We are Open!

Well folks, it only took 2 years of planning, and a year of active volunteer work, but Shep’s Place is finally open. We received our Animal Shelter license from the State of Missouri last week, and our Business License from the City of Independence. So yesterday, April 6, 2019, we took in our first dog, John Wayne. JW is a 10-year-old labrador / Australian shepherd mix, and came from Midwest Animal Resq. He is the PERFECT model of a Shep’s Place dog: old, mellow, sweet and affectionate, and friendly with other dogs. He will soon be joined by several other residents.

John Wayne hanging out with Ramona.

It’s been a long road, but we made it! Now we just need to figure out how to sustain it over the long haul, both financially and through volunteer and community support.

38 thoughts on “We are Open!”

  1. Catherine Simanis

    Bless You!!!!!!? Thank you for breaking all barriors and opening such a Jewel of a place for precious dogs who no longer have a place to call home, for whatever reason. The senior dogs who come to your Sanctuary are blessed and then also, go on to Forever homes. Even the dogs who don’t are also blessed, because of You who took on the HUGE undertaking of building such a MUCH NEEDED loving place to call home for Senior dogs in our Community, who just need a place to call home.
    Each one of you are such a blessing to our 2 legged and 4 legged Community.❤❤❤❤❤

    1. Meredith Beatty

      AWESOME!!!!!!! Senior dogs are my FAVORITE kind♥️ I love what you started … keep up the good work?

  2. OMG…so wonderful…This is what I want to do here in Dallas Texas.its driving me nuts trying to find a way to start a Senior sanctuary here.please advise….

  3. I am so very happy to see this wonderful place that you are dedicating your lives to. These precious fur babies deserve all the love, affection and care that you will give them. I have had a life long love of animals and it breaks my heart that so many animals never have and will never know the love of a caring family. Thank you for your love and dedication to making a difference in these dogs lives.

  4. Barbara McGinnis

    We are looking for an older dog! Will be wanting to find out more about your location, etc. We would love to come and check out your facility if you have an open house. Your mission to provide a home for older dogs is awesome!??

  5. Marian Hofmann

    Will you adopt to out of state adopters?? And if so will you arrange transport? Some Rescues do and some don”t but if you put your dogs on Facebook I’m sure this will be a question you are asked a lot!

  6. I think this is the MOST amazing thing I’ve ever heard of! Finally, somebody cares about the elderly dogs. You guys ROCK! Thank you so much for caring and letting these dogs enjoy the last years of their lives just like it should be! May God bless you all! ??

  7. Thank you for the love you are giving these older beautiful dogs. How do I donate ?

  8. Thank you so much. Seniors, both cats and dogs, deserve to live and end their days with dignity. I volunteer at a shelter and the seniors always break my heart.

    Not sure if you have reached out to Susie’s Senior Dogs, but they are a great advocate group for senior pups. May be able to assist you with placements. Worth a try.

  9. I just saw saw the St. Louis Post newspaper story about Sheps and I’m so humbled by your mission. I am a cancer patient who is blessed to have a constant companion dog, Mr. Trump (yea I know) a giant Doberman, who helps me on my survivor journey. I often have worried aloud to my friends and family about what will happen to Trump should I fall to my illness. Hopefully someone near to me may take him but even so he’ll be so alone and lost after spending every day and night by my side for years. I’m thrilled you have identified a need to help these types of dogs who have spend their life helping us. I’m going to send a small donation in memory of my 1st support dog Hector. Good luck on your mission.

  10. What a wonderful home for these beloved seniors. My heart goes out to senior animals – both cats & dogs – as sometimes they are discarded as one throws away a used tissue. I have taken in 4 senior cats that were discarded by their owners. While they are no longer with me, I have loving memories of their sweetness once I won them over. It is so difficult for senior animals to adjust to new environments & so heartbreaking that they should have to. Bless you for this endeavor – wish more would do this. Such a need.

  11. Suzzette Temple

    Bless you for taking care of these sweet babies. My senior girl is the center of our universe!!

