Happy Dogs Dog Grooming Salon

06/19/2024

Oh my goodness! So much cuteness! Luigi, Brodie, Fletcher and Sawyer all visited me at Happy Dogs yesterday 💕

06/19/2024

Hey everyone! We have a lot of new followers I’d like to take a moment to share some reminders to those of you amazing people supporting our work!

1. We do NOT adopt any of our animals out. While we appreciate people’s enthusiasm to adopt one of our dogs, the animals that come to us are mostly in the last stages of their life, meaning they have usually a year or less. Sometimes they surprise us and have more; but our goal is to give them the best sunset of life possible. They need careful medical management, prescription food and many are coming from already stressful situations. Because so many are hospice - not all but most - we do not put them through further stress or transition by adopting them out. However, other senior rescues - like the amazing Vintage Pet Rescue or Old dogs New Digs, do have non hospice seniors that are available, as do MANY animal shelters everywhere. Please! Adopt a senior dog!!

2. We are a husband and wife team doing this out of our home. We are not a facility and we don’t have staff. We have incredible volunteers and Meghan our volunteer coordinator and fundraiser guru who help us daily but we are not a massive large scale operation. That means we HAVE to be picky about what we can take on here. Our two daughters are 13 and 6 and are warriors along with us. They know about death and this work better than most adults. We are always cognizant of their experiences in doing this too. The dogs are in the old dogs space but many are in our living room too, by the pool, in the yard. They are our family.

3. We have hospice and senior and special needs livestock and other animals too. When we bought this house we realized we couldn’t let the 20 acres sit and waste, so we began helping other species that needed us too. We take animals and dogs from shelters/rescues, owner surrenders, veterinary surrenders and all kinds of circumstances.

4. We believe a good death is just as important as a good life. We do not prolong suffering simply for “more time” or because we cannot bear to lose an animal. We focus on function, purpose and joy as the three key components of our animals living well and happily. We believe in a day early than a day late. We are not afraid of death and speak openly about it, because it is a part of life and should not be avoided or discouraged from discussion even when it’s hard. We support our animals dying and give them grace, peace and no pain through it. We also give them all private cremations and spread their ashes here. We believe after care and respect of the Individual after death is just as important as it is in life.

5. We don’t discriminate against any breed, age, size of animal. We welcome all here, and that goes for humans too. There’s enough hate and anger in this world, this place is free of that.

6. We do not consider ourselves amazing people. We are simply meeting a need that isn’t being met elsewhere. We started with one dog at a time and now we’re here because we would rather take the pain of losing so many so frequently than go to sleep at night thinking of them in a shelter or alone. (Also noting that shelters are NOT bad places - we love them - but senior and hospice dogs shouldn’t have to languish there. They can be here watching Disney movies and getting chicken nuggets)

7. We have really hard days, really hard nights, and sometimes hard weeks or months. This work is exhausting and exhilarating and so rewarding all at the same time. We spend most of our time cleaning and organizing and administering medications and then more cleaning. We can’t care for all these animals and our children and ourselves and respond to every single comment or question here. We love sharing our lives but we also ask for grace and kindness in return.

8. We have wonderful veterinarians all over the state that we respect and admire and work with daily. We have no room here for vet shaming. We couldn’t do this work without them and we know how vastly underpaid and under appreciated the vet community and their staff is. Negative comments on vet care or expenses are not welcome here.

9. These dogs and animals mean everything to us. Everything. I can’t say that enough. Whether we’ve only known them a day or six months. Their stress levels are very important to us so we are NOT open to the public. We love that you’d like to visit, but ask yourself if it’s for them or for you. Not many people want to just go visit a hospice home for people, and just because the animals here are cute doesn’t mean they are any less deserving of stress free and relaxing retirement. We take that very seriously.

10. We have senses of humor because we have to in this work or we wouldn’t survive. So just, prepare yourself. We also talk a lot about p**p. When you see us out in public, you can def wave and say hi, but it gets weird when strangers try to hug us. Especially when I’m in the wine aisle in Shaws with a cart full of Oreos and moscato and cheez wiz. Trust us, we love you too, but we are still just people.

