There’s good news for old dogs this summer as FACE Foundation – a San Diego-based not-for-profit animal welfare organization that provides financial grants for pet parents who are unable to afford the cost of their pet’s emergency or critical care – was recently awarded a $15,000 grant from The Grey Muzzle Organization.

FACE Foundation is one of 100 animal welfare groups chosen from nearly 400 applicants to receive a grant to help local senior dogs and the people who love them. The winning groups are sharing more than $1.1 million in lifesaving grants to help save and improve the lives of at-risk old dogs in their communities. “Seniors” are dogs over the age of seven. Last year, nearly 30% of the dogs who received help from FACE were seniors.

“This grant will help us give senior dogs like 16-year-old Fifi, who was diagnosed with multiple bite wounds, the veterinary care he needs to continue to live a long life,” said Stash McCollough, executive director of the FACE Foundation. “No one is more grateful or loving than an old dog, and we’re looking forward to helping more senior dogs get the second chance they all deserve.”

Fifi holds a special place in her family’s hearts, bringing love, joy, and happiness with every wag of her tail. Early one morning, Fifi was attacked by a coyote hiding in the bushes, during a routine potty break. The attack left her with severe bite wounds that demanded surgical intervention. Her owners, reliant on a fixed income from social security, already struggling to keep up with bills, were devastated by the unexpected expenses they couldn’t afford.

The Grey Muzzle Organization is the largest national nonprofit focused specifically on the well-being of senior dogs. Over the past 16 years, the national nonprofit has provided more than $5.7 million in grants to support its vision of “a world where every senior dog thrives, and no old dog dies alone and afraid.” Grey Muzzle began supporting FACE in 2015.

“Thanks to the generosity of our donors, we’re delighted to help deserving organizations like the FACE Foundation and its families,” Grey Muzzle’s Executive Director Lisa Lunghofer said. “Many senior dogs in San Diego are enjoying their golden years in loving homes thanks to the lifesaving work of FACE.”

Pet parents who receive assistance from FACE are typically low-income families, veterans, senior citizens, individuals experiencing homelessness, single-parent households, widow or widowers, students, those experiencing unemployment, or individuals who work hard, but struggle to live paycheck to paycheck. The FACE Foundation screens Save-A-Life Program applications with trained, compassionate staff reviewing and responding to each request for assistance. Application instructions are available on the FACE website, in English and Spanish. For more information on the Foundation, their programs, or to donate, visit www.face4pets.org.