The ANGELS

When we started rescuing medical needs beagles and other breeds from overcrowded and understaffed shelters, we witnessed the incredible amount of abuse and neglect that is rampant in this country.  So many of these sweet dogs were denied even basic veterinary care, quality food, clean water and adequate shelter.  Many of these dogs came to us at the very end of their lives.  In some cases, with proper medical care, supplements, food, and lots of love, we could give these dogs more quality time and extend their lives in meaningful ways.  In other cases, no amount of veterinary intervention could help, and we had to hold them tight as we helped them cross the Rainbow Bridge.  But regardless of whether the dogs were in our care for hours, days, weeks or years, we loved them all and gave them everything they needed.  Every “Angel” here has touched our lives and has a permanent place in our hearts. 

In Loving Memory of Daisy Mae
​Donate In Her Memory to Help Another

With a face so fine it melted everyone’s hearts, Daisy Mae was the sweetest of senior survivors. Believed to have been a 12-year-old, possible puppy mill mama when she arrived, she knew only hardship and cruelty, with a body that told the “tail” and an indomitable spirit that took your breath away. She was deaf, with severe dental disease, with tumors on her eyelids and mammary glands, a significant heart murmur, a significantly enlarged heart, a leaky mitral valve, and congestive heart failure; she also had a mass on her bladder wall, but thankfully, not the gene for bladder cancer. She lived and thrived for 4 years here, on medications that helped with all of her medical issues.

Soaking up love and attention like a sponge, she had an impish sparkle in her eyes and astounded us daily with her impeccable manners, unbridled enthusiasm, and remarkable kindness. She especially enjoyed car rides, and, not surprisingly, she was the perfect passenger, sitting snugly on her caretaker’s lap. And although she was so small that she could barely see out the window, she rested her head on our arms as we drove through the country.
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Daisy Mae outlived everyone's expectations in every way. She was the beginning of a new era here at The Sanctuary as the first Beagle to arrive as a lifetime resident. Because of Daisy Mae, many more special needs Beagles and other breeds came to live out their lives in comfort, surrounded by much love and receiving all the medical care that they needed. 

Daisy's passing left a huge hole in our hearts, but her spirit will always be with us. Because of her, we have been able to save many more. She's looking over all of us now and urging us to continue in our mission. A donation made in her memory will help realize her dream.

Buttons was a mixed breed hunting dog who was severely abused in his past life and was never able to fully overcome the physical and mental effects of that abuse. We did everything we could to bring him peace and in the end, his symptoms became unbearable for him. We miss him dearly and wish that his abusers could know just how badly their actions toward him were.

​Roscoe, a senior greyhound mix, came to us with a spindle cell sarcoma on his right elbow that was malignant. He also had cataracts and was completely blind in his right eye and losing vision quickly in his left. His back was plagued with spondylosis, an age related wearing of the discs in his back. He developed a heart murmur, high blood pressure, and was in the early stages of kidney disease. Roscoe was a trooper through all of the chemotherapy, immunotherapy, and other treatments he was receiving from both our regular vet and a board certified internal medicine and oncology specialist. He took his twice daily handful of pills and supplements without complaint. But, Roscoe’s old body was failing, he was in pain and his tumor was overtaking his leg. It was time to let him fly free. Roscoe touched many hearts and he is dearly missed.

​Andy Panda was only with us for a little over 7 months, but he had a huge impact on us. He was our first greyhound mix, the first we were able to pull from a county shelter, the first to help us learn about laser therapy and other types of treatments for the chronically ill. He taught us much about hospice care. We never really knew how old he was but we knew he was very old. We never knew anything about his background, where he was born, whether he ever took part in the field trials in the rural areas of Ohio, or whether he was ever loved in his former life. But, we were so fortunate that he spent his last days with us.

Jenny was another victim – of bad backyard breeding, of abuse, of indifference. She tried so hard to find comfort, but her body was always on red alert. Although she bonded with her female caretaker, she saw all others - both human and canine – as threats to her very existence. As she got older, neurological problems plagued her and she could no longer go on. She passed in the arms of the only human she trusted. We hold her near and dear to our hearts, forever.

With arms open wide, we welcomed sweet Horton into our Sanctuary. But upon visiting the vet, we were devastated to discover that he had blinding cataracts, a loud heart murmur, significant arthritis, along with inoperable, untreatable and terminal bladder cancer that had grown steadily and stealthily inside him for more than a year. He NEVER received the proper care. Sadly, his pain was too great and his time had come to journey across Rainbow Bridge.

