Tails of Gray shines spotlight on senior dogs
An accident that required Stephanie Meissner to adopt a more inactive lifestyle didn’t slow her passion for dog rescue. It merely reinforced her focus on senior dogs, who also move at a more leisurely pace.
The Clayton resident founded the non-profit Tails of Gray in 2015 to rescue, rehabilitate and rehome abandoned senior dogs.
In 2003, a life-changing accident caused permanent damage to the left side of her body. During this time, the previously active and athletic Meissner was a foster parent for a dog from Muttville Senior Dog Rescue in San Francisco.
“I felt as if I had a strong connection with the senior dogs from Muttville,” she recalls. “Because of my accident, the dogs and I shared a common bond.”
The life-long animal lover has always been involved with dog rescue, an affinity she shares with her daughter Emily. But she notes that rescuing senior dogs is not an endeavor for the delicate at heart.
“Some of the dogs that have been rescued have very sad stories, from starvation and neglect to abuse and abandonment,” Meissner reports.
Regardless of breed or potential health-care issues, Tails of Gray vows to rehabilitate the dogs they rescue through socialization. The non-profit assumes all financial responsibility for necessary medical treatments as long as the animal requires care.
The ultimate reward for Meissner, and her sweet furry friends, is a permanent, loving and safe home that allows the dogs to thrive.
Kevin Klein, once a stray Chihuahua mix, is currently selling a piece of artwork through the Tails of Gray website. It’s a perfect testament that it’s never too late to start a new chapter in life.
Cynthia, a Terrier mix who is living with Meissner, isn’t much for artwork. But she is living proof that one’s life can be changed for the better almost instantly. Contra Costa Animal services found Cynthia intertwined in a fence, unable to move. She was starving and is also blind.
It took her a good amount of time to readjust from neglect to being cared for and loved. Meissner hopes Cynthia will have a permanent home soon.
“We need two things to keep this organization moving forward: donations and foster homes for our senior dogs,” Meissner says.
She doesn’t mince words when talking about the business side of Tails of Gray. Many of the senior dogs rescued are in need of medication for minor ailments while others require “Fos-pice” care – foster homes that provide end-of-life care so the dogs don’t have to spend their final days in an animal shelter.
Tails of Gray relies on regular and one-time donors, online fundraisers and the precious artwork the dogs create and sell. Eventually, Meissner will be able to apply for a financial grant as Tails of Gray continues to flourish.
For more information on how to donate or become a foster home, visit tailsofgray.org.