Capi (short for Cappuccino) is a 13 year old welsh corgi and queen of the castle at JJH. Her owner went into a nursing home and there was no one able to care for Capi and her special needs so she ended up at a local animal shelter. They tried to find her a home but due to her age and inability to walk well no one was interested. Capi was born with a deformity in her joints that causes them to be in the wrong places. Sadly this is all too common and frequently seen in inbred corgis from backyard breeders. This deformity, in turn, means she walks more like a penguin than a dog. Other than her shorter than normal stature and a bit of arthritis, Capi is a healthy and happy, bossy senior corgi. She loves to demand attention and will take belly rubs from anyone who will give them to her. She gets around on her own better than most people think and her only special needs are needing help up the stairs and onto the couch for cuddles along with no abrasive services to walk on. If she’s having a day where her joints are bothering her, our volunteers won’t hesitate to pick her up and still take her out for walks in her wagon or stroller. No matter how many soft beds are in the sanctuary Capi almost always prefers a cool surface to lay on and can often be found stretched out under the table or on the floor in the executive director’s office. She’s known best for making snow angels in the winter and cleaning up food bowls after mealtime.

Ajax is an approximately 12-15 year old schnauzer/yorkie mix. Sadly, Ajax came to us as a neglect and abuse case from Sauk County Humane Society after being left out in negative double digits below zero weather tied to a patio. Once at the safety of the shelter their team noticed that his abuse ran deep. He was very timid and quick to defend himself from any form of touch. His coat was heavily matted with feces in it and the tangles were pulling painfully at his skin. He needed to be sedated to even clean him up and shave them off. His owner never chose to reclaim him. We took Ajax to be medically evaluated due to many concerns revolving around his mouth and skin. Ajax had a fractured and severely infected tooth which we believe was a major reason why he shied away from everyone. Upon examination at the vet this infection abscessed through the outside of Ajax’s muzzle. We immediately had to have these painful reminders of his previous life removed. Ajax was treated with nothing but patience and kindness from our caring staff and volunteers and after recovery we’re happy to say Ajax is a new dog! He is diagnosed with canine dementia and can have times when he seems lost or confused. But during times when he is more lucid he gravitates towards our teenage volunteers and loves to play tag with them. We are thankful for our volunteers who have taken their time getting to know him and building his trust to the point that any new visitors that come to the farm he happily sniffs and welcomes with the rest of the pack. Due to Ajax’s sensitivities and dementia we keep his environment as calm and unchanging as possible. Ajax has been known to hop and bound happily around the sanctuary in the mornings and anytime he goes on walks. He has overcome a difficult life but we are honored to be able to give him the safety and peace he deserves in his golden years.

Gizmo is estimated to be 11 years old and a small terrier mix. He came to us from Richland Area Rescue where he was with an emergency foster due to the passing of his owner. Good Samaritans contacted Jane’s Journey Home to see if we would have room for him. Once we learned that Gizmo was doing well with other dogs but had some medical concerns, we chose to take him in with us. Gizmo had a large mass located in his rectum that was causing a lot of pain and distress for him so the team made sure to have him seen by a veterinarian as soon as possible to help determine his true medical needs. They were able to have the mass removed and Gizmo so far has progressed well with little concerns. He is a tiny guy under 10lbs that enjoys snuggling with anyone who will take him and is often in your lap before you can sit down. He loves attention from anyone and will do somersaults on the couch in exchange for full body pets. Gizmo is another one of our seniors that came to us with severe dental disease and in need of multiple extractions to make his mouth pain free and healthy again. He also has a heart murmur that is very likely caused by the years of untreated dental disease getting into his bloodstream. An echocardiogram gave us the information that we needed and an all clear from the vet to proceed with anesthesia and his overdue dental work. Gizmo loves our bigger dogs and can often be found curled up alongside one of them. He will spend the rest of his days in comfort and safety with us.

Murphy is a 12 year old terrier mix with a solid, outgoing personality. Murphy’s owner went into hospice care and there was nowhere for him to go. So Murphy was passed around every couple of weeks from house to house until he landed safely at the caring home of a shelter facilitator. This kind woman recognized Murphy’s need for a stable environment and reached out to JJH to take him in. It is obvious that Murphy was very loved and cared for by his owner. He received regular veterinary care and was taught basic commands. Murphy does have epilepsy and a sensitive stomach. His seizure disorder is well regulated with a twice daily medication and has been for a number of years. His GI system is now well regulated with a simple prescription diet. We know that as he ages his seizures may worsen or become more frequent but today he is stable and happy. Murphy loves food and can be a bit of a shark when it comes around to treat time but he always behaves when you tell him to wait even though waiting for food seems like the hardest task in the world to him. He has a bit of energy still in his elderly years and often tries to get the other dogs to play with him. Not all of them are interested in that “puppy play” but Murphy doesn’t seem to mind because there is always a nice volunteer nearby that is happy to oblige him.

