When Princess, a 16-year-old senior dog, was left outside the Animal Welfare League of Alexandria, it was clear she hadn’t just been abandoned — she’d been given up on.
She was found in a small crate, surrounded by shopping bags filled with all of her possessions. Along with her belongings came a heartbreaking note: a request that she be euthanized, and her things donated to other dogs after her death.
“Whoever ditched this gorgeous girl asked she be euthanized,” said Georgia Dodson, director and cofounder of Miri's Haven Senior Dog Rescue. “It was absolutely devastating.”
With limited resources for seniors requiring advanced care, the shelter quickly reached out to Miri’s Haven — a rescue known for giving senior dogs the dignity, love, and second chances they deserve.
And they didn’t hesitate.
“Miri’s Haven doesn’t let fragile seniors die like that,” Dodson said. “And neither does the shelter that contacted us.”
When Princess arrived at her new foster home, she was understandably confused and heartbroken. After likely spending her entire life with one family, she’d been left behind at her most vulnerable.
But little by little, with love and gentle care, Princess began to blossom.
Though she has advanced kidney disease and is now considered a hospice pup, she’s not in pain — and her emotional wounds are slowly healing with every kind touch and kind word.
“She’s thriving more each day with a little TLC,” Dodson shared. “She may be in her twilight years, but she still has joy to give — and we’re honored to make sure she knows she’s loved.”
Princess will live out the rest of her days in a loving hospice foster home, surrounded by warmth, comfort, and the compassion she always deserved.
If you’d like to support Princess or other senior dogs like her, consider donating to Miri's Haven Senior Dog Rescue — because no dog should ever be forgotten.
