Indiana

A grant from Grey Muzzle will double the capacity of The Humane Society of St. Joseph County’s Silver Paws Program, which provides medical, dental, and preventative care, and support to senior dogs, the most vulnerable of their shelter pets. Funding will provide dental care and senior blood and urine workups to an additional 50 senior dogs and gas cards to volunteers and staff who transport senior pets to partner rescues. The Grey Muzzle grant will also allow increased promotion of the Silver Paws program to encourage community members to adopt senior shelter pets like Harley. 

Incorporated in 1886, the Humane Society of St. Joseph County is one of Indiana’s oldest service organizations. They operate as the area’s largest animal care facility, with over 2,700 animals passing through their doors yearly. Offering an array of community services, an adoption center, and educational programs, they aspire to enhance the human and animal bond and live up to the motto, “We Care!”

Support from The Grey Muzzle Organization will allow Humane Indiana (HI) to reduce owner surrenders by providing essential veterinary care, including medicine, vaccinations, and testing, to senior dogs like seven-year-old Jake, whose owners could not otherwise afford it. Jake’s family relies on government assistance and, without HI, would struggle to provide Jake with the veterinary care he needs to stay healthy and happy.

The mission of Humane Indiana (HI) is protecting pets, preserving wildlife, and supporting a nurturing connection between animals and people. HI is the largest and longest-running animal well-being organization in Northwest Indiana. They provide lifesaving care reaching 15,000 injured, orphaned, or homeless animals annually.

A Grey Muzzle grant will provide medical and dental care for senior dogs in Misty Eyes Animal Center’s rescue program. Every year, Misty Eyes opens its doors to senior pets, many requiring blood work, dental care, and extensive medical treatment to improve their quality of life. Grey Muzzle funding supports the care of these senior dogs, improving their health and chances for adoption. The grant also provides hospice care to ensure the quality of life for those seniors taken into Misty Eyes’ sanctuary foster program.

Misty Eyes is a 100% volunteer-based animal rescue and humane education center located in Avon, Indiana (just five miles west of Indianapolis). Founded in 2011, it initially took in pets that the county shelter and other local agencies could no longer handle but has since expanded to work with rural, under-resourced agencies across Indiana that are struggling with pet overpopulation. Many of the pets transferred to the rescue are seniors with medical needs that these shelters do not have the resources to help.

Vanderburgh Humane Society (VHS) operates a Senior Pets adoption program offering waived adoption fees to senior citizens adopting senior pets. Their Grey Muzzle grant will help to underwrite this lifesaving, rewarding program and help save more dogs like Savannah. Twelve-year-old Savannah was surrendered to the VHS due to her possessiveness with high-value items with other dogs. She is healthy and active and free to an adopter over the age of 70. 

The Vanderburgh Humane Society (VHS) was founded in 1957 and celebrated their 60th anniversary last summer. Their mission is “Leading our community to eliminate pet overpopulation through Spay/Neuter, Adoption, and Humane Education.” They are an open-admission shelter accepting domestic homeless animals from all over the region, regardless of species, temperament, age, health, or circumstance. The VHS typically takes in around 900-950 dogs each year, more than 100 of whom are considered “seniors,” age 7 and older.

The Grey Muzzle grant will allow Rosie's Southside Animal Shelter to increase the number of senior dogs we are able to accept into their Silver Tails program. This program was developed to enable them transfer senior dogs surrendered to Indianapolis Animal Care Services into their care. These dogs typically come to them needing varying amounts of medical care. The grant will enable them to provide the medical care needed to prepare them for their forever homes. In cases requiring forever foster/hospice homes, this grant will assist Rosie's in providing life-long care.

The mission of Rosie's Southside Animal Shelter is to rescue dogs and cats and nurture and restore them to happy, healthy lives in loving homes. Approximately 1800 dogs and cats are adopted from their shelter every year. They work closely with their local animal control facility (Indianapolis Animal Care Services) and have transferred 11,000 animals from their overcrowded shelter to Rosie's Southside Animal Shelter since 2009. Their director visits animal control several times each week and has a reputation for being willing to accept medically urgent and senior animals in need. 

The Humane Society for Hamilton County in Indiana had a 14% increase in senior dogs (ages seven and up) surrendered by their owners in 2022. Funding from Grey Muzzle will provide the medical care these dogs require. That means dogs like Kaya, who needed treatment for her painful joints, inflamed skin, and recurring ear infections, will have the best possible care while they wait for their forever families.

The Humane Society for Hamilton County is an open admission facility for Hamilton County, Indiana, working to save lives, complete families, and educate communities. They believe every animal deserves a chance to live, love, and be loved—regardless of age, breed, disability, special medical needs, time, or space. In 2022, they saved the lives of over 4,000 animals—including 344 senior dogs. 

Since 2017, IndyHumane’s Senior Care program, launched with the support of The Grey Muzzle Organization, has helped rescue and adopt more than 570 senior dogs. The program aims to increase positive outcomes for senior dogs in central Indiana by transferring them from the municipal and other shelters to IndyHumane, where they receive necessary medical and dental care. A 2023 grant from The Grey Muzzle Organization will increase the number of senior dogs served to at least 170, with approximately 25 served with the grant funds. The program will give dogs like 12-year-old Pappy a brighter future.

The Humane Society of Indianapolis (IndyHumane) provides direct services for cats and dogs, including adoption, foster homes, medical care, and affordable spay/neuter and vaccine services for the public. In a typical year, they provide veterinary services to 15,000 animals, find loving homes for 4,000 homeless pets, and achieve an animal live release rate of 96%. They are proud to have served Indianapolis since 1905.