Grey Muzzle Grants Give Second Chances to Senior Dogs
Grants Will Help Thousands of At-Risk Old Dogs Nationwide. Senior dogs have something to wag about this week, as The Grey Muzzle Organization announces $616,000 in grants to 77 animal welfare groups in the United States and Canada. This brings the national nonprofitâs total grant funding to more than $3.1 million since 2008.
The new grantees, selected from among 266 applicants, will use the funds to help save and improve the lives of at-risk senior dogs in their communities. These grants will provide critically needed medical and dental treatment; foster and hospice care; adoption promotions; and programs that help keep old dogs in good homes and out of animal shelters.
âEven with increased demand for âpandemic puppies,â senior dogs are among the last to be adopted and first to be euthanized. Older dogs provide the same unconditional love and companionship as younger pups, are usually already housetrained, and may be even more grateful for the comfort of a loving home and family,â Grey Muzzleâs Executive Director Lisa Lunghofer, PhD, said. âThank you to each of our donors for making these lifesaving grants possible.â
Here are a few examples of how senior dogs and the people who love them benefit from Grey Muzzle grants:
Funding from The Grey Muzzle Organization enables Philadelphia Animal Welfare Society (PAWS) to help at-risk senior dogs like Cammy remain in their homes where they are loved. This program provides free or reduced-cost veterinary care at PAWSâ Spay/Neuter and Wellness Clinics to owners who cannot otherwise afford or access it. The grant will allow PAWS to serve 75 senior dogs who would otherwise be surrendered to Philadelphiaâs animal control shelter.
The Sacramento SPCA received its second Grey Muzzle grant to support their âPawspiceâ program, which helps senior dogs like Roxy, who despite a terminal diagnosis, still have a good quality of life. By covering the cost of palliative care, the group is able to find homes for senior dogs who may not otherwise have been adopted. With the help of The Grey Muzzle Organization, the Sacramento SPCA will provide Roxy with regular exams, X-rays, and medication to maintain her quality of life. Roxyâand many other senior dogs like herâwill enjoy their golden years in the loving care of a forever family.
Thanks to the support of The Grey Muzzle Organization, the Norfolk (Virginia) SPCA will provide 60 homeless senior dogs like Cleveland with dental exams, cleanings, and other necessary procedures. Unfortunately, many senior dogs who arrive at the shelter have teeth that have been neglected, due to the cost or lack of awareness of the importance of dental care. With this generous grant, the Norfolk SPCAâs veterinary staff will provide expert care that will alleviate suffering and ultimately increase these senior dogsâ likelihood of finding their forever families.
Funding from The Grey Muzzle Organization helps Illinois-based Young at Heart's veterinary team provide the highest quality veterinary care to homeless senior dogs like Elena. The grant will cover care ranging from blood work to dental treatments to ultrasounds, ensuring each pet in Young at Heart's care gets the chance to enjoy their retirement years in comfort.
âThrough these grants, many more old dogs will get the second chances they all deserve,â Lunghofer said. âThanks to our donors and to our grantees who work so hard to help senior dogs, thousands of at-risk old dogs will spend the rest of their lives in homes with families who love them.â
Here is a complete list of 2021 Grey Muzzle grantees:
Almost Home Dog Rescue of Ohio
Animal Rescue of New Orleans, Inc.
Baltimore Animal Rescue and Care Shelter (BARCS)
Charlottesville-Albemarle SPCA
Delaware Valley Golden Retriever Rescue (DVGRR)
Foundation for Animal Care and Education (FACE)
Friends of Foothills Animal Shelter
Friends of The Animal Shelter and Guardians of The Homeless Animals
Humane Society for Hamilton County
Humane Society of Charles County
Humane Society of Indianapolis
Humane Society of Sonoma County
Knoxville-Knox County Council on Aging
Kohala Animal Relocation and Education Service (KARES)
Little Shelter Animal Rescue & Adoption Center
Lost Dog and Cat Rescue Foundation
Misty Eyes Dog Shelter & Humane Education Learning Center
Mostly Mutts Animal Rescue & Adoption, Inc.
Naperville Area Humane Society
Palm Springs Animal Shelter (PSAS)
Pets in Need of Greater Cincinnati, Inc
Philadelphia Animal Welfare Society (PAWS)
Poodle & Pooch Rescue of Florida
Santa Barbara County Animal Care Foundation
The Humane Society for Tacoma & Pierce County
Young at Heart Senior Pet Adoptions
Young-Williams Animal Center of East Tennessee
The Grey Muzzles 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.
