Seniors for Seniors & Therapy Dogs

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Seniors for Seniors & Therapy Dogs

The Sanctuary for Senior Dogs is proud to offer Senior Dogs for Senior People, a program designed to bring senior dogs and senior people together, and Companions, a program that puts senior therapy dogs to work in the community sharing their joy and offering comfort where needed.

Senior Dogs for Senior People. As an important part of this program, senior dogs are available to qualified adopters 65 years of age and older for $65, rather than our usual adoption fee of $125.

Companions sponsors the use of senior dogs in the community as therapy dogs, working with people in need of the companionship only an old dog can give. Our work ranges from visiting people in nursing homes, hospitals, group homes, and assisted living communities to helping children in reading programs. The jobs an old dog can do are nearly endless.

Henry & Mary Lou

The Sanctuary's first adoption & the first Companions adoption, 2001

Sanctuary Therapy Dogs

Special thanks to The Grey Muzzle Organization for their generous support of our expanding therapy dog program.

Our Trio of Therapy Dogs (left to right): J.J., Delilah, FayFay, each expressing her personality in her own unique way.

It is with great sadness that we report that our sweet Delilah (center) left us for the Rainbow Bridge on October 29, 2014, after serving the community that she loved as a therapy dog for one year. Her passing was unexpected and quite sudden. She has left a village of people who loved her and appreciated the joy and good humor she shared with everyone she met. But no one misses her more than her caring foster family. Godspeed, Delilah. You have left huge paw prints on the hearts of everyone who was fortunate enough to have met you.

OUR THERAPY DOG IN TRAINING: Almonzo

Almonzo, a 6-year-old Mastiff mix, came to us early in 2014 from an inner city dog pound heartworm positive and withdrawn. But it did not take long until his foster caregiver recognized his outstanding qualities and recommended him for our therapy dog program. Almonzo is now healthy and happy; he has gained an amazing 40 pounds to top the scale at 120 pounds, and he has passed two-thirds of his therapy testing. His last test is scheduled next week, and we believe he will sail through it as well. We welcome this gentle giant to our family of therapy dogs.

OUR THERAPY DOG: FayFay

FayFay, a 13-year-old Black Lab mix, successfully completed her first training class at Fortunate Fido. She learned quickly and enjoyed the training (especially the treats and praise that went along with it). The next step was her Canine Good Citizen test; then therapy dog testing with Bright and Beautiful Therapy Dogs through Gold Star Dog Training evaluators. We are proud of our girl and the work she has done since earning her stripes last November.

OUR THERAPY DOG: J.J.

J.J., an 11-year-old Husky mix, found wandering by a good Samaritan and taken to an area shelter where staff quickly discovered that J.J. is entirely blind. She passed her therapy dog test with her handler Jolene and now serves as the Sanctuary's therapy dog. Special thanks to the great folks at Gold Star Dog Training in Medina, Ohio, specializing in handicapped pets, who worked with J.J. through her training.