Mingus Manor gives life and dignity to senior and special needs dogs

The journey to the center of the heart can be fraught with all kinds of peril, distractions, and detours. It is often only when faced with unconditional love from and for another being that the depths of that beating spark of life can truly be felt and the fulfilling path taken.

So goes the story of Karen Scherer, a woman whose heart was opened by a Chinese Pug named Mingus more than eleven years ago. Mingus was diabetic and he needed insulin shots everyday to survive. It was through her relationship with this special friend that Karen learned she has an inordinate amount of strength and compassion to share with aging, infirm, and often unwanted dogs. Even years after Mingus passed away, Karen has tapped into that strength and compassion to realize the dream of starting an animal sanctuary specializing in senior and special needs pets.

Mingus Manor officially opened its doors this year to seven lovable dogs ranging in age from 10 to 18. "Our goal is to comfortably house and provide veterinary care (from the top veterinary clinics in the Valley) for all Mingus Manor residents while they enjoy their golden years," says Karen on the sanctuary's website. "We want to dedicate this facility to their lifetime care and offer them the freedom to walk, play and sleep whenever they want."

It is clear when entering the facility that Karen and her volunteers have already achieved this goal by creating a special place for these senior pups. Each resident at Mingus Manor seems quite content as they lounge around the main living area, napping or vying for the attention of the humans in the room. Each dog has a special story and a unique personality to match. There's Otis, a 14-year-old Pug who recently lost an eye to infection and is almost blind in the other. Despite his loss, he is the definition of "feisty", finding his way to a fellow resident to rile him up one minute and the next curling up next to the same dog as old friends.

Then there's Dale, a ten-year-old black lab mix who was abandoned by his owner in an apartment for several weeks before someone found him. Now he runs happily around the sanctuary property, keeping patrol for any renegade lizards or geckos.

Dakota is the most recent resident at Mingus Manor. He is a ten-year-old Coon Hound/Bassett mix who was scheduled to be euthanized before another rescue group stepped in to save him. Days after joining the crew at the sanctuary, he is right at home. Already, he has a favorite spot where he nestles next to a new toy and sleeps peacefully.

The other four residents--Winston, Abigail, Molly and Dolly--all have their own stories to tell and Karen is happy to share them with anyone who wants to know. She will tell you that old dogs and dogs with health problems are rarely adopted from shelters. Most are put down before they have much of a chance. Karen is hoping to give chances to as many as she can in the coming years and it would seem she's got some great support behind her to make it happen.

The ultimate goal is to build three octagon-shaped buildings on the property in order to house 10 to 12 dogs in each building. John Goodell, Manager of Utilities, Architecture and Buildings from the famous "Best Friends Animal Society" in Utah has sent Karen the building plans they used for their sanctuary. Home Depot has offered to provide labor on all building projects at Mingus Manor. And an architect has volunteered his services to flesh out the building plans into an actual blueprint.

Karen's work now, aside from ensuring the quality of life for her current residents, is to find enough resources for building supplies, medical expenses, and the other day-to-day costs. She funds the basic needs of the non-profit with the money she makes through her pet sitting business, Loving Hands Pet Care. "Every dime I make goes toward the health and well-being of these animals," she said. But in order to grow the facility, she needs help. "Everybody is thrilled this is happening...now we just need the people."

So far, Karen and her core group of volunteers have hosted a number of fundraisers and "pay it forward" events. "I'm a big believer in helping each other," she said when describing the event they hosted at the sanctuary last month which collected food and other items for Desert Mission Food Bank and Wishbones for Pets.

She hopes to continue hosting fundraisers every month for the foreseeable future, but there are other ways to give as well. Online donations can be made using PayPal. These monies help pay for food, medical care, and any other needs the residents require. If donating specific items is preferred, a wishlist of items most needed is available on the Mingus Manor website. And volunteers are always welcome. They are in need of a variety of skill sets, including electrical and mechanical engineers. Give Karen a call for more information at 602-296-5568.

What keeps her going? "The best part of my whole job is seeing them come to life," she said. She has seen the miracles that can happen when a dog seemingly on his deathbed is shown love and compassion. "When they come here they're scared. They've lost their families. They don't know what's going on." But take one look around MIngus Manor and you will see what happens when a dog knows she's safe and at home. She relaxes and starts living life again. To Karen, that's what it's all about.

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