About Us

Our Mission & Story

We rescue senior dogs who are homeless or in unhealthy or unsustainable homes so they may spend the remainder of their lives in a positive, loving home.

Senior Dog Rescue of Oregon is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Our tax ID is 76-0714055. Our mission is to rescue senior dogs aged 6 and older. We are a volunteer-driven, donor-funded organization. We do not have a shelter. All dogs are fostered.

Established in 1997 by Susan Faria, Senior Dog Rescue of Oregon is a beacon of hope for senior dogs. Susan was the sole SDRO volunteer until 2001, when two additional volunteers joined to share the workload. In 2003, SDRO gained nonprofit status and continued to add volunteers, rescue more dogs, and receive more financial support through grants and donations.

With a deep commitment to providing love, care, and second chances, we continue to support our founding mission of rescuing and rehoming dogs aged 6 and up.

We aim to offer senior dogs a new beginning and a forever home. As a volunteer-driven organization, every decision we make is guided by the unwavering belief that every senior dog deserves dignity, comfort, and love in their golden years.

About SDRO

We are a foster-based rescue, focused on helping dogs aged 6 and older find their forever home. SDRO has rescued more than 1,000 dogs since our founding in 1997.

Our Board of Directors

  • Jennifer Cox

    President

  • Theresa Stephens

    Vice President

  • Laurel Crump

    Secretary

  • Pam Rawie

    Treasurer

  • Felicia Martinez

    Marketing Team Lead

  • Julie Parker

    Fundraising Team Lead

  • Jenny Sullivan

    Adoption Team Lead

  • Brenda Downum

    Executive Director

Our Impact

We connect senior dogs with their forever home. In 2023, our community of supporters helped us find a forever home for 64 dogs.

“Thank you so much for connecting me with Matty and being so wonderful to work with through the adoption process. We were so good for each other, and I loved him with my whole heart. I have made a donation to SDRO in his honor. ♥️”
— Jacquie, Matty's adoptive mom

Share your SDRO story!

If you’d like us to feature a Happy Tails story about your adopted dog, contact us! You also have an opportunity to help us make even more of a difference in our community. Great Nonprofits, a review site like TripAdvisor, is honoring highly reviewed nonprofits with their 2024 Top-Rated Awards. Help us raise visibility for our work by posting a review of your experience with us!