Rescue groups for specific breeds of dogs come and go. The extent to which these groups help senior dogs varies, too. We try to keep updated on the breed rescue groups that have a special focus on seniors, and you'll find them listed below. Or you can just use a search engine, typing in "name of breed + rescue."
Remember, also, that your local animal shelter and all-breed, all-age rescues often have purebred dogs come their way, so it's a good idea to let those folks know what you're looking for.
Following is a list of some senior dog rescue groups that have let us know of their work helping seniors find new homes:
Alaskan Malamute Assistance League: Seniors/Special Needs
The Alaskan Malamute Assistance League's home page is dedicated just to senior and special need Malamutes looking for a final loving home to spend their latter years. These are wonderful Malamutes whose only sins are that they grew old or became ill.
Beagle Rescue of Southern Maryland, Inc. has a special program dedicated to seniors named after Winston, the founding dog of Beagle Maryland, an older gentleman who never made it out of foster care, but found himself loved nonetheless.
Midwest Boston Terrier Rescue's "Senior to Senior" Program - Making the Golden years Golden for each other"
A program designed to bring rescued Senior Boston Terriers and Senior People together in Illinois - Indiana - Michigan - Ohio. Senior people and senior pets make excellent companions for each other! To allow more senior people (60 years of age or older) to adopt senior dogs (6 years of age or older), the placement fee is reduced for those who qualify. All rescued Bostons are spayed/neutered, vaccinated, heartworm tested and all known medical conditions are addressed and treated as appropriate before placement. All placements are done by application. Apply for the Senior to Senior Program via the placement application on the website.
Central Texas Dachshund Rescue (CTDR) The mission of Central Texas Dachshund Rescue is to rescue, rehabilitate, and re-home Dachshunds and most Dachshund mixes that need a second chance at life and love. Most CTDR dogs come from Texas animal shelters where they are in danger of being euthanized. Animals from the public are also accepted, if space is available in an appropriate foster home. Some of the Dachshunds accepted into the program have had a good life, but have fallen on hard times because their human has passed away or because they've escaped their yard and become lost. But some of the Dachshunds have been abused, abandoned and neglected and require time and patience to bring them back to happy, healthy, loving pets.
Senior and Special Needs Dobermans
Statement from the organization: "We are an organization of people with a common goal of helping senior and special needs Dobermans. That need may be financial or it may be only information and/or moral support for the owner of a Doberman with a serious illness or injury. We will also aid in rehoming and fostering senior Dobermans. These Dobermans may be shelter rescues or they may already be much loved companions with a special need. Financial aid may be through donations or through avenues such as online auctions. Every precaution will be taken to assure that the need is real."
German Shepherd
Thulani Senior German Shepherd Rescue Thulani Senior German Shepherd Rescue, Inc. (TSGSR) is an all-volunteer, nonprofit organization dedicated to rescuing very old or terminally ill German Shepherd Dogs and mixed breed dogs from life-threatening situations. They accept shelter dogs and owner-surrender dogs from all of California, providing foster homes and medical treatment the dogs may have been lacking. Their efforts are critically needed as many shelters do not have the resources to provide in-depth care for large senior dogs, most of whom face uncertain futures as a result. Their program is unique in that they provide free adoptions and medical care for life; all you need to add is love.
Heartland Golden Retriever Rescue, Knoxville, TN has long been recognized as a group always willing to take in a senior Golden in need. Even if our doors are closed, there is always room for a senior. We help homeless and displaced Goldens from Tennessee, SW Virginia, SE Kentucky, and NE Alabama to relocate to permanent, loving homes all over the country. Heartland is a 501[c]3 organization, established in August 1998. Heartland has helped nearly 700 dogs have a second chance at life. Our first priority is finding the right home for the right dog. E-mail: 4infogoldnresq@heartlandgoldenrescue.org or call 865.765.8808.
Senior Greyhounds
Greyhound Pets of America Senior Sanctuary of Florida is a group of volunteers who are dedicated to placing senior greyhounds over the age of seven either in permanent foster homes or hopefully with new adoptive families.
New Jersey Schnauzer Rescue Network Inc.
New Jersey Schnauzer Rescue Network (NJSRN) is a group-run rescue and rehoming service for Miniature Schnauzers and Schnauzer mixes. NJSRN does not maintain a kennel or adoption facility. Its members and volunteers are located throughout New Jersey, Pennsylvania, New York, Connecticut, Maryland, Delaware, and Virginia, and the dogs in its care live with its members and foster volunteers until they are placed. NJSRN has been rehoming Miniature Schnauzers and Schnauzer mixes since 1997 and has placed nearly 1,700 dogs into permanent, loving homes. NJSRN adheres to the American Miniature Schnauzer Club's minimum rescue requirements and is the only Miniature Schnauzer rescue group in its service area that does. Hotline: 732-829-8242; E-mail: info@njsm.org
Springer Spaniel Rescue, Inc. (SSRI), Western US, helps older English Springer Spaniels find foster and forever homes where they are loved and cared for. When life-altering events happen and people who can no longer care for their Springers must give them up, SSRI provides adoption referral assistance. All too often there are senior English Springer Spaniels who have lost their homes because their families have tired of them, become ill, moved to an apartment that doesn’t allow dogs, or have passed away. We are a group of people who love our Springer Spaniels and want to help displaced senior Spaniels as well as younger ones find good new homes. Springer Spaniel Rescue, Inc. (SSRI) works with other rescue organizations and shelters to place senior Spaniels. We have a passion for seniors because we were originally known as Senior Spaniel Rescue, Inc. and because we know seniors are often let go with limited resources.
Tri State Weimaraner Rescue, Inc. is a non-profit organization that takes in and rehomes purebred Weimaraners, doing so throughout the states of NJ, PA and DE. "We take in Weimaraners of all ages. For information on adopting a senior Weim, please visit The Senior Center on our website. We run a half-off adoption fee special for senior dogs every November during 'Adopt a Senior Dog Month.' " Special note: Any senior citizen (age 65 and up) who adopts any Weimaraner 8 years of age or older from will be entitled to a free senior panel blood test once a year on their adopted Weimaraner, for the life of the dog.
For other senior breed rescue groups, use a search engine with a search term such as "(name of breed) senior rescue".