at the Animal Rescue League of Berks County

• We already had two dogs, but felt like we had love, time and
space for another. Instead of adopting a third, we chose to foster.
The process is easy, the rewards are unending and the experience
we’ve gained is priceless. The joy we feel when we’ve won a foster
over - when they look at us for the first time with trust and love - is
indescribable!
•The best part of being a foster parent is the reward of doing
something good for an unwanted dog who just wants to be loved and
have a second chance in a loving home.
1. When senior pets are adopted, they seem to understand that
they've been rescued and are all the more thankful.
2. A senior pet's personality has already developed. You'll know if
he or she is a good fit for your family.
3. You can teach an old dog new tricks. Senior pets have the
attention span and impulse control that makes them easier to
train than their youthful counterparts.
4. A senior pet may very well already know basic commands.
5. Senior pets are often already housetrained or can be more
easily housetrained than a young pet with a tiny bladder.
• Marcy was wonderful about answering our questions and helping
us to find the perfect dog - a 12 year old terrier. Thanks to the Grey
Muzzle program, she was fostered by wonderful people that helped
her learn how to be a pet, get healthy and accept being loved.
The foster family was wonderful to work with and gave us a better
understanding if him and if he would be a good fit for our family.
• I still remember the day we brought Roamy home with us. She was
the first dog to be fostered through the Grey Muzzle program. When
they brought her through the lobby, I could tell immediately that her
journey would not only be one of physical healing but "heart" healing
as well. Her eyes could not hide the hurt she had experienced in the
2 years she’d spent as a stray and the trust that had been lost. To us,
though, she was simply beautiful.
6. A senior pet is already full grown. You know exactly how much
pet you're getting!
7. Senior pets are often content to just relax in your company,
unlike younger pets who may get into mischief.
8. Senior pets make great napping buddies.
9. Senior pets know that chew toys (not shoes) are for chewing.
10. Senior pets are the hardest to find homes for. When you foster
or adopt a senior, you're truly saving a life.
To become a foster parent:
contact Marcy Tocker at 610-373-8830 or marcyb411@hotmail.com
Make a donation & become a member of GMARP
Animal Rescue League
of Berks County
c/o Grey Muzzle Foster Program
P.O. Box 69 Mohnton, PA 19540
at the
Animal Rescue League
of Berks County
How old is a senior dog?
A dog in Grey Muzzle could be as young as 4 depending on the
situation.
Why don’t seniors get adopted quickly?
The Animal Rescue League of Berks County is the largest shelter
in the county and the only one that accepts strays. With the
constant influx of animals, senior dogs and/or dogs with special
needs are often overlooked.
How do I become a foster parent?
Easy! Contact Marcy Tocker at 610-373-8830 or email
marcyb411@hotmail.com. She’ll give you an application to fill
out, perform a home check, answer your questions and you’ll be
ready for your first foster!
I
likely to catch a second glance from a prospective adopter.
Now, through a network of foster families, senior and special
needs dogs are taken out of the shelter environment and
placed in homes where they can thrive until they are adopted.
The shelter is a stressful place for all animals but for older
dogs, it’s even more traumatic. This is why the ARL started
the Grey Muzzle Foster Program, founded in February 2009.
To date, 250 dogs have come through the program and been
placed in their “fur-ever” homes. Every single one of these
dogs survived thanks to a caring foster family. Can you help
a dog in need?
magine living your entire life in one home and then losing
everything that is familiar...your family, your home, your
entire environment. Scary right? Now imagine that loss
coupled with coming to a shelter filled with strange noises,
sounds and smells.
Senior dogs are often overlooked in favor of younger dogs
or puppies which increases their length of stay at the shelter
and therefore increases their stress. A stressed out dog is not
What do I have to pay for?
Just food and toys. Your foster’s medical needs will be assessed
and if medical care is necessary, it will be paid for by Grey Muzzle
Foster Program which is 100% funded by donations.
How long will I have my foster?
Each dog is different. It could be a week or it could be six months.
Isn’t it hard to let them go?
Yep, but when your foster is adopted you are giving it to an
excited, smiling family who can’t wait to add a member to their
household. They have been screened and determined to be a
perfect fit. Your foster is going to a fantastic home and soon, a
new foster dog will be placed with you!
Shouldn’t I just adopt my foster?
Well, you could, but think of it this way: If you adopt, you save
one life. If you foster, you give a second chance to each and
every dog you take in to your home. The possibilities are endless!