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You are here: Home / Open Threads / One Person Can Change the World: Peace of Mind Dog Rescue

One Person Can Change the World: Peace of Mind Dog Rescue

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One Person Can Change the World

Jackie sent me this article, and it seems like a good choice for a Sunday afternoon.

Keeping dogs and their senior owners together.

At least that’s how it started.  But now it’s much more than that.

Broecker co-founded the nonprofit with Monica Rua, who also worked in animal rescue and added the idea of rescuing senior dogs from shelters. In 2009, Peace of Mind Dog Rescue was born.

The organization takes dogs from senior citizens who are no longer able to care for them, have gone into a nursing home or have passed away. Many times, it’s family members who contact the organization to surrender their aging family member’s dog.

“Often times, the dog can be your last connection to that person,” Broecker said. “You’re giving away a part of that person who was so special to you. So, it can be really hard.”

Peace of Mind Dog Rescue finds these dogs new homes and checks in on the dog every year for the rest of their life.

“We’ve seen it over and over again that dogs can adjust after losing their person and become part of a new family,” Broecker said.

“You’d love for them to be together forever, but when that’s not possible, we’re really glad we’re here to be a safety net.”

Typically, a senior doesn’t need to surrender their dog, they just need some assistance. As part of the organization’s dog walking program, a volunteer will go to the senior’s house to walk their dog for 30 minutes or an hour.

“We can preserve that human-animal bond and make this person’s life better and brighter through our services … it’s about honoring the elderly,” Broecker said.

The nonprofit also helps senior dogs find forever homes. It can be challenging for overcrowded shelters to give senior dogs the attention they need, so Peace of Mind Dog Rescue is in contact with local animal shelters to see what senior dogs they can pull and help adopt out.

That’s just the middle of the article. There’s video, too.  Read the whole thing!

Open thread.

Reader Interactions

88Comments

  1. 1.

    The Moar You Know

    Good for them.
    I have done two senior animal adoptions and it is heartbreaking (you don’t get a lot of time with them) and yet infinitely rewarding, because the animals know exactly what’s going on and are so grateful for you.
    As to the other, I have a hard age cutoff for me adopting any new critters which I’ll be hitting in about a decade; I am determined to not leave an animal behind if I can help it.  But I am glad there are people stepping up to pick up the pieces.

  2. 2.

    Jackie

    Thanks for posting this, WaterGirl! I’ve added this organization to my donation list. They’re doing a wonderful service!

  11. 11.

    raven

    “Often times, the dog can be your last connection to that person,” Broecker said. “You’re giving away a part of that person who was so special to you. So, it can be really hard.”

     

    We had a friend who passed away this year and he had an older dog. None of his family lived here so they contacted us ( we posted it here) and we jumped through all kinds of hoops trying to help. Finally the guys son took the pup.

  15. 15.

    Steve in the ATL

    @raven: what a great story!  I already knew your real name, though, so I should get an extra tidbit about you.  Nothing creepy, though!

  17. 17.

    Villago Delenda Est

    OT, but Nichelle Nichols has beamed up to join Leonard Nimoy, DeForest Kelly, James Doohan, and Majel Barrett at that starbase in the sky.

  20. 20.

    Nicole

    @raven: This article is great! I promise not to stalk.

    And Water Girl, what a nice post to read.  We got very bad news about our senior pit this week- I took her to the vet because, while we were pretty certain she was showing signs of doggie dementia, and the vet has been treating her for anxiety, she’s developed a lot of weakness in her back legs very recently, so I took her for a follow up and in X-raying her spine, they saw a tumor on her spleen, so she likely has splenic cancer and not much time left.  Which sucks.  That said, the vet sent me home with prednisone, telling me she’d be feeling better in a few days, and yeah, on the third day it was like a switch flipped.  Back to being hungry, back to soliciting affection, back to wanting to sniff things outside, back to being her.  I was really concerned her brain had deteriorated to where she didn’t know who we were anymore, but I think she was just in so much pain she’d withdrawn into herself.   I hate that she’s probably gone in a month or so, but I’m so, so grateful to have her back with us, for however long we get.

