Following the heartbreaking loss of their owner in June 2025, two older dogs found themselves admitted to a Southern California animal facility. Nikki, an 11-year-old Labrador retriever, and her 9-year-old Lab-Malamute mix offspring, Koda, had previously spent their days on a spacious farm alongside various other animals, forging an unbreakable bond.

When medical concerns, including advancing age and multiple bodily lumps, landed Nikki on the facility's euthanasia register, the Petaluma-based nonprofit Lily’s Legacy Senior Dog Sanctuary intervened to rescue both animals.

Although older canines—particularly large breeds—frequently face the longest waits for adoption, and placing a bonded pair of large seniors presents an extraordinary hurdle, Alice Mayn, the sanctuary's founder and executive director, firmly rejected the idea of separating them.

At Lily’s, we don’t break up bonded pairs. We keep them until we find a home for them.

Lily’s Legacy provided Nikki and Koda with comprehensive veterinary care and continuous daily stimulation. Residents at the sanctuary enjoy access to open grounds and a swimming pool designed to accommodate aging joints. Volunteers maintain around-the-clock engagement from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m., while two resident caregivers, including Mayn, live on-site to ensure the animals are never left unattended.

The duo quickly won over staff and volunteers with their cheerful and adaptable demeanors, with Nikki even stepping into the role of a welcoming committee member for nervous newcomers.

Thirteen months later, a Lily’s Legacy volunteer and her bereaved family members realized the timing was right to welcome Nikki and Koda into their lives following the passing of their previous pet, celebrating the occasion with a festive homecoming celebration.

They went to a wonderful home. You fall in love with these dogs so it’s hard to say goodbye, but that’s part of what we have to do.

The Origins Of Saving Senior Dogs Week

Nikki and Koda represent just two of more than 1,000 dogs—all aged seven or older and weighing at least 50 pounds—saved by Lily’s Legacy since its inception in 2009. Mayn established the sanctuary after being deeply transformed by the life and eventual passing of an older golden retriever named Lily.

Driven by a commitment to older canines, Mayn launched Saving Senior Dogs Week in 2019 to spotlight the rewards of senior adoption and generate financial support for specialized rescue groups nationwide.

The annual event takes place from October 25 to 31. This year, 37 participating rescue organizations will showcase inspiring Ambassadogs across digital platforms, while monetary contributions processed through Mayn’s Saving Senior Dogs USA portal will be divided among them alongside a dedicated medical relief fund.

An equally vital mission of the initiative is connecting senior rescue networks so they can effectively guide individuals seeking placement assistance. Amid nationwide shelter overcrowding driven by economic pressures and operational challenges, Mayn values having a dependable network to share.

We give out this site to people that call us from either California or all over the country probably 50 to 60 times a week. That’s how many calls we get. And people are very, very appreciative when they have an alternative. I don’t like to say, ‘I can’t help you – click.’ I like to say, ‘I can’t help you, but try this.’ It’s amazing the response I get to that.

The Benefits Of Adopting Senior Dogs

Older dogs typically arrive housebroken, have moved past destructive chewing phases, and integrate smoothly into household routines because they demand significantly less daily effort than younger counterparts, according to Mayn.

They’ve had a hard time one way or another somewhere in their life. They are extremely grateful. Gratitude is the thing that I’ve learned the most from these dogs.

Megan Alexander, assistant executive director at Lily’s Legacy and a former municipal shelter worker, noted that many prospective adopters still default to searching for puppies.

“I think people coming in have no idea that a senior dog is still going to live a great life,” she said. “They don’t realize there’s still a lot left.”

Consider Enzo, an older border collie who arrived at Lily’s Legacy with a hip separation injury. Although veterinary intervention bypassed the need for surgery, Enzo required four months of strict rest and rehabilitation—a notable test of patience for a notoriously high-energy breed. Following his recovery, Enzo secured a permanent home on a horse ranch alongside three other border collies.

He’s having a ball. His leg is fine, he’s healthy and he’s living on a ranch.

Mayn encourages others to discover the deep fulfillment of assisting older dogs during Saving Senior Dogs Week and throughout the year. She remains deeply thankful for the memorable golden retriever whose legacy inspired her transition into full-time animal rescue.

It gives me a really good reason to get up in the morning. I think Lily would approve.