Percy, Noah, Gulley - These three seniors have lived together their entire lives. They came to JJH when an overcrowded county animal shelter in Rockford reached out to us with a desperate plea. Percy, Noah, and Gulley were part of a group of dogs that had been living in a condemned home with many other dogs. The shelter was at capacity and all other area rescues had turned down taking these dogs in. We traveled to Winnebago County Animal Shelter to meet the group and in an instant knew that we had to help. Percy - Percy just celebrated his 15th birthday and, as a large breed retriever mix, considered an advanced elderly dog. He is gentle and easy going. Percy gives a calming presence to both dogs and people and this was very apparent during our initial meeting at the shelter. There was no doubt Percy was coming with us as the likelihood of a dog of such advanced age getting adopted was next to nothing. Percy is steadfast and a reassuring presence at the sanctuary, not only for his previous pack mates but for many of his new ones as well. When Percy and Noah first arrived it was Percy that stood by Noah and reassured him that it was ok to eat. And then again that it was ok to lay down and sleep. Overall Percy appears healthy for his age but a thorough exam will help us determine if there are any underlying concerns and help us provide the best supportive care for Percy during his retirement.

Percy, Noah, Gulley - These three seniors have lived together their entire lives. They came to JJH when an overcrowded county animal shelter in Rockford reached out to us with a desperate plea. Percy, Noah, and Gulley were part of a group of dogs that had been living in a condemned home with many other dogs. The shelter was at capacity and all other area rescues had turned down taking these dogs in. We traveled to Winnebago County Animal Shelter to meet the group and in an instant knew that we had to help. Percy, Noah, Gulley - These three seniors have lived together their entire lives. They came to JJH when an overcrowded county animal shelter in Rockford reached out to us with a desperate plea. Percy, Noah, and Gulley were part of a group of dogs that had been living in a condemned home with many other dogs. The shelter was at capacity and all other area rescues had turned down taking these dogs in. For the first time in years the shelter was considering euthanizing due to space and these seniors were first on the list. They were desperate for a better solution. We traveled to Winnebago County Animal Shelter to meet the group and in an instant knew that we had to help. Noah - Noah is a 13 year old hound mix or better described as a Heinz 57. When we met Noah he was terrified and shaking curled up in the back of his kennel and trying to make himself look as small as possible. He had dried feces stuck to his fur and he wouldn’t meet our gaze or get up to greet us. The loud shelter environment was quickly taking its toll on him and he was shutting down. We brought Noah into the yard with his former housemates and he immediately became a different dog. We knew we had to take Noah; he would never survive in a loud shelter environment. The first time Noah laid down in our quiet isolation room he let out a deep sigh. He looked to Percy to tell him it was ok; that he was safe. Noah’s personality continues to blossom at the sanctuary. He is the first one up to alert us that someone new has arrived. His horse, old man bark is endearing and reassuring that he is feeling more and more confident in his surroundings everyday. Unfortunately, a few days after he arrived and started settling in, a volunteer found Noah struggling to catch his breath. He had no appetite and wouldn’t eat his morning meal. He was rushed to the veterinarian where tests and radiographs determined that he has neoplasia. Cancer. A mass was discovered in his abdomen and the disease had likely spread to his lungs. Noah was also heavily congested and running a fever. It was determined that he also most likely had a secondary infection of pneumonia. The cancer doesn’t appear to have spread to his lymph nodes and that is good news. We chose to treat Noah’s infection and with strong antibiotics and anti-inflammatories and saw great improvement in his symptoms. We know this won’t last. But for now Noah is content and at ease at the sanctuary. He is a very happy dog that prances like a pony when he wants attention, wrestles with his old friend Gulley, and simply lights up the room with his personality. We cannot cure him but we can provide Noah with compassion and the love and support he so rightfully deserves. We will keep him as comfortable and pain free as possible until we can no longer do so. We take solace in knowing that he will not have to suffer through the pain of rapid deterioration that often occurs in senior pets or the fear that surrounded him in a loud shelter. This is our mission. When it is Noah’s time we ourselves will be comforted knowing he was able to enjoy security and peace with us and his brothers, even if it was a short time. He has had fresh food and water, comfortable beds and an endless supply of pack mates and people to reassure and love him. He will be provided a gentle, peaceful crossing surrounded in dignity and love.

