In Arizona, a special rescue group is giving senior dogs care and a better life during their twilight years. Recently, Flagstaff Business News covered Camp Golden Years, a veteran-founded group that specifically supports senior dogs.
Senior Dog Rescue Pampers Our Older Furry Friends
Joel Rockey is the self-proclaimed Camp Commander and founder of Camp Golden Years. According to Rockey, his years in the military prepared him for his current work as a senior dog advocate. During his enlistment, Rockey says, “that job taught me a great ability to endure difficult times while still maintaining compassion and positivity.”
After leaving the military, Rockey — like many veterans — struggled to find a meaningful way to impact his community.
“Then one day,” he says, “I stumbled across Lurch, a senior pug wandering in the streets in a blizzard. This fella had been through the wringer, and it was clear he hadn’t been adequately cared for. I spent three months caring for the old man before he passed and knew this was a mission I could be of service.” With that twist of fate, Camp Golden Years was born.
Amazingly, Rockey has been able to combine his desire to be of service with his respect for veterans in need. As such, Camp Golden Years actualizes this “by rescuing, rehabbing, and rehoming homeless senior dogs,” says Rockey. “Being a veteran-founded organization, our primary focus is taking on seniors belonging to veterans facing homelessness or in hospice, but when space and resources allow, we can take in senior shelter dogs as well.”
The Difficulties of Getting Senior Dogs Adopted
While Golden Years’ mission touches people’s hearts, Rockey says convincing people to adopt senior dogs is difficult. “One of the biggest reasons families won’t adopt a senior is the cost. It’s hard to take on an initial $500 to $1,500 vet bill to get them comfortable,” says Rockey.
To counteract this, Camp Golden Years prioritizes their dogs’ health and well-being. Besides providing food, shelter, and companionship, Camp Golden Years also funds “full medical work-ups and quality-of-life surgeries” for their ‘recruits,’ many of whom have never been to a vet. All this work on the front end helps ease any worries potential adopters may have. Additionally, Camp Golden Years has a 25-pound limit on incoming recruits, and dogs have to undergo a behavioral test to confirm their social skills.
Thankfully, Camp Golden Years has made strides in helping senior dogs become viable adoption choices, not just an afterthought. Hopefully, Camp Golden Years will inspire all of us to open our hearts — and our homes — to senior dogs everywhere.
