A woman has spoken out and revealed how she and her husband managed to convert their own home into a hospice.
44-year-old Valerie Reid from Hermitage, Missouri, decided to do something selfless by opening a not-for-profit hospice for sick and elderly dogs back in 2017.
The inspiration for the Whispering Willows Senior Dog Sanctuary came from the kind lady’s need to put her own aging Doberman in hospice care only to be told that no one would take the pooch due to its age and overcrowded shelters.
“My husband and I were at our city’s pet limit and we were unable to take her. We looked everywhere for any rescue that would help and due to her age none would home her,” Valerie recalled.
Fast-forward nearly five years, Valerie and her husband are managing their hospice with pride and care for as many as 80 dogs at the same time.
“The dogs live with us openly and go between the two buildings. Anywhere we go, they go and are treated as part of the family,” Valerie said.
“The best part is the transformation they go through when they know that they are safe and loved.”
She added: “Our vision is to help people prepare for end of life, none of us are guaranteed tomorrow. We get to send our seniors off in comfort and love. Yes, it hurts but it is an honor to love and care for them.”
According to the two dog lovers, they take in as many as five dogs each week. At the same time, sadly, around five of them also pass away.
As the number of the dogs they took in rose, Valerie and her husband started employing professionals to provide 24/7 care, treatment, and on-site hospitalization for the animals. As of this writing, the couple already employs 17 full-time staff to ensure that their dogs are looked after.
“The sanctuary truly evolved and became bigger and bigger than I had even thought. I love having so many little hearts that love us back,” the 44-year-old said.
“Our goal is for them to leave this earth knowing they were cherished. We hold each one and usually cry together. They are family members and all of us love them.”
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