CAPE's Assisted Living and Hospice Care Programs
CAPE's Assisted Living Program provides life-time foster care to dogs who have little or
no chance of being adopted. This program focuses on senior dogs and dogs with special needs.
no chance of being adopted. This program focuses on senior dogs and dogs with special needs.
Often we meet animals in shelters who are not good candidates for adoption. These animals are sometimes seniors and/or animals who have chronic health conditions or temperament issues.
Over the years, CAPE has been able to save the lives of hundreds of animals who were brought into our Assisted Living Program which is designed to provide animals who are not candidates for adoption with permanent foster care in the home of a loving CAPE foster volunteer. Volunteers who sign up for this program make a commitment to care for the animal for the remainder of the animal’s life, and CAPE covers the cost of all their care.
The huge success of this program has been due to the kindness and commitment of our wonderful foster volunteer team, who we are deeply grateful for.
If you are interested in becoming a foster volunteer for an animal with special needs, please click here to fill out the Foster Application.
Over the years, CAPE has been able to save the lives of hundreds of animals who were brought into our Assisted Living Program which is designed to provide animals who are not candidates for adoption with permanent foster care in the home of a loving CAPE foster volunteer. Volunteers who sign up for this program make a commitment to care for the animal for the remainder of the animal’s life, and CAPE covers the cost of all their care.
The huge success of this program has been due to the kindness and commitment of our wonderful foster volunteer team, who we are deeply grateful for.
If you are interested in becoming a foster volunteer for an animal with special needs, please click here to fill out the Foster Application.
By sponsoring an animal, your donation will go directly towards covering the costs of their care. Read about some of the animals in our Assisted Living Program, pick one or more to sponsor, and you will receive a special thank you!
Meet the Animals in assisted living!
Tink • A tiny 6-month-old Dachshund mix with a big personality!
This spirited pup arrived at the Santa Cruz County Animal Shelter when her family noticed something was “off” and realized they couldn’t meet her medical needs. Tink wobbles when she walks and often loses her balance—symptoms likely caused by a neurological condition. Despite visits to a specialist, her exact diagnosis remains unclear, and it’s uncertain whether her condition will be life-threatening.
Tink’s determination and joyful spirit shine through every challenge. She’s already won the hearts of many, including her devoted foster family.
This spirited pup arrived at the Santa Cruz County Animal Shelter when her family noticed something was “off” and realized they couldn’t meet her medical needs. Tink wobbles when she walks and often loses her balance—symptoms likely caused by a neurological condition. Despite visits to a specialist, her exact diagnosis remains unclear, and it’s uncertain whether her condition will be life-threatening.
Tink’s determination and joyful spirit shine through every challenge. She’s already won the hearts of many, including her devoted foster family.
Simba is a beautiful Husky boy who suffered from severe glaucoma. After losing his previous home through no fault of his own CAPE was contacted, and we placed him into one of our assisted living foster homes in Oregon.
Simba saw an ophthalmologist to determine if his eye condition was causing him pain. As we suspected, the ophthalmologist determined that Simba was in a high level of discomfort. To give Simba a pain free life, enucleation surgery was performed.
Simba is pain free and living a wonderful life with an amazing family. His foster mom recently sent this photo along with this message: “Simba is LOVING this freezing but sunny weather!! He is SO playful! He was very curious about the frosty yard at first, too. Fingers crossed for some snow for him before winter’s end.”
Simba saw an ophthalmologist to determine if his eye condition was causing him pain. As we suspected, the ophthalmologist determined that Simba was in a high level of discomfort. To give Simba a pain free life, enucleation surgery was performed.
Simba is pain free and living a wonderful life with an amazing family. His foster mom recently sent this photo along with this message: “Simba is LOVING this freezing but sunny weather!! He is SO playful! He was very curious about the frosty yard at first, too. Fingers crossed for some snow for him before winter’s end.”
Bonded seniors Charlie and Lucky were left at a shelter. Their chances of adoption were slim to none. CAPE was contacted and we brought them into CAPE's Assisted Living Program. Charlie, 16 years old, and Lucky, 19 years old, both needed extensive dental care.
Charlie and Lucky are both doing well in their assisted living home. They enjoy the loving care they so rightfully deserve in their golden years.
Charlie and Lucky are both doing well in their assisted living home. They enjoy the loving care they so rightfully deserve in their golden years.
Gypsy
This darling girl was rescued from a hoarding situation. With no socialization before being rescued, it was determined that Gypsy is semi-feral. Thanks to her foster mom's patience, Gypsy has adapted well to her foster home. She now greets her foster mom at the door with a happy dance and will allow some petting, but she is still fearful of being picked up.
Gypsy's foster mom realized that going through an adoption process would be way too traumatic for her since meeting strangers is not an option. She reached out to CAPE, and we accepted Gypsy into our Assisted Living Program where she will be taken care of for the rest of her life.
Gypsy's foster mom realized that going through an adoption process would be way too traumatic for her since meeting strangers is not an option. She reached out to CAPE, and we accepted Gypsy into our Assisted Living Program where she will be taken care of for the rest of her life.
