get to know the members of our grey whiskers family

Cocoa

Age 13

13 year old Sweet Cocoa was very much loved and supported in her previous home. Unfortunately, she found herself in a tough spot when her owner passed away and was headed to a shelter if not for an amazing volunteer who reached out to us for help. We were grateful to have the support of this volunteer from Brigham City who helped transport Cocoa to us so she could join our Grey Whisker’s pack.

She blended in easily with the other dogs and cats up at Grey Whisker’s Rescue and despite her hardship has bounced back to life and loves going out for short walks with her friends. After a few weeks with us and multiple vet visits, Cocoa is doing very well and ready to look for her Hospice Foster home! She does have pain in her back hips and legs that she is on medication for as well as having some incontinence issues. Cocoa will need a patient foster who is willing and able to help her through these health issues.

Grey Whiskers will help with the medication, comfy dog bed, potty pads and play pen to make her and her new fosters comfortable and happy, all we need from one amazing person is to open their hearts and home for Sweet Cocoa.

Kona

Age 13

Meet Kona, the sweet senior who spent a few weeks with us at Grey Whiskers. Kona was dropped off at the shelter by his long term family, luckily the amazing humans with Tooele Animal outreach, heard Kona’s story and pulled him from the shelter and contacted us for assistance. Unfortunately in the the short time he was with us at the rescue, struggled both physically and mentally. Our volunteers did all they could to make him feel comfortable, loved and supported. When he joined us, Kona didn’t have much life left to live, but that didn’t phase our volunteers. He was spoiled with the biggest, comfiest bed we could find, allowing him to rest comfortably in his final days.

It was after a tough few weeks that we had to say goodbye to sweet Kona. Even though he wasn’t with us for very long, he truly was one of the best boys we have had the pleasure of getting to know in a long time. Kona’s final days were really strenuous on him, but he continued to keep on fighting. Unfortunately, due to some major medical issues, his system was shutting down, reaping havoc on his stomach and kidneys causing him to need to go potty at least once every half an hour. Our volunteers could tell the winter cold was extremely hard on his old bones and paws, but he still got up every thirty minutes to go outside and potty until he just couldn’t stand any longer. We knew at that point that it was his time to move on. We will miss Kona dearly, his perseverance through his last few weeks is a reminder to our volunteers why we initially chose to help seniors in the first place. Kona was so strong despite the tough hand he had been dealt, becoming an inspiration to us all.

Buster Brown

Age Unknown

We are happy to announce the addition of a senior lab to our pack of grey whiskers! This is Buster Brown. He was found alone and starving on the side of a cold highway surviving on the nearby road kill for an unknown amount of time.

Luckily his presence was brought to the attention of the local shelter which is when one of our volunteers was alerted of a senior in need. All he needed was a few baths before he was ready to join our pack. Even with his body completely emaciated, Buster Brown bounced back to life as soon as he met our volunteers.

During his time with us, we focused on getting him back up to a healthy weight and identifying any other possible health issues. Our volunteers loved his cheerful attitude and happy go lucky spirit. He went on many adventures with our volunteers and the pack of Grey Whiskers and always seemed to be having the most fun out of anyone.

Buster Brown spent a long time as part of Grey Whiskers Pack, and began being noticed by many potential fosters. Luckily, one amazing person stepped forward to adopt Buster Brown and give him the forever home that he has always deserved. His new human dad absolutely loves spoiling him rotten with many toys, treats, adventures and snuggles. Buster’s journey began with him starving on the side of the road in the middle of winter, and has now led to him snuggling in a big comfy bed with everything he could ever dream of.

OE (One-Ear)

Age unknown

Meet the newest edition to our Grey Whiskers Pack, One ear (OE for short). OE was brought in with over one hundred other furry friends after CAWS drove all night down to Texas and back after Hurricane Harvey to help out the many animals in need.  As van after van of rescued cats and dogs were unloaded back in Salt Lake City, there was one dog in particular that caught one of our volunteers eyes’. An immediate bond formed between canine and human as soon as they met eyes. Our volunteer could tell that out of any of the animals there, this dog needed our help the most.

With no background on her, our volunteers had to go off of what they could see to try and determine her history; one of her ears looked to be torn off, she had a bad limp likely from a torn ACL, would not eat or drink anything and was incredibly fearful of everything going on. She had had a really tough life, and was incredibly affected by it, but our volunteers believed that by providing a little tender, loving care would help show her that there is no longer any need to be afraid. By the end of the day when all was said in done and all the other dogs had gone home with fosters, OE was loaded up into one of our volunteer’s cars and headed to her new home up at the ranch.

