$80,096 raised by 379 donors
43% complete
$185,000 Goal
Providing senior dogs a loving, medically supervised home on their Good Days, Bad Days, and Last Days. We love them all.
Because of YOUR support, Pepper’s was able to open its doors to senior dogs, volunteers, community groups and friends on July 8th. Now, as we move forward into 2024, we realize having you as part of Pepper’s Pack will be invaluable to our success in saving lives and providing a place for these dogs to call home.
We invite you to donate today and join us in reaching our 2024 goal of reaching capacity at the Sanctuary by mid-year. While the Sanctuary offers a fur-ever home to senior dogs, our programs rehabilitate and rejuvenate these fur family members so they truly have their best Golden Years. With best practices in medical care, healthy meals and a team to provide critical rehabilitation services, it takes approximately $250 per month to care for these beautiful seniors. We believe these senior dogs deserve this second chance, and we hope you feel the same way.
Because of YOUR donation, senior dogs will receive:
-Medical treatment
-Dental care
-Rehabilitation services
-Laser & aqua therapy
-Massages, grooming & walks
-Hope, love & compassion
-A home on their Good Days, Bad Days, and Last Days
How you can get involved in ColoradoGives:
-Register for our Because of YOU Walk 'n Wag 1k/5k
-Share and like our social media posts the next two weeks as we raise critical funds to support these senior dogs
-Donate Today!
Not only have we begun to bring dogs home, we have also engaged with multiple community groups in various ways. Some groups, like FireFly Autism, volunteer and work directly with our dogs. Others, like Elanco or Demi’s Animal Rescue, volunteer on the sidelines by fence-weaving to keep our dogs feeling secure. Between Pepper’s dogs and community groups, it takes over 60 active volunteers (with over 300 getting ready for Volunteer Orientation) to help make Pepper’s run smoothly.
We also recognize the importance of sustainability as a nonprofit and some of our goals to make that happen in 2024 include: opening our veterinary clinic to the public on Tuesday and Thursdays, offering AquaPaw water therapy sessions to community dogs, having quarterly vaccination clinics to the public and more. Betweem the support of friends in the community, offering quality programs to the public, grants and more, Pepper's will be a source of hope for senior dogs now just today...but forever.
"It is immensely satisfying to be a part of the Pepper's effort because it will enrich the lives of so many senior dogs. And because of the enrichment they have brought to our lives, it's the perfect way to say 'thank you'".
- Antonio Ballatore, host of Animal Cribs on Animal Planet
Dogs are universally intuitive. Companions for life.
MaryAnn with Max
The symbiotic relationship for individuals with autism and PSDS is profound! Nothing is more genuine.
-Paula Bonneau, Board Member
"Older dogs have always needed a safety net as they are the most overlooked and vulnerable population in shelters. It's important that there are safe places for seniors to go regardless of their status as 'adoptable.' Senior dog sanctuaries are so crucial because they provide a forever home for dogs who have chronic and terminal illnesses, who are disabled, or just very elderly. And while these dogs may be too challenging for a normal family, sanctuaries are set up to be able to provide this kind of care; it is an essential and much-needed service."
-Hope Morgan, Little Old Dog Sanctuary
Mission - Pepper's Senior Dog Sanctuary provides a compassionate, loving, lifelong home where elderly dogs are cared for during their good days, bad days, and last days.
Vision - We provide senior and special needs dogs with a compassionate, forever home, at our family-owned, veterinarian-supervised sanctuary. We care for our dogs for all the days of their lives, including hospice needs. We are the premier "dog retirement community" for canines who need us most - forever. We fill a unique need and space in senior dog sanctuaries. While you won't find shuffleboard at our sanctuary, our seniors have other amenities and supports that make Pepper's a well-deserved luxury for senior dogs. We provide small group and one-on-one care; enormous space to play, lounge, and sleep kiddie-pool-side; individual bedroom suites designed by Antonio Ballatore from Animal Cribs; professionally trained staff and volunteers; and dedicated physical therapy and medical care. Dogs who become part of the Pepper's family win the retirement lottery.
Pepper's ONLY adopts dogs from area shelters and rescues, helping to ease the burden of overcrowding at shelters. Placing them in our care relieves their previous shelters of the extensive therapeutic and medical needs these dogs require and it opens additional spaces in their facilities at a 2 to 1 ratio. ASPCA estimates that approximately 670,000 dogs who enter U.S. shelters each year are euthanized. Sadly, many of these dogs who are considered seniors and special needs dogs are prematurely or unnecessarily euthanized due to age, special medical needs, testing heartworm positive, or having a disability. At Pepper's, age and appearances don't matter - we're specially equipped to care for elderly and special needs dogs for their entire journey. We DO NOT accept dogs via owner surrenders or drop-offs.
Our Story - Pepper's Senior Dog Sanctuary (PSDS) was founded in 2019 by a trio of dedicated senior-dog advocates: Justin Klemer, his mom - Mary, and Leigh Sullivan. All three are Colorado natives, lifelong animal rescuers, and proud foster fails who've saved and nurtured dozens of dogs. Pepper's is located on 50 acres of beautiful farmland in Littleton, Colorado. And it was a 7-year-old Pomeranian that made it all happen.
More than a rescue, more than a shelter, Pepper's is a sanctuary that was founded to honor a special Pomeranian, Pepper, who found the love and safety that he desperately needed, a dog who needed others to see the incredible worth of an old soul. Pepper was a sidekick, a hero, a best friend - sometimes you're lucky enough to find all three rolled into one special heart. Some wear capes. Some sport a snarl, lackluster dental care and hygiene, and a healthy dose of suspicion for others. This was Pepper - he was a sidekick, hero, and best friend to his partner-in-crime and human rescuer, Mary. She adopted Pepper in 2011 when he was around 7. His first years of life were difficult - until he sniffed Mary and spent his remaining years being pampered by her compassion and acceptance of all his quirks and unconditional love. Really, they accepted each other exactly how they were.
Pepper became Mary's sober companion - they were soulmates who made it their mission to pay it forward to other sidekicks in need who are waiting to find their forever home and unconditional care, no matter how deserving one appears to be on the outside. Pepper inspired Mary, Justin, and Leigh to open PSDS. Pepper's legacy teaches us to appreciate the connection and purpose we find within each other and the honor that it is to care for the most vulnerable among us. As Pepper showed, senior dogs have so much love and wisdom to share.
Organization name
Pepper's Senior Dog Sanctuary
other names
PSDS
2019
Tax id (EIN)
83-3612767
Category
Animal-Related
Organization Size
Medium Organization
Address
7000 Roxborough Park RdMailing
7000 Roxborough Park RdDenver County, CO, US
Douglas County, CO, US