Senior Dogs Find Loving Home At "Old Friends Dog Sanctuary"

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Senior Dogs Find Loving Home At "Old Friends Dog Sanctuary"

Tennessee Couple Is On A Mission To Help Senior Dogs

By Catalina Barrios
Credit: Facebook / Old Friends Dog Sanctuary

One of the people I admire the most is my "abuelita," my grandmother.  She was widowed at an early age and finished raising seven children on her own. For this, and so much more, she is an inspiration and a role model to me.  I believe elderly people have a wisdom that must be listened to.

Senior dogs are also wise, perhaps even more so than humans. Unfortunately, they are not the number one choice for adoption. According to the ASPCA (American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals), senior dogs (7+ years of age) are at a high risk for euthanasia.

Credit: Old Friends Dog Sanctuary

A couple from Tennessee, Zina and Michael Goodin, decided to help this vulnerable population by opening the Old Friends Senior Dog Sanctuary in Mount Juliet, Tennessee. The heroic pair first began rescuing senior dogs seven years ago and have now have welcomed over 130 senior dogs into their shelter.

The first dog they rescued was a Golden Retriever named Lucy Loo. "It all started with a Golden Retriever named Lucy Lou who was rescued from a hoarding situation. The day she was able to come here, she got out of the car, bounced through the yard, smiled and never stopped," said Zina Goodin.

Credit: Facebook / Old Friends Dog Sanctuary

Old Friends Sanctuary prioritizes the dogs that have the least chance of coming out of the shelter alive. Zina muses, "It's sad because these are the dogs that need people the most."

The non-profit senior dog shelter pays for all of the vet bills for their beloved seniors, which can get expensive.

Credit: Facebook / Old Friends Dog Sanctuary

There are 15 paid staff and hundreds of volunteers who work hard to provide the dogs a loving home, good nutrition, high quality vet care and the comfort they need for the remainder of their lives. The sanctuary has also assisted in placing over 200 senior dogs in forever homes.

Credit: Facebook / Old Friends Dog Sanctuary

This beautiful message can be found on their website:

"We do not concern ourselves with the quantity of time that they have left, rather the quality of the life that we can provide them for that time".

Credit: Facebook / Old Friends Dog Sanctuary

This senior dogs sanctuary is funded through donations and sales from its online store. The monthly expenses are around $85,000 USD, and they rely on help from community members, organizations, and donors.

Zina and Michael love their work and find happiness in inspiring people to adopt senior dogs.

Credit: Facebook / Old Friends Dog Sanctuary

The dog-loving couple have collected over 1 million followers on Facebook for the sanctuary.  Wonderful photos of senior canines abound, as well as tips for adopting a senior dog. Their website is also a great resource for adoption information.

Credit: Facebook / Old Friends Dog Sanctuary

What a beautiful act of kindness Zina and Michael are committing at the Old Friends Senior Dogs Sanctuary. If not for them, these dogs wouldn't be able to happily enjoy the last years of their life.  Remember to #adoptdontshop and consider a senior!