OE’s first couple of weeks up at the ranch were tough.  She was rightfully afraid of everything and everyone.  After her initial vet check up, our volunteers were told that her prognosis was poor and should brace themselves for the worst. As time went on, she warmed up to one volunteer at a time soon realizing that never again was she going to be mistreated or harmed.  Every day she started to walk farther and farther, and soon started to play with all the dogs that would come through. Young puppies being her absolute favorite friends.  Within that same time she began eating, only cat food at first but now will take just about any treat.    

After a few weeks of a steady routine with healthy diet and exercise it was as if OE finally came to life. There was a new light in her eyes, and a zest for life that we never could have anticipated. She seemed to be half the age our volunteers had originally expected and could keep up on walks with all the other dogs.  Even though she still has many health problems, she is no longer letting them control her and has fallen into place perfectly among her canine brothers and sisters up at the rescue.

Although her mental health has drastically improved, OE still faces a long road ahead dealing with her multiple health problems that aren’t as easily fixed. Our volunteers are doing all they can to provide the vet care and support that she has so desperately needed for so long, but the costs have been adding up quickly. Any type of small donation or sponsors would help to change OE’s life once again, and allow for our Grey Whiskers team to provide an even better life for her by being able to ease some of her ailments. With a few more hearts involved, we believe that OE will continue to blossom into the best version of herself and live the life she has always deserved.

Simon

Age unknown

Simon was one of the very first animals to become a part of Grey Whiskers. He joined our family somewhat by accident after a volunteer traded a young pup to another rescue who had an older kitty who needed a home. Since that rescue technically didn’t rescue cats anymore, one of our volunteers took him in. It ended up being the perfect scenario as the young pup got into a new home and we welcomed the fierce Simon into our rescue. It has now been years and Simon we couldn’t imagine Grey Whiskers without his presence.

Simon has a huge personality, being both extremely sweet and cuddly but also has a passionate and fiery side. Simon is the kind of cat who will stand up to any dog, no matter how much bigger and wins every standoff. His combination of snuggles and spunk led our volunteers to fall in love with him and thus Simon became a permanent addition to the rescue. He continues to make us smile every single day and even assists in keeping the more rowdy pups in line.

Moe

Age 32

As animal lovers, the volunteers at Grey Whiskers Rescue are always open to helping any animal in need, whether they have paws or hooves. As what happened in the case of Moe, the mule. At an early age Moe went to work assisting all his human companions at the Forest Service. 

As the years continued Moe remained working the same job for over 30 years developing lasting relationships with all of the many men and women who worked alongside him.

Rain or shine he was reliable to lend a hoof and brought laughter to anyone who had the pleasure of meeting him. He was there to help out his fellow employees while out on trips to the various beautiful locations that the Forest Service maintains. Moe was always someone you could rely on, both to help carry heavy things and to spread smiles around camp each night.

As he began to age, his caretakers began to notice him slowing down and for the benefit of Moe they thought it best for him to retire from the Forest Service.The people who worked with Moe alerted our volunteers that unless a home was found quickly, Moe would face an uncertain end after his retirement.

His coworkers who adored and respected Moe had to step in and make sure this wasn’t the end for Moe. 

After some searching, a wonderful woman stepped up and offered to adopt Moe and take him back to her home where he would live out the rest of his days in comfort and happiness with many other furry friends. Giving him the happy ending he deserved after working his entire life to help everyone else around him. Moe can now finally retire in bliss, safe and surrounded by love.

Riley

Age 12

Meet Riley. His favorite activities included frolicking through the mountains, snuggling humans or snoring peacefully in his bed.

Although the majority of Riley’s early life was unknown to us, we do know that he was rescued from a testing facility who were ready to release him for adoption.  His adopting family was unsure of the role he played within this facility, but they do know that despite what happened, he never lost his spirit or love for all living things. Immediately upon entering his new home, his new family immediately recognized his gigantic heart and his zest for life. He spent many years living and loving his new family, who became lucky enough to see the beauty of life through Riley’s eyes.

As Riley aged he began facing some big changes in his life. Unfortunately, due to some health issues, Riley’s family felt obligated to reach out to us for help in supporting this sweet old man. Thus Riley became our very first official member of the Grey Whiskers rescue family. Our volunteers and supporters had the pleasure of falling in love with Riley while he spent his final year with us at the rescue.  Unfortunately due to an auto-immune disorder, we had to say goodbye to Riley this past spring. His unbreaking spirit lives on through the volunteers and dogs up at Grey Whiskers who knew and loved him so much.

Please consider donating in honor of Riley, all proceeds will go towards our other seniors who still need our help.