When I started Silver Snuggles Sanctuary, I never imagined how many senior dogs would need us.

Every time we rescue another dog, I can't help but wonder how many others are sitting in shelters tonight because there just isn't enough room. Our mission has always been simple: give senior dogs the peaceful, loving golden years that they deserve.

Whether they're abandoned, neglected, sick, mourning their owners, or just overlooked because they're old, they deserve to know what it feels like to be safe, comfortable, and loved, especially at the time of their life when they need it most.

Right now, we're running the sanctuary out of our home, and we've completely outgrown it.

The dogs have taken over every inch of the house (which honestly isn't the worst thing ), but we're at the point where space is limiting how many lives we can save. Saying "no" to a senior dog because we don't have room is one of the hardest parts of rescue, and I don't want that to be our reality forever.

For a long time, I've had this vision in my head of what the sanctuary could become. A peaceful retirement neighborhood built specifically for senior dogs, complete with individual tiny homes and yards. (You can’t tell me Snuggle Lane doesn’t have a ring to it.) Plenty of room to run, explore, nap in the sunshine, and just be dogs again.

A place where we never have to wonder where the next rescue is going to sleep. My husband and I plan to live on the property right alongside the dogs. Senior dogs don't stop needing care when the workday ends. They need medications, late-night potty breaks, emergency vet trips, and someone there when they're scared or not feeling well. Living on-site means that we are just steps away when they need us.

Our initial goal is $100,000. (GoFundMe automatically sets smaller goals to reach before the initial goal, so fundraiser goal may show a different number.)

That's the minimum we believe we'll need to purchase property and finally give the sanctuary room to grow. If we're able to raise that initial amount before locating a property, we will raise the goal in order to open up more options and find the absolute perfect space for the dogs. This property will be a permanent home to hundreds of senior dogs over the years, so the right fit is tricky to find and may require increasing our budget.

If you've followed our journey, celebrated a rescue with us, cried over one of our goodbyes, or simply believe old dogs deserve a chance too, thank you for even considering being part of this dream. Every share, every donation, and every word of encouragement gets us one step closer to giving these dogs the forever home they deserve.

Important Disclaimer This GoFundMe is separate from Silver Snuggles Sanctuary, Inc. Funds raised through this campaign are being used personally to purchase the property that will become the sanctuary's permanent home. Because of that, contributions made through this fundraiser are not tax deductible and are not donations to the nonprofit.