The Bond Between Hospice Program

The Bond Between Hospice Program The Bond Between Hospice Program takes in terminally ill animals and gives them loving homes until So, we started the Hospice Foster Program.

In the spring of 2015, Secondhand Hounds started to receive multiple requests for elderly, unadoptable dogs in shelters. Unfortunately, our program is adoption-based, and that is how we guarantee the survival of our program. But, we could not let these senior and terminally-ill dogs live out their final days in a cold, lonely shelter. This program relies on hospice foster homes to open their heart

s to dogs who will not ever leave. They will not be able to find a wonderful adoptive family, they will not watch their foster dog transform into a healthy pet, they will never say “see you later”, but rather “goodbye.” As you can imagine, it takes a very selfless, compassionate, and strong foster to do this. Essentially, they are taking these dogs in as their own, and loving them fiercely until it is their time to pass.

“Dogs die. But dogs live, too. Right up until they die, they live. They live brave, beautiful lives. They protect their ...
08/29/2025

“Dogs die. But dogs live, too. Right up until they die, they live. They live brave, beautiful lives. They protect their families. And love us. And make our lives a little brighter. And they don't waste time being afraid of tomorrow.”
― Dan Gemeinhart, The Honest Truth

With loving hearts we share the recent passing of a long time very good boy Buddy. Buddy came to rescue as an owner surrender in October 2021. He was considered a senior adoptable at that time, was even apart of our sponsor program and settled into a loving foster home. They recognized that he might be there with them a while due to his age, being a black dog, preferring to be an only animal and was very loyal to his people. Through the years his medical concerns were supported by our amazing vetting center team that recognized that less handling was best and to always have his foster mom in the room. He was a constant presence in his foster families lives and last year when his status changed to “hospice” due to more medical concerns his amazing fospice family did not skip a beat. They were tireless advocates for his safety, comfort at home and his love for food. And last week with the support our MN Pets, sweet Buddy passed peacefully surrounded by his family. He will deeply be missed for his strong silent type presence and forever hopeful eyes for that extra treat that drop on the floor.

Please keep his fospice family in your thoughts for 3+ years ago, they signed up to foster to help find a home for an old stubborn black lab and ended up being his Forever Family. We can truly say they made all the difference to Buddy, who captured their hearts and felt their love to the very end.

For the next 10 days many will be experiencing a Minnesota tradition of going to the State Fair aka The Great Minnesota ...
08/21/2025

For the next 10 days many will be experiencing a Minnesota tradition of going to the State Fair aka The Great Minnesota Get Together. A few weeks ago many of our Hospice Animals got to check a mini version of this Get Together off of their bucket lists, hospice style.

Many of our hospice members, including a special appearance from one of our hospice Felines Smudge, were able to come to our rescue office to say Hi along with some graduates and resident pups for support and comical relief. The room was bustling with treat stations, 2 Fair Photo Beds and many hands to give pets. We are so thankful to the fosters, friends, volunteers and family who came to support our hospice mission. Our amazing office managers collected all of the donated strollers for anyone to use and try out with VIP Parking. Minimal crowds, plenty of dog and human treats to snack on, admittedly a creepy blow up cow and LOTS of LOVE was the vibe of this day.

Here are a few moments captured showing the love, smiles, party animals and support we felt that day. It truly takes a village and we THANK YOU all for sharing the joy that everyone of these animals felt that day.

The hardest good-byes are the ones you don't see coming. The ones you don't plan and though we accept these animals into...
07/19/2025

The hardest good-byes are the ones you don't see coming. The ones you don't plan and though we accept these animals into our hospice program, knowing their time is limited, the sudden losses are still so very difficult for all involved. We all processes these losses in our own ways but our heartbreak often takes back seat to our concern for the surviving “bonded” when the passing is sudden. We strongly believe that animals do understand in many ways decline, sickness and passings when they are with their companions. But the sudden, is hard to help them comprehend. “One day you're both together. And little do you both know that today will be your last day spent. Sometimes there is nothing sadder than that.” ~ r.m.drake

