GRROWLS takes in quite a few Senior dogs (over age 8) and a few Special Needs dogs each year.  These dogs deserve a home as much as any other dog we take in.  But, those who adopt these special dogs are special people.  They are folks who really want to rescue a dog.  They put the dog's needs first. They adopt to give the dog a loving home for whatever time it has left and whatever help it may need to live happily.  Those special needs may be met by medication or they may be the kind of guidance required by a deaf or blind dog.

The Uncle Sherman fund is available to help adopters of Seniors with any unusual medical expenses the dogs may incur.  This fund, established by one of the founders of GRROWLS and supported by donations, is designed to make it easier to adopt a Senior dog.

Please read the testimonials and stories on this page, and if you think that you would like to join the elite group of folks who have already adopted Senior and Special Needs dogs from us, please click the link below and send us an email.

To see pictures and read stories about the senior or special needs dogs ready for adoption, please click HERE.

TESTIMONIALS

One thing I say about older dogs is that they may be (not guaranteed, of course) well-trained and socialized …It takes a lot of heart (and resources) to adopt … a truly old dog with health care issues (whether current or soon-to-be anticipated).”

                     -- Kathleen C. Boone

 “The older dogs are really lower maintenance; they’re just happy for a warm blanket to sleep on, and a nice walk around the block just about does them in. They sleep while we work and are happy when we sit on the floor with them in the evening and rub their ears for about two hours!

… they just want a quiet place to live out their lives, they are quieter in temperament and don’t require a lot of training or activity … this appeals to both the dual working household or the older household where the kids have left for college and the parents are in need of a little company.”

– Don and Ruth Keipper, Marilla, Erie County

 “The older dogs (appeal) for a more ‘pure’ altruism on the part of prospective owners … The ideal home, is one that really wants to rescue a dog no matter how old it is, what sex it is, or what it will need to learn. Those homes are few and far between.”

– Teri Vigars, Jordan, Onondaga County 

“We adopted an 8-year-old golden/lab mix … and she is amazing! Definitely thinks she is a puppy, but can also be content to hang out and be a blob with us when we relax … getting a trained dog is also a huge plus.”

         -- Heidi Leonard, New York City 

“I suddenly came upon a golden that was just perfect for me. There wasn’t a picture, but a short paragraph describing 10-year-old Nicky who had arthritis and had trouble going up the stairs and needed someone home all the time. He was old. So what? … This dog had touched my heart so deeply … I only had Nicky for 10 months, but they were wonderful months for both Nicky and me. Would I do it again? In a heart beat! He brought joy to my life because of how I ‘found’ him.”

-- Carol Nichy, Cheektowaga, Erie County

 “Honeybear is a wonderful 11-year-old. She is a delight. Very calm, but still playful and funny. She enjoys running and swimming and long walks and, of course, lots of cuddling.”

-- Renee R., Schaghticoke, Rensselaer County 

The golden oldies are truly the most incredible loves and so very rewarding. If you are looking for meaning and gratification, too, they are amazing for the delivery of warm fuzzies. Blondie had been neglected for almost 10 years, … but with care, became beautiful. He lived here for 1.5 years and was such a happy guy; beautiful and devoted. Goldie is 14 years old and did have … some health issues, but is a fluffy, goofy and happy girl now. She is a daily part of my routine and travels around the barns doing chores with me and the rest of the gang! … She has just recently gotten almost totally deaf and we are getting her attention by waving our arms and (using) hand signals. I don’t know how long she will be with us, but it won’t be long enough. Most of the older dogs really require little care other than shelter and love. Not all have tough health issues.”

        -- Linda Bills, Mohawk, Herkimer County

“Ten-year-old Max acts and looks like a 1 year old.”

    -- Bibi Edwards, Pittsford, Monroe County

 “London turned 2. He was what many people were looking for – YOUNG and housetrained. He was also undersocialized, being a stray for quite some time and was (is) as clumsy as they come – no water dish or knick knack is safe around the boy, and London always leaves a trail of his beautiful fur behind on everything. Many people thought that the calmness of a 7 year old may not be so bad …”

-- Dona Possenti, Lockport, Niagara County 

Noble … is 10 ½ years old. His muzzle is gray and he has kind of a lopsided face from maybe Belle’s Palsy. Playing in the snow, you (can’t) tell which ones (are) the younger dogs. The three of them race and roll and flip each other over in the snow. Noble is really a special boy. He looks up at me with such love in his old eyes. He races around in the snow and plays with the other dogs, then comes running back to me for a pat on the head and then off he goes again. He really has so much to give. I can relax with him because he is all trained. It’s kind of like giving birth to a 20-year-old. All the hard work is over with.

