A fan favorite, Turkey was adopted around Thanksgiving 2021. He came in with a group of dogs and Home Fur Good named them all after Thanksgiving foods. While we rarely keep existing names, it seemed to fit and so we kept it.  Turkey is a scruffy fella with a natural signature mohawk you can’t miss. He is the only pup we allow off leash on our property as he sticks right by our side.  Turkey loves to join us for walks around our walking path and is a tested traveler having joined Heidi on road trips and flights.

Approximate Birth Year: 2013

Rescue Date: 11/19/2021

Liza was found among 30+ dogs in a hoarding situation in southern Arizona. Upon rescue she could not be touched or handled, cowering in the back of a kennel.  But Love For Dogs Rescue saw her potential. Liza was a diamond in the rough and with time she began to shine. While she won’t be the first to greet you at the door, once she knows she can trust you she becomes quite the little love bug. Her favorite buddy in the house is Turkey who she gleans her confidence from.

Approximate Birth Year: 2013

Rescue Date: 12/12/2021

With the 4th of July holiday looming in 2022 we opted to visit the shelter to see if we could rescue a pup so they wouldn’t have to endure being in a shelter as fireworks went off.  Listed as 10 years old, when we visited, we found Alice was under anesthesia for being spayed. Our options: adopt sight unseen or return the next day for a visit. We adopted sight unseen. When we returned to pick her up, we learned she had been re-assessed at a younger age. As time goes on, we wonder if her originally quoted age was more accurate, as soon after she arrived, she showed signs of early cataracts and aging, but we love her all the same.

Approximate Birth Year: 2016

Rescue Date: 7/1/2022

Gancho was found on the streets of Phoenix with a clubbed foot.  A rescue stepped in to assist in having him assessed and found that his deformed foot was likely a birth defect.  They named him Gancho which means ‘hook’ in Spanish, and we like to think of him as our little pirate, Captain Hook.  Gancho doesn’t make many appearances on our social media threads as he’s often sleeping in his bed or being a true daddy’s boy, snuggled on David’s lap.

Approximate Birth Year: 2017

Rescue Date: 1/27/2023

Dorothy was surrendered with her brother in Miami, Florida. True and Faithful Rescue Mission, known for supporting seniors, swooped in and took on their care.  When Heidi saw her on their Instagram feed it melted her heart as she looked like her childhood pup, Toto. The rescue is located just an hour away from Heidi’s parents and she coincidentally already had trip scheduled to visit them…so of course she had to stop! As they say, the rest is history. Dorothy is a typical quirky poodle and likes to act goofy at times.  While she doesn’t look all that old, she’s one of our oldest, has only a few teeth, a cataract, and dry eye. She’s the first to rise at 3am, demanding her breakfast and all others have followed suit in their support.

Approximate Birth Year: 2011

Rescue Date: 11/21/2023

When Heidi visited True and Faithful Rescue Mission to meet Dorothy, Scarlet also caught her eye. And you can’t leave with just one, right? Scarlet was found on the streets of Miami with a huge mass on her head.  TFRPM stepped up to provide care, had it surgically removed, and it was found to be benign. Scarlet is a bit like an energizer bunny and does not act her age. She just keeps going and going.  Chances are if you find her, she’ll be playing with a toy that’s just as big as her.

Approximate Birth Year: 2015

Rescue Date: 11/21/2023

Effie found herself at the Bowie Livestock Auction with her bonded sister, Evelyn. Sweet Mercies Rescue Ranch stepped in to purchase them and expected them to stay for life.  But when we called to say we were interested in a senior miniature horse or two they said, “We have just the pair for you!”  Effie is the more confident of the pair and incredibly sassy. We also call her our little silver back as she’s VERY protective of the herd, especially when a newcomer arrives.

Approximate Birth Year: 2005

Rescue Date: 4/11/2024

Evelyn found herself at the Bowie Livestock Auction with her bonded sister, Effie. Sweet Mercies Rescue Ranch stepped in to purchase them and expected them to stay for life.  But when we called to say we were interested in a senior miniature horse or two they said, “We have just the pair for you!”  When Evelyn arrived, one would consider her standoffish and even skittish.  But with patience and persistence we were able to earn her trust. Evelyn has chronic conjunctivitis, and we’ve learned she likely has limited eyesight on her right side, but nowadays she seeks out attention and treats.

Approximate Birth Year: 2005

Rescue Date: 4/11/2024

While we never considered adding anything other than equines to our sanctuary, we happened upon a pair of one year old sisters looking for a forever home and we were happy to provide. What came after was a learning experience. Not only did we learn that Dolly and Daisy had limited handling and socialization, but we also found Effie was NOT tolerant of them being added to the pasture.  In addition, while we have experience with dogs and equines, we had never cared for sheep, so we were learning on the fly. The integration took weeks and socialization even longer. Adding Dolly and Daisy was a wild ride, but we couldn’t imagine our sanctuary without them. Tip: The best way to tell them apart? Dolly has a ‘dollop’ of white on her head…like a Dollop of Daisy. Get it?

