Help Senior Dogs in Tennessee

If anyone is interested in working with or helping senior dogs or senior animals in general, as well as foster and hospice care, and community outreach (connecting lonely pets to lonely people in nursing homes, hospice situations, etc.), please contact me.

I am trying to get more "man-power" to start a non-profit organization to benefit senior dogs in Tennessee. There is currently no such organization, but there are senior dogs in shelters state wide that will never find new homes.

Help is needed to:
Write grants,
raise funds,
make a web page,
create programs,
hold events,
promote education and awareness.



MISSION:

All dogs to have a happy, comfortable, and loving home to live out their golden years.
No dog will be euthanized simply for its age or an inability to afford proper health care.


GOALS:

Find forever homes for older dogs.
Spread awareness of the advantages of senior dogs.
Setting up a fund to assist with vet bills of senior dogs.
Community Outreach: Seniors 4 Seniors programs
In the (distant) future: providing 24 hr rescue, foster, and hospice care.


"In the works":

We are currently in process of applying for 501 (c) (3) non-profit status. (More FUND-RAISING needed.)
When we have enough support, we will hold regular (probably monthly) meetings to prioritize tasks and goals, as well as share ideas and progress.

FOUND Older Female Beagle (Old Hickory/Mt Juliet area)

Saw this on Craigslist; pass it along so this baby can get home. Thank you.

"I found an older beagle this morning walking down the road--very sweet--a little stinky from being outside but otherwise in good shape. No collar and have not seen her before. She seemed distressed in the rain and not very savy about cars. I was concerned about her getting hit or attacked by pitbulls in the neighborhood so I brought her home and she is warm and dry. Please call if she is yours!
Lisa
615-481-6461"

http://nashville.craigslist.org/pet/1439716390.html

Dog Days @ Centennial Park

Despite my lack of hearing and coherence from this sinus/ears/soon to take over my entire head infection, Dog Days went well. I had planned to walk around more and talk to relevant organizations that might have interest in helping or any advice, but feeling not so hot I was glad I brought a chair.

Peanut and I set up an imaginary booth, i.e. some signs taped to a folding chair, and handed out information about the MTSDP. Here is the flyer we handed out:




























Here's a link to a larger readable/printable copy of the flyer.



Hopefully we generated some genuine interest- I would really like to start having monthly (or so) meetings with even goals (gasp!) to be achieved by those meeting times. The more help we get, the more we can get done, so the more (and bigger) goals we can set. It's a snowball effect, so all we need is to get it rolling!

Haley and organization news

Good and Bad News for Haley...

Good news, it's past July 17th and she's still alive... we think.

That brings us to the bad news; she's run off again.

"Haley escaped by pushing out the fence in our play yard. She was last spotted on W. Caldwell. She has been seen by the interstate as well as in Stonegate Trailer Park. She is wearing a black padded harness with a thick black nylon leash attached. We need to get Haley Back. If you see her please contact the shelter immediately at 615-773-5533. "

Read more about Haley at Petfinder: http://www.petfinder.com/petnote/displaypet.cgi?petid=14052166

Good luck Haley, where ever you've gotten to. Keep an eye out, everyone!

In more good news, I noticed the Mt. Juliet Animal Shelter took photos of some of their dogs in the snazzy new handkerchiefs we donated!

This is senior boy, Snoopy :)

Read more about him at:

http://www.petfinder.com/petnote/displaypet.cgi?petid=14061056

...and senior girl, Cassady!

http://www.petfinder.com/petnote/displaypet.cgi?petid=14076502

BIG NOTE:

Without the system of volunteers we need to thrive, I'm going to have to do some backtracking. That means less fun things like spreading awareness, getting senior dogs adopted, and networking. Instead I need to step back and do all those pesky business things to get our non-profit status really going.

If anyone knows anyone that can donate their time and services to complete the legal paperwork, that would be fantastic.

Even if I am able to write and file all the paperwork on my own, it is still costly to submit these requests. Application fees vary from $100 - $500 EACH.

PLEASE consider donating to help cover these legal fees so that we can roll forward and actually get back to helping dogs in need.

Thanks!

Mt Juliet Animal Shelter...

Well, first of all, it's not looking too great for Haley. (Check my last blog for more info about her story.) No one has shown serious interest in her. Sadly it's the same story for most dogs who end up in shelters...

I went to the Mt Juliet Animal Shelter to speak to the volunteer coordinator about Haley as well as 2 or 3 senior dogs they have for adoption. Unfortunately the coordinator was not there and I was told I must fill out an application and submit to a background check before I am allowed to donate my time- this process takes 3-5 weeks.

I really wish that the volunteer coordinator or the other volunteers I spoke to would have mentioned this lengthy process before. Now I can't help Haley as much as I would have wanted to... I hope the other senior dogs will still be there next month; that it won't be too late for them.

However the Middle TN Senior Dog Project DID donate a basket of animal goodies, i.e. shelter wish list items, to the Mt Juliet Animal Shelter. Maybe that will cheer up some sad dogs and cats there since I can't do it in person...

Sigh.

Volunteers? Anyone?

**HELP HALEY** The Mt. Juliet Animal Shelter has a very sweet, loving SPECIAL NEEDS Chow Chow who will be put down in TEN DAYS if she is not adopted. Haley has lived her life in the "wild" (of Mt. Juliet, that is) breeding more homeless puppies. She was finally caught, spayed, and given eye surgery curing a condition that afflicted her in the elements.

Now all Haley needs is a quiet home OUTSIDE OF MT JULIET (this way she will not escape and return to her old breeding grounds) and some TLC to know just how sweet the sweet life is.

CAN YOU HELP HALEY?

http://www.petfinder.com/petnote/displaypet.cgi?petid=14052166&mtf=1

***

I wish I was getting everything together quicker... I decided I don't like the web site format any more so I'm messing with that instead of doing research for informational pamphlets like I had hoped to be working on. Oh well, it's all got to get done eventually.

Peanut and I were at the 4th of July celebration in Mt. Juliet's Providence MarketPlace. We were supposed to be helping Annie's Photography but Peanut stole the show. I just wish more people had taken flyers.

I did go speak to some kind folks over at the Mt. Juliet Animal Shelter and got a copy of their wish list. Hopefully I'll have some time this week to go meet the senior dogs they have for adoption there. I'll pick up a few things from the Wish List too. I hope we can find a home for Haley... she's not quite a senior yet, but she won't make it that long unless we get her a home now. Please pass along to your friends and family... surely someone has room in their home and their heart for this special girl.

Also, consider donating some of your time or money... we're really starting from the ground up so we need lots of help. PLEASE CONSIDER VOLUNTEERING!!!

our web site... so far

Visit and see what's new (and it's all new!) at our new web site :)

Welcome to our blog!

Welcome to Middle TN Senior Dog Project's blog. Take a look around, and feel free to add your two cents by commenting or e-mailing us @ MiddleTNSeniorDogProject@gmail.com

Also, check out the evolving, i.e. under construction, web site so far (lots of good info!):

http://sites.google.com/site/middletnseniordogproject/