Having a pet is a wonderful thing, but it also comes with sadness. Our animal family members simply don't live as long as we do and so by bringing them into our homes, we must also watch them grow old and eventually leave us.
And yeah, that sucks. So do the extra costs associated with caring for an elderly pet, but far too many people use those as an excuse to put down or even abandon their senior pet right there in the vet's office.
When it was first established, the hospice was the very first of its kind in Britain.
Using her own funds and those of generous donors, Nicola gets the dogs the treatment needed for quality of life and makes sure their last days are the best possible.
They specifically focus on dogs from the pound who have been given fewer than six months to live naturally. Often, shelters will schedule such dogs for euthanasia within seven days of their arrival unless they're re-homed.
Regardless of the date, every dog gets a birthday party where they get to enjoy being the center of attention, with a dog-friendly cake and the gift of a toy of their very own.
For some, it's a whole day playing on the beach and eating French fries straight from the bag.
For others, it's a calm walk in nature, carried by a loving human when the dog isn't strong enough to walk on their own.
The greatest joy is having a dog with a poor prognosis live longer than estimated, simply due to the power of being loved and cared for.
The longest a dog has lived with Nicola is about a year and a half, and the shortest was about two weeks. Every single one of them passed away with as much love as they could have.
If you'd like to learn more or donate, head to the The Grey Muzzle Canine Hospice Project Facebook page.
h/t: Bored Panda, Thinking Minds
