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1st Canine Hospice Gives Dying Dogs Steaks and Trips to McDonald's During Final Days

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While many prospective pet owners desire a young puppy or a mild-mannered pooch in the prime of its life, Nicola Coyle chooses just the opposite.

Coyle, a former nurse, seeks out dogs who are lonely and forgotten — dogs who, on average, only have six months left to live.

Coyle started her own hospice care for dogs, called Grey Muzzle Canine Hospice Project. It is thought to be Britain’s first hospice designated for canines.

Coyle operates the hospice out of her own home, located in Mansfield, a town in Nottinghamshire, England. Her two children, ages 14 and 15, help care for the dogs that are living out their final days.

Coyle cares for each dog as though they’d been a part of the family forever. She showers them with special dinners, trips to the beach, and comfortable places to rest their heads.

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“It can be an utterly heartbreaking job,” Coyle said. “But I just can’t bear the thought of them spending their final moments without the love they deserve.”

Coyle has a list of moments she tries to give each dog, including steak dinners and a trip to McDonald’s. “If they’re well enough, we take them for a day at the seaside, they get fish and chips on the beach and ice cream,” she said.

“We’ll also take them down to the local pub — it’s really dog-friendly, and they’ll get a steak dinner too.”

Caring for each dog isn’t cheap, but Coyle pays for what she can out of her own pocket. She also fundraises and hopes one day to open a full-fledged hospice care center outside her home.

The majority of dogs she takes in have been abandoned at the vet’s office or shelters. Many owners are overwhelmed with trying to pay for their dog’s medical bills, and instead, give them up.

It breaks Coyle’s heart to see dogs abandoned during their most vulnerable season.

“Many have not led a very nice life too, used for breeding or guard dogs, so when they’ve become unwell, they’re not useful anymore and left,” she explained.

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No matter how many days a dog has left, Coyle aims to make each day a gift.

“The longest I had one is one year, the shortest was two weeks,” she said. “It’s so rewarding when you can make those times special.”

She throws each dog a birthday party. She just picks a day and celebrates, not knowing the precise date.

“They just want to feel loved and safe,” Coyle said of her pups. “I really believe they should get a nice ending.”

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A graduate of Grand Canyon University, Kim Davis has been writing for The Western Journal since 2015, focusing on lifestyle stories.
Kim Davis began writing for The Western Journal in 2015. Her primary topics cover family, faith, and women. She has experience as a copy editor for the online publication Thoughtful Women. Kim worked as an arts administrator for The Phoenix Symphony, writing music education curriculum and leading community engagement programs throughout the region. She holds a degree in music education from Grand Canyon University with a minor in eating tacos.
Birthplace
Page, Arizona
Education
Bachelor of Science in Music Education
Location
Phoenix, Arizona
Languages Spoken
English
Topics of Expertise
Lifestyle & Human Interest




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