Care Humane Society: Senior Pet Adoption Assistance Grant Report

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

CARE Humane is an open-admission shelter that serves two communities. This means CARE is the temporary home of 60-120 adults dogs at any given point in the year.

More often than not, our adult-dog kennels are full of energetic 1- to 2-year-old dogs, causing senior dogs and dogs with medical issues to get passed over for the cute adolescent pup in the kennel next to them who looks more outgoing.

This grant has put a much-needed spotlight on our senior dogs who have fewer years to experience the love every dog deserves to have before the end of their life. This grant also helps to knock down the barriers associated with deciding to adopt a senior dog, such as the potential for increased veterinarian bills or special diets.

How many pets did this grant help?

1

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

Chupacabra came to CARE as a stray at a time when the shelter environment was dominated by young, social dogs. He was evaluated by intake staff and determined to be suffering from an extensive heartworm infection and flea allergies causing the loss of his beautiful fur throughout his body and face.

Staff could see the potential in Chupacabra’s sweet brown eyes and soft, pointy ears. We quickly got to work addressing his skin issues and gathering the funds to start his heartworm treatment.

As his fur grew back and his heartworm treatment came and went, it seemed as though it could be any day that someone would see the love this old man could provide to a family. All he would need is a little love, attention, and a safe (flea-free) place to lay his greying face down to rest.

Weeks went by and young dogs came and went while Chupacabra occupied kennel A2, the very first row that potential adopters see when looking at our adult dogs. Time and time again he was passed over due to potential adopters’ fears of the possibility of medical issues impacting him soon due to his age.

Eventually, an amazing elderly lady and committed CARE Humane foster decided she wanted to bring Chupacabra home and provide him a quiet place to play and wait for a forever family. He spent 112 days with this loving foster, learning how to be loved and properly cared for, all while playing with his new dog friend.

It was very apparent that Chupacabra needed something to help him stand out from the younger dogs. If it were not for this grant, Chupacabra, a nearly 7-year-old dog, would have possibly remained lost in the crowd of energetic 1- and 2-year-old dogs. Instead, his future adopter decided to give this loyal senior dog a chance and traveled all the way from North Carolina to meet him!

Chupacabra lived up to everyone’s expectations and was adopted at the end of his seven-day foster trial. This grant assures CARE staff and Chupacabra’s adoring adopter that Chupacabra’s needs will be meet and that he will be able to transition smoothly into the home he has deserved since the moment his paws and wagging tail first walked through the door of our facility.