Meg McClenahan 
Two highschoolers who met playing in the Montclair Softball league as children are making a change in their community. Swapping their softballs for tennis balls Eliza and Sarah are changing what it means to care for a dog. The Spunky Senior Dog Sanctuary is a non-profit with a focus on caring for senior dogs in Essex County. Keep reading to learn more about Eliza and Sarah’s work with The Spunky Senior Dog Sanctuary.
Photo Credit: Spunky Senior Dog Sanctuary
From Friends to Founders
Eliza and Sarah met playing Softball in the Montclair Softball league. Despite attending different schools, the two friends stayed connected. Eliza is the founder of The Spunky Senior Dog Sanctuary (SSDS) and when she wanted to step up SSDS’ social media presence, she immediately thought of Sarah. Sarah had always used social media and was excited to apply her skills to a project like Spunky Senior Dogs.
Both Eliza and Sarah are extremely involved in their communities. Eliza is a junior at Newark Academy. Besides running the SSDS, Eliza volunteers at the Verona Rescue Squad, is applying to EMT school, volunteers at Mountainside Hospital weekly, and is the head of Doorstep Donations, which raises funds to end hunger in local communities. Eliza is looking towards a career within the medical field because she is passionate about helping others.
Sarah is a junior at Montclair High School and is SSDS’s social media manager and marketer. Sarah plays Varsity Softball at Montclair High School (MHS). Along with playing softball, Sarah volunteers at the Blood Cancer United fundraising campaign, and is a member of MHS’s Civics and Government Institute.
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The Start of the Spunky Dog Sanctuary
Eliza began her journey when a family friend needed to rehouse their senior dog, Ollie, during the 2020 pandemic. Eliza and Sarah were in the fifth grade during the start of the 2020 shutdown. Both girls were locked down for a pivotal stage of growing up where community was important. Losing community in one way offered a new opportunity for a different type of community for Eliza.
Eliza’s family took in their first senior dog, Ollie, thinking they would only take care of him for one month. But after meeting Ollie, they immediately knew that would not be the case. Eliza said that Ollie’s strong sense of self made him an instant member of her family.
Photo Credit: Spunky Senior Dog Sanctuary
When thinking of getting another dog, instead of getting a puppy, Eliza advocated for a senior dog. Eliza said that Ollie had “a spirit to him that was so secure in who he was, but so sweet and cuddly with the people that he liked, and I wanted to see if this applied to all senior dogs.”
That’s when Eliza met Mama. Mama was 15 with congestive heart failure when her owner passed away, and Eliza’s family took her in. Mama and Ollie “started it all” for Eliza and marked the beginning of the SSDS community.
Eliza and her family have continued to bring dogs into their home since, over time, caring for 18 dogs. The number of dogs at a time is dependent on how much care/attention each current dog needs. Currently, they are caring for four dogs, but in the past, the number has been as high as eight at one time.
The Spunky Senior Dog Sanctuary
Spunky Senior Dog Sanctuary is a non-profit organization that works to make senior dogs comfortable in their late years. The dogs under Spunky Senior Dog Sanctuary’s (SSDS) care are given love, peace, and attention. The comfort of the senior dogs is the top priority for the SSDS.
Eliza and Sarah are connected to their communities through all their extracurricular activities and are committed to bettering the world around them. To further their community connection, they are developing a “senior-for-seniors” program where senior dogs and senior community members will be able to share each other’s company. You can click here for more information on how to get involved.
Founder Eliza, stresses the pros of senior dogs, like having typically calmer temperaments, being potty trained, and having spunky personalities. These qualities make senior dogs the ideal candidates for a “senior-for-senior” program. Some seniors may want the company of a dog but are unable to care for one; the SSDS’s program will provide community and connection for both seniors and senior dogs through scheduled visits.
Recently, Eliza and Sarah took the SSDS to Verona’s Pet Fair hosted by the Holy Spirit Church in Browntown, where its booth received great support from the community.
Photo Credit: Spunky Senior Dog Sanctuary
The SSDS mission is currently funded by Eliza’s family. The SSDS is also partnered with its mobile vet Dr. Krausman. The SSDS accepts donations by mail and through its website which are tax-deductible. Keep up to date with Spunky Senior Dogs Sanctuary on its Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok. And use the SSDS website to inquire about senior-for-senior programs and volunteering opportunities.
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