Getting a dog requires careful thought. From the moment they enter our lives, these furry friends become family. We vow to be with them for better or worse.
It’s heartbreaking that many owners choose to abandon their dogs once they become seniors and need more care and affection.
Senior dogs feel betrayed and hurt when rejected by the family they’ve known their whole life.
Princess, a senior Poodle, knows this pain well, having been abandoned by the humans she once trusted most.
Abandoned and Heartbroken
She was left in the parking lot of the Animal Western League of Alexandria, with all her belongings packed in shopping bags.
Shelter staff took her inside immediately and were devastated to find a note from her owners asking the shelter to euthanize Princess and donate all her belongings after she passed.
Confused and unsure, the senior dog missed her owners and the only home she’d ever known. Princess held onto hope that her family might return for her.
The staff cared for her and took her to a vet, where she was diagnosed with advanced kidney disease. Princess was estimated to be 16 years old.
Because the shelter lacked the resources for her medical needs, she was transferred to Miri’s Haven Senior Dog Rescue in Virginia.
Given the Comfort and Attention She Deserved
The rescue team went out of their way to comfort her, showering her with love and attention. Gradually, Princess started opening up and soaking in the care.
Though she needed hospice care due to her age and kidney disease, she did not appear to be in pain. She just needed time to heal from the heartbreak of abandonment when she needed her family most.
The rescue staff continued to spoil her with affection and cuddles, thrilled to see Princess improve day by day.
“We see her thrive more and more each day…,” said Georgia Dodson, the director and cofounder of Miri’s Haven Senior Dog Rescue.
Princess enjoyed life with a hospice foster who loved and cared for her as she deserved. This sweet girl had plenty of love to give.
Seeing her flourish, the rescue began to believe Princess was not just a hospice case, but could find a loving family and a forever home.
Knowing Princess is now loved and cared for brings joy. There’s no doubt this sweet senior will find a family who cherishes her for the rest of her life.