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.
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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.
My Husband Said We Couldn’t Afford a Family Vacation After Christmas – Then I Found a $3K Bill for His Work Wife’s SPA Day
When Ethan insisted a family vacation was out of budget, I trusted him — until a $3,000 luxury spa charge appeared on our account. Determined to uncover the truth, I followed the trail. What I found shattered my trust and changed everything.
I always thought trust was like a well-tended garden. You pour your love into it, pull the weeds, and water it regularly, so it grows strong and lush. And for 12 years, I did that for my marriage to Ethan. I believed in him. I believed in us.
A happy couple hugging | Source: Midjourney
We had a good life, or so I thought. Two kids, a house with a creaky porch swing, and a weekly tradition of homemade pizzas on Friday nights. Ethan was the kind of guy who earned respect everywhere he went. A hard worker, and a dedicated father.
And then there was Rachel, his so-called “work wife.” We’d met many times, and I liked her. She was friendly, funny, and always spoke warmly about her husband. We weren’t friends, but I was glad Ethan had a colleague like her.
I used to joke about her during dinner, saying how nice it was that someone kept him sane during those late-night shifts.
A woman at a dinner table | Source: Pexels
He’d smile, brushing it off with a vague comment about her love of spreadsheets.
For years, I admired their partnership. She was the yin to his professional yang, or so I convinced myself. But lately, cracks had started to appear.
It wasn’t just the long hours or the constant texting. It was how he’d smile at his phone, a smile I hadn’t seen directed at me in months. Something didn’t add up.
A man smiling while texting | Source: Midjourney
Then he told me we couldn’t afford the Christmas vacation I’d been looking forward to all year.
“Are you sure?” I asked as we loaded the dishwasher together. “I thought everything was set.”
Ethan averted his gaze and shrugged. “It was… but we had all those unexpected expenses in October and November and now we can’t afford to go on vacation after Christmas. I’m sorry, honey.”
I sighed. “It’s okay… there’s always next year.”
A woman smiling faintly in a kitchen | Source: Midjourney
I was disappointed, but I believed Ethan. We did have a rough time financially the last few months, and I had no reason to think he was lying to me.
Then I discovered the receipt that changed everything.
Last week, while sorting through receipts for budgeting, I noticed a $3,000 charge to “Tranquility Luxe Spa.”
A woman frowning | Source: Midjourney
My first thought was that it had to be a mistake. Some kind of glitch on our credit card statement. But the date, this coming Saturday, sent a chill through me. Something wasn’t adding up.
I stared at it as I thought about why Ethan had paid so much for a spa day when we couldn’t afford a holiday. It couldn’t be a surprise for me (he could just have planned the holiday in that case), so it had to be work-related.
A stunned and confused woman in a living room | Source: Midjourney
When I sat down beside Ethan that evening to ask him about it, a sense of dread settled in my belly. I watched him smiling at his phone like I didn’t even exist and I just knew.
“So, what plans do you have for Saturday?” I asked, nudging him playfully.
“Saturday? I actually have to work… there are some last-minute details I need to iron out for that big project I told you about. Why?”
A man glancing to one side slightly while texting | Source: Midjourney
“Oh, no reason,” I said, keeping my voice light. “I, uh, thought we could take the kids to the park together.”
“Maybe next weekend,” he replied absently as he typed a text on his phone.
My gut churned as the dread turned to fury. My husband, the man who once made a big show of proposing with a scavenger hunt, was a liar. And I was going to prove it.
A woman with a determined look on her face | Source: Midjourney
On Saturday morning, I waved goodbye to Ethan like everything was fine. The minute he was out of sight, I texted the babysitter to come over. I’d already arranged that she would take the kids to the park.
I gave her the bag with the snacks and games I’d packed for the kids. Then, I set out to catch Ethan red-handed. My heart raced as I pulled into the spa’s parking lot. I told myself I’d take a peek, confirm my suspicions, and leave.
The front entrance of a spa | Source: Midjourney
Inside, the air smelled of eucalyptus and privilege. I walked slowly, scanning the lobby, and then I saw them.
Ethan and Rachel were lounging beside each other in plush white robes like they were on a honeymoon. I didn’t understand… they’d always just been work buddies. I thought I might be missing something, but then she laughed at something he said and leaned in close.
