Although it is difficult to think about losing our dogs, preparing for the end is important. Dr. Julie Buzby, DVM, a Grey Muzzle Advisory Board member, shares what she has learned about saying goodbye to our canine companions and making them feel comfortable and loved in their final moments.

In an interview, veterinarian and Grey Muzzle Advisory Board member Dr. Marty Becker discusses the mobility challenges faced by his adopted dog Gracie, offers advice for older dogs with similar issues, and tells us how the love of older or special needs pets "can be stronger than you would ever imagine."

In Appalachia and the rural Southeast, homeless dogs face understaffed and poorly funded shelters. Raising Aid for Dogs at Risk (RADAR) was founded to support these “below the radar” country-road shelters in caring for the most vulnerable and at-risk dogs, such as seniors and those with medical issues.

Our time with our dogs - especially our adopted senior dogs - is far too short, but the difference we can make for them is immeasurable. Facing the impending loss of a beloved senior foster dog, Grey Muzzle board member Maria Stoerrle considers the gifts she was able to offer him in the time they had together.

In large shelters, older pets can be overlooked. To address this, Great Plains SPCA, the largest animal welfare organization in the Kansas City area, uses the innovative program SASSY and a Grey Muzzle grant to find adopters for its senior dogs and support the relationship between senior citizens and their pets.

During the holiday season, the loss of loved ones can be particularly poignant. In this post, Sharon Castellanos tells how experiencing her dog Cleo's senior years and eventual loss taught her a lesson in taking joy in the season and appreciating precious moments with those we care about even more.

No one knows the joy that adopting an older dog can bring more than the volunteers, fosters, and adopters of Young at Heart Senior Pet Adoptions, who were recently included in Jane Sobel Klonsky's Project Unconditional photo series.

An advantage of adopting a senior dog is that they often need less training. However, Mikkel Becker, Vetstreet.com trainer and Grey Muzzle Advisory Board Member, suggests that we should see training as something more, a way to bond with our older dogs and bring them joy; in short, an "investment of love."

Hospice for pets involves bringing our beloved pets home, knowing that although there is no cure to give them, supportive care can keep them comfortable. In this post, Dr. Jessica Vogelsang and Dr. Elizabeth Benson of Paws into Grace explain this approach to addressing terminal illness in pets.

Meet our newest Grey Muzzle Advisory Board member, Victoria Stilwell, world-renowned dog trainer, pet expert and respected leader in the field of animal behavior. In our interview, Victoria tells us about her bond with Sadie, her rescued senior dog, and gives us tips to keep your dog feeling her best.

Dr. Julie Buzby, a member of Grey Muzzle's Advisory Board, practices integrative veterinary medicine. In this interview, we asked Dr. Buzby about her approach to mobility problems in dogs, and how she came to develop ToeGrips, devices that improve mobility in dogs by providing them with better traction.

Veterinarians are often at the forefront of animal care and welfare. Dr. Dean Vicksman, a veterinarian and Grey Muzzle Advisory Board member, explains how he has combined veterinary medicine with animal welfare work, and offers his thoughts on the special health and care needs of senior dogs.

Mastiff Rescue of Florida is a breed-specific English Mastiff rescue. Through their “Oldies but Goodies” program, which Grey Muzzle helps support, they care for big older dogs, many abandoned by owners who can't pay veterinary bills or by puppy mills and backyard breeders after they are no longer profitable.

Proper diet and weight are important for extending the life of a dog, but weight management can become more difficult as a dog ages. This excerpt from Grey Muzzle's Caring for Your Senior Dog offers some basic feeding advice for senior dogs.

Cumberland County SPCA (CCSPCA) is a large open-intake shelter that serves animals and owners in a county with one of the highest levels of poverty in the state. Through their Senior Society and a grant from Grey Muzzle, senior dogs at CCSPCA get the care they need and a second chance.