Golden Years came about thanks to a dream Shirley Thomas had about opening a rescue for senior malamutes. Carol was working for
another malamute rescue in 1999 and was asked to confirm the breed of malamutes that had just been pulled from a horrendous
puppy mill situation. One of those dogs was a nine year old named Sheila. Sheila was placed several times but was always returned
because she just couldn't adjust to living in a home. Shirley learned about Sheila and offered to take her in. Carol learned where Sheila
ended up and wanted to go visit her so she emailed Shirley and drove from Grand Rapids to Muskegon and took her five month old
puppy up too. Shirley told Carol about her dream to open a rescue for senior malamutes and after a long discussion Carol offered to
help set up and maintain a website. Oh what a journey these two women ended up on!
From five outdoor kennels, to nine, to a huge 10 kennel indoor outdoor kennel built from scratch, to big pet expos and small, good
times and rough stretches, hundred of fundraisers, etc. Golden Years placed over 190 dogs from 2000 to 2021. The women weren't
getting any younger and Shirley developed some major health issues in 2019. They decided to change the mission up a bit and focus on breed education, assisting owners who needed to rehome their malamutes, working on referrals and to stop taking in new dogs. Golden Years stands behind all of their dogs they placed so if one we placed needed a new home they would be taken back no questions but would have to find a foster home or be kenneled until a new home could be found.
Sadly on Aug 25 2022 Shirley passed away in a horrible car crash and Carol became the new President of Golden Years. We still assist malamute owners (they do not have to be Golden Years adopters) with issues they may be having, Michigan malamute owners who need assistance placing their dogs (owner assistance listings-we don't place any mals under our contract so adoption is between owner and potential home) and get the word out if we learn of Malamutes in Michigan municipal shelters.
another malamute rescue in 1999 and was asked to confirm the breed of malamutes that had just been pulled from a horrendous
puppy mill situation. One of those dogs was a nine year old named Sheila. Sheila was placed several times but was always returned
because she just couldn't adjust to living in a home. Shirley learned about Sheila and offered to take her in. Carol learned where Sheila
ended up and wanted to go visit her so she emailed Shirley and drove from Grand Rapids to Muskegon and took her five month old
puppy up too. Shirley told Carol about her dream to open a rescue for senior malamutes and after a long discussion Carol offered to
help set up and maintain a website. Oh what a journey these two women ended up on!
From five outdoor kennels, to nine, to a huge 10 kennel indoor outdoor kennel built from scratch, to big pet expos and small, good
times and rough stretches, hundred of fundraisers, etc. Golden Years placed over 190 dogs from 2000 to 2021. The women weren't
getting any younger and Shirley developed some major health issues in 2019. They decided to change the mission up a bit and focus on breed education, assisting owners who needed to rehome their malamutes, working on referrals and to stop taking in new dogs. Golden Years stands behind all of their dogs they placed so if one we placed needed a new home they would be taken back no questions but would have to find a foster home or be kenneled until a new home could be found.
Sadly on Aug 25 2022 Shirley passed away in a horrible car crash and Carol became the new President of Golden Years. We still assist malamute owners (they do not have to be Golden Years adopters) with issues they may be having, Michigan malamute owners who need assistance placing their dogs (owner assistance listings-we don't place any mals under our contract so adoption is between owner and potential home) and get the word out if we learn of Malamutes in Michigan municipal shelters.