Memorials

Since House with a Heart opened in 2006, we have said good-bye to over ninety of our cherished residents. They will always remain in our hearts and we are eternally grateful for the time we had them in our lives. We find comfort in knowing we fulfilled our mission by providing them all with a loving home for the last years of their lives.  On this page we honor some of these special friends.

• 

  Tator Tot – Memorial

  Age: 15

  Tator was rescued by PetConnect Rescue.

  “Today was a hard loss for our sanctuary. We had to say goodbye to our Tator Tot. It was his time, he was struggling to breathe and it was the only gift we could give him.
  He came to us at the tender age of 8. Younger than what we normally took in, but we were only suppose to evaluate him to see why he was pooping and peeing in his crate. It’s because that’s all he ever knew. But as with all dogs that enter the sanctuary, it’s like Hotel California, they never leave.
  We fall in love so quickly. He was so scared that he would hide under any furniture he could find. And when he slowly started coming out, it was glorious. He knew he was now safe. I even took him home a couple times to spend with us at my house.
  But he had struggled with eye issues to the point he had to have both eyes removed. Even then, he adjusted. He struggled with pneumonia and we bought an oxygen tank for treatments. Then he had digestive issues that we finally got under control.
  We did everything we could to make his life comfortable. But his body was tired and we knew it was time. No matter if the decision is the right one, it’s still hard. RIP lil Tator Tot. You will always be loved and remembered.” (May 10, 2025)

   

• 

  Sissy – Memorial

  Age: 18

  This little girl was adopted and stayed with her people for many years.  They moved and couldn’t take her with them, so they gave her to a friend.  She was petrified when she came, but in a day, she started to relax. Four days in, and she is running with the pack! We were told she is between 16 – 18 yrs old.

  The Doctor just saw Sissy and said that her glucose was alarmingly low and that it could be caused by cancer and a few other really bad things. She had several other bad blood work results as well and something showing up in her intestines that was not normal and one side of her heart was enlarged. The only way to know exactly the cause or causes would be to do a lot more diagnostics and spend several days in the hospital to find out and she would have to have a tube put in through her nose and down into her stomach and even after all that the prognosis wouldn’t be good so Maria chose to stop her suffering and is with her now to let her go. (April 5, 2025).

• 

  AJ – Memorial

  Age: 14

  AJ was found on the streets in Virginia in horrible condition. He was matted so terribly that it had caused sores and bruises all over his body. His mouth was seriously infected, his toe nails turned into his pads causing infection and he was scared and hungry! Likely due to all of the horrors he had to face he could sometimes have behavioral issues. While trying to adapt to life with people again, AJ lost his first adoptive home, and didn’t do well in his first foster home.

  Our sweet Aj is now at peace.
  Despite all of our efforts, it became clear that his little body was fighting too hard, and we couldn’t let him suffer any longer. It was the kindest and most loving decision to let him go before his condition worsened, but it doesn’t make the heartbreak any easier. (Dec 2, 2024)

• 

  Dewey – Piper’s Pal

  Age: 15

  “Dewey, had a full work up and dental in September, His mouth was one of the worst we’ve seen. The cost was almost $3000, but he will now be out of pain.”  From Mid Atlantic Scottish Terrier Education and Rescue – M.A.S.T.E.R

  Another new fospice boy, Dewey, from Mid Atlantic Scottish Terrier Education and Rescue! Doesn’t he have such a great smile?  He was end of life with Cancer almost 15 years old.  Dewey was such a happy pup. Interested in absolutely everything especially bully sticks.

  1-22-25: Our sweet boy Dewey went to heaven today.
  Over the last couple of days, he wasn’t feeling well, and his bloodwork showed severe anemia, likely from internal bleeding caused by his advanced lymphoma. We knew our time with him would be short, but we made sure every moment was filled with love, comfort, and care.