Welcoming a dog into your home is a choice that carries great responsibility.
From the moment they arrive, these loyal companions weave themselves into the fabric of the family, and we vow to stand beside them through every chapter of their lives.
That is why it is so heartbreaking to see some owners walk away once their dogs grow old and need extra care. Senior dogs feel that loss deeply, their trust shattered when the people they adored suddenly turn away.
Princess, a senior Poodle, knows that pain all too well. She was abandoned by the very family she had loved without question.
Abandoned With Only Her Belongings
Princess was discovered in the parking lot of the Animal Western League of Alexandria. Her belongings had been stuffed into shopping bags and left beside her.
Shelter staff quickly brought her inside.
As they sorted through the bags, they found a note from her former owners. It asked that Princess be euthanized and that her possessions be donated after she was gone.
The elderly dog was confused and heartbroken. She missed her family and the home she had always known. Even after being left behind, Princess held onto the fragile hope that her owners might return.
The shelter team offered her comfort and took her to a veterinarian for evaluation. She was diagnosed with advanced kidney disease and estimated to be about 16 years old.
Because the shelter had limited resources, they arranged for her transfer to Miri’s Haven Senior Dog Rescue in Virginia, where she could receive the care she needed.
A Rescue That Chose Compassion
At Miri’s Haven, the team made it their mission to surround Princess with love and security. They showered her with affection and gave her the attention she had been missing.
Gradually, Princess began to respond. She opened up, leaning into the warmth and kindness around her.
Though her age and kidney condition meant she required hospice care, she showed no signs of pain. What she needed most was time to heal emotionally from the abandonment she had endured.
The rescue staff continued to pamper her with cuddles and gentle care, thrilled to see her spirit slowly return.
“We see her thrive more and more each day…,” said Georgia Dodson, the director and cofounder of Miri’s Haven Senior Dog Rescue.
Princess eventually settled into life with a hospice foster who treated her with the dignity and love she deserved. Despite everything she had been through, she remained affectionate and full of warmth.
As her health stabilized and her personality blossomed, the rescue team began to believe she might not be limited to hospice care alone. There was hope she could find a permanent, loving home.
Knowing that Princess is now surrounded by compassion and care brings comfort to everyone who has followed her journey. There is every reason to believe this sweet senior will find a family who will cherish her for the rest of her days.