Percy, Noah, Gulley - These three seniors have lived together their entire lives. They came to JJH when an overcrowded county animal shelter in Rockford reached out to us with a desperate plea. Percy, Noah, and Gulley were part of a group of dogs that had been living in a condemned home with many other dogs. The shelter was at capacity and all other area rescues had turned down taking these dogs in. We traveled to Winnebago County Animal Shelter to meet the group and in an instant knew that we had to help. Gulley is an 12 year old cattle dog/retriever mix and most likely related to Percy and Noah. We met Gulley when we visited Winnebago County Animal Shelter in response to their plea to find placement for a number of senior dogs at the shelter. The shelter was at capacity and, with more dogs coming in every day, they desperately needed to find placement for these senior dogs before they deteriorated in the hectic shelter environment. When we met Gulley, along with the other seniors at the shelter, he appeared social and enjoyed running the fences with other dogs. He was the youngest of the group and since we could only safely transport two large dogs in our vehicle it was determined that Gulley would remain at the shelter in the hopes that his outgoing personality and younger age might give him a chance at adoption. A few days after the other dogs had settled in we reached out to the shelter and asked if they were still looking for placement for Gulley. Even being an active dog with attractive markings, at 11 years old Gulley was too old for most people to even look at. We arranged to bring Gulley back to the sanctuary to reconnect with his former housemates 10 days after we had taken Percy and Noah. Gulley is a social butterfly with a bit of anxiety. His first few days at the sanctuary consisted of lots of pacing and barking and a need for reassurance from humans. He has since relaxed significantly and has even started playing with some of the other dogs. He still looks to Percy and Noah for reassurance but he is finding his place at the sanctuary and is becoming more and more relaxed every day.

Floyd comes to JJH from a local humane society that took him in as a stray after he was found staggering around and emaciated. Sadly Floyd's owner never chose to claim him and it was obvious this poor old soul was utterly abandoned. The humane society staff immediately fell in love with this poor broken old guy and named him Floyd. Once Floyd's stray period was up they reached out to JJH for placement. Poor Floyd had suffered so much, barely able to move about, so weak, thin, and confused. The first few days with us it took all his strength just to finish his food. Then one day Floyd simply started coming out of his shell. He stumbled out of the quiet office where he had been staying and trotted over to a nearby bed under a counter. And that was justthe beginning. Floyd was no longer a stiff zombie staggering around. Yes his body was still strcken with severe arthritis and his mind struggled with dementia but his body was no longer painful with every step. It now had energy to move about and explore; make new friends. Floyd has been a great addition to the sanctuary and everyone has loved seeing his comical personality come out. Floyd may move a bit slow but he knows what he wants and isn't afraid to ask for it. Floyd is finding his way at the sanctuary and it has been our pleasure to help him find happiness and comfort in his senior journey.

Sasha is 13 years old. She is blind, deaf, and has no teeth. Sasha is also one of the most well adjusted little dogs you will ever meet. She is fearless, calm, and smart. Like too many other dogs, Sasha's life could have ended up very differently. Tragically. Her story was one that is heard all too often and all to late. Her owner was not well and had not been for some time. As Sasha's elderly owner's health began to decline so did Sasha's care. It was no one's fault, Sasha was very loved, but her owner struggled to remember if Sasha had been fed or given water everyday. Luckily for Sasha, AND her owner, they were surrounded by loving neighbors. Sasha's neighbors not only pitched together to make sure Sasha was receiving the basic care she needed, they also took her on daily walks around the block with their dogs. But when Sasha's owner was hospitalized and could no longer live at home Sasha stayed in the house alone. The neighbors visited her multiple times a day but mostly she was alone, blind and deaf, in a big house. That was when they reached out to us. And here we are. Little Sasha was lucky to have been loved her whole life by someone. And she was part of a loving community that wouldn't let her fall through the cracks. And now Sasha will continue to feel that love through the volunteers and staff at JJH. Welcome home Sasha.

Foxy is a spunky 10 year old terrier mix that came to the sanctuary from PAWS Chicago. Foxy was overwhelmed by shelter life and had some special medical needs that made it even harder for her to adjust to the hustle and bustle of an active shelter. It was obvious she had been bounced around quite a bit and even in foster care she was unsure about her place in the world and was too nervous even to eat. We brought Foxy to JJH to give her the stability she needed so that her true personality could shine through and she could rebuild her confidence again. Foxy has a slew of chronic medical conditions that we are working hard to find the best way to manage. Overall she is a smart little cookie that loves to cuddle and will likely have years ahead of her as long as her medical conditions are kept on top of.

Dixie is a 14+ pomeranian mix with dementia. Think Floyd but with more hair! Dixie has lived the majority of her life with a loving owner. However due to her progressing dementia, decreased vision, and stiffness caused by arthritis Dixie was struggling in her long time home. Her owners made many adjustments but ultimately were no longer able to give Dixie the safest space and the attention she deserved. She is adjusting well to the sanctuary and already loves spending time in the yard or on walks with volunteers throughout the day.

Bella is a 13+ American Bulldog mix. She is a strong, quiet girl that wants nothing more than to be loved. Bella's life was turned upside-down and she desperately needed a quiet place to feel safe again. Columbia County Humane Society Portage, Wisconsin took this lovely girl in and hoped that someone would claim her. When no one did they placed her up for adoption, once again hoping that someone would want to give this senior gentle giant a loving home. Sadly no one did that either. Senior dogs are the least likely to be adopted from shelters and rescues. They are the forgotten. And with lumps and bumps and time ticking away for Bella they knew that they had to find a special place for her to retire. Bella has been a complete joy so far and seems to know she has found a home again. We loved her instantly and promised to continue to love her for the rest of her life. Welcome Bella, you are treasured, you are safe, and you will never be abandoned again.