Peace of Mind Dog Rescue, based out of Pacific Grove, California, cares for senior citizens’ dogs after they are no longer able to do so.
In a spotlight for CNN Heroes, rescue co-founder Carie Broecker explained the inspiration for Peace of Mind.
About Peace of Mind
“Oftentimes, the dog can be your last connection to that person,” said Broecker. “You’re giving away a part of that person who was so special to you. So, it can be really hard.”
Typically, a senior doesn’t need to surrender their dog. In most cases, the organization’s volunteers go to the senior’s home to care for the pup. However, family members often contact the non-profit organization to surrender their aging family member’s dog. Not only does Peace of Mind help senior canines find forever homes surrendered by individuals and families, but they also check in with local animal shelters to help adopt out senior dogs.
Before the dogs are ready for adoption, they receive a medical check-up and are placed in one of more than 160 foster homes the organization works with. If that isn’t enough, Broecker and Rua recently opened their own veterinary clinic. This allows them to rescue even more dogs. They also save a lot of time and money in the administrative management of the medical records. Broecker told CNN that “we have our own veterinary staff, so all of the dogs get a complete exam, heartworm test, senior blood panel, urinalysis. A lot of times they need x-rays or ultrasounds for various things, biopsies of any kind of masses.”
Additionally, Peace of Mind’s Helping Paw financial assistance program offers veterinary care — from an ear infection to a broken bone — to low-income pet guardians, including a lot of senior citizens struggling to get by.
“We can preserve that human-animal bond and make this person’s life better and brighter through our services … In our society, sometimes the elderly, whether that is senior people or senior dogs, get ignored,” Broecker said. “We really want to cherish all of life.”
