What a Great Idea: A Group of People Held a ‘Senior Prom’ to Help Get Senior Dogs Adopted

Senior dogs often get overlooked in shelters and rescues, and so a bunch of people in Florida got together to hold a special event to help them find forever homes — a "senior prom."

The prom was held at The Dog House of Safety Harbor, a pet supply store that donates a portion of all its proceeds to animal rescues. Dozens of rescue organizations were invited to bring along their senior dogs, ages 5 to 15, for a night of dress-up and dancing.


"Thousands of dogs need to be adopted in the Tampa Bay area," Terry Meeks, one of the founders of the event, said in a press release. "All too often, our senior canines are passed by when people look to adopt. These dogs have the richest history and the greatest temperaments. They need to be able to live out the rest of their lives in a stable, loving home. The prom will help these senior canines get the recognition they deserve and find their 'furever' homes."

The event featured a red carpet that the dogs could walk down when they first arrived, to strut their stuff and show off whatever it was they were wearing, from gorgeous gowns… 

... to tasteful suits ...

... to everything in between.

The dogs got to meet potential adopters at the event, and between their adorable outfits and beautiful smiles, they were all definitely at their most charming that night.

The prom had a full roster of activities planned, including entertainment by an MC and her doggie sidekick, a raffle, a kissing booth and of course lots of dancing.

Every senior dog who attended the event was eligible to win the title of prom king or queen, and a panel of distinguished judges watched each dog strut around in their fancy outfits and judged them on criteria such as stage presence, attitude and working the crowd.

A dog named Tye was crowned prom king. He's an 8-year-old Chihuahua mix rescued by Canine Estates.

"He was rescued from someone who became ill and could no longer take care of him," Karen Altieri, a volunteer with the event, told The Dodo. "He's been at Canine Estates for nine months."

The dog crowned prom queen, Tye's partner in crime, was 10-year-old Nina, a pit bull mix rescued by Ruff Beginnings.

"She was a stray wandering the streets of Tampa when Hillsborough Animal Services picked her up," Altieri said. "She wasn't given much of a chance to be adopted out. Due to her being a senior and no space at the county shelter she was put on the Euth List. Ruff Beginnings pulled her the day she was going to be put down."

More than 40 dogs attended the very special prom, and six have been adopted because of the event so far — with lots more receiving inquiries.

Every dog in attendance had such a blast, dancing and snuggling the night away. They were able to showcase what amazing dogs they are, and how much they deserve their own forever homes.

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Heartwarming Story: Two Teens, Both with Disabilities, Go to Different High Schools and Had Never Met, Until Their Service Dogs… Brought Them Together

Seniors Delaney Johnson and Nick Ackerman, strangers until a few weeks before their high school proms, both planned to skip the big night–that is, until they and their adorable service dogs Troy and Griffin met. What happened next is something you just have to see for yourself!

The two teens, both with disabilities, go to different high schools and hadn’t even met until their service dogs, in a way, brought them together.

Nick, who has a service dog named Troy, was interviewing Delaney, who has a service dog named Griffin, for a school video project on service dogs.

Making small talk, she asked him, “Are you all geared for prom?” When he told her he had no plans to go to his, she volunteered to go with him. He accepted.

With their service dogs along, they attended his school’s prom, then hers.

A Lansing State Journal columnist and photographer went along .

Delaney, 17, goes to Haslett High School, where, before she got her 2-year-old Dutch shepherd Griffin, she would faint or pass out up to 20 times a day due to narcolepsy.

Between medication and help from Griffin, that condition — and a second neurological condition called cataplexy — have been brought under control.

Her dog acts to distract her if she’s experiencing anxiety and, in case of an attack, he’s trained to stay with her, lying on top of her if she becomes incapacitated so that she feels protected.

“Since I got Griffin, I’ve not had any major cataplexy attacks at all,” said Johnson, a singer and songwriter who plans to take Griffin with her this fall to attend Grand Valley State University. “…He’s my own personal little bodyguard.”

Nick attends Forest Hills Central High School in Grand Rapids, where he’s a champion debater. His service dog Troy helps Nick, who was born without arms, do everything from carrying things to zipping up his coat.

Nick, who plans to attend Eastern Michigan University in the fall, met Delaney two weeks ago, when he interviewed her for a class project on service dogs and the subject of proms came up.

On May 2, they went to his prom. Last Saturday, they went to hers.

The columnist and photographer accompanied the foursome — from home, where they posed for family photos, to a sushi dinner and then to the prom itself.

“I was going to stay home and eat ice cream and watch movies,” Delaney said later. “I’m just so glad I went…It was an amazing time.”

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