Dog Park Club partners with Muttville to give senior dogs a second chance

By Bear Bonafide

Club correspondent

It’s a universal truth: Father Time doesn’t play favorites. Just like us, our beloved fourlegged companions grow older, slowing down with the inevitable creaks, squeaks and groans of aging.

We humans are fortunate to have family and friends to lean on. But for many senior dogs, those golden years can mean uncertainty, loneliness or even abandonment. That couldn’t be truer in Rossmoor, where the love, companionship and joy that dogs bring enrich our lives just as much as we give them comfort and a second chance at happiness.

That’s where Muttville Senior Dog Rescue comes in. For nearly 20 years, this San Francisco- based nonprofit has been giving older dogs the second chance they deserve – providing medical care, safe foster homes, and ultimately “furever” families to dogs who might otherwise be overlooked or euthanized simply because of age.

Recently, Muttville celebrated an extraordinary milestone: 13,000 adoptions, wagging tails and joyful bonds formed between people and pets who needed each other.

Now, Rossmoor’s own Dog Park Club (RDPC) is proud to join Muttville’s mission. It’s seniors helping seniors in the best sense: older adults opening their homes and hearts to senior dogs who still have plenty of love, charm and companionship to give. It’s a circle of care that couldn’t be more fitting for our community.

Muttville is unique. Its motto – “No dog should spend their golden years in a shelter” – sums it up. It pioneered the nation’s first cage-free rescue facility, runs its own veterinary suite, and maintains a vibrant foster network.

It even provides “fospice” care so that dogs at the end of life are surrounded by comfort and dignity. It’s no wonder that Muttville has been ranked among the country’s top animal welfare organizations.

Here in Rossmoor, the connection couldn’t be stronger. With nearly 10,000 residents and about 3,500 dogs, this community shows how deep the bond runs. Studies reveal that 35% of adults over 60 own a dog, and when senior dogs find homes with senior guardians, the benefits ripple in both directions. Dogs gain love and security; humans gain companionship, joy and purpose.

Older dogs are often easier to live with, too – housetrained, less rambunctious, and grateful for every bit of attention. They enrich our days with steady companionship, gentle walks, playful moments, and the warmth of unconditional love. In short, when a senior meets a senior dog, it’s often mutual rescue.

Of course, Muttville depends on donors, volunteers, fosters and adopters to keep its life-saving work going. Rossmoor residents can help by making a tax-deductible gift, lending a helping paw as a volunteer, fostering or adopting. Go to www.muttville.org for all the details.

And here’s the best part: You don’t have to be a dog owner – or even a park user – to be part of the Rossmoor Dog Park Club. Membership is open to anyone who simply loves dogs and wants to be part of a community that cares. That includes supporting rescue organizations like Muttville while also enjoying the club’s educational programs, and frequent updates “straight from the pack.”

Think of it as a “sniffari” for dog lovers. Visit www.rossmoordogpark.com for more information and membership details. RDPC sees this new alliance as a way to enrich lives – both human and canine – within Rossmoor and beyond. As we age, our needs may change, but our capacity for love, care and connection only deepens.

Because at the end of the day, every senior dog deserves what we all want: a safe home, a warm lap, and love that never ages.