At House with a Heart Senior Pet Sanctuary, founder Sher Polvinale is used to tough phone calls. But one recent call stopped her in her tracks.
On the other end was a woman asking for help with three Chihuahuas: Bella, a 15-year-old mother, and her 13-year-old sons, Hudson and Ciroc.
Their owner had recently passed away, and while the woman had taken them in, things weren’t working out.
Her own dogs weren’t accepting the trio, she was moving, and her husband was facing health struggles. She was overwhelmed and out of options.
Polvinale began preparing to network the dogs with rescue partners — until the woman, her voice breaking, revealed the truth.
“She told me she had already scheduled all three to be euthanized at 4:15 that day,” Polvinale recalled. “When she called me, it was close to noon.”
Her daughter had urged her to Google “senior pet sanctuaries” as a last resort before going through with the appointment. That search led her to House with a Heart — and to the call that may have saved three lives.
Polvinale didn’t hesitate. She begged the woman to cancel the appointment and bring the dogs to her sanctuary, even though it was more than an hour’s drive away. The woman agreed. By afternoon, Bella, Hudson, and Ciroc were safe inside the sanctuary’s walls.
Though nervous at first, the senior trio began settling in quickly. By the very next morning, tails were wagging and trust was beginning to grow.
“They are all super sweet, but they need a lot of medical attention,” Polvinale said. Bella suffers from a severely enlarged heart and advanced dental disease. Hudson also has a heart condition, gallstones, and dental issues. Ciroc, though healthier, faces dental disease and an ear infection.
Despite the challenges, the sanctuary staff is determined to give them the best possible life — for as long as they have.
“We do not regret for one second accepting them,” Polvinale said. “Our motto is, ‘Love lives here,’ and we intend to love Bella, Hudson, and Ciroc for as long as possible.”
Their ongoing care will rely on donations, but for now, the elderly mother and her sons are safe, together, and cherished.
✨ To help Bella, Hudson, and Ciroc, donations can be made to House with a Heart Senior Pet Sanctuary.
