We’re on a mission to provide Senior, Disabled and Hospice dogs the chance to live out their remaining lives with love and dignity.

A rescue and hospice for homeless senior dogs

The Silver Muzzle Cottage Rescue & Hospice is a 501c3 organization that works with shelters and pet owners throughout the state of Michigan. We are an all-volunteer-based organization that relies solely on public donations and grant funding. Our organization is proud to be a certified rescue through the Michigan Pet Fund Alliance organization and a Transfer Partner with the Michigan Humane Society. Our internationally-recognized program strives to educate others about the problem of homelessness amongst the senior dog population. Through positive promotion, we hope to shed light on the value, beauty and grace of these dogs and the many ways they can enrich the lives of those who choose to foster or adopt them. COTTAGE FRIENDS PROGRAM Our volunteers are the heart and soul of our rescue. Cottage Friends volunteers enrich the lives of our rescues by taking them for walks, hikes in the woods, strolls on the beach and the occasional swim. For Cottage residents who are too limited to enjoy a more active lifestyle, quiet days on comfy dog beds and the companionship of our volunteers is all that is needed. SENIORS FOR SENIORS PROGRAM Through our Seniors For Seniors program, SMC volunteers take our Cottage residents to visit area nursing care facilities. This meaningful activity brings joy not only to the facility residents but to the dogs who participate. Many canines late in their years are often found in area shelters and are quickly euthanized because their age and disabilities make them less likely to be adopted. We recognize that these dogs once gave their lives to someone, or to a family, and for a variety of reasons and factors, now find themselves in a strange, scary shelter environment or set “free” and eventually picked up as a stray. Our team knows these dogs deserve more, that they shouldn’t die alone and afraid in a cage. Senior dogs deserve love and dignity in their final days, months and years. SMC is dedicated to the rescue, adoption and lifelong care of these senior dogs. Contact us to learn more about how you can get involved and help.

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Silver Muzzle Cottage FAQ's

FAQ: WHICH DOGS QUALIFY FOR THE SMC PROGRAM?
SMC will rescue shelter or owner-relinquished dogs over ten years old or dogs of any age that have been diagnosed with a terminal illness. We will provide our rescues with permanent homes and those in Hospice will be adopted by our program and live out the remainder of their lives in the Cottage. All of our rescues will leave this world knowing that they were loved and that they mattered to someone. None will die alone in a shelter.

FAQ: I CALLED SMC – WHY HASN’T MY PHONE CALL BEEN RETURNED YET?
SMC is an entirely-volunteer-based organization. This means that while we would love to have someone manning our phones 24/7, it just isn’t possible. Please know that we do our very best to connect back with those who contact us as soon as we can, but there may be delays (sometimes significant delays) in returning phone calls. If you’d like to try connecting with us online, email or Facebook Message is best.

FAQ: CAN I VISIT THE SMC COTTAGE?
You sure can! Visits to the Cottage are by appointment only. To learn more and schedule a time to visit, please send us an email.

FAQ: HOW CAN I VOLUNTEER AT SMC?
We’re always accepting volunteer applications! To learn more and apply, please send us an email.

Do you have a question you don’t see listed here? Contact us!