Old dogs have something to wag about this summer, as The Grey Muzzle Organization announces the recipients of its annual grants, and dogs at Second Chance Animal Services Community Veterinary Hospitals are among the winners.

Second Chance is one of 90 animal welfare groups chosen from 370 applicants to receive a grant to help local senior dogs. Together the winning groups received a total of $848,000 in grants to help save or improve the lives of at-risk old dogs in their communities.

When her son and daughter-in-law passed away, a grieving mother inherited their elderly dog.  Charlie Brown was her last link to the kids, but he was 16 years old and desperately needed dental surgery. The cost of Charlie Brown’s surgery was more than her budget could bear.  Thanks to a generous grant we recently received from The Grey Muzzle Organization, Charlie Brown was able to get his surgery. The grant has allowed his owner to know that she is giving Charlie Brown the best chance possible while still being able to meet her own needs.
 
This grant will help us give senior dogs like 16-year-old Charlie Brown the veterinary care they need. No one is more grateful or loving than an old dog, and we’re looking forward to helping more senior dogs get the second chance they all deserve.

Over the past 15 years, the national nonprofit Grey Muzzle Organization has provided more than $4.6 million in grants to support its vision of “a world where no old dog dies alone and afraid.”

“Thanks to the generosity of our donors, we’re delighted to help deserving organizations like Second Chance make a difference in the lives of dogs and people in their communities,” Grey Muzzle’s Executive Director Lisa Lunghofer said. “Many senior dogs in Massachusetts are enjoying their golden years in loving homes thanks to the wonderful work of Second Chance.”

Second Chance helps over 44,000 pets a year and operates four veterinary hospitals in Central and Western Massachusetts communities.  These hospitals offer full-service veterinary care at competitive rates with subsidized rates for those that qualify. With this generous grant, senior pets with needs that strain their owner’s budget can now get the care they need.  For more information, please call the closest Second Chance hospital.  Visit www.secondchanceanimals.org/vetcare/ for location phone numbers.

The national nonprofit The Grey Muzzle Organization improves the lives of at-risk senior dogs by providing funding and resources to animal shelters, rescue organizations, sanctuaries, and other nonprofit groups nationwide. For details, please visit www.greymuzzle.org