The Grey Muzzle Organization Helps Senior Dogs Through German Shepherd Rescue of Northern California

PR Log (Press Release) – Nov 04, 2009 – German Shepherd Rescue of Northern California (GSRNC), based in Cupertino with volunteers throughout north-central California, has received a grant of $2,000 from The Grey Muzzle Organization, a national non-profit group dedicated to helping at-risk senior dogs.  The grant will support the launch of the new Thulani program, an effort to rescue and find homes for German Shepherd Dogs requiring hospice care at the ends of their lives.

The Thulani program expands the traditional rescue services of GSRNC by providing comfort and quality of life for dogs with only a short time to live, dogs that generally are not considered adoptable.  Robert Jachens, Thulani program coordinator, explains, “We sometimes find German Shepherds in need of rescue who, because of medical conditions or advanced age, have only a short time to live – typically less than year and sometimes much less.  If we do not take them into our program, they likely will die alone and afraid in a shelter. The goal is to enable dogs to be comfortable and free of pain, so that they may live each day left to them as fully as possible in a caring home.  We feel that the Thulani program provides a necessary and important service that, to our knowledge, is not being provided by any other organization in northern California. We are very encouraged by the number of good people who have stepped forward to help, with everything from generous donations to offers of foster and permanent homes.”

Jeri Seiden, Manager of Special Needs at the Humane Society Silicon Valley, says, "It's wonderful to see a program designed specifically for hospice care. There is a great need for it, but very few organizations have the resources required. I am very impressed by the amount and quality of veterinary care GSRNC provides for these very special friends.”

Julie Nowicki, president of The Grey Muzzle Organization, states, “We are thrilled to be able to support the Thulani program. Many rescues are working hard to save adoptable dogs from shelters,  but few rescue organizations are able to help the ones that get left behind, the ones that aren’t adoptable, but deserve a happy and loving ending as much as any puppy.”

Since last September, Grey Muzzle has made 19 grants for senior dog programs in 12 states, and purchased orthopedic dog beds for shelters in eight states. In northern California, Grey Muzzle has funded an adoption program that matches senior dogs with senior citizens at Muttville in San Francisco. Oakland Animal Shelter has also received orthopedic beds for senior dogs.

Further information about GSRNC’s Thulani program is available at www.gsrnc.org or by contacting Robert Jachens directly at (408) 718-8491. Anyone wishing to inquire about active participation in the Thulani program should contact Robert Jachens at foster@gsrnc.org.

Additional information about The Grey Muzzle Organization is available at www.greymuzzle.org.