If you’re a dog lover, then you will be happy to learn about the ongoing successes of White Whiskers Senior Dog Sanctuary of WNY. I first wrote about White Whiskers back in 2021, after speaking to Polla Milligan, founder and president of the organization. At the time, Polla told me, “I’ve been giving back my whole life. I knew that there were a lot of old dogs at the shelter, who were deteriorating rapidly. These dogs had come from good loving homes, only to find themselves in an unpleasant way, dealing with their (unexpected and unfamiliar) end of life. Some of the dogs were deaf, or blind… with special needs. I knew that I could help these dogs, to give them comfort in their final days/years.”
To me, people like Polla – a lifelong animal lover, former grant writer, and former staff member at the Niagara County SPCA – are the folks that make Buffalo an amazing city, not just for its citizens, but also for the pets. When it comes to dogs, Buffalo is becoming a much more pet-friendly city. Of course there are pets that still need to find forever homes, which is much easier when they are younger. Older pets aren’t as adoptable, which means that they tend to live out their remaining days in shelters. But thanks to Polla and White Whiskers, rescued older dogs can truly be happy again, as they once were when they were loved by their original owners – owners who might have passed away, or been displaced from their homes.
On Saturday, August 10 and Sunday, August 11 from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m., white Whiskers will be hosting it official open house at its location at 35 Lewis Road in Akron, NY. The community is invited to attend this heartwarming event, to see firsthand the selfless work that is being done by the volunteer-based 501c3 charitable organization.
“This open house has been years in the making, and we cannot wait to have the community tour White Whiskers and learn more about how this sanctuary is going to impact the lives of so many senior dogs and the individuals that come out to support and visit with them,” says Polla. “We look forward to welcoming our first group of senior dogs to this beautiful space and providing them with the resources they need to live in comfort and be surrounded by love.”
Beginning September 2025, White Whiskers will start accepting senior dog rescues seven years old and above that are based in the Western New York area. There will be 25 senior dogs living at the sanctuary at a time, all available for adoption, with Milligan residing at the premises full-time. Milligan, with the help of White Whiskers’ volunteers, will provide continuous care to the rescue, making sure that each individual dog will receive constant support and care. Visitors are also welcome to meet the rescues on an appointment-only basis.
To learn more about White Whiskers, and how to volunteer/support, visit www.whitewhiskers.org or follow the sanctuary on Facebook and Instagram.
White Whiskers is located at 35 Lewis Road in Akron, NY, just outside Buffalo.
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