A Monroe County nonprofit is giving abandoned and medically fragile senior dogs a second chance through rescue, rehabilitation and compassionate end-of-life care.
Karen Thomas, founder of Payton’s Promise Sanctuary, joined Good Morning Keys on Keys Talk 96.9/102.5FM this morning to talk about the organization.
The Marathon-based organization specializes in rescuing senior dogs from high-volume shelters that are facing euthanasia because of age, illness or special medical needs.
“We’re a sanctuary of hope and healing,” Thomas said. “We take senior dogs out of high-volume shelters that are end of life, have special medical needs or require hospice care. They can live with us for the rest of their lives, or, if they can be medically rehabilitated, I can put them up for adoption through special-needs adoptions.”
The sanctuary officially opened in 2022 after Thomas spent two years preparing the organization. Today, Payton’s Promise cares for about a dozen dogs through its sanctuary, foster homes and sponsorship program, with four currently available for adoption.
Thomas, a retired healthcare professional with more than 30 years of medical experience, said her background has been instrumental in caring for dogs suffering from chronic illnesses, cancer and other age-related conditions.
“I was always drawn to the older dogs — the ones that had medical conditions, the ones that needed just a little more help,” Thomas said. “Those are the dogs that I really love to nurse, and that’s what I decided to do when I retired from human nursing.”
She noted that many canine illnesses closely resemble human conditions.
“A lot of the diseases they have are very parallel and similar to human diseases,” she said. “The current statistic now is 50% of dogs over the age of 10 will develop cancer, and I do have quite a few with different types of cancer.”
In addition to traditional veterinary medicine, Payton’s Promise incorporates holistic therapies including calming music, aromatherapy, therapeutic essential oils, laser therapy and energy mats to improve the dogs’ physical and emotional well-being.
“When I completed my course for Healing Touch for Animals, I became interested in calming music,” Thomas said. “It absolutely, 100%, is effective. The musical notes carry energy that calms the nervous system, allowing the animals to relax in what is otherwise a very high-stress environment.”
She said the calming therapies also benefit the people caring for the animals.
“It also helps the humans caring for them, and it creates a ripple effect,” Thomas said. “If the humans are calm, that’s going to help the animals be calm. It’s just a beautiful thing.”
Thomas recommends pet owners use similar techniques at home, especially when dogs are left alone during the workday or during thunderstorms and fireworks.
“The main need of any animal is to feel safe,” she said. “If you can create that for them — whether it’s calming music or giving them a safe space to retreat to — when something loud happens, they know they’re safe and that their family will be home soon.”
Many of the dogs that arrive at the sanctuary have suffered neglect, abuse or inadequate medical care, but Thomas said they often make remarkable recoveries once they receive proper treatment and attention.
“A lot of the animals that come to me from the shelters are there because of neglect,” she said. “They’re not on the pain medication they need or the proper diet. It’s incredible to see the resiliency day after day. These dogs that can barely walk, once they start getting what they need, how they come around. They’re just so grateful and so full of life.”
Thomas said one of the most rewarding aspects of the sanctuary is watching abused and neglected dogs learn to trust again.
“They’re very, very forgiving,” she said. “Once they’re here and they realize they’re safe and well cared for, they’re right here in the present moment, enjoying every single day. It’s an amazing thing.”
The organization is currently seeking adoptive homes for several dogs, including Taz, a senior dog in foster care with manageable medical needs.
“I’m really hoping Taz finds his forever family,” Thomas said. “He’s been in foster since January. He gets along with everybody and every animal. He’s just such a loving boy.”
Another resident, Rudy, has become the sanctuary’s emotional support ambassador.
“Rudy is our superstar emotional support dog,” Thomas said. “He makes sure everybody is feeling comfortable and safe. He goes to the elementary school to help teach fourth- and fifth-graders about compassion. He’s great with kids and with everybody.”
Payton’s Promise currently relies on a small core group of volunteers, with additional help from seasonal residents during the winter months when fundraising events increase.
To support its mission, the sanctuary is holding a raffle through the end of July for a new Highboy S2 electric scooter. Tickets are $10 for one entry or $25 for three entries, with the winner to be selected Aug. 1. The scooter must be picked up locally.
Thomas encouraged the community to support the sanctuary through donations, volunteering, fostering or adoption.
“Our mission is to make the rest of their life the best of their life,” she said.
More information about Payton’s Promise Sanctuary, adoptable dogs and the July raffle is available at www.paytonspromisesanctuary.org.