It is with heaviest of hearts that we share the recent passing of sweet Baxter. He came to rescue in July of 2024 with his faithful furriend Geordie. They came as a bonded pair to as an owner surrender have certainly had quite a love filled year. Asking a foster to take on a bonded pair of dogs can be extra daunting when there are medical concerns and special needs. We are forever thankful that they settled into their forever fospice home and had dedicated temp foster support when a break was needed. Baxter and Geordie came to every hospice playdate. Though they were bonded, each personality was clear at every playdate and at home. Geordie will always find Baxter to cuddle on, and was more reserved at the playdates. NOT Baxter: The social butterfly that was always wandering the room for any snacks, new butts to sniff and any hand that would give a scritch as he cruised by. ALWAYS well dressed for the themed playdate, he rocked hawaiian shirts and bunny ears like he was a retired man owning his coolness in a bucket hat. And hold on to the spoon or cupcake liner for he was all in for pupcups and snackos. We are thankful for the moment, memories and antics that Baxters fospice mom shared with us often in pictures and posts.

A few words from their amazing fospice mom Rose
“This afternoon I had to say goodbye to my other shadow, my little trip hazard, my mostly deaf and mostly blind Muppet. It was incredibly sudden, but thankfully he didn't have to suffer and be uncomfortable for long.
Rest easy Baxter Boy, like when this photo was taken in April. Big G misses you immensely already”

Please hold everyone in Baxter Fospice home in your hearts as they process his sudden loss. And above her own grief, we are so thankful that not only did his foster mom ensure that Baxter was loved till his last moment, she is ensuring that Geordie has closure. She ensured to have a blankes that Baxter was on, hair clipped from the emergency clinic was brought home and the resident gentle giant has taken on the roll of cuddle companion.

We have a pupcup set aside for you Baxter at our next playdate and will celebrate your 16th Birthday there for we consider you made it sweet boy.

We want to take a moment to thank everyone who helps our hospice fosters get a break. Life go on even as an animal is l...
07/11/2025

We want to take a moment to thank everyone who helps our hospice fosters get a break. Life go on even as an animal is living their last chapter. Sometimes the worry of leaving for a work trip or vacation takes alot out of our foster families. But we greatly appreciate everyone willing to temp foster and share updates. It truly takes a village and we want to share some of the recent sweet Staycation pupdates we have received from Justice Petey, Bella and Etta James staycations

A sweet Pupdate about our sweet Davey Jones and his donated wonderful Chariot that helps give comfort and joy in his las...
07/11/2025

A sweet Pupdate about our sweet Davey Jones and his donated wonderful Chariot that helps give comfort and joy in his last chapter .

Please give a loving welcome to our newest feline hospice member Gracie Mae. She came from our local shelter friends in...
07/07/2025

Please give a loving welcome to our newest feline hospice member Gracie Mae. She came from our local shelter friends in Duluth as they advocated for her comfort in a home during her last chapter of life. She has settled in wonderfully with her fospice family:

Gracie Mae is a sweet and gentle soul who fills our home with warmth and joy. She loves swatting her toys around and chasing them all over the place. Gracie loves to nap, cuddle, and keep the conversation going with her loud, expressive meows.

https://www.amazon.com/registries/gl/guest-view/1LPVXFCSNSTPH?ref_=cm_sw_r_apin_ggr-subnav-share_P9XVVBGGVQNJP8Q1Y6MY&language=en-US

You can follow along with Gracie Mae and all of our members here https://www.thebondbetween.org/hospice
She has a wishlist for some comfort and tasty ways for her to take her pills https://www.amazon.com/registries/gl/guest-view/1LPVXFCSNSTPH?ref_=cm_sw_r_apin_ggr-subnav-share_P9XVVBGGVQNJP8Q1Y6MY&language=en-US
And if you would like to make a one time sponsor donation for her care please use this link to sponsor Gracie Mae https://www.thebondbetween.org/donate

07/04/2025

Fireworks might be fun for us—but for dogs, they can sound like a war zone.

Every year, many dogs go missing after bolting in fear during fireworks displays—even from “just a few” small ones at home.

Better safe than sorry: keep your pup securely inside before the show starts - with toys, treats, and white noise. Their ears (and your peace of mind) will thank you.

07/04/2025

Did you know that the 4th of July is the single day where the most cats and dogs go missing? 😱

For most of us, it is officially the 4th of July weekend... which can bring lots of joy, yummy food, and noise. While the festivities can be fun for the humans, it's important to remember that these activities can be frightening for our animal friends.

