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Woman Opens Dog Hospice Where She Spends The Last Days With Abandoned Dogs
As sad as it may sound, our canine friends are just temporary visitors in our lives – however, we are usually their whole life. And the least we can do during our pets’ last moments is stay with them, making sure that when their time comes, they know they were not just pets to us – they were part of the family.
Sadly, saying goodbye to your senior dog can be a heartbreaking experience not everyone can handle. That’s just one of the reasons why some old or terminally ill pets get abandoned. However, like a ray of hope, one woman is making sure all abandoned animals spend their final days living life to the fullest.
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One woman is making sure abandoned dogs spend their final days living life to the fullest
Image credits: The Grey Muzzle Canine Hospice Project
Nicola Coyle (not pictured) is a retired nurse who established The Grey Muzzle Canine Hospice to take care of abandoned old, terminally ill or stray dogs. She runs the animal shelter from her own home in Mansfield, Nottinghamshire.
That includes ice cream and steak dinners
Image credits: The Grey Muzzle Canine Hospice Project
Nicola takes the adorable dogs through McDonald’s drive-thru and even takes them to the local pub for a nice steak dinner.
Nicola normally has a maximum of two dogs at a time
Image credits: The Grey Muzzle Canine Hospice Project
“We’ll only take them in if the vet says they’ve got less than six months to live, so we’re focusing on end of life care,” said the former nurse in an interview with Metro. “I think the longest I’ve had one is around one year in my dog hotel and the shortest was about two weeks.”
Even though she doesn’t know when the dogs’ birthdays are, she still throws one for every dog
Image credits: The Grey Muzzle Canine Hospice Project
“I don’t know when their birthdays are so we make sure we throw all of them a birthday party,” says Nicola. “If they’re well enough, we take them for a day at the seaside, they get fish and chips on the beach and ice cream.”
Image credits: The Grey Muzzle Canine Hospice Project
Nicola spends around £500 on each of the dogs she takes care of
Image credits: The Grey Muzzle Canine Hospice Project
She uses her own money and everything people donate to her dog shelter. You can help by donating to The Grey Muzzle Canine Hospice Project’s PayPal here.
Sadly, there comes a time to say goodbye – and it’s never easy
Image credits: The Grey Muzzle Canine Hospice Project
“We all get very attached to these cute dogs, it’s very emotionally intense and we do mourn and grieve for them,” says Nicola. “We do need to have breaks between them.”
“Dogs are not our whole life, but they make our lives whole” – Roger A. Caras
Image credits: The Grey Muzzle Canine Hospice Project
Just because a dog’s fate is decided, doesn’t mean it should be abandoned. Quite the contrary – the final days of their lives should be made as special as possible. And thanks to people like Nicola, these dogs get to spend their final days feeling important and loved before departing to Doggy Heaven.
Image credits: The Grey Muzzle Canine Hospice Project
Image credits: The Grey Muzzle Canine Hospice Project
Image credits: The Grey Muzzle Canine Hospice Project
Image credits: The Grey Muzzle Canine Hospice Project
Image credits: The Grey Muzzle Canine Hospice Project
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What do you think ?
wusah 6 years ago
That is the sweetest thing ever. I would totally do that. I just adopted a 12 year old senior Boston Terrier. It's the best thing I ever did and I will always adopt a senior and I'm think I'm going to start looking to do it this also! Now I must go SOB
Joan Zatorski 6 years ago
I'd like to know more about the criteria used regarding use of pain medication & euthanasia options. This sounds like a beautiful gift for our canines in need.
Load More Replies...
Kurtz Frausun 6 years ago
She's a blessing for these wonderful animals. I wouldn't have the emotional strength to handle this.
Maria Rohlen 6 years ago
It's heartbreaking but what a wonderful gift to the dogs. To bad their s****y owners don't take their responsibility so they could end their lives with the one's they would have given their lives for.
Devon Barnes-Balmer 6 years ago
What an amazing person. To give these poor dogs such an amazing send off is such a kindness. Truly amazing
Foxxy 6 years ago
I would guess some of it is carob but the flakes in the ice creams would be real chocolate. I initially though that at first when I saw the flakes but these dogs don’t have long to live so I presume it doesn’t matter so much. She is just focusing on making the last days, happy days.
