\u201cThat can be hard for people; though they love their dog.\u201d <\/p>\n
Hospice care is a specialised type of palliative care for those \u2013 usually for humans – with a life-limiting illness who are nearing the end of life. <\/p>\n
It focuses on their physical comfort, and emotional and spiritual needs, rather than curing their illness. <\/p>\n
So far, Shields has taken on six dogs, including seniors, adopting them as her own and taking care of any medical issues. <\/p>\n
They include Boss the huntaway, and a border collie huntaway cross called Freya, who lived their twilight years at her 1.2ha property in Maungakaramea. <\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve nursed dozens of dogs; I used to bring the old dogs home from the SPCA,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s expensive – but any dog in its end-of-life stage would not be turned away if I could afford it.\u201d <\/p>\n
To help with the vet costs, Shields has started a Givealittle page called Caring for End-of-Life Hospice Dogs. <\/p>\n
The page has so far raised more than $2200. <\/p>\n
Initially, funds will go towards her current companion Seed, a 14-year-old huntaway heading dog cross she rehomed from Levin. <\/p>\n
\u201cHe was surrendered by his elderly owner to the rescue group and was in a foster then was advertised for adoption. <\/p>\n
\u201cI was straight on the phone saying, \u2018I\u2019ll have him\u2019. <\/p>\n
\u201cI make sure he gets good quality food, and he\u2019s not in pain or suffering, and he knows he\u2019s loved.\u201d <\/p>\n
Seed required two major dental surgeries to \u201cremove his rotten and incredibly painful teeth\u201d. <\/p>\n
He also had a skin infection and is on daily pain medication costing $60 a day. The vet bills have added up to around $7000. <\/p>\n
Shields, who has three other dogs of her own, stresses that she\u2019s not a rescue organisation and doesn\u2019t have the capacity to take old dogs from individuals. <\/p>\n
\u201cWhat I will do is help rescue groups provide end of life care and help them do assessments or retrain them. <\/p>\n
\u201cI know there are people out there who\u2019ve had to make difficult decisions, and I have a passion for making sure animals who have served us all their lives have a painfree, loving end to their life, however long that may be.\u201d <\/p>\n
Shields said making sure your senior dog was looked after was \u201can obligation and duty\u201d. <\/p>\n
She advised owners to get their dogs regularly checked and assessed for pain and dental care, and to \u201cmake appropriate decisions early\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou must be prepared to care for your old dogs after their loyal years to you. <\/p>\n
\u201cPeople often make delayed decisions because it\u2019s too hard to face or too expensive. <\/p>\n
\u201cBut doing nothing is not an option.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ll do everything I can for my dogs until it\u2019s not the right thing to do anymore.\u201d <\/p>\n
Funds raised will be held in a separate account for hospice dogs that come into Shields\u2019 care. <\/p>\n