A Bloomington-Normal dog rescue that focuses on small, older and medically vulnerable dogs received a $5,000 award from the Grey Muzzle Organization in September. The money will help cover veterinary and dental expenses for dogs cared for by Deeby’s Senior Chihuahua Rescue, founder Tobi Griffin told WGLT. Grey Muzzle’s official 2026 grantee listing confirms the award and says the project is expected to serve 20 senior dogs.
For Griffin, the work began with a Chihuahua who changed the kind of dog she loved. She told WGLT she once preferred larger dogs, including two golden retrievers and a Doberman. Then came Muad’Dib, a Chihuahua whose name came from Frank Herbert’s Dune. The rescue called him Deeby for short, and Griffin said she fell in love with older little dogs. The rescue’s name now honors the dog she credits with starting that path.
Deeby’s Senior Chihuahua Rescue was founded in 2021, WGLT reported. The rescue describes itself as entirely volunteer-run and foster-based. It welcomes small breeds of all ages while focusing on dogs with medical needs, seniors and hospice care. Grey Muzzle’s grantee listing describes the group as a Bloomington-Normal organization providing care and homes for small-breed dogs that can be overlooked because of age, health challenges, disability or the anticipated cost of care.
Although the rescue’s name centers Chihuahuas, the work extends to other small dogs. Griffin told WGLT that the rescue also cares for breeds such as toy poodles and Pomeranians, and that some of its dogs are younger than its main focus. The organization’s own description similarly says it welcomes all small breeds, especially animals that need medical, senior or hospice support. That range lets the foster network respond to dogs’ needs rather than a single breed label.
Griffin told WGLT that small dogs often need dental work as they get older. The rescue also takes in dogs from difficult situations who need time to become comfortable around people. A dog’s behavior can sometimes be tied to pain, Griffin said, so medical care and patient observation are part of understanding what an animal needs. The rescue’s focus is on helping each small dog receive care and attention suited to it.
Griffin told WGLT Chihuahuas are often misunderstood and can be labeled barky or aggressive. She said most dogs she sees are friendly, while poor socialization can make behavior problems worse. The rescue also takes dogs that need extra care and rehabilitation; some have come from shelters or animal control, where they may feel threatened by larger breeds. Griffin noted that small dogs may use their teeth to protect themselves.
Foster homes help make that individual attention possible. Griffin said that living with a foster family lets the rescue learn a dog’s personality and what kind of home may suit it. WGLT reported that some dogs have specific household needs, which the rescue can identify through day-to-day care. The station also reported that prospective adopters can find dogs listed online, while people interested in fostering can sign up through the same form.
The organization’s work has grown since Deeby’s memory became its name. Griffin told WGLT that 188 dogs were adopted through the rescue in 2025 and that more than 1,000 had found homes since it began. Those figures describe the organization’s broader history; Grey Muzzle’s separate projection for the new $5,000 grant is 20 senior dogs served. The rescue’s foster-based model supports dogs in individual homes while adopters and volunteers get to know them.
Deeby’s award is part of Grey Muzzle’s wider 2026 funding for older dogs. The organization’s grantee page lists more than $1.1 million invested in senior-dog programs this year. The page separates incubator awards from other grant programs and lists Deeby’s as an Illinois incubator recipient.
Deeby joined a household that once favored large dogs; his name is now carried by a volunteer network that cares for small dogs across ages and needs. Griffin told WGLT the new award will help pay for that care. The accompanying Pexels image is illustrative and does not depict one of the rescue’s dogs.
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