All dogs deserve a loving home, even the ones that might not have much time left. While elderly dogs often get passed over in favor of younger pups, they still deserve a forever home where they can spend their remaining time in comfort.
One woman, Valerie Reid, has made it her mission to provide a loving final home for these aging shelter dogs. She’s transformed her own home in Hermitage, Missouri, into a sanctuary that now houses 80 senior pets.
Valerie, a 44-year-old, was inspired to look after senior dogs after a personal experience showed her the struggles pets face in their later years.
She had difficulty finding a home for her dad’s aging Doberman as her dad was dying of cancer. Due to pet limit regulations in her city, she couldn’t take the dog herself, and no rescue organizations were willing to take the senior Doberman.
“We looked everywhere for any rescue that would help, but due to her age, none would take her,” Valerie remembered.
Luckily, the Doberman found a foster home on a farm that specifically cared for senior dogs. This experience opened Valerie’s eyes to the often overlooked needs of elderly pets.
“It made me think about what happens to senior dogs, who were once beloved pets,” she told SWNS. “I realized just how many dogs out there needed help… It truly is a forgotten segment in the rescue world.”
In 2017, Valerie and her husband Josh established the non-profit Whispering Willows Senior Dog Sanctuary. They bought a 3,000 square-foot home in Hermitage, providing ample room for these dogs to spend their final days in peace.
“We take in dogs 12 years and older. Sometimes special needs, sometimes hospice,” she told Ozarks First. “Sometimes they come to us simply needing a place to rest their head and pass away.”
Unfortunately, many of these dogs come from abusive or neglectful backgrounds. For example, Peanut was found chained up in blistering 100-degree heat.
“When they come in, they’re often broken-hearted, emotionally or physically,” she explained to KY3.
Valerie’s goal is to provide these dogs with a sense of normalcy and trust, offering them a safe place to call home for the rest of their lives.
“Once they come here, they stay. This is their forever home, so they won’t have to go through another trauma or loss.”
“When they arrive, they know they’re safe,” she added.
The sanctuary has grown considerably over the years, and according to SWNS, 17 full-time staff members now help care for the dogs, housing up to 80 dogs at a time.
“The sanctuary grew beyond my expectations. I love having so many little hearts that love us back.”
Over the years, Valerie’s sanctuary has cared for 790 dogs. Given the advanced age of the dogs, deaths are frequent, with about five passing away each week, but just as many are brought in to replace them.
While the work can be emotionally challenging, Valerie finds pride in providing these dogs with a loving place to live out their final days.
“Our goal is to help people prepare for the end of life. None of us are guaranteed tomorrow,” she told SWNS. “We get to send our seniors off in comfort and love. Yes, it hurts, but it’s an honor to love and care for them.”
Senior dogs need a loving place to spend their final days, and it’s heartwarming to know there are people like Valerie who take these pets in when nobody else will, giving them the love and care they desperately need.
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