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Assisted Living Program provides foster care to chronically ill dogs who have low chances of adoption

Often we meet animals in shelters who are not good candidates for adoption.  These animals usually have chronic health conditions or temperament issues that require that they be closely monitored for safety.
Over the years, CAPE has been able to save the lives of dozens of animals who were brought into our ALP 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 all expenses.

The huge success of this program has been due to the kindness and commitment of our wonderful 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!
Sponsor Athena!
Mostly blind in one eye and almost deaf, covered with lumps and dry itchy skin, with foul breath, frequent seizures, arthritis and bladder control issues. You can imagine how awful she felt.  She’d lost her spark. That’s how 15 year old Athena came into CAPE rescue.  But those issues are not who Athena is. 

​After a year in her Assisted Living home, with multiple trips to a variety of doctors, her foster mom’s dedication has turned Athena’s life around.  Every one of her health issues has greatly improved. She’s got her outer beauty back on and she sparkles like a diamond.  

Please know that YOU help heal Athena’s wounds and bring her sparkle back to life; that YOUR support is the reason CAPE’s Assisted Living Program can continue to change the lives of, and heal the damage done to, our precious little friends.  For that, we cannot possibly thank you enough.
Sponsor Gretta!
When CAPE staff first laid eyes on Gretta, she was in an isolation kennel at the Front Street Animal Shelter in Sacramento. She had been dropped off as a stray and there was no chance that she would be put up for adoption.  Her age was estimated to be around 13 years old. She had multiple tumors all over her body. Her fur was matted with dirt and filth. 

Gretta was never going to leave the animal shelter unless CAPE rescued her. So we did. 

Gretta is now in her CAPE Assisted Living foster home. She is nearly blind and mostly deaf. After she was shaved and groomed, our veterinarian removed two tumors from her body. The tumor on her front leg was determined to be a sarcoma. Gretta also has multiple mammary tumors and we discovered she was never spayed. 
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Now that she will live in CAPE's Assisted Living program for the rest of her life, Gretta has settled into a comfortable routine. From the start she was clearly house trained. She loves wearing her little jacket all day long. Mostly, When she is not waddling around the house, Gretta likes to nap in her favorite bed.
Sponsor Rico!
Confiscated by an animal control officer from the home where he had received no treatment for an injured leg and a bad flea infestation, 12 year old Rico was taken to the county animal shelter where, in addition to his painful leg and skin condition, he was found to be blind and to have a 4-5 grade heart murmur. 

CAPE came to the rescue and placed Rico in a loving Assisted Living foster home where now lives happily--with all expenses paid by CAPE--being loved by people who are doing all they can to make up for the world of pain and neglect that was once the only world Rico knew.  
Would you like to sponsor this wonderful boy?
Sponsor Roxie!
Little 10 yr old Roxie’s life took an unexpected turn when her guardian was no longer able to care for her.  CAPE was contacted by someone who pledged to cover all Roxie’s costs for the rest of her life if CAPE would find a home for her. 

As Roxie has special needs, CAPE found the perfect Assisted Living home for her where now she spends glorious days curled up in the blissful comfort of her new guardian’s lap.
Sponsor Estee!
Little 8 year old Chihuahua, Estee, had medical problems that shelter staff determined would render her unadoptable.  CAPE was called to evaluate Estee for possible placement into a CAPE Assisted Living home. 

​Upon meeting her, CAPE saw that Estee had too much spark left in her to leave this little girl behind.  She is now happily living out her life with a wonderful family, with CAPE paying all her expenses.
Sponsor Lily!
Lily has been with CAPE since 2010, which would make her anywhere from 10-12 years old. It took Lily a couple of years to overcome her separation anxiety, but can now be left alone (with my other dogs) without too much stress. Unfortunately over the past 6 months, she has developed occasional panic attacks that occur in the middle of the night.

These attacks are both scary for her foster guardian and her as there is no consoling her while she is having one. We are looking into medications that will hopefully help her.  Lily just had a check up at the vet and other than her panic disorder she is in excellent physical shape. She is a sweet dog that craves attention, loves to hunt for gophers and has never met another dog she did not like. She is also the best and easiest walker in our pack!

​We are glad we have been able to provide a stable, patient home for Lily, one that she feels safe in and can continue to increase in confidence.  ​
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 CAPE 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 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, re-routing surgery, and many tense moments.

​The outcome for this “perfect in almost every way” little guy is that he will always need to wear a belly-band inside the house.  But Bucky will live a full life in one of CAPE’s amazing Assisted Living homes where he will always be loved and cared for.

Bucky can’t thank you, but we can.  We thank you for all the Bucky’s you’ve given homes, good health, happiness and zoomies to.  Thank you. For all who have been, are now, and are yet to come.
Sponsor Coco!
It’s hard to imagine the shock and fear in the heart of 9 year old Coco, when he found himself in the animal shelter; strange sounds and smells….his guardian nowhere in sight.  He tucked his little body into a corner, hiding as best he could from unfamiliar surroundings that frightened him.

​CAPE answered the shelter’s call, placing Coco in an Assisted Living foster home where the tender care he receives has brought him out of the corner and into the center of family activity. 

Raise your hand if you’d like to sponsor Coco!
Sponsor Vito!
CAPE’s Assisted Living program was the perfect answer for little Vito.  He’d been terribly abused before being relinquished to an animal shelter.  Because of the abuse he’d experienced, which led to his fear of people, the shelter rendered him unadoptable.  CAPE placed him in an Assisted Living foster home where he is learning to love and be loved; where all his financial needs will be covered by CAPE. 
 As with all CAPE’s Assisted Living dogs, Sponsoring Vito will greatly help CAPE  place more of the many dogs waiting for the chance to live and thrive in a home with a loving family!