Horton did not die alone and his remains will be cherished by those who loved him. His memory will live on in the hearts of his hospice caretakers and he will never be dumped or neglected or mistreated again. He was only with us for 3 short weeks, but his life mattered. 

Matilda came to us in a fragile state and we knew that her time left was limited. Disappointed by so many humans in her earlier life, her legacy turned out to be one of community, of caring and of kindness. So many people from all over the country came together to save her. In these troubling times, where hate and violence have reached epidemic levels, it took a little 18 pound, blind, deaf and wobbly senior beagle to bring a sense of purpose and love to those of us who care. Matilda’s time left was too short, but the effect on her saviors was profound.

Oh, Ozzy, how we had hoped that we could have given you more time. If only your previous owners would have helped you. If only the cancer wasn’t so advanced and so aggressive. You were a trouper through it all and we will never forget your sweet nature. You were a role model for us humans and taught us how to endure. We will honor your memory by helping more cancer Beagles like you.

Otis, our 11-pound King of Bounce, image of perseverance in the worst of odds, lover of life (and food), and symbol of what the core of our hospice program stands for, crossed the Rainbow Bridge. Outliving everyone’s expectations by 1 ½ years, Otis’s body finally wore out. He lost his inimitable ability to bounce back from disease and his disfigured body could no longer do his happy dance bounce. He told us that it was his time to die and peacefully and quietly accepted our help in crossing over, surrounded by those who loved him. The tears are flowing, and our hearts are heavy but Otis sent us sign that he’s where he needs to be now and he will always be a part of us.

We knew that Norman was already on borrowed time when he arrived with aggressive mast cell cancer and that we would do everything we could to help him have the highest quality of life possible for as long as possible. At first, we thought he’d be okay for a long while. His brightness, energy, and love touched our hearts and souls. But when the tumors returned so quickly after his second surgery, we knew that his remaining time was short. It broke our hearts to watch the tumors grow and grow and grow, knowing that this disease would kill him soon. Yet Norman never flinched, never let on that he was dying of cancer, until a new hound came to us in grave need. Somehow, at that point, Norman knew that he could now leave us and that our hearts would start to heal as we cared for the new boy. There will never be another Norman, yet we see him still in everything we do at The Sanctuary. He is gone, but never forgotten, and always in our hearts and souls.

Darling Aurora, your time with us was too short as your aggressive cancer was ravishing your old, tired body. But you taught us how to savor every moment of life and you showed us how animals can give unconditional love. Thank you for those lessons. Thank you for your love. Your spirit lives on and you will be in our hearts forever.

After a life of horrendous abuse and neglect, Radar spent his last year and a half here, where he knew love and kindness. He would light up and wiggle his broken body every time we told him that he was "A Fine Pooch!" We will always remember Radar and will continue to tell him that he's "A Fine Pooch!"

We still cry for you, Albert.  We cry for all the dogs that have been dumped and abandoned like you.  The dogs that wonder why their humans never came for them.  The dogs that are hurting from neglect, abuse and indifference.  What a sad world we now live in.

Thank you, Albert, for sharing the last hours of your life with us, for touching our hearts and souls.  Although we are filled with grief and hurt and sadness, you helped to remind us of the joy that comes from connecting with another living being.  You taught us to persevere through the pain and to look ahead rather than dwell on the past. 

Thank you, Lacey, for bringing us the joy of your music, the warmth of your heart and the deep connection to your soul.  Thank you for being a part of our lives and for helping us to sing again. We miss you every minute of every day.

We often called him "Pistol Petey" as he had a knack for making his mark on our lives, everyday. He came to us deaf, but never passed up an opportunity to make his voice heard and he lived his life his way. Petey also loved to sleep and he was a deep, deep sleeper. Being a Beagle, he also loved to eat, until the very end.  Rest in peace, Petey.

For the first 13 years of your life, humans tried hard to dim your sparkle but you survived the most horrific conditions imaginable.  We were so honored to be able to care for you until you lost your battle with cancer.  Your sparkle will always shine brightly in our hearts.  Thank you, Diamond, for being a part of our lives. ​

Oh, Maya, humans failed you in so many ways.  Your body was riddled with cancer, and when you arrived, it was too late for surgery, too late for chemotherapy, too late to save you.  We tried so hard to keep you comfortable, but after a few days, we knew that the only thing left to give you was a peaceful passing. You will always be a part of us, always.