

    KodiakCare

    Kohala Animal Relocation and Education Service (KARES)

    Labs and More

    League for Animal Welfare

    Lifeline Oro Valley Animal Rescue

    Lionel's Legacy

    Little Shelter Animal Rescue & Adoption Center

    Lollypop Farm | Humane Society of Greater Rochester

    Lost Our Home Pet Rescue

    Max's Helping Paws Foundation

    Melissa's Second Chances

    Mostly Mutts Animal Rescue

    Muttville Senior Dog Rescue

    Nebraska Humane Society

    Nevada SPCA

    NMDOG

    Noah's Animal House Foundation

    North Country Pet Adoption Services

    Oshkosh Area Humane Society

    PAWS Atlanta

    Peace of Mind Dog Rescue

    People for Animals

    Pet Community Center

    Pet Savers

    Poodle & Pooch Rescue of Florida

    Portland Animal Welfare (PAW) Team

    Project Street Vet

    Sacramento SPCA

    Safe Harbor Lab Rescue

    Second Chance Animal Sanctuaries

    Second Chance Animal Services

    Second City Canine Rescue

    Shanti Project

    Shelter from the Storm Animal Rescue

    SICSA Pet Adoption and Wellness Center

    Silverstray

    SpokAnimal C.A.R.E.

    Stop the Suffering

    Sweet Paws Rescue

    The Street Dog Coalition

    Tennessee Dachshund Rescue

    Tyson's Place Animal Rescue

    Utah Friends of Basset Hounds

    Vets in Vans

    Virginia Beach SPCA

    Voice of Animal Nepal

    Young at Heart Senior Pet Adoptions

    Your Humane Society SPCA

     

    The Grey Muzzle Organization saves and improves the lives of at-risk senior dogs by providing funding and resources to animal shelters, rescues, and other nonprofit groups nationwide. We envision a world where every senior dog thrives, and no old dog dies alone and afraid.

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