SENIORS for SENIORS
Studies show that seniors who have pets live longer, more fulfilling lives. Seniors with pets are also less likely to suffer early onset of dementia, less likely to have depression or anxiety, and are not as lonely. Pets can greatly improve overall senior health.
(Senior Safety Advice, July 2023)
But many seniors are on fixed incomes and can’t afford a pet or are concerned about what happens if they get a pet and then become unable to care for them.
Josie’s Misfit Ranch is bridging these concerns with our Seniors for Seniors program, which pairs senior dogs and cats with senior humans. Qualifying seniors ages 55 and older become permanent fosters to senior animals at JMR, meaning the animals won’t be adopted to anyone else. JMR retains ownership in case the senior is no longer able to care for them and they need to go back to the rescue to be paired with another senior.
JMR pays for all expenses for the senior animal, including medical bills, food and supplies - making it affordable for seniors to have a pet.
Seniors must be allowed to have pets in their home, be healthy enough to care for a pet and have access to transportation to take animals to vet appointments. We only take seniors from Kittitas and Yakima counties because as part of the program we also check up on the senior periodically to make sure both are doing well. Because of this, we need the seniors to be close to our resources.
This program is sponsored by Kittitas Valley Healthcare and funded through a generous grant from the Grey Muzzle Organization, as well as your donations.
You can donate towards the program by clicking on the “donate” button at the top of the page.
Our Current Seniors Needing Placement
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MAX
Max is a 10-year-old puppy, who has never had a bad day. He’s active and loves walks and being outside, but also loves to just hang with you on the couch.
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JUNIE
Junie is around 10 years old and loves stuffies (and to disembowel them) and also to lay in your lap. Full disclosure - she’s also a face licker!
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COCONUT
We recently welcomed Coconut to JMR. Coconut’s mom had to go into assisted living and her daughter-in-law, one of our amazing fosters, asked if we could pair Coconut up with a new senior to care for her. After she is medically and behaviorally cleared she will be available to find her special senior human.
Some of Our Senior Matches
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Rae and Toby
We brought Rae and Toby together as a new pairing in our Seniors for Seniors program. Rae was in our program before and recently lost sweet Louie to an unforeseen illness. His loss left a hole in her heart and her house too quiet. While Louie can never be replaced, she is honoring him by loving another senior dog in need. We are so happy for Rae and Toby!
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Debby and Buddie
Buddie, 9, is one of 3 senior dogs from a woman in Yakima who was dying of cancer and needed to find a place that could care for her dogs. Buddie is a very affectionate and needy boy who just wants love all the time. Debby loves having a companion, and he follows her around everywhere!
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Cheryl and Beatrice
Beatrice, 12, is one of 3 senior dogs from a woman in Yakima who was dying of cancer and needed to find a place that could care for her dogs. Beatrice is a nervous dog, who instantly stopped being nervous when she met Cheryl. It was an instant connection. Cheryl lost a dog previously that reminded her of Beatrice, and Beatrice gets to be the center of her world.
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Wendy Jean and Kane
We were looking to add to our senior population for our Seniors for Seniors program and Yakima Humane told us about Kane.
He is a typical chihuahua who thinks he is the center of the universe. He has some thyroid issues we are now treating successfully. AND he looks adorable in pajamas and loves to cuddle!
Wendy-Jean had just lost her dog, and was told about our program. They absolutely love each other!
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The Parkers and Saffron
Dennis and his wife Mary were the first seniors in our Seniors for Seniors program more than a year ago, taking in sweet Ella. Sadly, Ella passed recently from a stroke. We are so grateful she died knowing what a real home and family was. But her absence was painful for Dennis and Mary. Enter Saffron (pictured) another senior dog looking for a forever home. She proved to be just the medicine they needed for a broken heart, and they were the same for her.
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Maura and Ernie
Another amazing seniors for seniors moment as Maura recently took in Ernie as her permanent foster. Ernie came from a neglect situation and was surrendered to the shelter, where we stepped in to help. Despite his past he is a very sweet boy and just needed to find someone who could give him the TLC he needed. Maura was looking for a companion and someone to spoil. It was a perfect match, and both are so happy together!
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The Entwistles, Max & Toni
John and Gail Entwistle welcomed Toni into their home when she found herself homeless after their previous owner passed away. Gail told us she’s had cats all her life but didn’t get another one because she was concerned about what would happen to them if something happened to her. Our program allows her to give Toni an amazing home and get her cat fix while also giving her the peace of mind that we will take care of them if she can’t.
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Barbara and Marlow
Marlow is an old gentlemen with bowed legs who found himself in the shelter at 13. We couldn’t let him live out his golden years there, so intervened. He has since been put on medication that has helped his legs and he has so much more life in him!
He has now found his forever home with Barbara and will never see a shelter again!
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Robin and Rob, and Digger
Congratulations to Digger and his new parents … Robin and Rob, for becoming family! Digger was taken in by one of our fosters after his former mom had to go to a nursing home. He was a little lost and a little timid, but Robin is determined to make him feel like he is home. He has a big brother and loves having a lap to snuggle in, and as you can see, we think he likes the match!