Even the dogs that may not have much time left should have a loving home. Even though younger puppies frequently take precedence over older dogs, older dogs should have a permanent home to live out their days.
However, one woman has dedicated her life to providing these elderly shelter dogs with a loving final home, converting her house into a sanctuary that is currently home to 80 senior animals.
The 44-year-old Valerie Reid of Hermitage, Missouri, was motivated to care for elderly dogs after a life event made her aware of the challenges that animals encounter as they age.
As her father battled cancer, SWNS reported that she found it difficult to find a place for her dad’s elderly Doberman. She discovered that no other rescue would take her and that she was already over the city’s pet limit, so she was unable to adopt the dog.
Because of her age, no rescue would take her home, Valerie said, “We looked everywhere for any rescue that would help.”
At last, she managed to find the Doberman a foster home on a farm that took special care of elderly dogs. The dog had a happy ending and lived in peace for an additional year and a half in their care; Valerie found inspiration from the experience that opened her eyes.
She told SWNS, “It got me thinking about what happens to senior dogs who were once beloved pets.” “I became aware of how many dogs there were in need of assistance… It is a genuinely overlooked area in the rescue industry.
Thus, in 2017, Whispering Willows elderly Dog Sanctuary—a non-profit sanctuary for elderly dogs—was established by Valerie and her spouse, Josh. They purchased a 3,000 square foot house near Hermitage, which provided ample space for dozens of canines to pass away peacefully and comfortably.
Dogs older than 12 are accepted. She said to Ozarks First, “Sometimes special needs, sometimes hospice.” “On sometimes, all they come to us for is a place to lay their head and die.”
She clarified that a large number of the dogs had histories of cruelty and neglect, citing the discovery of Peanut, a dog, chained up amid a scorching heat wave.
She said to KY3, “When they come in, they’re very broken-hearted, emotionally or physically.”
Valerie, however, states that her intention is to provide them with a sense of normalcy and trust, as well as a secure permanent residence in which to live out their last days.
“They stay once they arrive. They’re not required to go. Since this is their permanent home, they won’t experience any more stress or loss.
“They know they’re safe when they arrive.”
Over the years, the rescue has expanded significantly; according to SWNS, the hospice currently houses 80 dogs at a time and employs 17 full-time staff members to care for the dogs.
“The sanctuary really grew and expanded beyond my wildest expectations. I adore having so many tiny hearts that reciprocate our love.
According to Valerie, over the years, they have taken care of 790 pets. Because of their advanced age, the dogs frequently die—roughly five of them perish each week, while the same number are adopted.
Valerie takes delight in providing these creatures with a nice environment to pass away, even if her profession can be depressing at times.
“Our goal is to assist individuals in getting ready for their final moments; none of us can predict the future,” she stated to SWNS. We get to bid our seniors farewell in style and with affection. While loving and caring for children is an honor, it hurts nonetheless.
THE TRANSFORMATION OF SHILOH JOLIE-PITT: FROM OUTCAST TO RED CARPET STAR AS JOHN
Sometimes, the connection between actors working closely together on set extends into their personal lives, as we’ve seen happen many times before.
For instance, take the once-famous couple, Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie, who are now divorced.
Back in 2004, when they started working on “Mr. and Mrs. Smith,” Pitt was still married to Jennifer Aniston. However, that didn’t stop him from falling in love with Jolie, which gave birth to the iconic “Brangelina” couple.
“Because of the film, we ended up being brought together to do all these crazy things, and I think we found this strange friendship and partnership that kind of just suddenly happened. I think a few months in I realized, ‘God, I can’t wait to get to work.’ … Anything we had to do with each other, we just found a lot of joy in it together and a lot of real teamwork. We just became kind of a pair,” Jolie mentioned.
Throughout their 12-year relationship, they welcomed six children: the twins Vivienne and Knox, and their three biological children, Maddox, Zahara, and Pax, alongside Shiloh.
The media frenzy surrounding Jolie’s pregnancy was intense. Paparazzi followed them everywhere, and magazines were willing to pay a fortune for a photo of the soon-to-be-famous baby.
New York Magazine even said, “Not since Jesus has a baby been so eagerly anticipated.”
Shiloh was born on May 27, 2006. The couple made a staggering $14 million from the sale of her picture, which they generously donated to UNICEF.
“While we celebrate the joy of the birth of our daughter, we recognize that 2 million babies born every year in the developing world die on the first day of their lives. These children can be saved, but only if governments around the world make it a priority,” the couple stated.
Shiloh, who’s about to turn 16, has been in the public eye practically since birth. She’s inherited the best from her famous parents and is undeniably beautiful. But there’s something about her, especially her style, that has caught people’s attention. She also prefers to be called John by her parents and siblings.
During a conversation with Oprah, Pitt admitted, “She only wants to be called John. John or Peter. So it’s a Peter Pan thing. So we’ve got to call her John.” He later added, ‘Shi, do you want …’ – ‘John. I’m John.’ And then I’ll say, ‘John, would you like some orange juice?’ And she goes, ‘No!’ So, you know, it’s just that kind of stuff that’s cute to parents, and it’s probably really obnoxious to other people.”
Jolie also mentioned her daughter’s preference for dressing like a boy to Vanity Fair:
“She wants to be a boy. So we had to cut her hair. She likes to wear boys’ everything. She thinks she’s one of the brothers.”
However, neither Pitt nor Jolie seemed to have an issue with it. They supported their daughter in whatever choices she made.
Shiloh held a special place in Jolie’s heart, so it was a bit challenging for her to stop using that name. Nonetheless, she respected her daughter’s wishes.
Thanks to the custody arrangements put in place after the couple’s separation, all the children get quality time with both of their parents. Pitt and Jolie are both devoted parents who go above and beyond for the well-being of their children.
In 2021, Shiloh made headlines when she joined her famous mother at the premiere of Marvel’s “Eternals.” She wore the same Dior gown that Angelina had donned in 2019 at a press conference for “Maleficent: Mistress of Evil.” Shiloh had her long hair in a bun and looked absolutely stunning.
For the Rome premiere, she opted for a little black dress paired with yellow and black sneakers.
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