Small Paws Senior Canine Sanctuary

Over the years I have grown to love senior dogs.  I have volunteered in small dog rescue for a little over five years.  In November of last year, I decided I wanted to do something more for these precious little creatures.  I decided to transform a room of my home into a senior sanctuary.  Small Paws Senior Canine Sanctuary was born!  The room was one that was more of an office/computer room....so that got moved to the spare bedroom, and that room is no more...a small sacrifice! I began tearing out carpet, pad and tack strip....repainting walls and decorating with a doggie theme.  It took months of work, as I was doing this all myself, in between every other responsibility I had.

 

I did not have to go far for my inspiration.  My little Clarisse, a Maltese, then 17 years old, whom I’d had since she was eight weeks and three days old, had certainly placed a permanent paw print on my heart.  Blind from cataracts, she needed a safe place to be away from the other ‘younger’ siblings.  This was a perfect accommodation for her, but one I was hoping to share with other senior dogs in need.  I have commented over the years that I don’t remember my life B.C. (before Clarisse), and how I couldn’t imagine my life A.D. (after dog).  Unfortunately, my sweet baby was diagnosed with kidney disease in May, and at the end of August, five weeks and one day short of turning 18 years old, she passed to the Rainbow Bridge.  I certainly want to honor her….she was a good girl.  I do not want her memory to die…she has a legacy now that needs to live on so other senior dogs can live out their golden years in a loving environment. 

 

By the time Spring of 2013 rolled around, I had managed to complete the room.  On May 5th, we were guests at a local t.v. station WISH-TV Channel 8, to promote the Senior Sanctuary.  I had gotten my first two 'residents' at the end of April.  Taegan, a 9 year old Chihuahua, and Tobie, a 10 year old Pomeranian, both from Ohio....both 'Craig's List' dogs.  Each one had their own sad story.  Then by May, we brought in Otis, a 19-year old Chihuahua.  He was an owner surrender.  He had been brought to a shelter as a stray with another dog.  When the family came in to pick them up, they said to ‘put Otis down’, they didn’t want to take him back…he was ‘too old’.   I have the surrender paperwork, that’s the words the owner used! Can you imagine? Being abandoned by someone you’d spent a decade of your life with to have them throw you away?  It is sad…it makes me angry, and it is far more common than most people would think.

 

Of course, there is no ‘free dog’.  Dogs are a daily expense, beyond the monthly heartworm meds, and yearly shots, they eat every day…and from time to time require extra medical attention for things that pop up.  Especially these older ones, you just never know, but they deserve to live out their lives, not have it callously extinguished before his/her time.  These are precious lives, they have emotion, they feel pain, but they are also very loyal and capable of unconditional love.  Would you please consider helping me to help them? I need financial assistance to care for them…to pay for their food, vetting and such….as I said, there is no free dog.  I want these babies to have the best I can offer, they deserve that.  I am limited financially…it’s just me doing this, and it is a tremendous responsibility personally and financially.  I am hoping to raise enough funds to apply for 501(c)3 status, which would make Small Paws Senior Canine Sanctuary not-for-profit, and those donating could make tax-deductible donations.  The cost of that is $450.  There are other fees that go along with that as well.  If you could donate to support this cause and help Clarisse’s memory live on to help other senior doggies, it would be so appreciated.  There is a donation button at the top left of this blog.  You do not have to have a PayPal account to donate.  Even $5 helps.  Thank you so much.

Clarisse when she was about 2-1/2 years old

 

 

Taegan - Small Paws Senior Canine Sanctuary resident

Tobie - Small Paws Senior Canine Sanctuary Resident

 

Otis - Small Paws Senior Canine Sanctuary Resident