Three years ago a local family fostered a three-legged hound that was diagnosed with just six to nine months to live.
When this hospice dog, Mamma Mabel, proved everyone wrong and kept on living, the Adkins family of Budd Lake decided to adopt her and even start a sanctuary to provide elderly and hospice dogs a comfortable dwelling.
Melissa Adkins, 40, and her 11-year-old son Braydon Adkins established Mamma Mabel’s Inn in 2018, a non-profit sanctuary named after the one and only Mamma Mabel.
The mission of the sanctuary, which is located at their home, is to provide “senior and hospice dogs a comfortable home to live out their golden years or end of life surrounded by love, or as we like to say sur’hound’ed,” says Melissa Adkins, who works as a digital media content creator.
“We started to foster dogs as a way to give back to the community,” she explains.
Mamma Mabel was their third foster. After losing her leg to cancer, the tripod hound found herself surrendered to a Bladen County, NC shelter at 10 years old after her family could no longer afford her care.
“We immediately said we would take her because we couldn’t let her live in a kennel with only months left to live,” she says. “That was three years ago! And Mamma Mabel is still alive and well. We officially adopted her in 2018 and realized there was a need for older and hospice dogs. Our next step was to incorporate and become a non-profit so we could do more to help our partner rescues. Of course, Mabel is our namesake, Mamma Mabel’s Inn.
“Our inspirational foster, Mamma Mabel,” she says was the perfect name for their sanctuary. “She has survived longer than anyone said she could, and she loves welcoming new fur guests to her home, but makes it well known she is the boss.”
The whole idea behind their sanctuary is to provide love, support, comfort and care to animals on their last leg of life.
“We can’t stand to see elderly, hospice or dogs with special needs in a kennel,” she says. “They deserve to live surrounded in love and comfort. Our mission is to make sure they know they are loved more than they believe and will never be alone again.”
Adkins and her son work as a team with no other employees but they do have several rescue partners: Gio Fund in North Carolina and 11th Hour Rescue in Randolph.
“We help them keep their senior/hospice population out of kennels,” says Adkins.
“We partner with rescues who have foster programs.”
Ruff, Ruff, Ruff
Mamma Mabel’s Inn caters to dogs.
“We are not breed specific, but because most of our dogs come from the south, they are often retired or abandoned hunting dogs and don’t do well with cats,” explains Adkins.
They currently have five permanent residents and two foster “who may become adoptable once we figure out their medical situation,” says Adkins.
Permanent residents include: Ruby, 10 yr. old tri colored beagle – “she was given up by an owner who didn’t want her anymore because she was unable to yelp puppies;” Bruno, 8 yr. old tri-colored beagle coonhound-“he is extremely skittish with separation anxiety and we don’t know his background;” Buster, 9 yr. old brindle Chihuahua – “imperfect breeder dog who lived the first few months of his life never seeing the outside of a crate;” Cooper, 9 yr. old red pug chihuahua-“his elderly owner passed away leaving him abandoned; Mamma Mabel, 13 yr. old white plott hound – “mast cell disease causes her to constantly need mass removal surgeries.”
Fosters include: Abbie, 14 yr. old white Maltese-“potentially has a cancerous lump;” Marley, 12 yr. old lemon beagle-“recovering from a recent rear leg amputation and lives with mast cell disease, just like Mabel!”
Since its opening three years ago, the sanctuary has helped 32 dogs and two cats, says Adkins.
Home Sweet Home
The dogs kept at Mamma Mabel’s Inn are welcomed with pure love and hospitality.
“They live in our home like pets, free to wander, rest, and play,” says Adkins. “We also have a fenced off piece of yard and baby gated deck for outside play.”
Unlike other inns that require check in and check out times, guests at Mamma Mabel’s Inn are never dogged nor charged a late fee.
“Buster is our original pup,” says Adkins. “He’s been around for nine years. As far as fosters, Mamma Mabel is our longest member at three years.”
Rates are not cheap but thanks to generous donors Mamma Mabel’s Inn has yet to close its doors to customers.
“We average between $8,000 and $10,000 per year depending on how many guests we receive and their needs when they arrive,” says Adkins.
To cover the expenses such as food, grooming and materials like blankets or food bowls, Adkins says “We rely fully on our generous donors. In addition, we maintain an Etsy shop, and have written a children’s book. All funds from those sales go directly to our pups.
“Our biggest challenge, like most non-profits, is funding,” she adds. “We have plans to renovate our dog yard into more of a dog park. We also need to find a way to make our home more handicapped accessible for the dogs we currently need to carry up and down stairs. Of course, this all requires money.”
Caring for these animals is a full-time gig for the Adkins’ team.
“This is what we do full time,” says Adkins. “It is a 24/7 labor of love.”
Volunteers and donations are always welcome.
“We sometimes need in-home sitters,” says Adkins. “We would love to have a few we could count on!”
To help or donate, visit www.mammamabelsinn.com or mammamabels@gmail.com.
Also support the sanctuary by ordering Adkins’ children’s book: “The Adventures of Mama Mabel: Everyone Deserves To Be Loved,” at https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0924CL5F4/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_glt_fabc_MSZYKP52F51MNHSDE8D8