-- Elaine Decker, Whitney Point, Broome County

We fostered Max him in October and in January decided to adopt him. He's 10 but acts like a young yahoo, without all the puppy angst!  We love him! He has the sweetest "I need some lovin" look (as can be seen in the picture) and he'll even grunt for attention. I've never met a golden that loves to be hugged so much. If I could have named him, it would have been Bear since he's like a big teddy bear! Thanks

-- Christine Klahn 

STORIES

Bud and Mandy

Bud and Mandy are brother and sister and were adopted in 1999.  They are now 11 years old.  They had lived almost 8 years outside in a kennel and were neglected and all matted when an animal control officer came for them.  They were taken to an animal shelter and put up for adoption, but with their age and the stipulation they be adopted together, they didn't stand much of a chance.  They were scheduled for euthanasia three times, but the worker couldn't bring herself to put down two such healthy and loving dogs.  She found GRROWLS on the Internet and a rescue worker went to the shelter and saved them.  We adopted them in November, 1999, and from the moment we brought them into our home, they have been so loving and grateful just for the warm blanket to lay on and the fresh food and water.   They'll take all the love and hugs they can get, just content to lay at our feet and have us rub their ears.  Senior goldens are great ... at 11 years young, these two run, romp and play.  But they tire easy and a quick walk pacifies their love of the outdoors and they're off to a warm place to sleep for hours on end.  They are housebroken, low maintenance and gentle in nature.  Seniors are calm and loyal and seek only a loving home in which to live out their golden years.  To anyone considering adopting a loving pet, a senior golden would make the best choice for a faithful family friend.  The love they give each day makes up for the years that have already gone by.

Luna

When Luna came to live with us 8 years ago, she was a poorly socialized and frightened little girl.  But she soon learned what it meant to love and be loved by humans, as well as cats!  In her "middle age", she remains a very energetic family member who especially enjoys camping and canoe trips, ski outings and hunting for grouse.  When not running through the woods, Luna can be found snuggling one of her humans or her cat, Little Bit.

Molson is a beautiful, gentle Golden Retriever. I adopted her from GRROWLS when she was about seven, after her original owners decided they didn't want her anymore. She was the friendliest dog I had ever met, and would never miss an opportunity to walk up next to you and flip your hand with her nose so you would pet her.

She wasn't very interested in other dogs (or cats for that matter), but loved to go for nice slow walks, sniff all the grass and snooze in my office while I worked. Molson wanted nothing more from life than someone to scratch her chin, pet her head, some food, water, a warm blanket, and to be everybody's best friend.

She loved all the neighbors and kids, and when we had parties, would spend her time walking from guest to guest seeing if she could get a pat on the head or a treat.

As she grew older, she developed arthritis in her spine, and by the time she was fourteen, could no longer get up off the floor. I couldn't leave my friend like that, and decided to put her to sleep. It was the most difficult thing I have ever done, but I've never regretted, even for a second adopting her and giving her seven happy years.

If you have room in your life for unconditional love and want to make a real difference, consider adopting an older Golden Retriever.  You won't be sorry. Your new best friend is waiting for a walk.

    -- Terry Carmen 

Soon after our application and home visit was approved, a member from GRROWLS contacted us about a senior golden who was in a foster home approximately three and a half hours away from us. Within a week, we drove there to meet her. We were greeted by a beautiful, white faced 10 1/2 year old golden. Lily came home with us the very next day and fit into our home perfectly, even though we already had a pug, two cats and a ferret. In the two months that Lily has lived with us, not a moment goes by without us feeling so blessed to have her. She has brought such joy into our lives, and believe it or not, she acts more puppy-like everyday. Words cannot describe the gift of unconditional love she gives us everyday, and we in return give her the same. We wonder everyday how one would want to turn in such a wonderful old dog, however, we are so very thankful they did.

-- Andrea Burnham and Brett Reynolds.