Load More Replies...
Estee Wright 6 years ago
Ugly crying at work right now. What am amazing person with a heart of gold. MY HERO!!!
Biljana Malesevic 6 years ago
She is amazing! I couldn't do it, I want to cry just looking at this photos, if I saw them in person, I couldn't stop. I love those little faces, and I love that someone wants to make them happy.
Alusair Alustriel 6 years ago
I really admire her strength, my heart would break into million pieces each time one of them passed away. I'm too weak for such help and I'm really glad there are people out there who are capable of doing that!
Vivian “Jinxed It” R. 6 years ago
This person deserves all the respect in the world. To hell with all the humans abandoning their family members in the greatest time of needs just because it is hard. And I am sorry for the dogs who might have never had the chance to enjoy their whole lives. :(
sharron lynn parsons 6 years ago
Thanks to B.P. for giving us these heartwarming stories, we need more people like Nicola, it is painful for me to think some dogs, or cats spend their last days alone, when my dogs had to go to heaven, it broke my heart and I cried for days, I did say goodbye !!!
Emily Keryk 6 years ago
Bless your kind soul, wish I had the money to do the same. Ok, stop crying.
sharron lynn parsons 6 years ago
If I had the resources, I would adopt this idea, however what I have done is to adopt all my dogs and cats, at least I did what I was able to, each pet was incredible , so loving , as I believe they understand they have a new loving home, and they gave me so much love, they changed my life forever, I miss each one that I sent to heaven with love , please ADOPT !!!
Kathy Baylis 6 years ago
My wish is that all pets can stay with their families their whole lives. No abandonment if they’re a bit difficult, or when they get old or sick. I have three cats and a dog, all rescues and all right off the street or dumped near our house. Our oldest cat just turned 17, and we’ve had him since he was 9 weeks old. Just like the pets I had when I was single, and those my husband and I have had since we got married, our present fearsome foursome (and any future fur babies) will be with us to the day they die.
Sue Prewitt 6 years ago
We go through "Old Dog Haven" here in Washington state. Our last dog, Jack, was with us for 4 years. We will be getting another sweetie once we come back from vacation.
Jelena Obradović 6 years ago
I'm crying...I hope I can do similar thing some day when I have enough money...
Patricia Rogato 6 years ago
God bless you and all that help! My son has adopted 2 dogs one is deaf and has a very expensive skin problem, Leo, he is 13 and guess just too much for the owner, and Louie who was rescued in n Carolina from a major highway! He’s 10 and the joy of my sons life! This is important work !! Oh and Jenny his rescue cat! So sweet! Love you all! Keep up the blessed work!👍
Kris Enzweiler 6 years ago
Thank you Nicola for being there for them and seeing them off to doggy heaven. We need more people like you!
HoffLensMetalHedLovesAnimalsUK 6 years ago
I have just one word, AMAZING. I will ask to volunteer here, i will drive up in a heartbeat, amazing woman.
Lee Maidana Kuhl 6 years ago
I have such admiration for her and what she is doing. I hope that this catches on as there are so many animals who need end of care life. We always adopt older animals from our local shelter. And the 2 latest additions, one came from the pouring rain in a local park, full grown male dog, plus a less than 6 week old rat terrier dumped into my backyard on a cold January night at 10:30.
Jovy Jergens 6 years ago
I hope others take inspiration from you. Thank you for your great kindness to these loving, needful beings. It brings tears to my eyes and a lump to my throat.
Linda Matheny 6 years ago
There is no way I could do this. It's so sad I am crying. You are a true hero!!!
Allen Snell 6 years ago
There are not enough antidepressants in the world for me to be able to do that.
wusah 6 years ago
That is the sweetest thing ever. I would totally do that. I just adopted a 12 year old senior Boston Terrier. It's the best thing I ever did and I will always adopt a senior and I'm think I'm going to start looking to do it this also! Now I must go SOB
Joan Zatorski 6 years ago
I'd like to know more about the criteria used regarding use of pain medication & euthanasia options. This sounds like a beautiful gift for our canines in need.
Load More Replies... Kurtz Frausun 6 years ago
She's a blessing for these wonderful animals. I wouldn't have the emotional strength to handle this.