 Hope now Poppy
JULY 2023 • HOPE IS CURRENTLY IN OUR ASSISTED LIVING PROGRAM AND WILL RECEIVE ALL THE VET CARE SHE NEEDS.
CAPE received an email that said - Hope Needs Your Help. We read the email, took a look at the attached photos, and immediately started the process of bringing her to a CAPE foster home in Grass Valley. It was obvious that Hope had been severely neglected! Hope was abandoned in front of a small shelter in Newman, CA, about 40 miles south of Sacramento. She was left in 100° heat with no water, an old bone, and a dirty blanket. Thanks to the staff and volunteers at the Newman shelter, Hope was given a chance to live. Hope has a heart murmur, horrible skin issues, and mammary gland tumors. She is also in need of dental care. It is our hope that veterinary care will help resolve or reduce some of these issues. Despite all her medical issues, Hope has the will to live a good life. On Sunday July 23rd at around 11:30 a.m., Hope arrived at her foster home. She has trouble walking due to the mammary tumors and stairs are not yet an option for her. After a bite to eat and cool bath Hope was able to setting down for a nap. 
Sponsor Enzo! Enzo, a 13-year-old chihuahua, was surrendered to our wonderful rescue partner, Santa Cruz County Animal Shelter. This four-pound sweetie, nervous and confused in the shelter environment, had MAJOR dental issues and would require extensive dentistry. He was not neutered and was cryptorchid (only one testicle descended) and would need specialized surgery for his neuter. When the Santa Cruz County Animal Shelter reached out to CAPE to see if we could help Enzo, we knew he would be a perfect fit for our Assisted Living Program!
After assessing Enzo, he was placed with one of our wonderful, long-term fosters. Last Friday Enzo, AKA Wee Elf, had surgery. He had 11 rotten teeth removed and the surgeon was successful in removing the undescended testicle. Enzo is home and resting comfortably. His foster mom reports that "all is well... no tumors or other problems". We are thankful to be able to provide Enzo with a safe, loving home for the remainder of his life. With consistent vet care, time, and lots of love, we are hopeful that Enzo will thrive and enjoy his golden years. We are looking forward to more photos and updates - so stay tuned! From Enzo's foster guardian: "Enzo Lorenzo Francisco Fernandez, aka the wee ELFF, is doing so very well. After coming to his new home at a meager 3.9 pounds, he is now a hefty 5.5 pounds of love and affection, and he gives the very best Chihuahua hugs. The vet diagnosed his painful flinching as a pinched nerve in his neck between c-7 and t-1. So he is now on a regimen of an anti-inflammatory/pain med every day, and it is doing the trick. He is such a funny little guy. He is still wary of eating out of a bowl, and he still wants nothing to do with being on a leash. He often barks at the TV at night after dinner. He also loves to bark at his own reflection in the fire screen. We were adopted by a tomcat (neutered) who used to live at the neighbor's after being abandoned when his people left him behind when they moved away. The neighbors are quite happy that he is now with us, as they already have three dogs and four cats, and they know that he has a good home with us as an only cat. I call him Mr. Kitty, and he and Enzo are wonderful friends. I never cease to laugh when Mr. Kitty stalks Enzo and then swats at the ELFF's paintbrush tail. Enzo loves to chase Mr. Kitty, too. They are so cute together." |
Sponsor Bucky! The story of each CAPE rescue is unique and often unusual. Bucky’s story, however, is uniquely unique and unusually unusual. He is a playful, sweet and gentle boy whom his Assisted Living foster mom describes as “an almost perfect dog.” Why is that?
In 2018, CAPE rescued Bucky, a young Lhasa Apso from a local shelter. A vet exam found a urinary tract infection as the cause for his lack of bladder control. When several rounds of antibiotics didn’t cure it, x-rays and an ultrasound were done. Bladder stones, requiring surgery, were found. The problem remained. Alas, another set of x-rays and an ultrasound found a very old, partially crystalized foxtail in his urethra! It had caused damage which required several repairs and surgery. Bucky will live a full life in one of CAPE's amazing homes where he will always be loved and cared for. We thank you for all the Bucky’s you’ve given homes, good health, happiness and zoomies to. Sponsor Rico! Rico is 17. He was rescued from an overcrowded shelter after being confiscated by animal control from a neglect case. He came to CAPE five years ago with severe glaucoma and an untreated leg injury after being hit by a car. His eyes were removed after we realized that the glaucoma was getting worse and he was in pain. His leg healed and he is living pain free.
CAPE came to the rescue and placed Rico in a loving Assisted Living home where he now lives happily--with all expenses paid by CAPE--loved by people who are striving to make up for the world of pain and neglect that was once the only world Rico knew. |
CAPE's Hospice Care Program focuses on providing comfort and support to patients nearing the end of life. It does not prolong life or cure disease; it is palliative care. Hospice care focuses on keeping pain to a minimum and letting the last months, weeks or days be as peaceful and dignified as possible. It’s about quality of life, not quantity. It’s about living the rest of the days as pain-free and humanely as possible.