You may not be able to teach an old dog new tricks — but you can still show them a good time.
That is the ethos behind Old Friends Senior Dog Sanctuary in Tennessee, which houses over 100 dogs over the age of 10, some with unique medical conditions, all while providing medical care for another 500 elder pups that they have helped place in foster homes.
Nearly 200 supporters and dozens of dogs turned out for the group’s “Geezer Gala” Senior Prom on April 5, where tutu and bowtie-clad pups were crowned prom king and queen, and funds were raised to help the organization foster out senior dogs — and cover their vet bills.
Old Friends Senior Dog Sanctuary in Mt. Juliet, Tennessee, held a “Geezer Gala” earlier this month. Old Friends Senior Dog Sanctuary“All night long, our caretakers brought dressed-up dogs to the prom and they circulated throughout people,” Zina Goodin, who founded the sanctuary with her husband Michael in 2012, told The Post.
The couple came up with the idea after volunteering with a golden retriever organization, where they saw just how many of the highly sought-after pooches were left on their own in old age.
“We realized that golden retrievers, who were probably one of the most desirable breeds of dogs, were not getting homes in their senior years. There were probably a lot of dogs who are not making it out of the shelters,” Goodin said.
Goodin and her husband fostered their own golden retriever, Lucy Lu, who she lovingly referred to as their third co-founder.
Dogs decked out in bowties and tutus attended the event. Old Friends Senior Dog SanctuaryAfter helping 10-year-old Lucy Lu recover from a “terribly neglectful” situation, Goodin says they were inspired to help older dogs and dogs with unique medical needs, who are oftentimes overlooked at shelters.
“We realized that we could make a difference and these dogs could turn their lives around and enjoy the rest of their lives,” Goodin said.
The sanctuary acts as a safety net for the dogs for the rest of their lives. The organization now helps roughly 500 dogs placed in “Geezer Guardian homes” with owners dedicated to providing top-notch care until the very end.
The event also featured a silent auction and a snuggle tent for supporters of the sanctuary. Old Friends Senior Dog Sanctuary“They’re basically long-term fosters, so the dog gets to live in their foster home until they pass away,” Goodin explained.
“We provide any special diets they need, preventatives, and if anything happens to the person and they can no longer take care of the dog, we will take them back no questions asked.”
The program has also created a community among “Geezer Guardians,” many of whom Goodin says are older retired folks.
About 100 senior dogs currently live at the sanctuary while another 500 live with foster families. Old Friends Senior Dog Sanctuary“We have a Facebook page and our volunteers and our fosters are on there and they share pictures of their foster dogs,” Goodin said. “It’s really like a big family that gets together and we have appreciation events and they get to know each other.”
About 100 dogs currently live in the sprawling sanctuary, where they have personalized suites and 24/7 outdoor access.
“I try to make it as home-like as I can because some of them will spend the rest of their lives with us,” Goodin said.
Dogs at the sanctuary live in suites and have all-day access to outdoor yards. Old Friends Senior Dog Sanctuary“We started in our home so we’ve always tried to keep that feel. The dogs have the same caretakers every day, so they get a family of their own.”
The event, which included a silent auction and snuggle tent, ended up raising thousands of dollars for the sanctuary.
