Chris and Mariesa do not mind spending some cash as long as they could provide the best quality of life to their dogs. In fact, they have already spent a total of $55,000 in renovating their home to make sure it fits their 20 senior and special needs rescue dogs. The couple made this decision after the death of their first dog named Mr. Moses broke their hearts.
Aside from their 20 dogs, the couple from Clifton Park in New York also cares for 104 other pooches through their foster program called Mr. Mo Project. It was inspired by Mr. Moses, who Chris saved after his family surrendered him to a kill shelter because he was “too old.”
Mariesa said that Mr. Moses was such a light in their lives and described him as an amazing dog. That is why when Mr. Moses was diagnosed with an inoperable spinal cord tumor, the couple thought that their world would end and fall apart. They sold everything for them to give Mr. Moses the alternative treatments, but he still died after five weeks.
After that, Chris decided to start a non-profit senior dog rescue center for them to help dogs like Mr. Moses. They will pay for the dogs’ lifetime medical expenses, which Mariesa said is a terrible and wonderful idea. Through this, the couple has already saved hundreds of dogs from euthanasia. To cover all the costs, Chris is working from home full-time while Mariesa is working as an occupational therapist.
It costs the couple about $40,000 to run the program and cover the medical expenditures of all their foster dogs. That is aside from the major expense that they spend on their own pooches. They have a hydrotherapy pool worth $30,000, which helps the dogs exercise, and two custom king-sized beds worth $5,000 for their pups to sleep in. Mariesa said that they put the two beds next to each other because their fur babies want to sleep with them.
The couple also built an outdoor doggy playground, and they play with the pooches there for hours every day. Aside from that, they take them on regular walks too. Although it is challenging to look after the dogs, the couple has no regrets. For them, what is important is to ensure that the elderly pooches live the final years of their lives in luxury.
Credit: The Mr. Mo Project