    And I’m aware that she’s lucky, in that we’ll be with her right to the end, and that’s a privilege for us, and it’s not always as easy for everyone.  It’s nice to read about organizations trying to keep pets and owners together as long as possible (as well as ones stepping up to rehome pets who outlive their owners).

    Bittersweet (but more sweet-than-bitter) anecdote from this weekend- of course, just as our dog gets this diagnosis and gets started on prednisone which makes dogs drink lots of water and so produce lots of pee, of COURSE the elevator in our building gives out.  And she’s been so weak in the back legs the past week stairs aren’t do-able anymore.  So my husband has had to carry all 42 pounds of her up and down the stairs of the building every time she needs to go out.  And she HATES to be carried; she always has. Day 3 of the prednisone, though, as I said, she perked up.  So by the fourth trip to the sidewalk yesterday she (metaphorically) put her doggie foot down and made it clear she was going to handle the stairs herself, thanks all the same.  I keep a grip on her harness, to support her, but she does it herself.

    (She still stops at the door to the magic box that goes up on its own every time we come back inside, though, and it takes some persuasion to go to the stairwell.  Man, I hope the elevator gets fixed soon.  Also feeling grateful we’re only on the 3rd floor.)

  23. 23.

    sab

    I loved our pitbull before this week, but she has been so concerned about my husband since his back surgery. First he was gone for three days, and then he returned obviously in pain and hobbling on a walker. She used to be my dog but now she follows him everywhere. It is so sweet. She just knows I took him to the veterinary hospital and they did something bad to him like they did to her with her cancer surgery.

  24. 24.

    Dan B

    @raven: Wonderful story!  We’ve had lots of feral cats with much success except for a few who make me wistful.  One got hit and dragged himself up a narrow ramp into the house and waited for us.  He’d developed trust in us very rapidly.  He’d gotten into the basement emaciated and afraid with dun colored fur.  We were surprised when stripes appeared after a couple weeks.  Such a smart cat and a loving character.

    Thanks for doing good for Arte!

  28. 28.

    raven

    @Nicole: Ugh, the last year with Bohdi was like that. I had to horse him upstairs and, when his back legs gave out, with a sling under him so he could poop. He lost his sense of direction and would spin and screw up the sling. All this while I was struggling with my own mobility so we vowed when we got another doggie we’d get a little one. Fail.

  31. 31.

    Miss Bianca

    @Villago Delenda Est: Majel Barrett too? When did she beam away? I must have missed that.

    Nichelle Nichols, tho’. What a classy lady. And a fine actress with a great flair for comedy. She’s definitely one of the reasons that Snow Dogs is such a perpetual delight.

  32. 32.

    Nicole

    @raven:

    All this while I was struggling with my own mobility so we vowed when we got another doggie we’d get a little one. Fail.

    Ha!  The best laid plans.  I think maybe, on some cosmic level, they really do choose us, rather than the other way around.

  35. 35.

    WaterGirl

    @Nicole: Tears for you and your girl. Yeah, prednisone can give them some quality time toward the end, so you will have some precious days ahead.

    At some point that’s not enough, and then it will be time.  But until then I’m really glad you have some good time tougher.Love your story about her putting her foot down and saying she could take the stairs herself.

    Hopefully the damn elevator will be fixed soon.  My heart goes out to you guys with the news of your impending loss.

  36. 36.

    Nicole

    @sab: I love this!  Glad she’s keeping an eye on him.  Pits really can be just the best family dogs.  We got ours because I told the shelter I needed a dog who was safe with small children (my son was 3 at the time) and they said she was safe.  Over their time together, we had one biting incident, and the dog was not the one doing the biting.  I’m going to miss her so much.  She’s not my first dog, she likely won’t be my last, but man, her successor(s) are going to have a lot to live up to.

  38. 38.

    Nicole

    @WaterGirl: Thank you. I know it’s part of the journey with an animal companion, but it’s hard, and I have certainly started grieving early.  But I’m so grateful for this last little burst of good days.