Ethan cupped the side of her face with his hand and kissed her.
A shocked woman standing near a doorway | Source: Midjoruney
My legs felt like jelly. I gripped the doorframe, desperate not to fall apart. A lump rose in my throat, but I swallowed it down. Not here. Not yet. I’d confirmed my suspicions, and now… now I knew I couldn’t walk out of there without doing something about it.
The spa receptionist, a bubbly blonde who looked fresh out of college, smiled at me. “Can I help you?”
I smiled back, my lips trembling. “Yes, actually. I’m planning a surprise for a couple here — Ethan and Rachel? Could I add a complimentary massage to their booking?”
A smiling receptionist in a spa | Source: Pexels
“Oh, how sweet!” she gushed, typing quickly. “We’ll let them know right away.”
“No,” I said, my voice firm. “I’d really like to keep this a surprise.”
“One surprise massage coming up!” She said, winking at me.
If Ethan and Rachel wanted to play dirty, fine. I could play dirtier.
A woman with an intense look on her face | Source: Midjourney
I lingered in the lobby until I saw Ethan and Rachel being whisked off for their massage. I followed them discreetly and took note of which room they entered.
Now, it was time to put my plan into action.
I waited until they were deep into their treatment before making my next move. I grabbed a large bucket of ice-cold water from the staff area and marched toward their massage room.
A bucket of water | Source: Midjourney
The moment the masseuse stepped out of the room, I entered. They were lying face down on heated tables, their blissful sighs filling the air. The sight of them lying there, serene and oblivious, made my blood boil.
I stepped inside quietly, holding my breath. Then, I dumped the bucket of freezing water over them.
Rachel screamed, jerking upright and sending towels flying. Ethan bolted upright, his face pale with shock.
A shocked man in a spa massage room | Source: Midjourney
“What the hell?” he spluttered.
I dropped the bucket, standing tall. “Surprised? You shouldn’t be.”
“What are you doing here?” Ethan stammered, his eyes darting between me and the drenched sheets.
I stepped closer, my voice ice-cold. “Me? What are you doing here? Because last I checked, we couldn’t afford a vacation with our kids. But apparently, three grand for your work wife’s spa day wasn’t a problem.”
An angry woman in a massage room | Source: Midjourney
Rachel wrapped herself in a robe, her face red and blotchy. “This isn’t what it looks like—”
“Oh, be quiet,” I snapped, cutting her off. “Save your excuses for your husband. He’ll be getting a call from me shortly.”
Ethan tried to speak, but I raised a hand. “Don’t. You lied to me, Ethan. You humiliated me. Worst of all, you chose this — her — over your family.”
I took a deep breath, my hands shaking.
Close up of an emotional woman’s face | Source: Midjourney
“You’ll need to figure out where to live because there’s no place for you in our home anymore. I hope the two of you enjoy whatever this mess is because you just threw away everything for it.”
Staff were scurrying into the room at this point, alerted by Rachel’s screams, no doubt. I walked past all of them and left.
Back home, I wasted no time. Ethan’s clothes went into garbage bags.
Men’s clothes being packed into trash bags | Source: Midjourney
The lawyer I’d been too afraid to call was suddenly my best friend. And Rachel’s husband? Oh, he picked up on the first ring.
The fallout was spectacular. Ethan lost his family, and when word spread at work, both their reputations were dragged through the dirt. Rachel asked to be transferred to a different office, the last I heard.
Apparently, even workwives have limits when the office whispers turn savage.
A smiling woman standing in her living room | Source: Midjourney
The kids and I went on that vacation after all. I booked us a whole week at a beachside cabin where we collected seashells and laughed until our sides hurt. At night, as the waves lapped the shore, I felt something I hadn’t in a long time. Freedom.
Trust is like a garden, I realized. Sometimes, you have to burn it down to grow something new. And for the first time in 12 years, I was ready to plant seeds for myself.
This work is inspired by real events and people, but it has been fictionalized for creative purposes. Names, characters, and details have been changed to protect privacy and enhance the narrative. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental and not intended by the author.
The author and publisher make no claims to the accuracy of events or the portrayal of characters and are not liable for any misinterpretation. This story is provided “as is,” and any opinions expressed are those of the characters and do not reflect the views of the author or publisher.
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