posted December 09, 2013 09:35 AM            

About a month ago, a 22-year-old schipperke mix named Grandma was surrendered to the Pike County Humane Society by the daughter of the dog's 80-year-old owner, now in an assisted-living situation.

But who would adopt a 22-year-old dog with a club foot and a little arthritis, who neither hears nor sees well?

No one has snapped her up yet, but Grandma, with her wise and wizened face, still gets around well, and her prospects are better than they once were.

"We're getting more and more older dogs because of the economy, and people don't want to take on medical issues," said Barry Heim, PCHS shelter director. "We're especially getting big dogs. So we adopt them out with medical support."

Last spring, Brew, a 9-year-old yellow Labrador retriever, was the first beneficiary of the shelter's new Grey Muzzle program.

A family that had adopted a dog from the shelter two years before was looking for a companion dog for her, and Brew adjusted quickly. A shelter newsletter shows them napping side by side.

Cats are also in the program, initiated by Kathy Varkados, special needs animal coordinator at PCHS, who modeled it on one she saw elsewhere. A Grey Muzzle nonprofit organization with similar aims is based in Raleigh, N.C.

"Adopters' applications have to be approved, as with any adoption," Varkados said. "We pay for vaccines and major medical problems, but animals must go to our vets."

PCHS provides care they would provide for animals in the shelter, but the dogs and cats can live out their lives in homes.

The program includes both elderly animals and animals with medical issues, regardless of age. Some Grey Muzzle animals have medical issues but are not particularly old, while others may be quite old but without medical issues.

For instance, Big Patrick, a 15-year-old cat, is in the program "by default," because of his age, said Heather Tringo, PCHS office supervisor.

Spry and friendly, he arrived a year ago with several younger cats when his owner went to an assisted living facility.

Oliver, a black and white cat, who may be 10-15 years old, has also been at the shelter for over a year.

"He's more black than white, like a cow," Tringo. said "He arrived rail-thin with a lame back leg, but we got him back to a good weight. Now he's mobile but slow-moving."

For more information about the Grey Muzzle program, visit the Pike County Humane Society, 186 Lee Road, Shohola, PA, or call 570-296-7654.