If 50 is the new 30 for humans, why not for our older best friends?
That’s the question posed by the director of The Grey Muzzle Organization after announcing the nonprofit is awarding a heartwarming $1.57 million in grants to 119 animal welfare groups across the U.S., the largest grant amount in the organization’s history.
“Senior dogs have so much life to live, and love to give, yet they’re often the last to be adopted and the first at risk when shelters run out of space,” said Denise Fleck, championing the cause of older pups who just need a little help to find their forever homes.
Founded in 2008, The Grey Muzzle has now awarded a total of $7.3 million to support senior dogs, those loveable, greying snouts and wiggly tails who’ve still got plenty of joy to share. This year’s grant recipients span 33 states and will use the funding to provide medical and dental care, foster and hospice programs, adoption assistance, and services that help keep dogs in the homes they love.
For dogs like Maya, this funding is more than just money, it’s a second chance at life.
For 10 years, Maya was bred repeatedly and kept in a cramped pen. After finally being rescued, she faced euthanasia due to overcrowding in shelters. But thanks to Grey Muzzle’s support, a pet sanctuary in Arizona was able to save her.
“I am so excited that her story is getting out there to help raise awareness about senior dogs,” said Caroline Mirtich, Maya’s new mom. Today, Maya has a soft bed, gentle hands, and all the love she never had before.
One of this year’s proud recipients is The Golden Bark Foundation, a Utah-based rescue founded in 2022 and run entirely by volunteers. They specialize in giving senior dogs a loving place to heal and relax in their golden years. Their grant will go toward dental care, their biggest expense, as 80% of the senior dogs they help suffer from painful dental disease. The new funding means more wagging tails and less toothaches.
Also receiving a grant is Czar’s Promise, a Wisconsin nonprofit founded in memory of a Great Pyrenees. The group funds cancer treatment for dogs aged 7 and older, offering chemotherapy and radiation so families can spend more time with their beloved companions.
From cozy foster homes to critical medical treatments, Grey Muzzle’s latest wave of funding proves that love doesn’t have an age limit.
Because every dog, no matter how grey their muzzle, deserves a warm bed, a full heart, and a family to call their own.
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