12-year-old Marcie arrived at the Kenton County Shelter in Fort Mitchell, Kentucky after being picked up off the streets.
She wandered alone for weeks before making it to the shelter, and she arrived deaf, blind and covered in fleas. To make matters worse, the shelter discovered Marcie also had terminal cancer.
Sadly, Marcie’s cancer diagnosis basically made her unadoptable. But a shelter volunteer named Bill Baker had a different vision for this discarded companion.
Bill had been a volunteer at Kenton County Shelter for a long time, and him and his wife, Libby decided to take Marcie home with them.
“When they brought this poor one in, I just loved her,” Baker told cincinnati.com. That love prompted Baker and his wife, Libby, to invite Marcie into their Lakeside Park home and their hearts. “We thought we’d give her some comfort in her last days. Turns out, she’s done so much for us – reminded us what it is to be human. She’s a joy.”
For the past five weeks, the Bakers have showed Marcie with love and affection. “She’s our little girl,” Bill Baker said. “She’s the sweetest girl,” Libby Baker said. Their priority has been to keep a close eye on Marcie and to make sure she’s comfortable up until her final moment.
The shelter director Elizabeth Cochran says that everyone at the shelter is touched by the Bakers’ gesture.
“This is the most beautiful and special adoption – the fact that they were willing to take her on and tend to her needs and give her a great life for what time she has left,” Cochran said. “It’s an adoption that rarely happens. We’re so grateful to Bill. Bill is the most kindhearted and gracious individual. He’s a great volunteer. He spends so much time with each and every animal. He seems to communicate with them on a deep level.”
Lisa Binns of Shelter Dog Photography has gotten to know the Bakers over the years as she volunteers at the shelter as a photographer. She says, “There is no way that Bill could have left that sweet girl in the shelter. Even knowing that his heart will be broken when she is ready to go, he couldn’t say no to those beautiful eyes even though they will never see his.”
Baker told cincinnati.com that he has a heart for all the animals at the shelter, especially the older ones that often have a difficult time finding a home.
“Everybody goes straight to the puppies,” he said. “It’d be nice if more older dogs got that kind of attention. They need you. They make great companions and they’re so understanding of humans. And, they appreciate what you’re doing for them.”
Although Marcie doesn’t have much time left, she will be living out her days filled with love.
If you’re interested in giving a dog like Marcie a loving home, please visit your local shelter or adoptapet.com
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[Featured Image Credit: Lisa Binns of Shelter Dog Photography]
Kindhearted Animal Shelter Volunteer Adopts Dying Dog is an article from: LifeDaily