A couple’s deep affection for dogs led them to adopt 19 dogs at once, aiming to provide them a second chance at life. They committed to covering all veterinary expenses even if the dogs are rehomed.
Chris and Mariesa Hughes have saved more than 600 elderly and special needs dogs in pursuit of providing the highest quality of life for all animals.
They have a particular interest in aiding those who have been surrendered or abandoned, currently living with over a dozen dogs in their home.
Chris, aged 34, was born in High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire. However, when he was three years old, his family moved to America.
Mariesa, aged 40, expressed, “I’ve had a passion for rescuing dogs ever since I was a child.” She recalled getting her first rescue dog at the age of nine, and noted that Chris shared a similar dedication.
“Our current focus involves taking in specialized dogs with the aim of finding them new homes.“
Even with their full-time jobs, they persist in finding caring homes for dogs and covering their medical expenses.
The Mr. Mo project was born out of the inspiration from Chris’ beloved dog Moses, who passed away.
“He was an elderly Pitbull who had to be given up to the shelter due to his age,” he explained. “Moses spent 22 months with us before losing his battle with spinal cord cancer.”
As we cared for him, we saw firsthand the costs of looking after a senior dog with health issues. After his passing, we committed to finding homes for senior dogs, covering all veterinary expenses, and providing loving homes for those in need, regardless of financial constraints.
Chris and Mariesa’s acceptance of a particular dog prompts numerous shelters to reach out to them. They specialize in taking in dogs that are sick, injured, or otherwise unable to be cared for by others due to medical costs.
The couple’s commitment demands significant financial resources to ensure the pets’ care. They allocated $700,000 (£508,536) last year alone for veterinary treatments.
“Shelters contact us, and we take in the dogs, covering all their medical expenses, until we find them a perfect foster home where they will live out their lives,” explained Chris. “After that, we continue to provide for their medical needs indefinitely.”
Chris pointed out that since all their dogs have special needs, it’s much more cost-effective to have everything they need right in their own home.
“It’s quite hectic during feeding time, probably taking around 30 minutes. We hand-feed dogs that lack teeth or bottom jaws, cater to those with food allergies, and manage dogs with various dietary needs.”
Mariesa says that caring for the 19 canines, who span various ages, breeds, and abilities, poses a challenge.
“It’s a mix of emotions because it’s not always as dreamy as it sounds—it can be incredibly stressful. However, it’s incredibly rewarding to witness the results of our hard work and to see these wonderful dogs, all deserving of a second chance, being loved.”
Voir cette publication sur Instagram
“However, when we encounter dogs we’re unable to save, the emotional lows hit hard and deeply impact us. It’s also consistently chaotic.”
“I’d prefer to say ‘no’ to taking in more dogs, but unexpectedly, we ended up with two more so soon.”
“Witnessing their growth makes the struggle and heartache all fade away. This is undeniably our life’s purpose, no matter the difficulty.”
if(document.querySelector(‘body.dark-mode’)){document.querySelectorAll(“.post-body *”).forEach(function(o){o.style.removeProperty(“color”),o.style.removeProperty(“background”)})}
var randHTML = `