Maria Rohlen 6 years ago
It's heartbreaking but what a wonderful gift to the dogs. To bad their s****y owners don't take their responsibility so they could end their lives with the one's they would have given their lives for.
Devon Barnes-Balmer 6 years ago
What an amazing person. To give these poor dogs such an amazing send off is such a kindness. Truly amazing
Foxxy 6 years ago
I would guess some of it is carob but the flakes in the ice creams would be real chocolate. I initially though that at first when I saw the flakes but these dogs don’t have long to live so I presume it doesn’t matter so much. She is just focusing on making the last days, happy days.
Load More Replies... Estee Wright 6 years ago
Ugly crying at work right now. What am amazing person with a heart of gold. MY HERO!!!
Biljana Malesevic 6 years ago
She is amazing! I couldn't do it, I want to cry just looking at this photos, if I saw them in person, I couldn't stop. I love those little faces, and I love that someone wants to make them happy.
Alusair Alustriel 6 years ago
I really admire her strength, my heart would break into million pieces each time one of them passed away. I'm too weak for such help and I'm really glad there are people out there who are capable of doing that!
Vivian “Jinxed It” R. 6 years ago
This person deserves all the respect in the world. To hell with all the humans abandoning their family members in the greatest time of needs just because it is hard. And I am sorry for the dogs who might have never had the chance to enjoy their whole lives. :(
sharron lynn parsons 6 years ago
Thanks to B.P. for giving us these heartwarming stories, we need more people like Nicola, it is painful for me to think some dogs, or cats spend their last days alone, when my dogs had to go to heaven, it broke my heart and I cried for days, I did say goodbye !!!
Emily Keryk 6 years ago
Bless your kind soul, wish I had the money to do the same. Ok, stop crying.
sharron lynn parsons 6 years ago
If I had the resources, I would adopt this idea, however what I have done is to adopt all my dogs and cats, at least I did what I was able to, each pet was incredible , so loving , as I believe they understand they have a new loving home, and they gave me so much love, they changed my life forever, I miss each one that I sent to heaven with love , please ADOPT !!!
Kathy Baylis 6 years ago
My wish is that all pets can stay with their families their whole lives. No abandonment if they’re a bit difficult, or when they get old or sick. I have three cats and a dog, all rescues and all right off the street or dumped near our house. Our oldest cat just turned 17, and we’ve had him since he was 9 weeks old. Just like the pets I had when I was single, and those my husband and I have had since we got married, our present fearsome foursome (and any future fur babies) will be with us to the day they die.
Sue Prewitt 6 years ago
We go through "Old Dog Haven" here in Washington state. Our last dog, Jack, was with us for 4 years. We will be getting another sweetie once we come back from vacation.
Jelena Obradović 6 years ago
I'm crying...I hope I can do similar thing some day when I have enough money...
Patricia Rogato 6 years ago
God bless you and all that help! My son has adopted 2 dogs one is deaf and has a very expensive skin problem, Leo, he is 13 and guess just too much for the owner, and Louie who was rescued in n Carolina from a major highway! He’s 10 and the joy of my sons life! This is important work !! Oh and Jenny his rescue cat! So sweet! Love you all! Keep up the blessed work!👍
Kris Enzweiler 6 years ago
Thank you Nicola for being there for them and seeing them off to doggy heaven. We need more people like you!
HoffLensMetalHedLovesAnimalsUK 6 years ago
I have just one word, AMAZING. I will ask to volunteer here, i will drive up in a heartbeat, amazing woman.
Lee Maidana Kuhl 6 years ago
I have such admiration for her and what she is doing. I hope that this catches on as there are so many animals who need end of care life. We always adopt older animals from our local shelter. And the 2 latest additions, one came from the pouring rain in a local park, full grown male dog, plus a less than 6 week old rat terrier dumped into my backyard on a cold January night at 10:30.
Jovy Jergens 6 years ago
I hope others take inspiration from you. Thank you for your great kindness to these loving, needful beings. It brings tears to my eyes and a lump to my throat.
Linda Matheny 6 years ago
There is no way I could do this. It's so sad I am crying. You are a true hero!!!
Allen Snell 6 years ago
There are not enough antidepressants in the world for me to be able to do that.
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