Couple Takes in Elderly Dogs Near the End of Their Lives and Shows Them Unconditional Love
A Mission of Love for Dogs in Their Final Days
For many people, dogs bring unconditional love, loyalty, and companionship. But when a dog reaches the final stage of life, not all owners choose to stay with them until the end.
For Michele and Jeff Allen, that was never an option.
Instead, they dedicated their lives to caring for senior and terminally ill dogs, ensuring that no dog spends its last days alone or unloved.
Their journey began with one dog—but soon, it became a lifelong mission.
The Dog That Changed Everything
After losing their beloved pet, Michele and Jeff wanted to adopt another dog.
A friend at a local animal shelter told them about Goldie, a senior dog with limited time left.
Many potential adopters had passed on her because of her age and medical condition, but for Michele and Jeff, there was no hesitation.
They welcomed Goldie into their home and made sure she spent her final days surrounded by love, warmth, and family.
Jeff explained their decision simply:
“Because she’s not going to go to the rainbow bridge without having a family.”
It was a powerful realization—too many dogs spend their last days alone.
That’s when they decided to do something bigger.
Creating a Hospice for Senior Dogs
Wanting to help more dogs like Goldie, the couple founded Monkey’s House, a hospice home for senior and terminally ill dogs, located on their Burlington County farm.
✔ They care for up to 25 senior dogs at a time.
✔ They create custom, nutrient-rich diets based on each dog’s medical needs.
✔ They take the dogs on special outings to ensure they enjoy life to the fullest.
Michele and Jeff knew that resources for terminally ill shelter dogs were almost nonexistent.
“It really put the spark under us to do something. Still today, there are very little resources for hospice dogs or terminal dogs in the shelter system.”
And so, they built a place where every dog is treated with dignity, compassion, and love.
A Final Journey Filled With Joy
One of their favorite traditions? Taking the senior dogs on “field trips” in their custom senior bus.
The goal is simple: to give these dogs the best days of their lives.
Michele says, “This is 90% the happiest place on Earth, and 10% the saddest.”
She wants people to see senior dogs the way she does—not as burdens, but as souls full of life, deserving of love until their very last breath.
“A devastating diagnosis is not the end of your time with your dog.”
An Award-Winning Legacy
Their incredible work hasn’t gone unnoticed.
The couple was honored with USA Today’s Best of Animalkind Award, receiving:
✔ Over 70,000 votes in a public nomination process
✔ A $1,000 grant to help them continue their mission
✔ Thousands of heartfelt messages from people touched by their story
One YouTube comment summed it up perfectly:
“That has got to be one of the kindest but also hardest things to do. These wonderful people are truly Angels here on Earth.”
Michele and Jeff hope their story will inspire others to open their hearts to senior dogs.
There are thousands of elderly dogs waiting for a loving home in their final days.
Watch their incredible journey in the video below.
