For sadly understandable reasons, most of the big stories we hear involving rescue animals see their shelters hoping that their inspiring tales of overcoming neglect or abuse compels a caring soul to adopt them.
But sometimes, it isn’t a previous owner who has put a rescue animal through unthinkable hardships, but rather nature itself in the form of a serious illness . And if that creature either has a grim prognosis or is simply at a very advanced age , the shelter caring for them has a different reason for their passionate pleas for the animal’s adoption.
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Because while most rescues are advocated for this in this way so they can finally live the happy lives they were denied, the hope for some is simply that they can spend what time they have left in loving comfort.
And that’s what one North Carolina shelter is hoping they can achieve for a dog in a very unfortunate position.
For the staff at the SPCA of Wake County in Raleigh, North Carolina, it’s unclear just how much time 10-year-old Joyanna has left.
According to People , she is terminally ill with cancer, which has resulted in a “volleyball-sized mammary tumor.”
Unfortunately, that cancer has also spread to her lungs and she’s battling heartworms to boot.
Her previous owner surrendered her to the shelter due to the disease, but the SPCA added that she had also spent her whole life outside and wasn’t given much attention.
For that reason, they would consider it a terrible shame if she ends up spending her final days in a shelter.
As a representative from the SPCA wrote in a Facebook post , “She deserves to spend this time in a warm home surrounded by the love of a family. Somewhere she can be held, spoiled, and feel safe.”
And based on how they’ve described her, anyone who ends up providing such a space for her will get a whole lot of love back.
Although she understandably spends a lot of her time sleeping, she’s also an obedient dog with a heart “bursting with love and appreciation for every moment of attention she gets.”
She also knows how to sit, though the staff don’t ask her to do this due to the discomfort it causes her.
The only caveat seems to be that she doesn’t get along with cats.
As the shelter added, “And don’t be fooled, her spirits are high and she’s got some pep in her step!”
When Joyanna isn’t sleeping, she’s known to be a fun-loving dog who enjoys the outdoors and especially rolling around in the grass.
So while they acknowledge that she likely doesn’t have long, she’ll make quite an impression in the time she does have.
In the SPCA representative’s words, “We’re looking for a very special family or individual that would consider opening their home to Joyanna for whatever time she has. It would be the ultimate gift for a dog in her last days.”
h/t: People
