Story by Rebecca West
Everyone deserves companionship, regardless of age or any other factor that might appear as a barrier to some. Recognizing that, local rescue Hope of Deliverance had a brainstorm leading to the announcement of a new program in honor of renowned animal activist Betty White. It’s called Golden Pals, and its purpose is to match senior citizens with senior pets.
According to founder Bree Kishman, the inspiration for the program came from the PAWS for Seniors model, where people over the age of 65 who live independently and would like pet companionship but do not have the finances to be a pet owner can apply to permanently foster a healthier, older animal. It’s a win-win situation, mutually beneficial to all parties!
Hope of Deliverance would be the actual owners of the dogs and provide supplies, food, and vet visits. Besides the joy and companionship given to the permanent fosters, this also keeps senior pups out of shelters and into comfortable homes with doting caregivers. It’s a stroke of genius for helping to ease the ongoing shelter crisis of overcrowding, as well as the loneliness seniors often experience as they age and friends and family pass before them.
Anyone interested just needs to fill out a foster application and check the box enquiring whether it’s for the Golden Pals program. https://www.hopeofdeliverance.
Hope of Deliverance is not alone in its desire to see seniors (dogs and humans) find happiness in their golden years. Cherished Tails Senior Sanctuary, based in Marana, focuses on finding homes for senior pets and has a similar program, Permanent Paws, for dogs in forever foster care. It provides loving foster homes for senior dogs in hospice care, known as “fospice” (foster + hospice). The program offers a sanctuary for dogs that are too ill or have behavioral challenges, rendering them unadoptable.
The caring and compassionate fosters ensure the dogs can live out their remaining days happily and comfortably. Before the fospice program, many of these animals faced premature euthanasia or spent their last days confined to a cage. Through the Permanent Paws program, they can experience dignity, comfort, and support, receiving necessary medical treatments.
The focus is on managing the effects of aging or illness and prioritizing pain relief and comfort (think palliative care) rather than trying to treat the underlying disease. The goal is to provide a peaceful and loving environment for these dogs to enjoy their final days. https://www.cherishedtails.
There’s also Old Souls Animal Rescue & Retirement Home here in Tucson, which rescues geriatric, special needs, and hospice animals. Its mission includes giving them a loving home, a soft bed, compassionate care, and the dignity they deserve in their final chapter.
Besides taking in shelter animals, they take in the aging pets of people entering nursing homes or hospice care with no family or friends to care for their beloved pets. In addition to permanent residents, they also have animals available for adoption or foster care. oldsouls.org
Another source of relief for geriatric dogs is Tucson Cold Wet Noses, a rescue focusing its efforts on senior canines, dogs with medical needs, and hospice cases. Similar to the Permanent Paws program, they offer forever foster care and pick up the tab for the costs associated with caring for the animals until they cross the Rainbow Bridge. tucsoncoldwetnoses.com
It takes a special kind of person or persons to do these things. If you’ve ever toyed with the idea of adopting or fostering a senior dog, consider this: Senior dogs are grown up enough to fit into many living and lifestyle situations. Plus…
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Older dogs are usually housetrained, so you won’t have to go through teaching them house manners.
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Unlike puppies, older dogs are not teething, so in most cases they won’t chew your shoes, socks, slippers, underwear, furniture, etc.
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Older dogs are able to focus better because they’ve mellowed with age and, as a result, learn more quickly.
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Senior dogs know what “NO” means.
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Dogs in their golden years settle in with less disruption because they’ve already learned to be part of a pack and they’re no longer spastic pups.
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Older dogs are particularly good at giving love once they get into their new home and are grateful for the second chance they’ve been gifted.
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Unlike puppies, older dogs have already grown into their size and personality, so you know what you’re getting into up front. Puppies can grow to be quite different from what they initially seemed.
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Senior dogs can be made-to-order companions ready for walks, hiking, road trips, couch potato movie marathons, lazy Sundays, and other stuff you enjoy.
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Older dogs don’t make the kinds of demands for your time and attention that juvenile canines do, leaving you some “me time” if/when you need it.
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Adult dogs generally allow you to get a better night’s sleep because they don’t require night-time feedings, constant soothing, or potty breaks keeping you up all night.
