I’ve been asked many times about what I do for special needs dogs on death row in shelters, and while this may not be the most comfortable topic for everyone, I believe it’s worth sharing. Sometimes, the most meaningful acts are the ones that don’t make sense at first, but those are the ones that change lives—both for the animals and for us. If you ever have the chance to experience this, I promise it will change your life.
When there are terminally ill dogs on death row, I choose to do something that may seem unconventional to many. Knowing that treating these dogs could cause them even more pain and suffering, I make the decision not to pursue treatment. However, I also choose not to leave them to die alone in a shelter. Instead, I bring them into my home. I adopt them into my heart, and I give them a taste of the love they’ve never known. I spend their final days giving them the happiness and comfort they deserve—before I say goodbye.
Annie’s Story: A Heartbreaking Goodbye
In September 2010, I was introduced to Annie. Annie had lived a life of torment. She had been beaten, starved, and neglected from the day she was born, and eventually, she was abandoned at a shelter with little hope for survival. As she sat there, waiting on death row, she was terrified and alone, crying out for help. She was gravely ill, and the shelter reached out to me, asking if I was willing to take her in. Without hesitation, I said, “Yes, I’m on my way.”
When I arrived to meet Annie, it was immediately obvious that she was in terrible shape. She was severely underweight, coughing, struggling to breathe, and suffering from numerous skin and eye infections. After taking her to the vet, the diagnosis was devastating: Annie had advanced heartworm disease, congestive heart failure, and several other life-threatening conditions. The vet told me that treatment was unlikely to succeed and would cause her excruciating pain. The option of euthanasia was presented, but I couldn’t make that decision just yet. I told the vet, “Not yet. I’ll bring her back next week. She needs to know love before she goes to Heaven.”
And so, I brought Annie into my home.
A Week of Love: Making Every Moment Count
When I saw Annie, my heart broke. She was so broken, so frail, so unsure of whether she could trust. But in the midst of my own sorrow, something amazing happened. Annie, a dog who had never known compassion, walked over to me and licked my tears away, as if to say, “Don’t cry. It’ll be okay.”
In that moment, I made a vow. No more tears. No more sorrow. Annie deserved to know nothing but love from that moment on.
For the next week, Annie lived like she had never lived before. She slept in my bed, ate the finest food, played as much as her frail body could handle, and reveled in belly rubs on the couch. For the first time in her life, she knew what it felt like to be loved. She was home.
We spent each day by Rudy’s grave, talking to him. I told Rudy about Annie, and Annie about Rudy. I told them they’d be together soon, and I asked Rudy to take care of her. Annie loved our talks with Rudy. She loved everything that was filled with love. It was all new to her.
The Final Goodbye: Letting Go with Love
As Annie’s health continued to decline, it became clear that the time was coming when she could no longer stay with us. When the pain became unbearable for her, I took her back to the vet for one final act of kindness. I stayed by her side, holding her paw and comforting her as the vet administered the injection that would end her suffering.
With her head resting on my lap, Annie peacefully passed away, knowing that she was loved. I whispered to her, “It’s okay, baby girl. You can go now. You were everything to me. You’ll never really be gone because you’ll live forever in my heart. Thank you for letting me love you.”
As the needle entered her vein, Annie’s eyes locked with mine one last time, and in that moment, I felt her thank me. “Thank you for saving me. Thank you for loving me. Thank you for showing me what life could be like,” she seemed to say.
Before she took her final breath, I whispered, “When you get to Heaven, ask for Rudy. Tell him I sent you.”
And then, she was gone.
A Message of Compassion and Love
Annie’s story is one of both heartbreaking sorrow and incredible love. It’s a reminder that there are animals who need us, who have never known a kind touch or a loving word. By offering them comfort, care, and affection in their final days, we give them something precious they may have never had—a chance to feel what it’s like to be loved.
This journey isn’t for everyone, but if you ever find yourself in a position to offer comfort to a soul like Annie, I can promise you it will change your heart forever.
