(Photo by Kathryn Scott/The Denver Post)
Hippo, a stray dog, was found in October and taken in by the Adams County Animal Shelter. Cancerous tumors covered his face, and his health was rapidly declining. Veterinarians said it was apparent the elderly dog was suffering and wouldn’t live much longer.
Sophiane Nacer, who started Cayleb’s Kindred Senior Dog Rescue when she was 14, has a passion for helping senior dogs enjoy their last days. After Hippo’s required five-day stay at the shelter, Nacer swooped in and gave him one last great day.
She drove Hippo, windows down, to Starbucks and bought him two Puppuccinos. Then, they ventured to Washington Park in Denver where Hippo guzzled the treats, socialized with other dogs and drank water from the lake. That night, a veterinarian came to Nacer’s house and euthanized Hippo to end his suffering.
“It was just everything I could think an old dog would really want to do. We had a really good time — (he) was quite happy,” she said.
Nacer and Cayleb’s Kindred Senior Dog Rescue are dedicated to finding homes for dogs facing their last days. Cayleb’s has rescued more than 80 dogs since it was founded in 2012, Nacer said. She was inspired to start the rescue after she adopted an older dog named Cayleb from the Adams County Animal Shelter. He died two months later.
“He was a beautiful dog,” she said. “Very stoic.”
Some of the dogs helped by Cayleb’s Kindred Senior Dog Rescue have medical issues — cancer, dementia, heart problems — but Nacer says people shouldn’t fear fostering or adopting the animals. Donations cover the cost of the dogs’ medical bills and food, so foster and adoptive families only have to worry about showering the dogs with love.
Christine Carscadden, one of the rescue’s regular foster parents, took in Ursa and Sadie in May. Tumors had spread throughout Ursa’s body, but she was great with Carscadden’s child and lived with the family for almost six months before she was euthanized. Sadie was abandoned at a dog day care. Carscadden said she focuses on making Sadie’s last days comfortable and enjoyable, and says fostering the dogs is fulfulling.
“It’s heartwarming. It’s just beautiful. I don’t think anybody would be disappointed knowing they are helping a vulnerable pet,” she said.
Potential foster and adoptive families are screened to ensure they will properly care for any dog placed in their homes. Nacer said there are currently few long-term, senior dog-specific rescues, because the demand for hospice care is so great.
“We’re blown away by the people who adopt our dogs. They’re just really loving people, and they really want to get a senior (dog) in a good home,” said Rebecca Shattuca, Nacer’s mother.
Nacer and Shattuca want to work with senior living communities to create a “seniors for seniors” program where older people would adopt senior dogs. Nacer believes the rescue’s dogs could thrive under the seniors’ loving care, and the people would benefit, as well.
Source: The Denver Post
