Meet Kasper: A Senior Dog Who Deserves His Second Chance

At almost 13 years old, Kasper has already been through more than any senior dog should have to endure. A little Maltese mix with a complicated medical and behavioral history, Kasper came to Mackenzie’s after spending months being boarded at a veterinary clinic. The organization caring for him no longer had the resources or housing needed to provide him with the long-term care he requires. Because of his age, medical needs, and history of biting, Kasper had very few options—and without somewhere safe to go, he was at risk of losing his life simply because he was difficult to place.

We knew we had to give him a chance.

Kasper is the kind of dog who reminds us why our mission matters. He doesn’t need someone to look at his list of challenges and decide he isn’t worth the effort. He needs someone willing to see the little dog underneath all of it—a senior who deserves comfort, patience, dignity, and the opportunity to simply be safe.

AFTER 2,512 DAYS… GILBERT IS HOME!

Some dogs find their families quickly. Others take a little longer.

And then there are dogs like Gilbert, who remind us that sometimes the greatest gift we can give a dog is simply time… and the promise that we will never stop believing their family is out there.

Gilbert first came to Mackenzie’s on October 16, 2019, a mischievous 10-month-old puppy with his whole life ahead of him. And then somehow, those months turned into years.

For 2,512 days, Gilbert grew up at the sanctuary.

Until We Meet Again

Over the weekend, we had to say a heartbreaking goodbye to our aloof, goofy, and deeply loved friend, Thor.

After months of bravely battling an aggressive cancer, Thor experienced a rapid decline in his health. His foster family, who loved him wholeheartedly and gave him the forever home he deserved, was faced with an incredibly difficult decision after witnessing two weeks of unpredictable changes. One moment, Thor would be his energetic self—zooming around the house, digging new holes in the yard, and keeping everyone on their toes. The next, he would be exhausted, unable to leave the couch.