Let’s introduce you to the incredible Valerie Reid who transformed her home into a hospice for elderly dogs, ensuring they never pass away alone. She is the proud owner of Whispering Willows Senior Dog Sanctuary in Missouri, where she rescues and cares for senior dogs that have been abandoned or left without an owner. Her pet rescue organization is making a significant difference in the lives of these furry friends.

Whispering Willows is a special sanctuary that provides hospice care for dogs who are nearing the end of their lives. Unlike other pet sanctuaries, the dogs here are not put up for adoption or fostered out. Rather, they get to live with Reid and her family until their last breath. The sanctuary offers a lifetime of love and care to these furry friends, ensuring that they feel at home and comfortable in their final days. According to Reid, the dogs get to be themselves and experience love and warmth until they pass away peacefully.

At Whispering Willows, we welcome senior dogs from various circumstances. Some have been left behind by their owners, some have lost them forever, and others have been separated due to court rulings or their owners’ transition into nursing homes.

Despite their age, senior dogs have an undying enthusiasm for life. It is their forgiving nature that endears them to many, as they persevere despite traumatic experiences such as abuse, neglect or even losing their owners. According to Reid, the founder of a canine sanctuary, her motivation for establishing such a facility came from a personal experience. After her father passed away from cancer, his loyal companion, a 9-year-old Doberman pinscher, was left behind. Although Reid had been taking care of her father, she was unable to adopt his cherished animal.

Fortunately, she eventually came across a foster family that could offer a caring environment for the dog for an extra 18 months. This encounter motivated Reid to assist other pets and families in having a similar experience. Reid exclaims, “Can you picture being at work and having 68 dogs wagging their tails at you? Their joyfulness upon seeing you is unmatched.”

At the sanctuary for senior dogs, not all of the furry friends stay for long periods of time. Some only come to spend their final months, or even weeks, with their caretakers. Despite the inevitable pain of losing a beloved pet, founder Sher Polvinale believes that it is worth it to provide these dogs with comfort during their final days. She shares that being in the company of these dogs has taught her to persevere through life’s challenges, including trauma, death, and sadness, because there is also an abundance of love and happiness at the sanctuary. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat.