Sandy's House will hold kennels for 20 dogs. One day a week they will showcased for adoptions in a home environment. Otherwise appointments can be made to be with the dog of your choice. Otherwise they will have a home for the rest of their natural lives.

Sandy was know as #71616 at the Animal Services Center of Mesilla Valley. she had been rescued by a private citizen and ACO from the Rio Grande River. she was stuck in the mud and weak since she was a senior dog. how she got in the middle of the river will remain a mystery since Pharaoh is not talking about how he found her. She was then taken to animal services to wait the 

required 3 days.

Animal Rescue was contacted on Tuesday to see if they had room and they said they would check since Sandy was a large dog. No reply so I went on Friday to see how she was doing. I had to fill out the paperwork for possible adoption in order to see her in person.  I was led thru the maze to the back where she was in a kennel with two other dogs. she didn't look happy or comfortable. I asked if they could determine how old she was. I was told about 10 years old. That is the age at which I take animals into my "hospice care".  I asked to see her in the outdoor meet area. what i saw was a dog who was having trouble with her back legs but generally she was alert and smelling the new environment. 

Since i have reached my capacity for dogs, I couldn't take her with me. If I had known they would put her to sleep the next day, I would have taken the chance and adopted her. I went home to figure out how I would get a large dog up and down my stairs. there are only 3 stairs but a dog who is comprised and dying would find it hard to go outside. I was not able physically to carry the dog. I finally thought I could use my master bedroom and build a ramp. I also thought about what would I do with her body when she died. Both of these reason kept me up all night trying to come up with a solution. 

By morning I had decided I needed to get her out of shelter and I was even willing to use all the money I had available to rent a place to take her but the house wouldn't be ready for 5 more days. I finally got permission from the rescue to take her from the shelter under their name. Since it was late I decided to wait until the next day.

I woke up that Sunday excited that I would be able to help the dog. that is when I gave her a name - Sandy- so I would follow through with the challenges this dog would present. Unfortunately when I got there I was given the information that she had been put to sleep on Saturday morning. i was devastated to say the least. I took the collar and leash with a heavy heart back to the car. I was angry with myself that I hadn't taken her Friday. 

In Hospice you only expect the patient to live for 6 months with palliative care but there is always a chance they will come back to life and extend their life. that was one of my greatest fear that she might be able to live for 2 more years and how was I going to be able to care for her and the other animals at my house. Big decisions that had no easy answer for me.

If our community had an animal hospice program and pet cemetery, we would be able to help people cope with their pets in the last act of love for them. I hope to get an aqua cremation unit so we can bring life to barren land and have tiny houses that people can care for animals until the end. A win-win for everyone. I envision 5 non-profits taking half of the property to bury the special animals that died in their care in the green cemetery. The rest of the property can be set aside for community use.

I never want to question my decision again but I need help to purchase and maintain the property until it becomes financially stable (about 2 years) I am working with local businesses who will be supporting the 5 non-profits with 10% of the money raised for the property. Please look at the perks to see who they are and purchase their services or products.

Thank you for reading the long story and as I tell everyone there is more to the story but you have to come see me in person to hear the "rest of the story"