Even the dogs that may not have much time left should have a loving home. Even though younger puppies frequently take precedence over older dogs, older dogs should have a permanent home to live out their days.
However, one woman has dedicated her life to providing these elderly shelter dogs with a loving final home, converting her house into a sanctuary that is currently home to 80 senior animals.
The 44-year-old Valerie Reid of Hermitage, Missouri, was motivated to care for elderly dogs after a life event made her aware of the challenges that animals encounter as they age.
As her father battled cancer, SWNS reported that she found it difficult to find a place for her dad’s elderly Doberman. She discovered that no other rescue would take her and that she was already over the city’s pet limit, so she was unable to adopt the dog.
Because of her age, no rescue would take her home, Valerie said, “We looked everywhere for any rescue that would help.”
At last, she managed to find the Doberman a foster home on a farm that took special care of elderly dogs. The dog had a happy ending and lived in peace for an additional year and a half in their care; Valerie found inspiration from the experience that opened her eyes.
She told SWNS, “It got me thinking about what happens to senior dogs who were once beloved pets.” “I became aware of how many dogs there were in need of assistance… It is a genuinely overlooked area in the rescue industry.
Thus, in 2017, Whispering Willows elderly Dog Sanctuary—a non-profit sanctuary for elderly dogs—was established by Valerie and her spouse, Josh. They purchased a 3,000 square foot house near Hermitage, which provided ample space for dozens of canines to pass away peacefully and comfortably.
Dogs older than 12 are accepted. She said to Ozarks First, “Sometimes special needs, sometimes hospice.” “On sometimes, all they come to us for is a place to lay their head and die.”
She clarified that a large number of the dogs had histories of cruelty and neglect, citing the discovery of Peanut, a dog, chained up amid a scorching heat wave.
She said to KY3, “When they come in, they’re very broken-hearted, emotionally or physically.”
Valerie, however, states that her intention is to provide them with a sense of normalcy and trust, as well as a secure permanent residence in which to live out their last days.
“They stay once they arrive. They’re not required to go. Since this is their permanent home, they won’t experience any more stress or loss.
“They know they’re safe when they arrive.”
Over the years, the rescue has expanded significantly; according to SWNS, the hospice currently houses 80 dogs at a time and employs 17 full-time staff members to care for the dogs.
“The sanctuary really grew and expanded beyond my wildest expectations. I adore having so many tiny hearts that reciprocate our love.
According to Valerie, over the years, they have taken care of 790 pets. Because of their advanced age, the dogs frequently die—roughly five of them perish each week, while the same number are adopted.
Valerie takes delight in providing these creatures with a nice environment to pass away, even if her profession can be depressing at times.
“Our goal is to assist individuals in getting ready for their final moments; none of us can predict the future,” she stated to SWNS. We get to bid our seniors farewell in style and with affection. While loving and caring for children is an honor, it hurts nonetheless.
Pianist Always Leaves a Free Ticket for a Special Guest and Breaks Down in Tears the Day Someone Finally Takes It
Miley could listen to Ian’s music for hours. However, as she finds herself falling in love with the young pianist, she learns about Nora, a woman for whom he has been reserving a ticket at every performance. When the ticket is finally claimed, Ian is forced to confront his past.
Ian sat alone at the grand piano, the faint echoes of his notes filling the empty concert hall.
His fingers danced over the keys with precision, yet his movements carried a natural fluidity, as if the music were flowing straight from his soul.
Each note lingered in the air, a delicate thread weaving through the silence. His eyes, nearly closed, gave him the appearance of being lost in a dream.
At the entrance, Miley stood quietly, her breath catching each time Ian struck a particularly moving chord.
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She felt a warmth in her chest, an admiration that made her heart beat just a little faster.
The way he poured his heart into the music mesmerized her. She didn’t dare move, not wanting to interrupt the magic.
A soft shuffle of footsteps broke the silence. Rosa, the kind-hearted older woman who had worked at the theater for decades, approached Miley with a knowing smile.
“He’s good, isn’t he?” Rosa whispered, her voice barely audible, as if speaking louder would break the spell.
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Miley nodded quickly, then stumbled over her words.
“He’s very good… I mean, he plays very well. That’s what I meant.”
Rosa chuckled softly, her eyes twinkling.
“Don’t be shy, sweetheart. You’re young—this is the time for such feelings.”
Miley’s cheeks flushed a deep pink.
“You’ve got it all wrong. I just like how he plays, that’s all.”
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“Sure, sure,” Rosa teased, her smile widening.
As Ian’s final note faded into the air, he exhaled deeply, turning to look around the hall.
