In celebration of Adopt A Senior Pet Month in November, I’m re-posting my interview about Marty’s Place Senior Dog Sanctuary. Enjoy!
The month of November feels like the true holiday season has arrived! This month, we celebrate National Senior Pet Month and the ASPCA’s Adopt a Senior Pet Month. Senior pets are as gentle, loving, and loyal as any younger pet.
In celebration of all senior pets, I’m happy to share my interview with Founder and Director, Doreen Jakubcak. Out of love for Marty, a rescue dog who forever changed her life, Doreen created a wonderful and loving home for senior pets called Marty’s Place Senior Dog Sanctuary.
Enjoy Doreen’s interview below!
I love the idea of a retirement home for senior dogs! How did you get started making the home a reality?
Once we decided we wanted to help senior dogs, the first step was to find suitable property on which to have the sanctuary. Next came the approval process then the building phase. The process from the time we started to when we became operational actually took about four and a half years.
Tell our readers about Marty. What’s his story and how did he influence you to start a retirement home for senior dogs?
Marty existed in a shelter for six months. The day before his scheduled euthanasia, a rescue organization pulled him. He had physical issues that became greater over time and made it more challenging to place him in a permanent home.
After hearing about Marty’s plight, being in temporary homes for about a year, we decided to be his final home. It was through his story that we thought about how many older dogs are in need, and we wanted to do our part to help.
Do your senior dog residents have to be a certain age? What’s the limit on the number of residents you care for?
Our approvals are based on caring for up to 40 dogs in the sanctuary. We focus on dogs that are seven years and older.
How do you work with other animal rescue and shelters?
We take in dogs from owners, shelters, and rescues. If we receive an inquiry from a rescue or shelter, we will review and discuss the situation with the organization to determine if we can help.
Do you charge a fee to surrender a dog?
We ask for a financial contribution as we are a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization and rely on donations to support our operation. However, a dog is not turned away because of the lack of funding.
What about visitors? Can pet parents who surrendered their dogs stop by for a visit?
We do not allow visitation by former owners/caregivers. That would be too confusing for a dog. It’s important that they bond with us quickly as their new caregivers.
Are your senior residents mostly local or out-of-state?
We primarily serve the greater New Jersey, Northeast area. When considering out-of-state requests, we need to determine whether we can adequately care for the dog and whether it’s in the best interest of the health and well-being of the dog to be transported to us.
Where do most of your senior dogs come from?
We primarily work directly with owners but we also work with shelter and rescue organizations. Dogs come to us for a variety of reasons including neglect, owner passing or transition to nursing care/assisted living, financial hardship or relocation.
How do you train your staff to care for senior dogs?
Our staff come with some dog handling/care experience. We augment that by working with trainers, behaviorists and veterinarians.
How do you train your volunteers to care for senior dogs?
We have an application process which includes an orientation session followed by on-site time with a volunteer mentor.
It’s sad to think about losing our pets. How do you celebrate the lives of senior dogs who have crossed the Rainbow Bridge?
Every dog deserves to be treated with dignity and respect especially at the end of their life. Whenever possible, we say good-bye at the sanctuary. We commemorate their lives with a brick in our memorial garden walkway and a wall photo collage in our sanctuary.
Do you provide end-of-life care for your senior dogs?
We describe our resident population as active adult to hospice care. For dogs that are with us for the long-term, as they age, they develop health issues that we address to the best of our ability. Our objective is to focus on quality of life and make our dogs as comfortable as we can for as long as we can.
Tell us about the challenges and rewards of working with senior dogs.
As dogs age, they will develop health issues. We address and manage them as they arise.
Senior dogs want to be loved, they love you in return and are forever grateful.
How did you find the veterinarians who help you in caring for senior dogs?
We are very fortunate in that there are several veterinary practices, including an emergency/specialty care hospital, in close proximity to our sanctuary. We have developed great relationships and have received wonderful care for our residents.
What else would you like to tell our readers about Marty’s Place Senior Dog Sanctuary?
In addition to our sanctuary life program, other programs at Marty’s Place include adoption, foster, swim and our senior outreach. And our wish list includes items we use daily.
We always welcome:
- Male disposable diapers (sizes small and medium)
- Giant size training pads
- Paper towels
- Disinfecting wipes
Do you have a waiting list for senior dogs? Is there someplace dogs can go before until they come to Marty’s Place?
Since we are limited in the number of dogs we can care for, and the demand is continual, yes we do have a waiting list. We suggest options for an owner/caregiver to explore as an interim such as family, friends or boarding facility.
There is clearly a need for a retirement home for senior dogs. Do you have plans to expand your services to help more dogs?
We believe there will always be a need to help senior dogs that are facing homelessness or are homeless. But at this time, we do not have plans to expand.
Is there a network of retirement homes or is Marty’s Place a rare place for senior dogs?
There are several organizations across the country that focus on helping older dogs and other animals. However not nearly enough to meet the demand that will always exist.
What is one thing you want people to know about senior dogs?
They know what you did for them!
Thanks for your time, Doreen!
Dr. Pet Mom
“Why does watching a dog be a dog fill one with happiness?”
–Jonathan Safran Foer