ABOUT

Our Story

Here is the story of how we came to be. It started with one senior dog followed by the unconditional love of another. Both paved the way to discovering our purpose and finding room in our hearts and home for many, many more.

In 2003, I was in search of a companion for my dog, Sasha. At the shelter, I was introduced to many different dogs that may have fit well. That was until I saw him...a little terrier mix curled up on his little bed. His bed was covered in pictures of dogs wearing cowboy hats. He was shaking profusely and did not raise his head when we were near. I asked the shelter staff for information on him. All they knew was that he was about 12 years old with poor vision and poor hearing. Although he was not the ideal candidate for a playmate for Sasha, something in me told me I could not leave him there alone. We soon realized that Fred was indeed quite sick. Liver failure took him away from me a short 3 months later. He was able to live his last days roaming the yard, feeling the grass under his feet, and cuddling on the couch. He fell asleep the night before Christmas, on his little cowboy bed, in a warm home where he was loved.

Then along came Sonny. He was not what I was planning on. He had been rehomed numerous times. He had kennel stress and had little interest in me. But somehow a shelter staff member convinced me to take him home for a week or so as a "trial period". He jumped into the car and I remember thinking... this dog is wild and I am not ready for this. That is when he sat down and rested his head in my lap as if to say, "I will try to be a good boy". I shortly learned of all of the behavioral issues that caused him to be repeat guest in the shelter. But something about him made me want to figure out how to work on it. I wanted to help him be the best version of himself and to protect him at all costs. Sonny was challenging in many ways, but the lessons he taught me were worth it. Most of all, I learned about the unconditional love of a dog and the impact they have on our lives. He was a quirky dog. He was my shadow. He was my EVERYTHING. Through some of the darkest days I ever faced, he was there.

He left me in December 2014 and I lost a big piece of my heart that day. But I am grateful. Because of Sonny and Fred before him, I learned my purpose. I learned that I wanted to help the underdogs. I knew that his legacy would be weaved into my service of helping animals. And luckily, my husband feels the same.

So here we are.

With the support of so many, we have been fortunate enough to share our lives with many dogs, cats, rats, guinea pigs, mice and tortoises. We continue to bring animals into our home to live out their lives in comfort.

We will tell the stories of the sweet souls that we have had the privilege of loving and those who are currently here with us. We hope that these stories will inspire people to give seniors and underdogs a chance. We hope to continue our mission to help more animals who are homeless or ill, so that they have a safe and loving home for their final chapter.

Sonny's Mission

Our mission is to provide a safe haven for senior animals or those with medical needs who find themselves without a home. We will welcome them as a member of the family so that they feel all of the love and comfort of their new forever home.

Sonny's Senior Sanctuary shall:

Offer a loving, nurturing home for senior animals to live out their days
Work with each individual animal to understand their specific needs
Provide health care necessary to treat chronic illness or to promote comfort at the end of life
Provide general health maintenance for the all of the animals in our care
Offer exercise or enrichment based on each animal's needs
Advocate on the behalf of all senior animals in any way we can