Spotting Rosa and Miley, he broke into a wide smile and waved, jogging over to them.
“Great performance, Ian, as always,” Rosa praised warmly.
“Thank you, Rosa,” Ian replied. Then, almost as an afterthought, he added, “Did you remember to set aside the ticket?”
“As always, Ian—one ticket for Nora,” Rosa said with a reassuring nod.
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Ian’s face softened, a look of quiet gratitude flickering across his features. “Thank you,” he said sincerely before heading out of the building.
Curiosity burned in Miley’s chest.
“What’s this ticket about?” she asked Rosa.
Rosa leaned closer, her voice lowering as if sharing a secret. “As long as I’ve known Ian, he always sets aside one ticket before every performance. It’s always for Nora.”
Miley frowned slightly.
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“Who is she? His mom? Sister? Girlfriend?” Her voice wavered with unease.
Rosa shrugged.
“I don’t know. She’s never come to any of his performances. But Ian keeps leaving a ticket for her, never explaining who she is.”
“That’s so sad,” Miley murmured, her heart aching for Ian.
“Yes, it is,” Rosa agreed. Then, with a small smile, she added, “But maybe it’s for the best—keeps a bit of mystery in his performances.”
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Miley nodded, but her thoughts lingered on the name: Nora. Who was she, and why did she hold such a place in Ian’s heart?
Miley stood frozen in front of Ian’s dressing room door, her palms damp with nervous sweat.
She wrung her hands together, muttering under her breath, rehearsing the words that refused to come out smoothly.
“Just say it. ‘Ian, do you want to go for a walk?’ It’s not that hard,” she whispered, but her voice trembled even in the quiet.
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Taking a shaky breath, she straightened her shoulders and stepped forward, her hand reaching for the door.
Before she could knock, it swung open. Ian stood there, his hand still on the doorknob, his surprised eyes meeting hers.
“Miley… Hi,” he said, his voice warm but puzzled.
“Hi, Ian,” she replied, her throat suddenly dry. She swallowed hard, her mind scrambling for the words she had practiced.
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“Is something wrong?” Ian asked, concern flickering across his face. “Did you need something?”
“No… I mean, yes. Yes, I did.” Miley’s voice was unsteady, and she hated how unsure she sounded.
“Listen, Ian, I’ve been wanting to ask you something for a long time.”
Ian tilted his head, curious. “Ask me what?”
She hesitated, then blurted out, “Would you like to… I mean, do you want to, after your performance…”
“Do I want to what?” he prompted gently.
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“Go to the park with me,” she said quickly, her cheeks flushing. “For a walk. With me.”
Ian stared at her for a moment, and she felt her heart thudding loudly in her chest.
He opened his mouth, then closed it, looking thoughtful. Finally, he sighed, and his expression turned somber.
“I’m sorry, Miley. I’d really like to, but I can’t.”
Her brow furrowed. “I don’t understand… Why not?”
“I can’t say,” he said softly, avoiding her gaze.
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“Is it because of Nora?” she asked, the name slipping out before she could stop it.
Ian flinched slightly, his jaw tightening.
“You don’t understand… I’m sorry, the performance is starting soon. I need to prepare.”
Before she could say anything else, Ian brushed past her, walking briskly down the hall.
Miley stood there, her heart sinking, tears threatening to spill as his words echoed in her mind.
She sat on the cold bench near the cloakroom, her face buried in her hands. Quiet sobs shook her shoulders as she tried to make sense of everything.
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Her tears blurred the familiar surroundings, but she barely noticed. All she could think about was Ian—his music, his distant smile, and his refusal.
From across the room, Rosa noticed the young woman and hurried over. Her soft footsteps were comforting in the otherwise silent space.
“Miley, dear, what happened?” Rosa asked gently, sitting beside her. Her warm hand rested lightly on Miley’s shoulder.
“I’m such a fool. A complete fool,” Miley blurted out between sobs. “Why did I ever think I deserved this?”
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Rosa frowned, her kind eyes filled with concern.
“Don’t say that! You’re a smart and beautiful young woman. Tell me what happened.”
Miley sniffled, wiping her face with her sleeve.
“I talked to Ian,” she began, her voice shaking. “I wanted to ask him out.”
“And what did he say?” Rosa asked carefully.
“He said he’d like to but couldn’t,” Miley said, her voice breaking.
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“He didn’t explain anything. He just walked away! It’s all because of that Nora! But she doesn’t even care about him! She doesn’t even come to his performances! And I do! I appreciate him!”
“Oh, sweetie,” Rosa said, her voice soothing. “Don’t be upset. It’s not the end of the world. You’ll find your true love.”
