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Animal Lover Runs The UK's First Dog Hospice For Pets Who Have Less Than Six Months To Live

Animal Lover Runs The UK's First Dog Hospice For Pets Who Have Less Than Six Months To Live

Nicola Coyle runs the UK's first dog hospice and treats aged pups to steak dinners, trips to the seaside and McDonalds

Mike Wood

Mike Wood

A woman from Mansfield has set up a hospice which treats pups who have less than six months to live.

She organises steak dinners and trips to Maccies so that they can enjoy their final days.

Nicola Coyle is the brains behind the Grey Muzzle Canine Hospice Project, where she endeavours to provide the best in end-of-life care for sick doggos who don't have a home.

SWNS

SWNS


"It can be an utterly heartbreaking job," she said.

"But I just can't bear the thought of them spending their final moments without the love they deserve."

The dogs are spoiled rotten by Nicola.

She said: "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," said the 46-year-old former nurse.

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

"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 any more and left," she explains.

She funds the dog hospice out of her own money, taking dogs from kennels, charities and vets where they would be put down if a new home was not found for them.

SWNS

SWNS

She can spend up to £500 per dog, which she either raises through fundraising or pays out of her own pocket.

When they died she would bury them in her back garden, but now so many pups have come through her hospice that she has run out of space in her garden and has now turned a room in her house into a memorial.

"The longest I had one is one year, the shortest was two weeks. It's so rewarding when you can make those times special," says Nicola.

"I don't know when their birthdays are so we throw all of them a ­birthday party.

"They just want to feel loved and safe. I really believe they should get a nice ending."

Featured Image Credit: SWNS

Topics: UK News, Pets, Animals, Dogs