Whangārei woman starts hospice fund to care for senior rescue dogs

Francine Shields has worked with rescue animals for decades and has set up a hospice fund to help elderly dogs live their best lives.

A Northland animal lover with a passion for rescuing senior dogs has set up a hospice fund so they can see out their days loved and pain-free.

Whangārei resident Francine Shields, who has 30 years’ experience in animal rescue and now runs K9Luva Training and High Needs Home Stays, adopts old and sick dogs from rescue groups.

The former Whangārei SPCA manager takes them on from Retired Working Dogs NZ, a charity dedicated to helping elderly canines enjoy well-deserved retirements.

“One of the hardest things to deal with [at the SPCA] was seeing old dogs that had been surrendered for euthanasia because the medical costs become too high for the owner.

“Or they can’t support the dog when they get old and their medical needs increase, and their dietary needs change.

“That can be hard for people; though they love their dog.”

Hospice care is a specialised type of palliative care for those – usually for humans - with a life-limiting illness who are nearing the end of life.

It focuses on their physical comfort, and emotional and spiritual needs, rather than curing their illness.

So far, Shields has taken on six dogs, including seniors, adopting them as her own and taking care of any medical issues.

They include Boss the huntaway, and a border collie huntaway cross called Freya, who lived their twilight years at her 1.2ha property in Maungakaramea.

“I’ve nursed dozens of dogs; I used to bring the old dogs home from the SPCA,” she said.

“It’s expensive - but any dog in its end-of-life stage would not be turned away if I could afford it.”

To help with the vet costs, Shields has started a Givealittle page called Caring for End-of-Life Hospice Dogs.

The page has so far raised more than $2200.

Initially, funds will go towards her current companion Seed, a 14-year-old huntaway heading dog cross she rehomed from Levin.

“He was surrendered by his elderly owner to the rescue group and was in a foster then was advertised for adoption.

“I was straight on the phone saying, ‘I’ll have him’.

“I make sure he gets good quality food, and he’s not in pain or suffering, and he knows he’s loved.”

Seed required two major dental surgeries to “remove his rotten and incredibly painful teeth”.

He also had a skin infection and is on daily pain medication costing $60 a day. The vet bills have added up to around $7000.

Shields, who has three other dogs of her own, stresses that she’s not a rescue organisation and doesn’t have the capacity to take old dogs from individuals.

“What I will do is help rescue groups provide end of life care and help them do assessments or retrain them.

“I know there are people out there who’ve had to make difficult decisions, and I have a passion for making sure animals who have served us all their lives have a painfree, loving end to their life, however long that may be.”

Shields said making sure your senior dog was looked after was “an obligation and duty”.

She advised owners to get their dogs regularly checked and assessed for pain and dental care, and to “make appropriate decisions early”.

“You must be prepared to care for your old dogs after their loyal years to you.

“People often make delayed decisions because it’s too hard to face or too expensive.

“But doing nothing is not an option.

“I’ll do everything I can for my dogs until it’s not the right thing to do anymore.”

Funds raised will be held in a separate account for hospice dogs that come into Shields’ care.

Visit www.givealittle.co.nz/cause/caring-for-end-of-life-hospice-dogs if you can help.

Jenny Ling is a senior journalist at the Northern Advocate. She has a special interest in covering human interest stories, along with finance, roading, and social issues.