介绍:
House with a Heart: Old Pets’ Haven
House with a Heart in Gaithersburg, Maryland is dedicated to the care of elderly dogs and cats. Founded in 2006 by Sher Polvinale, the shelter regularly rescues senior animals abandoned by their owners, and cares for them until the very end.
Sher and her husband had been working with rescued cats and dogs for nearly 20 years before they had the idea for House with a Heart. Over the years, they had often received calls from people who could no longer care for their aging pets.
“I just felt terrible thinking about a pet that loved and trusted its owner being given up because it was old, and not so convenient anymore,” said Sher.
The couple used their own home to set up House with a Heart, transforming it into a full-time haven for pets from all over the nation. The animals that live with them are all aging and ill. Many of them can’t walk and need wheeled devices to help them move around, but Sher ensures that every animal’s special needs are met.
The home has a total of 55 volunteers who come in at different times of the day to care for the animals around the clock — changing diapers, cleaning up, and playing various games with them. Sher herself rarely leaves the house, devoting all her time to looking after the animals. She enjoys every minute spent in the company of the animals.
Their mission is to provide the pets with a loving and caring home, where they will be allowed to live out their lives in a secure, nurturing environment.
Even after the pets’ death, they are never forgotten. Their photographs are displayed on a wall as a special tribute.
