You’re coming home with me!” Alice Mayn announced to the senior golden retriever named Lily, who had trotted over to her. After a big kiss from Lily, Alice knew she had to agree to foster the golden oldie for however much time the dog had left, and drove her straight home.

Despite being 13 or 14 years old and facing a myriad of health issues, Lily spent the next four months charming everyone she met with her joyful personality. Alice loved her so much that she slept on the floor with the ailing dog on what turned out to be her last night. In fact, Alice was lovingly resting her hand over Lily’s heart when she felt it stop beating.

This special girl is gone! Alice cried.

The next day, Alice was looking out the window at the clouds in the sky when suddenly, she noticed a cloud that looked just like a golden retriever.

Lily is up there, Alice thought. She made it!

Later as she walked downstairs, a thought hit Alice like a thunderbolt: I should start a sanctuary for senior dogs like Lily. So in 2008—just six weeks before Alice was set to retire—she founded Lily’s Legacy Senior Dog Sanctuary (LilysLegacy.org) in Petaluma, California. Since large senior dogs are often the last to be adopted from animal shelters, her dream was to offer a peaceful refuge for dogs over the age of 7 who weigh more than 50 pounds—either to live out their final days, or as a safe place to recover before finding a forever home.

A dream come true

Soon enough, community members began supporting Alice’s dream. A veterinarian at Fairfax Veterinary Clinic offered to provide discounted care and medications, and a friend planned a fundraiser at an upscale bar. Through a $10 cover charge, silent auction and additional donations from guests, the event raised $1,500—and Alice was able to welcome her first senior dog to Lily’s Legacy: a sweet mutt named Miracle.

Real miracles started happening too. Lily’s Legacy pulled senior pups at risk of euthanasia from shelters and took in pets whose owners could no longer care for them. Alice loved helping the often sick and underweight pups transform into healthy, happy, playful dogs.

These dogs are so grateful, Alice marveled. It’s amazing the way they look at you!

Word spread through social media, and a strong base of volunteers helped care for the senior dogs every day—from cleaning kennels and washing laundry to taking dogs for walks or simply cuddling with them.

In 2015, a supporter helped Alice buy the large property that hosts Lily’s Legacy today. Alice and a caretaker live on the property and a team of 75 volunteers pitches in from 7 am to 6 pm daily, so the dogs have constant company and around-the-clock care.

The seniors can also relieve pressure on their joints or improve their balance and coordination by swimming in the sanctuary’s pool. Every dog gets the dental and veterinary care they need, even when it costs thousands of dollars.

Home at last

To date, Lily’s Legacy has saved over 1,000 senior dogs, and about 80% of them are adopted into loving homes. Terminally ill dogs receive hospice care in foster homes—dubbed “fospice”—so they have attention in their final days.

The special senior sanctuary seems to affect everyone who visits. “I have adopted two senior dogs from Lily’s Legacy, and I hope to adopt many more! Lily’s is an amazing, beautiful place where senior dogs get pampered as they wait to go to their forever homes,” an adopter enthused.

“I’ve watched them help many senior dogs overcome physical and emotional adversity to become at peace with life,”
a donor praised.

Still, Alice wanted to do more. Because there are so many senior dogs who need help, Lily’s Legacy fields about 100 phone calls every week from people asking for aid. So Alice created Saving Senior Dogs Week and Saving Senior Dogs USA (SavingSeniorDogsUSA.org) to raise money and awareness for other senior dog nonprofits across America.

Alice, 79, finds saving senior dogs so rewarding that it keeps her feeling young. She’s deeply grateful for the impact her late dog, Lily, had on her life as well as the lives of countless other animal lovers and senior dogs. “It’s a team effort,” she says. “If anybody gets the credit, it’s Lily.”