Rescuing Old Dogs is Hard

“So do you adopt them out?”

That’s the first thing people ask when they find out that I head up a non-profit canine sanctuary.  When I explain that Pug Hollow is primarily a hospice for elderly and terminally ill dogs, and peripherally a sanctuary for dogs with lots of emotional baggage, the second thing they say is always a variation on a theme.

“Wow. That’s got to be hard. I think it’s so great that you do that. I couldn’t deal with that sort of thing.”

And then, almost invariably, they disregard you completely.

Perhaps they think other people are donating. Perhaps they think we’re rich and can cover all the expenses out of pocket. Perhaps they don’t think they can make a difference with a one or two dollar donation. Or perhaps we’re just not sensational enough to catch their attention and get them talking.

 Let’s face it… old dogs seem to automatically engender disregard, which is why so many of them need our help. And providing a safe, loving end of life environment for old dogs taken in from various animal shelters and veterinarians isn’t melodramatic enough to catch people’s attention. There’s very rarely a horrifying tale of abuse complete with graphic pictorial accompaniment. More usually it’s a melancholy tale of abandonment and neglect, highlighted by sorrow, confusion and fear that can’t be adequately captured by a simple photo.

I can show you medications, and vet bills, and pictures of the dogs themselves. I can’t show you the gradual and often subtle transformation that many of our dogs undergo as they begin to feel safe, receive treatment for any health conditions they may have, and in many cases simply learn what it means to be loved.  I can’t show you the quirky, endearing personalities that blossom more and more with each day at the Sanctuary.

I can ask you, “please.”

Please help us. We need your donations.

Please don’t assume someone else is donating, or that we’re able to cover all our expenses. Old dogs mean special food and vet bills, and we can use all the help we can get.

Please don’t think that your help doesn’t make a difference.   Even a bag of dog food frees up funds for other use.

 Please talk about us. If you think we’re doing good work, tell your friends.  Like us on Facebook, follow us on twitter, write about us on your blog. The more exposure we get the more likely our fundraisers are to succeed and the more likely people are to donate.

And whatever you do… Please, don’t disregard our old dogs.