    Fortunately (so to speak), NYC has a number of at-home euthanasia vets, so when it’s time, we can do it in a safe space for her. I was there when my horse had to be put down, and it was a relief to see how very, very painless it is.  Overdose of barbiturates.  Just like so many rock stars.  Our animals deserve no less than to go out like rock stars. :)

  39. 39.

    Ruckus

    @Nicole:

    A neighbor is having similar issues with his support german sheperd. She’s 9+ and an amazing dog and her hind leg weakness had been getting slightly better but started back downhill. She is also not expected to be around long. It’s hard losing them, especially when there really isn’t much to be done. I’m so sorry about your pup.

  40. 40.

    scav

    Nichelle Nichols and Bernard Cribbins. This is a tough week in the universe. Many stars in all the senses.

  41. 41.

    indycat32

    My  Willow died suddenly in 2018.  I said at my age, no more kittens, it will just be me and my 10 year old, Reggie.  That lasted two months when I adopted two kittens, Henry and Ollie.  Then two years ago, a feral Tortie showed up with a kitten. before I could trap her she had another litter, including my Chloe who you all met last year.  Earlier this year two more strays showed up, so instead of “no more cats”, I have 9 – 5 outside “neighborhood cats” who have all been fixed, and my four inside cats.  So I figure I’m going to have to live forever.

  43. 43.

    HinTN

    @raven: Lightning told us when it was time to head for the Rainbow Bridge but every day he also told me it was time to load up and go check the neighborhood with his smell-o-vision. We’d drive the four mile loop and he’d have his nose out for news. Even that last day he wanted to get out and hoof it that last half mile.

    You done good, man. All our furry friends thank you.

  48. 48.

    OzarkHillbilly

    @WaterGirl: It says, One Person Can Change the World: Peace of Mind Dog Rescue

    That double small line up above may or may not say open thread but who reads that shit anyway?

  49. 49.

    raven

    One thing I haven’t mentioned about Artie is her separation anxiety. She’s not destructive but, even with a marrow bone, she barks and howls when we leave her alone. We were used to our lives centering around our animals but we fund ourselves not wanting to do anything that will make her be alone. I’ve read all the advice about not making a fuss when you come home but that ain’t easy cuz she’s so happy!

  51. 51.

    OzarkHillbilly

    @raven: ​Billie hasn’t shown any true separation anxiety but I still try not to leave her here alone for more than an hour or 2. I recently spent a wkend floating with my son and his eldest daughter and my wife took vacation time so Billie wouldn’t be alone all day.

  56. 56.

    Jager

    We moved into our 55 plus community 3 years ago, the first neighbor I met was an old buck named Henry, Henry was a retired school administrator, married to a delightful Dutch woman he met skiing in the Alps while he was in the USAF in Germany in the 50s. Henry and Mim have a 13 year old Dachshund, little Tinker Bell fell in love with our German Shepherd and they were the best of doggie pals until our old (14) Anze left for the Rainbow Bridge. Shortly after our dog passed, Henry passed at 89. I felt like I lost a father since he always called me “Son”. His wife uses a walker so, she can’t get Tinker down to the park, so we’ve taken over the Tinker Bell patrol. Old Tink has lost weight, she’s full of piss and vinegar again and she’s helped us with the loss of our old Boy Anze. She’s at our house for the afternoon, and at the moment is napping on the bed with her “Auntie”.

  58. 58.

    TriassicSands-

    Peace of Mind Dog Rescue sounds similar to the cat shelter at which I volunteer. Once a cat gets in, it is set for life. The shelter will always be a home and/or placement facility for the rest of a cat’s life. If the cat becomes unadoptable — age, health, etc. — the shelter will provide the cat with a home, food, and excellent health care for as long as the cat lives. Many of the cats that are taken in by the shelter have had hard lives up to that point. Some have lost their homes because of human death or elderly people who can no longer care for them. Others are barely surviving, malnourished, sick, horrendously abused, and so on. The country needs more shelters like these, as well as massive free spay and neuter facilities to help reduce the appalling number of feral and unwanted cats and dogs.

  61. 61.

    CarolPW

    @raven: Tweezer (cat) told me, in unmistakable terms. Towards the end she had a million things wrong with her, and whenever I would wonder if it was time she would say fuck no. And then one morning she was too tired to do it anymore. She was 21, and letting me know it was time for her to leave was the best gift she could have given me.

