Home Free Animal Rescue: Senior Pet Adoption Assistance Grant Report

How did this grant help your organization and the pets in your care?

We had a dog in our rescue who was returned. He was in boarding for close to four years. We were finally able to get him into a foster home at the age of 10. He was vetted and we found out he had testicular cancer. He had surgery and was deemed cancer-free. He was with his foster home for over a year.

We applied to for the grant to help us cover the cost of his adoption fee and supplies for his new home. He was finally adopted by a former adopter of our rescue. We used the grant to pay for his adoption fee as well as for his medical bills for his new adopters. We also supplied them with a bed, toys, and food.

How many pets did this grant help?

one

Please provide a story of one or more specific pets this grant helped.

Some dogs wait days. Some wait weeks. Gilbert waited years. At 10 years old, Gilbert waited over three years in boarding after being returned to the rescue, quietly hoping his turn would come. We knew we had to try to change his story, to give him the chance at the forever home he had been waiting so patiently for.

Gilbert’s life hadn’t been easy, but from the moment we picked him up from boarding, one thing was clear: He was pure love. He came out needing a bath, medical care, and most of all, kindness. From the shelter, we took him to Hotel for Dogs, where he finally got that much-needed bath and a small glimpse of what it feels like to be cared for.

From there, he went to his foster home, where his journey truly began.

At his vet visit, we learned Gilbert needed surgery for a growth, which was later confirmed to be cancer. Thanks to the incredible team at Central Monmouth Animal Hospital, he underwent surgery and returned to his foster family cancer-free.

In his foster home, Gilbert finally experienced the life he deserved, filled with love, comfort, and companionship. His foster family adored him, and so did longtime volunteer Michele, who made sure he had plenty of walks — and even more love.

It truly took a village to carry Gilbert to this moment. With support from the rescue and a Senior Pet Adoption Assistance Grant from the Petfinder Foundation to help cover his adoption fee and care, we were able to give Gilbert the chance he deserved.

And then … everything changed.

After many posts and shared stories, a previous adopter and volunteer from our rescue reached out wanting to meet him. They met Gilbert and instantly fell in love.

The rest is exactly what we all hoped for!

This past April 2 marked Gilbert’s one-year “Gotcha Day.” One year of love. One year of comfort. One year of finally being home.

Today, Gilbert is living his very best life with Beverly and Mark — two people who saw exactly what we saw in him all along.

We are so incredibly grateful to everyone who played a part in Gilbert’s journey, but especially to Beverly and Mark for giving him the ending he always deserved.

Happy one-year anniversary, sweet Gilbert. Your wait was long — but your forever was worth it. And this is why we never give up on them.