Miley shook her head, her tears slowing but her resolve hardening. “No!” she said firmly. “I’m going to fight for him.”
Before Rosa could respond, Miley stood, wiped her face, and marched toward Ian’s dressing room.
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Determination burned in her eyes as she reached the door. She knocked softly. No answer. Carefully, she turned the knob and stepped inside.
The room was neat, almost too neat, as though Ian had been trying to keep everything in perfect order to hide the chaos within.
Miley scanned the desk, her gaze landing on a leather-bound journal. Her hands trembled as she picked it up.
“This isn’t right,” she whispered to herself, but the thought of understanding Ian pushed her forward.
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She opened the journal and flipped through the pages, searching for the name that had haunted her thoughts: Nora.
Her breath hitched when she found it. The words leaped off the page:
“I’ve been invited to audition at the theater. They want to hear me play and evaluate my skills. I didn’t want to go—I didn’t see the point in embarrassing myself again—but Nora thought differently. She convinced me to go. I don’t know what I’d do without her…”
Miley’s eyes widened as she read. She turned another page:
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“I got the part! I don’t know how it happened, but they want me to play there. An agent even took my number and promised to set up performances for me. I can’t believe it—it’s all thanks to Nora!”
She kept flipping until she reached the final page. Her heart stopped when she saw the yellowed newspaper clipping glued to it.
The headline read: “After a tragic fire, 26-year-old Nora Gates has passed away…”
Miley’s hands fell to her sides as tears streamed down her cheeks. Now she understood.
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Nora wasn’t some distant, uncaring figure—she was Ian’s late girlfriend, the woman who had believed in him when he didn’t believe in himself.
Miley gently placed the journal back on the desk and left the room, her heart heavy with the weight of her discovery.
The theater buzzed with quiet anticipation as the lights dimmed and Ian prepared to take his place at the piano.
His heart raced, not from stage fright, but from Rosa’s words just moments earlier.
“Ian, someone finally took your ticket,” she had whispered.
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“What!? That can’t be!” he had exclaimed, his voice sharp with disbelief.
Rosa had only shrugged, her expression a mix of curiosity and amusement, before walking away.
The melody filled the room, soft yet powerful, like waves crashing and retreating.
Still, his eyes darted toward the reserved seat every few minutes. At first, it was empty, just as it always had been.
A pang of relief—or was it disappointment?—settled in his chest.
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Then, partway through a piece, he caught sight of someone sitting there. It was Miley.
His breath hitched as he stared, stunned.
Miley’s face, partially hidden behind the bouquet of flowers she held, looked at him with both fear and determination. Ian’s heart ached in a way he hadn’t felt in years.
Tears blurred his vision, but he kept playing, pouring every ounce of emotion into the music. By the time the final note rang out, the audience erupted into applause.
Miley waited for the crowd to settle before approaching him. She handed him the flowers, her voice trembling.
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“Ian, it was wonderful. Thank you for the performance.”
“You took the ticket,” he said, his voice low and uncertain.
“Yes… I’m sorry. It was for Nora, right?.”
Ian nodded slowly, his expression unreadable. “Yes.”
“But Nora is no longer here, Ian,” Miley said gently. “I know what she did for you, and I know how much you loved her.”
“You don’t understand,” he said, his voice cracking.
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“I do,” Miley replied, her eyes glistening. “I’m sorry, but I read a few pages of your journal. She wanted you to live, Ian. To follow your dreams. To be happy.”
Ian lowered his gaze, the weight of her words sinking in.
“But she’s gone…”
Miley stepped closer.
“But you’re still here. Do you think she would want your life to stop with hers?”
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For a long moment, Ian said nothing, the silence between them thick with unspoken pain. Finally, Miley placed the flowers in his hands.
“You’re a wonderful person, Ian. Please, allow yourself to be happy.”
She turned to leave, but his voice stopped her. “Wait!”
Miley spun around, her eyes wide.
“I want to take a walk with you in the park,” Ian said, his voice quiet but sure.
A small, hopeful smile spread across Miley’s face as she nodded.
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If you enjoyed this story, read this one: Teenage boy Charlie struggles to understand why his peers receive expensive presents while he’s left listening to his mother’s excuses. Then he discovers that his mother had prepared 15 gifts for his future birthdays. But after learning the reason behind it, he finally realizes what he truly wants.
This piece is inspired by stories from the everyday lives of our readers and written by a professional writer. Any resemblance to actual names or locations is purely coincidental. All images are for illustration purposes only. Share your story with us; maybe it will change someone’s life.
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