According to the ASPCA, approximately 3.3 million dogs and 3.2 million cats arrive at animal shelters every year. Despite a decline in the number of animals arriving at shelters, a staggering 670,000 dogs and 860,000 cats are euthanized each year. (1)

Often the reason for dog abandonment is age. This means they are left alone to spend their final days in a shelter. These animals are left bewildered and frightened after knowing a loving family for the majority of their life. (2)

One woman in the United Kingdom is changing how these abandoned old-timers spend their final days with her self-run dog hospice.

Grey Muzzle Canine Hospice Project

Nicola Coyle’s Grey Muzzle Canine Hospice Project provides a home for dogs who are estimated to have six months or less to live. Dogs receive the love and care they deserve. The dogs spend their final days eating decadent foods including ice cream, steak, and fish and chips. They receive the love and pampering they deserve. She treats the dogs like royalty so they don’t die alone in a kennel. (3)

Complete Animals Lover

Nicola, a retired nurse, provides a loving dog hospice for up to two dogs at a time. Nicola says her incentive is simply that she is a “complete animal lover.” (3)

“I just can’t bear the thought of them spending their final days, weeks or months without the love they deserve,” says Nicola. “It can be really tough, but ultimately it’s so rewarding when you can make those times special.” (3) She also says, in some cases, her home is the only place the dogs have ever known real love.

A Trip To The Pub

For Nicola, it’s all about showing the dogs the best days of their lives. “We’ll also take them down to the local pub – it’s really dog-friendly, and they’ll get a steak dinner too,” she says. She invests as much as £500 (about $620USD) on each dog to ensure they are comfortable and happy at her dog hospice. In most cases, she spends her own money on her charges, but she also holds fundraisers. (3)

Too Old Or Ill

Many of the dogs had a good life. Their families deserted them because they became too old or ill. Some, however, were breeders or guard dogs. Once they age or suffer from illness, they no longer serve a purpose.

Defying The Odds

Although most of the dogs have less than six months to live, some have lived well beyond that at Nicola’s dog hospice. She spent a year with one of her special friends, completely defying the odds. The shortest time a canine spent with her was two weeks. (3)

“I don’t know when their birthdays are, so we throw all of them a birthday party,” she explains. (3)

In Memory of Dougie

She named the hospice after the first dog she took into her home. She found Dougie the bulldog abandoned outside a veterinary surgery one morning. He was very ill, suffering from lymphoma. “He had the best temperament and just wanted to feel loved and safe,” says Nicola. (3)

Nicola now works with local shelters, pounds, and vets to find dogs in need of end of life care. “I really believe they should get a nice ending,” she says. (3)