Photo contributed by The Senior Scenter Jeanne Strack founded Puppies Under Protection in 1993 and opened The Senior Scenter in 2014. She has always been an animal lover and remembers rescuing caterpillars at four years old.
By Lorrie Ross
Staff Writer
There is not much cuter than fuzzy faces, wet noses and wagging tails. For that reason, The Senior Scenter may rank near the top of local profits for many dog lovers. Primarily run for senior dogs, this canine sanctuary is our focus as the series on local non-profits continues.
Since openings its doors in Warne on Nov. 7, 2014, The Senior Scenter has averaged about 60 senior dogs per year, according to founder Jeanne Strack. “Altogether about 600 since 2014,” Strack said. “We average about 28 to 30 at a time in The Senior Scenter.”
The group’s Facebook page says, “We are a cage-free senior dog sanctuary and hospice.” In addition, the little animal farm sanctuary with the big heart has taken in many other critters to live their best lives. Strack shared current population numbers. “We have 35 dogs, 11 horses, one blind Scottish Highlander steer, four sheep, one pig, chickens, bunnies and pheasants,” she said. “Pretty much whatever comes our way.”
For Strack, animal rescue is a way of life. “I have been rescuing my entire life,” she smiled. “First rescue I remember is when I was four. I was saving all the tent caterpillars that were falling out of my grandfather’s apple trees and no, he didn’t know what I was doing.”
In 1993, Strack started her first official non-profit called Puppies Under Protection. “We originally took in pregnant and nursing moms from the shelters,” she explained. Then she retired in 2007 and moved to Warne from Palm Beach County, Fla. “Retirement didn’t last and we built The Senior Scenter in 2014,” she laughed.
A people-sized house was built to accommodate the needs of multiple senior dogs, most of whom have various health conditions and often there to live out their lives peacefully and comfortably. For this reason, areas of the home are designed for lots of sleeping dogs, their medical needs, laundry facilities and more. Strack said Puppies Under Protection, also known as PUPs, has had approximately 18,000 dogs since 1993. “Too many,” she added. “I’m tired.”
The Senior Scenter sanctuary has three full-time employees and a few volunteers. “The volunteers that come to the sanctuary, come and love on the dogs for the most part,” Strack said.
In 2024, the group started The Funny Farm Thrift Store to help support the costs of a running a rescue for high needs animals. The thrift store also plans to assist with other needs around the local community eventually.
Prior to that, Strack began operating A Breezy Nook Pet Crematory on-site. “We do private cremations for the public,” Strack explained. The Senior Scenter started the pet crematorium because of a good friend of Strack’s in New York who ran her business for 26 years.
“I saw how much she comforted the owners and I thought we could help and provide some peace of mind to a grieving owner,” Strack continued. “Animals are absolutely our world and for me, I always wanted to know who held my animals last and whether they were treated with dignity. I knew we could and would do that for every one of them. It is definitely not a business you want to be busy.”
Next week’s article will focus on The Funny Farm Thrift Store. In the meantime, there are multiple ways to help Puppies Under Protection and The Senior Scenter.
It is expensive to house and care for any animal, but housing, vetting and feeding senior dogs is very expensive. PUPs is a 501c3 non-profit. Monetary donations may be made on the website: www.puppiesunderprotection.com.
Foster homes are also needed. “Fosters provide a safe, loving home. We take care of all the medical,” Strack said. “They need to be able to get the dog to a vet appointment, if needed and preferably have a fenced yard. They also must have a good reference from their vet.”
Strack said they can use help with yard work from people who like to do things like tending flower gardens. “We love keeping the house and property looking really nice for visitors,” she said.
The Funny Farm Thrift Store also needs more volunteers. Strack spends a lot of time there herself and would like to have more time at the sanctuary. She would like to offer group tours for scouts, youth and more, as she used to; however, she is too busy working the thrift store to do those sorts of visits.
The address for The Senior Scenter is not widely published. For those who want to learn more about The Senior Scenter and the sanctuary and see adorable animal pictures, visit the website. Visits and volunteering may be arranged through email: info@puppiesunderprotection.com.