{"id":3218,"date":"2023-06-11T10:03:53","date_gmt":"2023-06-11T14:03:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.montgomerymag.com\/?p=3218"},"modified":"2023-06-11T10:03:53","modified_gmt":"2023-06-11T14:03:53","slug":"cold-noses-warm-hearts","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.montgomerymag.com\/cold-noses-warm-hearts\/","title":{"rendered":"Cold Noses, Warm Hearts"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"\"
Risa Simon and Walter: \u201cI realized there was a niche for senior dogs, dogs with special needs,\u201d she says. Photo by Andrea F. Siegel<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

STORY AND PHOTOS By Andrea F. Siegel<\/strong><\/p>\n

Noses and eyes are trained toward this Rockville kitchen, where food is being prepared.<\/p>\n

Impatient diners pace or whine, with one perched on the counter overseeing the process. The rest wait attentively for their meal.<\/p>\n

This is dinnertime, and Risa Simon is feeding her brood: 16 small dogs and 12 cats on a fall day. On a recent spring Sunday, she was up to 17 dogs and 13 cats.<\/p>\n

Her house is their retirement home, their haven, their hospice.<\/p>\n

Simon, 51, a Navy captain with a Bronze Star for meritorious service in a combat zone, is an intelligence director in the Office of Naval Intelligence in Suitland. Her other mission is giving elderly, ailing pets TLC in the twilight of their lives.<\/p>\n

Outside, the mailbox at Simon\u2019s Colonial-style home says Leashes End, the nonprofit rescue-sanctuary for canines and felines that she runs here. She founded it seven years ago and moved to the spacious home on 2.7 acres to accommodate it.<\/p>\n

A clue to what\u2019s indoors are the \u201cgate guards\u201d that usually include dogs Trina and Mouse, wildly barking on the front steps.<\/p>\n

\"\"
Meal time at Leashes End Senior Pet Sanctuary & Rescue. Photo by Andrea F. Siegel<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Inside, the d\u00e9cor is overwhelmed by a sea of pet beds, with furry retirees napping, chewing, wandering \u2014 not spending their days caged. Dotting the scene are squishy animal toys, water bowls, cat condos, pee pads and so on. Spray disinfectant bottles and neatly stacked white towels grace end tables.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere\u2019s a roll of paper towels in every room,\u201d says Simon.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe are a rescue in the sense that we rescue them from bad situations and shelters,\u201d Simon says, noting that many were abandoned, abused or neglected. Animals also come to her by word-of-mouth, rescue networks or are left anonymously on her doorstep.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe are a sanctuary,\u201d Simon says. No adoptions, but a couple of foster exceptions. \u201cThis is a haven to live out the rest of their lives. They are fed, they are cared for,\u201d Simon says.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey blossom here,\u201d she says, getting substantial veterinary care, love, good nutrition and less stress. The cost of running Leashes End is $6-$9,000 a month. Donations and grants account for one-third; Simon covers the rest. Ailing animals require medical treatment that includes cardiac and dental care as well as removing tumors, as on Sadie, a 16-year-old puggle that has since died. She had a tumor that caused discomfort and was so big it kept her from squeezing through the doggie door. Gremlin, 13, a dog that arrived in late April, is \u201cthe poster child for medical expenses,\u201d says Simon, because she faces thousands of dollars in treatment.<\/p>\n

Leashes End has live-in staff supplemented by volunteers. Retired teacher Kathy Hougum of Potomac, who has volunteered at other pet rescues, has several roles here, including outreach and keeping an eye out for potential grants. \u201cThe animals are lucky to land here,\u201d she says, noting the homey atmosphere.<\/p>\n

\u201cOK, let\u2019s go for a walk,\u201d Simon calls to the dogs in English, though she knows five other languages. Despite the rescue\u2019s name, \u201cWe don\u2019t do leashes,\u201d says Simon. The yard is fenced.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey go at their own pace. They walk where they want,\u201d Simon says before darting back to scoop up Walter, an arthritic, nearly blind and almost deaf, 17-year-old Yorkie that had enough walk. No dog left behind.<\/p>\n

For years, Simon envisioned creating a rescue in retirement for geriatric, small (under 25 pounds) dogs and cats, having taken care of an aunt\u2019s fluffy Malteses once her aunt couldn\u2019t.\u201cThen, I realized there was a niche for senior dogs, dogs with special needs.\u201d<\/p>\n

Older then meant 10 or 11. \u201cNow I have what I call super-seniors, 12 to 15,\u201d she says. The current age range of Leashes End residents: 10 to 24.<\/p>\n