  63. 63.

    BeautifulPlumage

    OT (so I don’t dwell on Miss Pearl, 19 and having issues : (

    Just read through the voter pamphlet and it did not disappoint. Several white guys with zero elected experience but a background in engineering and/or computers running for senator. Also the t**** republican with the crazy eyes, poorly edited statement, and email ending in @dogconauto.com. Aaand the guy who’s been not trying to win for 10 years, he’s using the statewide platform to air his butthurt over regional mass transit.

    The other races include more engineers without elected experience and one guy who prefers the Elven Party, with a nonsense statement and fairy-child photo to match.

  67. 67.

    WaterGirl

    @OzarkHillbilly: It’s also the last line of the post itself.  :-)

    That’s just the middle of the article. There’s video, too.  Read the whole thing!

    Open thread.

    But I’m fine with you being a rebel!

  68. 68.

    Immanentize

    @raven: Yes I did! Lisa is so great.

    For those who don’t know, “animal law” has been roundly ridiculed in the academy as just being “soft” law. But think about all the things discussed in this very thread — pet ownership, abuse, end of life (human) issues of grief and pet ownership (which include fights over the pets of deceased relatives!), pet health care, non profits, citizen/police/prosecution cooperations, etc.

    Lisa is a pioneer and besides teaching the easy-to-teach “hard” classes like property, she works with students on various animal-related legal cases and issues in University of GAs  legal clinics, teaching an animal welfare practicum. She is a bit of a star in my (legal clinical education) law world. Well, certainly to me.

    Go Dawgs!

  69. 69.

    Jager

    @raven:

    A guy I did a lot of business with 20 some years ago, had a pair of Dachshund brothers. He lived in suburban Kansas City, 100s of houses out on the prairie…everybody had gopher problems…he didn’t.

  70. 70.

    Immanentize

    @Steve in the ATL: each of you amazing in such vastly different ways:

    SD: isn’t she amazing?! She is learned, poetic, fast on her feet, and so kind!

    Stevein: once again people were simply amazed at the proffered “reasons” behind his actions.

  73. 73.

    eachother

    Strength and fortitude my Friends. And for myself, gratitude to you who so generously offer and give support.
    raven, a couple of years ago you posted a ‘cartoon’ in support of the passing of a jackals pet. It was perfect. Whatever your name, you have a good heart.

    The rainbow is fleeting.
    My Love expands
    Like a balloon.

  74. 74.

    Immanentize

    @Steve in the ATL: I read a great article about PvP once that discussed how it actually was legally situated in the historic moment of division of the commons. It completely changed my understanding and interest of the case -+ 20 years after I first suffered through it.

    PS I originally was going to put “Georgia State” into that comment just to see if Raven would notice. Then I remembered he has guns?

  75. 75.

    Steve in the ATL

    @Immanentize: Omnes’ stoner buddy postulated that the case turned on the fact that one hunter was mounted and the other on foot. How does that comport with your allegedly “great” article?

  77. 77.

    Jager

    @Immanentize:

    I was in KC for a business meeting and went to dinner at his house, he introduced the Dachshund Brothers as a couple of “tough, mean, little bastards from Austria.” Their names were Ernst and Erich. They really didn’t need names, if you called one they both came.

  79. 79.

    Odie Hugh Manatee

    @raven:

    You done good there, man. And you haven’t lost mustard or mopped naked (that we know of)! It’s great to read about good people, especially ones that you ‘know’.

    Well, virtually ‘know’.

  87. 87.

    eachother

    @PBK: Very nice of you to say.

     

    @Steve in the ATL: There is a lot of downhill (around here and elsewhere).
    I remember this place in FL. The highest point was a tall pile of refuse. I have skied mountains and a sand dune.  I would not want to trash a ski on refuse.

  88. 88.

    PBK

    @Steve in the ATL: Sez the guy who drinks red wine with salmon //

    Snark in case I got the // wrong.  Not a fan of white wine myself which is fine since they give me headaches.

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