Grateful Hearts Senior Dog Rescue & Sanctuary

05/25/2026

05/22/2026

The golden brothers and their fommy, would like to thank Jesse and Paula at Jesse's Dog Grooming, for the extra attention and lovings they gave to Russell and Apollo. Russell enjoyed his bath so much (see photo) and Apollo covered Paula with kisses and made her cry with his gentleness.
They looked so beautiful strutting out of there. The rescue dogs love going here. Even the biters love Jesse

05/21/2026

People always joke that dog people are crazy, but if you really think about it… dog lovers might understand love better than most people ever will.
Because every single person who has ever truly loved a dog understands one painful truth from the very beginning: their time with us is never long enough.
And yet we still choose it.
We bring them home as tiny puppies, scared rescues, seniors nobody wanted, medical cases, or broken souls that the world gave up on. We rearrange our schedules for them. We spend money we probably shouldn’t. We lose sleep. We cancel plans. We clean messes. We sit on floors during emergencies. We stay awake all night when they’re sick. We celebrate the smallest victories like they’re our own children learning to walk.
We watch them grow gray in the face while we wish time would slow down just a little.
And the hardest part? Dogs never live long enough for the people who love them.
That’s the deal every dog person silently accepts.
One day the leash hangs there untouched.
The bed in the corner is empty.
The sound of nails on the floor disappears.
The routine you built your life around suddenly stops.
And it breaks people.
But somehow… after all the heartbreak, after swearing “I can never do this again,” dog people open their hearts right back up to another one.
Not because losing them doesn’t hurt.
Not because they’re replaceable.
And not because we forgot the ones before them.
We do it because the love mattered more than the pain.
Every dog leaves something behind:
A habit.
A memory.
A lesson.
A piece of themselves attached to your soul forever.
And maybe that’s what makes dog people different. We willingly love something fragile and temporary with our entire hearts anyway. In a world where people are terrified of pain, dogs teach us that some things are worth hurting for.
A dog doesn’t care what you drive, what your bank account looks like, how popular you are, or what kind of day you had. They love you when you’re successful, and they love you when you’re falling apart. Some people go their whole lives never experiencing love that pure.
So no… dog people aren’t crazy.
They just understand that even a short life filled with unconditional love can be more meaningful than a lifetime without it. 🐾❤️

05/21/2026

Thank you so much Susan W

05/20/2026

Thinking tonight there will be an extra special shining star in the dark sky. Our sweet little Jules let us know she was ready-her fommy never wanted this day to come :(

In February 2020, Jules photos flashed before us in her temporary home at the Richland County Dog Shelter. She needed some serious intervention as her former owners "neglect" reached some mighty high levels. Raw skin nearly head to toe, ears as bad as ears could be infected, teeth cracked, infected, bleeding, and a serious distrust of humans in general. I mean, who could blame her.

Praying we didn't bite off more than we could chew, we reached out for this hot mess, and the following day, Jules came into the sanctuary, safe in her crate, for her protection and mine (she was not a happy camper at all). For a week, she stayed upstairs in an empty bedroom, crate door open, so when she was ready, we were as well, ready to welcome her to the family. This was a huge step when she joined us.

This poor kiddo had so many vet visits. Numerous medicated baths to soothe her skin and heal her raw patches, she lost 23 toofers in her dental, and had so many ear cleanings. Sent out a culture since nothing seemed to be helping and turned out, Jules was resistant to all medications but baytril. So for the first year, she got weekly deep cleanings at the vet, and then the next five years, fommy would gently clean her ears daily, sometimes twice a day. There was not a single day huge chunks of hair, black gunk, who knows what else, didn't come from those cleanings. This poor dog suffered horribly in her former home, that's for sure.

But, she ended up being as happy as she could possibly be. She never actively sought attention, unless it was mealtime and raw bone night. She had a voracious appetite. She LOVED the biggest and softest dog beds. She loved Cap and tried to sleep by him every night. She never bothered anyone.

She was 12 when she joined the rescue so was teetering around 18 years old when she decided to leave us. Sometime last night, she had a stroke or seizure, and lay prone this morning unable to move. I wrapped her in the softest blanket I had, held her on the way to the clinic, and she looked at me, silently thanking me I think. I hope. She really seemed at peace and wasn't suffering. These kiddos expect me to be strong always and it's so daggone hard sometimes, not to break down and just scream the unfairness of it all. She deserved 12 years of happiness after 12 years of suffering, but six it was.

Her passing was peaceful and quick. We're all going to miss her here.

I'll be looking up at the sky tonight. Then I'm going to cry.

05/18/2026

Dollbaby Sassy, also called Sasssquatch, Sassypoo, SassYou...checking in. One of the best rescues from our wonderful friends at the Pike County Pound. Her owner, for no good reason-simply did not want her anymore-dumped this 20 year old teacup chi there.
This was Oct 2025 so she's likely 21 now. And I will never understand why. She lives up to her name and will stand up to the biggest here. Health wise, her panels weren't bad at all for her age. She loves to be held with her tummy facing you so she can get belly rubs galore, and will let you know when to stop. Sleeps with fommy every single night. Tells me when she needs to potty cause she needs help getting off the bed. Has a great appetite. Has the cuteness factor in spades. I wouldn't trade her for the world and cannot understand how anyone tires of such a wonderful companion. But glad she did since I'm thoroughly enjoying everything that is Sassy. Yes, someday she will break this heart that's been broke 100's of times. Worth it. Can't have love without accepting inevitable loss.
Dogs have feelings. I'm sure she wondered why she was in a shelter, what she did wrong, why she lost her home. Thankfully, she embraced her new life and beginning, but we have had some that struggled with the why. The others here are wonderful making the newbies feel welcome so I'm sure that helps alot.
Please consider those seniors in the shelter that also did nothing wrong. Best.....dogs.......ever. And so grateful to know someone cares.

05/17/2026

🎯💯💯💯

05/17/2026

Lazy Sunday's from a semi-feral's point of view.....comfy much?
Beats surviving on your own, hands down!
We love our Ocho/Ocheepoo/Ocheewankenobi

05/16/2026

Some of our new friends and followers of the rescue may not know "Stuey's Story"...although the rescue had been around for a few years prior to Stu, he became the poster boy and lit our lighted path to hospice, once he came to us.

This tribute video a friend made, says it all.

Losing him left me permanently broken inside. I LOVE this tribute but can't watch it without a flood of tears.

All Stuey wanted, was love. We will honor him forever

This video is to celebrate the life of Stuey who was abandoned in Ohio and found by his guardian angel Dona, founder of Grateful Hearts Senior Dog Rescue. Ru...