Here are a few tips to help keep our animals safe this holiday weekend:
💥 Make sure your pet's microchip information is up to date... but remember that microchips are NOT a GPS for your pet!
💥 Exercise early and get those potty breaks in before the big booms begin
💥 Double leash your pet if you're going to be outside during fireworks. On weekends like this, we recommend having two layers of security around your dogs all day. That could be a baby gate for doors or wearing a leash indoors incase they try to sneak out the doors!
💥 Find a calming area for your pets during the loud noises. It's okay to give the a few extra treat and toys this weekend to keep them safe and distracted from all the scary things!
💥 After the holiday weekend, take a look at your surroundings to ensure there aren't any discarded items that could be dangerous for animal to ingest.

We hope that everyone and their animals have a safe holiday weekend 💙

Our hospice animals are so thankful for the care and support with everyone at The Bond Between Veterinary Center. Thank ...
06/18/2025

Our hospice animals are so thankful for the care and support with everyone at The Bond Between Veterinary Center.

Thank you for all you do every day !!!!

Please give a loving welcome to sweet Bobbie Joe. She recently came from a shelter in Arkansas and has been settling in...
06/12/2025

Please give a loving welcome to sweet Bobbie Joe. She recently came from a shelter in Arkansas and has been settling in wonderfully with her fospice family. We thank the amazing staff and temp fosters who advocated for her comfort and hospice journey here. She had been found as a stray dragging her leg and due to the severity was amputated. Her medical concerns are being assessed by our vetting center and we will update her journey once we know more about her comfort plan. Her easy going 12+ yrs face shows wisdom and love for each day she shares with her forever family.

You can follow along with Bobbie Joe and all of our members here https://www.thebondbetween.org/hospice And if you would like to make a one time sponsor donation for her care please use this link to sponsor Bobbie Joe https://www.thebondbetween.org/donate

“Embrace the golden years with an old dog, where every gray hair is a badge of honor and every day is a treasure.”With l...
06/10/2025

“Embrace the golden years with an old dog, where every gray hair is a badge of honor and every day is a treasure.”

With loving hearts we share the peaceful passing of our sweet Chloe last week. She came to rescue last July and settled into her forever fospice home beautifully. Through all of her medical concerns, she was a great eater, sleeper and took her meds like a champ. Her old bones certainly felt comfort in that sweet spot temperature window that we all appreciated and her fospice family ensured that comfort zone all year round. Winter months were spent finding sun spots and short slow Summertime walks were done in the early morning and late evenings. She loved surveying her yard and watching over her forever family. Her ability to find comfort was becoming more difficult recently and her family made the most loving decision to help her pass at home surrounded with their love with the assistance of MN Pets.

We are thankful for the beautiful end of life moments that were recently captured by the amazing Sarah Beth Photography. Chloe's trusting eyes were forever hopeful for a treat and her sweet smile captured reminds us that her final chapter was certainly filled with love, loyalty and comfort to the very end.

Please keep her forever family in your thoughts. We are grateful for every day but the peaceful passing was their promise to her. Thank you for watching over the family Chloe.

Please give a loving welcome to our newest hospice member Marley. She came from a shelter in Arkansas after their owner...
06/06/2025

Please give a loving welcome to our newest hospice member Marley. She came from a shelter in Arkansas after their owner went into assisted living and no other family members could take her. She has many medical concerns that our vetting center is working on for her palliative care plan which includes heartworm positive, heart murmur, and an old injury to her foot that bothers her sometimes. She got it caught in a rug years ago and most of the digits had to be amputated. We were told she is super laid-back and just does her own thing.

A few words from her foster how Marley has been settling in so far:
Marley is doing well. She likes to curl up in dog beds and watch me. I’ve been following her lead and giving her pets, but she doesn’t seem too interested in snuggles. She’s a good eater and good about taking her lasix, with cheese tax. She is very low maintenance. You may forget she’s even there, except for the feeling of being watched and silently judged.

Thank you to everyone who helps advocate and support our Hospice members and their loving fosters. We dont focus on their past but allowing each animal to come find comfort and settle in at their own pace, earing their trust while addressing medical concerns. We can't wait to share more pupdates as Marley continues to come out of her shell more and be the quiet girl who is learning to wag her tail once again.

Address

5959 Baker Road
Minnetonka, MN
55345

Telephone

+19523227643

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when The Bond Between Hospice Program posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Business

Send a message to The Bond Between Hospice Program:

Shortcuts

Share