Her plan morphed into starting the rescue in 2016, when her last overseas deployment to Iraq ended. She returned home to her husband and too many needy pets for their townhouse. The search began for a larger place, aided by money her aunt, who had died, left her.<\/p>\n

Though she and her husband separated, he helps out. Two housemates \u2013 recently there were three \u2014 swap doing chores, such as feeding and endless cleaning up after incontinent animals, for living rent-free. They also work; their hours allow them some time to be with animals during weekdays, sometimes feeding meals, says Simon. Kari Mitchell one housemate, often cooks for the dogs. \u201cThe crockpot is always going,\u201d Simon says.<\/p>\n

\u201cI love them all,\u201d Marqua Crawley, another, says of the animals. \u201cI do the morning chores after Risa [leaves].\u201d For laundry, \u201ceveryone pitches in.\u201d<\/p>\n

The rescue requires about five loads daily, Simon says, plus most of her non-work hours. Up at 4 a.m., she cleans her pee-pad and towel-covered bedroom, does a load or two of laundry and turns on a radio tuned to classical music for the animals before heading to work by 6:30 a.m.<\/p>\n

The house is chaotic upon Simon\u2019s afternoon return, as yapping groupies try to crowd into the bathroom with her. Evenings are devoted to the animals and cuddling with them.<\/p>\n

\u201cNobody sleeps alone,\u201d says Simon. Generally, the dogs sleep with her \u2013 on her bed or on the floor, and the cats with her housemates.<\/p>\n

The dogs generally get along, though an occasional dispute arises. Three dogs were rehomed or returned for problem behavior \u2013 group living isn\u2019t for everyone \u2013 including biting.<\/p>\n

\"\"
Photo by Andrea F. Siegel<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Volunteers range from students earning service learning hours to retirees who miss having pets, and all enjoy petting the Leashes End residents.<\/p>\n

Tamir Satterwhite, who will start 10th grade at Rockville High School this fall, says he is learning \u201chow to better take care pets for the future, to be more responsible.\u201d<\/p>\n

His time at Leashes End has him appreciating the work that goes into taking care of pets, especially those in need, and he enjoys comforting the ones that seek human contact, like Lady Valentine, a cat. \u201cI want to be there for them,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n

\u201cI love the older ones because I got older, too,\u201d says Rachel Maslan of Rockville, an administrator in a large company. \u201cIt\u2019s nice that I am making a difference in their lives and helping them.\u201d She also volunteers at the county animal shelter.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s very calming to be around the animals,\u201d says volunteer Jane DuMars, a part-time respiratory therapist who takes on whatever needs to be done and finds being with the animals calming, especially as they curl up on her lap. \u201cIn shelters, they live life in a cage,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s knowing that their last weeks, months or years here are filled with love. It\u2019s sort of like a human hospice, they get care,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n

\"\"
The Leashes End cemetery with memorial stones. Photo by Andrea F. Siegel<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u201cMy main role was to feed the cats dinner once a week, but I clean up when I\u2019m there. Some of them are incontinent. I do laundry, I give them attention,\u201d said Michele Isaacson of Bethesda, a retired paralegal, who handles other duties also. \u201cIt\u2019s not glorified at all, but I love all the animals; they are such sweet, old souls.\u201d<\/p>\n

Simon says she declined to consider a Navy position she had previously wanted because it would have required moving and her full attention. \u201cMy head wouldn\u2019t be in it,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n

\u201cSaying goodbye to pets,\u201d Simon says, \u201cis the hardest part.\u201d Stones in her pet cemetery bear their names.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey\u2019ve taken over my house,\u201d says Simon. \u201cThey\u2019ve taken over my heart, for sure.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

STORY AND PHOTOS By Andrea F. Siegel Noses and eyes are trained toward this Rockville kitchen, where food is being prepared. Impatient diners pace or whine, with one perched on the counter overseeing the process. The rest wait attentively for their meal. This is dinnertime, and Risa Simon is feeding her brood: 16 small dogs […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":58,"featured_media":3221,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2,13,61],"tags":[508,85,509,329],"yoast_head":"\nCold Noses, Warm Hearts - Montgomery Magazine<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.montgomerymag.com\/cold-noses-warm-hearts\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Cold Noses, Warm Hearts - Montgomery Magazine\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"STORY AND PHOTOS By Andrea F. Siegel Noses and eyes are trained toward this Rockville kitchen, where food is being prepared. 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