Shelter stays are never easy on dogs — but they can be especially difficult for older dogs. The barking and other noises can be disorienting, and the hard floors can leave them feeling stiff and sore.

You know what can help with that? Comfortable dog beds — and for the past seven years, The Grey Muzzle Organization has been providing them to as many senior shelter dogs as possible. In its ongoing effort to get kenneled seniors off of concrete floors, the all-volunteer group has donated more than $45,000 worth of orthopedic dog beds to more than 200 shelters across the United States.

Cole, a senior Labrador retriever, recovers from surgery on a donated bed at the Caring Hands Humane Society in Newton, Kansas. (Photos courtesy of The Grey Muzzle Organization)

“Orthopedic beds can help old dogs get adopted,” said Jenny Kachnic, president of The Grey Muzzle Organization. “Old dogs lying on cement floors or even just blankets on a hard floor may limp when they get up to greet people, which can make them less appealing to potential adopters.

“Shelters and rescue groups just cannot afford to purchase high-quality orthopedic senior dog beds. Not only do soft beds make the senior dogs more comfortable, they can give them a better chance at finding homes.”

Many shelters are so grateful to receive the beds that they send gushing thank you notes — and photos of content-looking dogs! — to Grey Muzzle. Some excerpts:

• “We just received the soft beds, and the dogs LOVE them. Especially the old Rottweiler. It took him a whole minute to raise himself off his blankets and make a beeline for the new bed. I could almost hear the sigh he let out.” –Humane Society for Tacoma and Pierce County
• “Cole … is recovering (from surgery) on one of the ortho-beds you so kindly donated. … He’s a 7-year-old Lab that was surrendered to us. … What a sweetheart he is!! Thank you so much for the ortho-beds!! You are amazing!” –Caring Hands Humane Society, Newton, Kansas
• “Thank you The Grey Muzzle Organization for choosing Vintage Paws Sanctuary, Inc. to receive two beds from your Bed Program. At 17 years of age, Frankie is our oldest Vintage resident and as you can see, he’s enjoying the bed already!” –Vintage Paws Sanctuary, Sarasota, Florida

An older Yorkshire terrier named Angelina quickly settled in to her new dog bed at the Oakland County Animal Control and Pet Adoption Center in Auburn Hills, Michigan. (Photos courtesy of The Grey Muzzle Organization)

Founded in 2008, the Grey Muzzle Organization does careful background checks and provides grant money to effective programs that help homeless older dogs across the United States. Our upcoming book, “My Old Dog: Rescued Pets with Remarkable Second Acts,” describes how Grey Muzzle got started and explains how much the organization does for shelters and dog rescue groups. To support Grey Muzzle’s “Bed Fund” for senior shelter dogs, click here.

Do you love stories and photos of sweet senior pooches? The book “My Old Dog: Rescued Pets with Remarkable Second Acts,” written by Laura T. Coffey and with photographs by Lori Fusaro, is due out on Oct. 6. It’s available now at Amazon.com and BarnesAndNoble.com.