A True Dog Sanctuary Built To Support The Elderly
Pepper's Senior Dog Sanctuary dedicates their space to giving elderly dogs homes with vet care, engaging activities and cuddles
Photos courtesy of Pepper’s Senior Dog Sanctuary | These soulful eyes are full of love
Nestled into the scenic landscape of Roxborough Park is a 50-acre oasis that allows dogs to live out their days with peace and love. Pepper’s Senior Dog Sanctuary (PSDS) is dedicated to ensuring elderly dogs have a home with everything from veterinary care to therapeutic programs, engaging activities and, of course, plenty of snuggles.
Founded in 2019 (doors opened in 2023) by three devoted animal advocates—Justin Klemer, his mother, Mary Leprino, and Leigh Sullivan—the sanctuary is named in honor of Pepper, a senior Pomeranian that significantly impacted their lives, especially Leprino’s. Pepper was adopted when he was around 7 years old and became Leprino’s loyal companion. This bond inspired the trio to create a sanctuary dedicated to providing lifelong care for senior and special-needs dogs, honoring the pup who stole their hearts.
PSDS is crucial because it provides a permanent home for senior dogs that might otherwise face euthanasia or neglect. “Elderly dogs often have a harder time finding new homes, and PSDS ensures they receive proper medical care, nutrition and companionship for the rest of their lives,” shares Leprino. By focusing on the well-being and quality of life for these senior dogs, sanctuary staffers raise awareness about the value and joy of caring for older pets, encouraging a compassionate approach to animal rescue.
The state-of-the-art facility at Pepper’s Senior Dog Sanctuary
“Senior dog populations are largely overlooked,” says Klemer. “Many times they need a lot of care—and that can be expensive, which many people can’t afford or just don’t want to deal with, so they surrender them to shelters.” This is why PSDS seeks out medically compromised, unadoptable dogs from shelters, ensuring their last days are their best days.
The sanctuary features comprehensive facilities, including luxury individual dog suites, a large common area, a year-round indoor dog park and specialized health and wellness spaces. It’s basically the poshest retirement home in Colorado for four-legged friends.
A lovable lady enjoying her time in the sun
PSDS currently homes up to 50 senior dogs, with the youngest being about 7 years. “The age of the dog is not a limiting factor. It’s more about taking the burden off of shelters and lowering the euthanasia rate for dogs that still have a lot of love to give and need a loving home,” Klemer says. “Many times, these dogs have had a hard life up until this point, and we are there to show them some compassion, to know that we care and love them.” It’s a two-way street though. Yes, PSDS offers a unique and comprehensive continuum of care, including medical treatments, hydrotherapy and hospice care for these pups, but these four-legged angels bring joy and love to so many people as well. “Special-needs groups, senior centers and transition students all come to interact with the dogs, and it’s this type of therapy that offers companionship and unconditional love,” Leprino shares. “Seniors come and read to the dogs, and the dogs love it as much as the seniors do. It’s so heart-warming to see.”
In a perfect world, there would be no need for Pepper’s Sanctuary, but the burden it lessens for overpopulated shelters is making a difference for all dogs. In fact, the ASPCA estimates that approximately 370,000 dogs entering U.S. shelters each year are euthanized. Sadly, many dogs are prematurely or unnecessarily euthanized due to advanced age, special medical needs, testing heartworm-positive or having a disability.
Support from donations and volunteers is crucial to PSDS’s mission, and those lucky enough to have snagged a ticket to the sold-out Raise the Ruff—the sanctuary’s largest fundraising event of the year, at Mission Ballroom in Denver on Aug. 29—will enjoy photo opportunities with senior dogs, live and silent auctions and a seated dinner. Proceeds from the event help fund programs helping at-risk senior dogs that are providing animal-assisted learning opportunities to underserved adults with disabilities, neurological disorders and/or learning differences.
