Senior Dog Club

At Senior Dog Club, my priority is the wellbeing & happiness of the dogs I re-home for the rest of their lives. The core values are respect, care, love, and compassion for senior dogs.

I have carefully considered how best to serve our senior dogs and focus on:

• Clarity – a complete understanding of the unique health needs and preferences of your dog. This is like a warrant of fitness that will identify any issues that need to be addressed.

• Excellent matches – I profile our new owners personally and only match dogs that are ideal for the person/people, and environment they will live in.

• Support – I care about the ongoing relationship between our new owners and their new dog.

• Letting go – I believe it is important to allow previous owners to move on if they want, or need to.

Process for Owners

Here are the steps when an owner needs to rehome their dog through the Senior Dog Club. These can be flexible, and considered on a case by case basis.

Start Here

Step 1 - Online Application

This is required to be completed by the Owner, the Enduring Power of Attorney or the next closest human to the dog. Please write as much detail as possible in your answers.

You must also email as many images as possible to dearhumansnz@gmail.com.

APPLICATION FORM TO REHOME YOUR SENIOR DOG

Step 2 – Finding a new home

Once we have your application form, I will create and send a post to our list of vetted Potential Owners, and any associated social media pages.

If a potential New Owner shows interest in adopting your dog, a meeting will be arranged with either myself or the Current Owner.

If the potential New Owner lives far away from the Current Owner, we may do this on a video call. 

If All Parties agree and wish to confirm the adoption, a ‘change of ownership’ form will be requested from the Council. Both the Current Owner and New Owner will be required to complete and return their section.

Step 3 - 5 must be discussed and agreed by Both Parties, and the appropriate steps completed before the dog is rehomed. 

Step 3 – Medical Assessment

Get a copy of your dog’s medical history from your current vet. Email this to dearhumansnz@gmail.com.

In addition, a full senior medical assessment (including bloods) is preferred from your current Vet. The Vets report should include any required medication, ongoing costs and notes on further testing or treatments required.

Step 4 – Medical & Dental Treatments

If your dog has never, or not recently had a dental consult, scale and clean, this is essential for your dogs continuing health in their retiring years.

This will need to be discussed with your Vet during the medical assessment. It is preferred that this procedure is carried out before the dog moves to their new home.

Step 5 - Grooming

If a groom is required, it is preferred the Current Owner organises and pays for this before your dog moves to their new home.

Re-homing costs to the owner:

Transport costs (if required, air or road) $TBC
SDC re-homing & administration fee $300

We have big expectations of our new potential owners. To be accepted they must provide police checks and references and we meet them, and visit their home to ensure they provide a suitable environment. 

We are looking to ensure new owners:

1. Have the capacity to love and care for their senior dog.

2. Have a great personality and compassion for animals.

3. Have the appropriate experience to care for any special needs.

4. Have a suitable home.

5. Are truly committed to the lifetime of the dog.

Note: we also consider who else the new owners live with.

Young dogs have different needs than senior dogs. If you have a young dog that you are no longer able to care for please read our tips for rehoming dogs.

If you would prefer using the senior dog club model for your younger dog, we will consider all applications.

Kim Gruebner a.k.a "Auntie Kim" has been an Auckland dog walker since 2017.

Max, a Jack Russell, walked in her first pack 5 days a week and she fell in love with him instantly, he was exactly like her old family dog.

When Max was 17, his humans realised that they didn't want to care for him in his senior years. They would rather pay an experienced dog carer to care for him until the end.

Kim really felt for Max and she loved him dearly, so she came up with the idea of the Senior Dog Club, where he was the very first client.

Max lived a healthy and happy life until he passed away at 18.5 years and was truly loved right until the end.

We believe that all dogs deserve to live their best lives, especially in their senior years, and Senior Dog Club can offer peace of mind if humans are no longer able to manage that level of care.

If you LOVE our passion for caring for dogs, or if we have helped give you peace of mind with your beloved dog, please consider leaving a bequest to Senior Dog Club in your will.

Any gift to the Senior Dog Club will help ensure the longevity of this important service for our beloved pets.