  12. Didn’t think I Would start my day crying. Like our elders our older animals need 2 be loved and wanted. ‘I hope your home is a wake up call 2 people who think their pet is 2 old. They need 2 remember every day they 2 are aging. Love KARMA!

  13. Abigail R. Pierce

    Hello my name is Abigail Pierce and I’m looking to volunteer to help with the senior dogs. I have a rescue dog and she’s great. Please call me at 8163495854. I live in Kansas City MO.

  14. ❤️ what a beautiful story… thank you. I wish I lived closer! I would really like to create the same here… in Plymouth Massachusetts… thank God these dogs have an angel
    Like you to finally come home. May you be blessed to keep going! ?♥️?

  15. I came across this link on a news site and am so uplifted after reading about Shep’s Place. Your journey to becoming a shelter is amazing and truly inspiring. I’ve always preferred to adopt older dogs and I one day hope to also be able to open a forever rescue for the ones left behind. Thank you for doing God’s work! You all are true angels.

  16. Rooting for your success! We need more of these across the country. Thank you for your kind heart and the love & safety you are providing these sweet pups.

  17. Omg I’ve wanted to do this very thing for so long! I wish I still lived in KC, I used to work in independence! I sooo envy you. Maybe when I retire ( I’m 60) I’ll move back and be your biggest volunteer! God bless you all and God bless your old doggies.

  18. This is amazing! I have two senior fur babies (soon to be 17 and 15). They still have so much love and life in them. Thank you so much for helping these beautiful souls. I live in St. Louis so I cannot volunteer, but will try to support you in other ways. ❤️?

  19. You guys are amazing. May you find enough donations and wealth to continue this wonderful journey. So many Dogs need rescue and help. You are all angels from above. God bless you all.

  20. You are all saints, thank you for taking your precious time to take care of these animals in need. This just warms my heart so much and I wish you much luck and success!!

  21. Bless you all. These angels can live out their life in peace and safety. Thank you for what you do.

  22. Janet Kiessling

    Thank you so much for all that you do for these babies. Seniors are the best?????????

  23. Alberta lingner

    Thank you for what you are doing a wonderful idea only wish you were closer hope this idea catches on thank you again and again

  24. Della liddle

    God bless y’all, Angel’s for above I would live adopt or help if I can .
    Do you need anything donated to these sweet fur babies ?

    Take care , God bless
    Della Liddle

  25. Anne Greenwood

    Thank you, thank you, THANK YOU from the bottom of my heart!! This brings tears to my eyes! What fantastic role models you are to all! After a lifetime of giving, senior dogs deserve peace and love in their golden years. Our 3 phenomenal senior dogs, one 90 pounds and totally blind, are so loving, so easy going, and bring us so much joy every day! We will always adopt seniors. Thank you for opening so many eyes to this important need! I look forward to returning to your site to follow your stories and lift up my day! God Bless! ??

  26. Beat of luck and may God be with you with a little help from St. Francis Patron Saint of all animals

  27. When I was forced to retire for health reasons, I decided to adopt senior rescue dogs! We’ve had 4 so far and I can’t express strongly enough how life changing and fulfilling this has been. Yes, it’s hard to understand why some were treated so poorly, to work through that, and to lose them always too soon, but the love and reward are overwhelming! Thank you!!!!

  28. Seniors are my weakness! We are so blessed to have Shep’s Place to help seniors feel the love they deserve when they have no other options. We are Beagles and More Rescue and will be your biggest supporter!!! I will find your FB page and follow!!!!

  29. I have adopted several senior animals, and the rewards to me have been many. I hope that Shep’s place will serve as an encouragement to others to love, nurture, and enjoy all that the older animals have to give.

  30. What a great home for these adored seniors. In any event, someone thinks about old mutts. Much obliged to you such a great amount for mindful and letting these mutts appreciate the most recent long stretches of their lives simply like it ought to be! May God favor all of you! volunteer at a sanctuary and the seniors consistently make me extremely upset.

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