Our loyal, loving, four-legged friends are in our lives temporarily; a sad reality. Many people don’t know how to deal with their senior dogs passing away. How about a dog hospice?
“Each year, approximately 1.5 million shelter animals are euthanized (670,000 dogs and 860,000 cats). The number of dogs and cats euthanized in U.S. shelters annually has declined from approximately 2.6 million in 2011. This decline can be partially explained by an increase in the percentage of animals adopted, and an increase in the number of stray animals successfully returned to their owners.” – ASPCA
Sadly, a significant number of those dogs are elderly or handicapped dogs that have been abandoned in their final days. However, one woman is determined to making sure that all of these abandoned animals are spending their last days living life to the fullest.
Nicola Coyle, a retired nurse, established The Grey Muzzle Canine Hospice to take care of abandoned, old, ill, or stray dogs. She runs the shelter from her home in Mansfield, Nottinghamshire. Abandoned dogs who have a maximum of six months to live are preferred, as the dog hospice focuses on the end of life care.
These animals are incredibly spoiled and given an overwhelming amount of compassion and gentleness in their final days. They get to eat ice cream cones, fast food, and steaks; and are provided with soft, warm beds to sleep in. The hospice normally takes in a maximum of two dogs at a time.
Coyle said:
It can be an utterly heartbreaking job. But I just can’t bear the thought of them spending their final moments without the love they deserve.
The majority of the dogs who come to her hospice are very ill, sometimes with a few months left to live. Her goal is to make what time they have left as enjoyable, fun, and comfortable as possible. “The longest I had one is one year, the shortest was two weeks. It’s so rewarding when you can make those times special. I don’t know when their birthdays are, so we throw all of them a birthday party. If they’re well enough, we take them for a day at the seaside; they get fish and chips on the beach and ice cream,” Coyle explained.
Coyle spends about $500 on each dog. Most of the money comes out of her own pocket, but sometimes she hosts fundraisers on her Facebook page and accepts donations via PayPal at the Grey Muzzle Canine Hospice Project.
Dogs are not our whole life, but they make our lives whole – Roger A. Caras
