“I’m just worried he’s gonna die never knowing a home or anything.”

My vet tech was talking about a senior boy named Stewie. Stewie lived in an outside kennel his entire life. When his owner died, he was neglected for months, kennel filling with feces, sporadic feeding, no vet care until he was surrendered to my vet.

Over a couple months, it became clear Stewie has advanced heartworms. He's coughing up blood, has the constant heartworm cough, is on multiple medications- at this stage his time is limited. He spends his days kenneled at the vet.

The ask was if I thought I may have room among the Coop pack, 4 of which are also hospice. My mind resisted because caring for the dogs, running the rescue, working full time, trying to keep up with laundry, house cleaning, etc has taken a mental and physical toll over the past year.

Caring for senior and hospice pups also has a way to push mortality in your face.

You think more about getting old.
Losing sight, vision, mobility.
Yet maintaining dignity, grace and peace.