11. Your donations keep us going. Our biggest expenses are vet bills, end of life care and emergencies. Euthanasias and private cremations are not cheap and while everyone wants to contribute to cases where the animal will live, contributions to their death is huge and JUST as important. Other huge expenses are hay, giant p*e pads and things that are hard to list on wishlists. Monetary donations are still the best and most helpful way to help us, but also so is sharing our mission and advocating senior animal adoption!

You can always learn more at

Www.olddogsgotohelen.com

Welcome all of you!

06/18/2024

Buy Old Dogs Farm Summer Fun merchandise that supports Old Dogs Go To Helen. Featuring Black Classic Tie Dye Tees, professionally printed in the USA.

06/18/2024

Our partners down south are drowning trying to get these dogs out and save their lives. If we can add more fosters to our already amaaazing team… we can say yes to saving even more lives. please please please… apply today. The south is in crisis with these animals and they need our help.

06/18/2024

06/18/2024

Bella is officially up for adoption! She’s a 16 year old Pekingese-Potato hybrid. Full bio and adoption application can be found on our website.

06/18/2024

06/16/2024

06/16/2024

Sweetie Olive, handsome Cooper and his good girl sister Summer, along with Rosco all visited Happy Dogs Spa yesterday 🐾❣️🐾❣️

06/16/2024

Sweet Cannon, dear Kime, little Sienna, and darling Maisy all visited Happy Dogs 💕

06/15/2024

Handsome Winston and his sweet sister Ellie, dear Lily and good girl Rebel all getting ready for summer at Happy Dogs❣️

06/15/2024

Friday night party

06/14/2024

6.13.24 LOOSE DOG IN YORK, MAINE

This pup was seen running down Mountain Road in York last evening. Wearing a bandana - very skittish. Please, if you see a loose dog, or if your dog goes missing in York, contact Animal Control Officer, Scott Randall at Dispatch 207-363-4444.
Kittery Animal Hospital

06/14/2024

Visit us! We are open for public visits here at Center for Wildlife Thursday through Sunday 10AM-4PM.

Along with our self-guided public visits, we offer private experiences, space rentals and host public events and programs throughout the year.

For more information on ways to come visit, head to our website!

06/14/2024

Sweet sisters Brinkley and Bailey got their summer clean ups just in time for the hot weather! And cute little new rescue Jack came in for his first grooming in 4 years! His sister Molly showed him the ropes! 🥰

06/13/2024

Look at those soulful eyes! Nila is looking for a forever home. Nila’s had a lot of changes for a little girl recently. One of her owners passed away and she had to be surrendered due to financial reasons. She is only 8 pounds and 5 years old and for fellow chihuahua lovers out there, they that is young for a chi. She is in TX but can travel anytime. Please share this sweet girl for adoption, smalldogrescuene.org

06/13/2024

Cozzette was found outside with her mom and sister. All three were heartworm positive. They are all heartworm negative now. And Cozzette is ready to travel up north. She is just a baby at only 10 months old. She weighs 7 pounds and will probably only gain another pound or two. She is a pom/chi mix. Please share for adoption, smalldogrescuene.org

06/13/2024

Sweeties Brady, Rocky and Bailey visited HapoybDogs yesterday morning ❤️❤️❤️

06/12/2024

Lucky did so great for his pedicure today! Very proud of him! MAX? Take notice! 😂

06/12/2024

Tandem, Maddie, Maisy, Pemi and Karma were all very good spa guests today 🩷🩷🩷🩷🩷

06/12/2024

https://www.nhgives.org/organizations/old-dogs-go-to-helen
NH Gives has started! We hope you enjoy a little more insight about Old Dogs Go To Helen and the animals we love. Follow along this evening and all tomorrow, 5pm-5pm.
All donations made during NH Gives will have a chance to WIN a visit with the Old Dogs and Meet Andy!

06/12/2024

Kiki is still waiting for an application. She is 2 1/2 years old and weighs 8 pounds. She is still in TX but can come up the next trip. She is friendly and good with other dogs. She is a terrier mix. Please share for adoption, smalldogrescuene.org