Approximate Birth Year: 2023

Rescue Date: 5/14/2024

In August 2024 Heidi ventured to the Bowie Livestock Auction for the sole reason to bear witness of what happens at the auctions. She had no intention of bidding on an equines…and stayed true to that. However, when she learned that Sweet Mercies Rescue Ranch bid on a pair of mini donkeys that were mother and daughter she melted. Having already adopted Effie and Evelyn from SMRR we had an established relationship, and they offered us first choice if we were interested, and we jumped at the chance. After a month of quarantine, we welcomed Mama Mariposa and daughter McKenzie. Mariposa is quite a stoic donkey and wasn’t willingly ready to accept love and handling when she arrived. With time she came around and had a beautiful calm energy about her. Eight months after her arrival we noticed Mariposa’s belly getting larger. Equines that have recently foaled have ‘foal heat’, where they are extra fertile. Having just had McKenzie and being placed in a situation where she was exposed to intact males at the auction, we knew there was a chance she was pregnant. After running a pregnancy test it was confirmed Mama Mari will be a mom once again in the coming months.

Approximate Birth Year: 2007

Rescue Date: 9/21/2024

In August 2024 Heidi ventured to the Bowie Livestock Auction for the sole reason to bear witness of what happens at the auctions. She had no intention of bidding on an equines…and stayed true to that. However, when she learned that Sweet Mercies Rescue Ranch bid on a pair of mini donkeys that were mother and daughter she melted. Having already adopted Effie and Evelyn from SMRR we had an established relationship, and they offered us first choice if we were interested, and we jumped at the chance. After a month of quarantine, we welcomed Mama Mariposa and daughter McKenzie. While we focus on senior and medical needs animals there is no way we wanted to separate Mariposa and McKenzie, which is why both were welcomed.  McKenzie has the sweetest personality and has proven to be a breath of fresh air.  It’s been a blast to see her grow from a baby into adolescence and we can’t wait to provide a beautiful and fulfilling life here at the sanctuary.  We’re sure she’ll love having another sibling arrive in the coming months.

Birth Year: 2024

Rescue Date: 9/21/2024

Having just agreed to adopt Mariposa and McKenzie we saw The Gifted Equines post about a pair of senior bonded sisters they had just pulled from the Last Call List from Bowie. Were we nuts to double our headcount so quickly? Yes, we were! Pumpkin and Cider arrived to The Henry Haven on the same day as Mariposa and McKenzie. Pumpkin is a sweetheart always looking for a treat.  And while she’s very much part of the herd you will oftentimes find her hanging out independently in her own corner, munching on grass and enjoying life.

Approximate Birth Year: 1999

Rescue Date: 9/21/2024

Having just agreed to adopt Mariposa and McKenzie we saw The Gifted Equines post about a pair of senior bonded sisters they had just pulled from the Last Call List from Bowie. Were we nuts to double our headcount so quickly? Yes, we were! Pumpkin and Cider arrived to The Henry Haven on the same day as Mariposa and McKenzie. While already bonded to Pumpkin, Cider joined Effie and Evelyn’s clique soon after she arrived. It’s clear that Cider is the oldest equine of the bunch, but it doesn’t slow her down.

Approximate Birth Year: 1999

Rescue Date: 9/21/2024

In late December 2024 Heidi saw a senior beagle posted on the Hot Springs Animal Services Shelter page and thought the best way to ring in the new year was to provide an animal in need a soft landing. While at the shelter she noticed a cowering pup in a kennel. That cowering pup was Wolfgang. He had recently been surrendered with his brother by his elderly guardian who could no longer care for them. His sibling was friendly and immediately scooped up by an adopter, but Wolfgang was left behind. While we focus on senior and medical needs, we also have a soft spot for the underdogs. Those that are overlooked and may need a little extra TLC to open up. So, there was no way she was leaving Wolfgang behind, and she came home with 2 pups yet again.  The beagle that we rescued that day we named Harriet.  After diagnostics she was diagnosed with lymphoma.  She spent several beautiful months with us before her health declined and we had to say goodbye. But we’ll always remember she was the one that lead us to Wolfgang.  Wolfie is our liveliest pup and always has a toy in his mouth ready to play.

Approximate Birth Year: 2016

Rescue Date: 12/31/2024

In early February 2025 we received a call from our veterinarian, All Creatures Animal Hospital. They had a client that recently entered hospice so they admitted their pup, Annie, to board and asked if the veterinary office could assist in finding a new home for her.  Having an excellent relationship with our vet and them understanding our mission and quality of care we provide seniors they reached out to see if we’d have space for just one more. It was clear that Annie was deeply loved and well cared for, so it was an honor to be asked. Since arriving to our sanctuary, we have learned that Annie is deaf, but it doesn’t impact her quality of life one bit. While relatively quiet most of the time she loves mealtimes and spending as much time as possible outside in the backyard.

Approximate Birth Year: 2013

Rescue Date: 2/4/2025

Benito suddenly lost his elderly guardian and found himself surrendered to Hot Springs Animal Services, looking for a soft landing. Having partnered with the shelter several times previously they knew we welcomed super senior and gave us a call. When we met Bennie he was incredibly sweet but understandably shut down from his world being turned upside down.  In addition, he was significantly overweight, and it was taking a toll on his body. After a few weeks of adjusting in our home Bennie adjusted, became more active, and the weight started naturally coming off. While still on his weight loss journey, he is living his best life and loves being one of the sassiest of the pack.

Approximate Birth Year: 2008

Rescue Date: 4/28/2025

In Spring 2025 we met Haven with Last Chance Arkansas. She had been in foster care for 3 years and had medical needs. Unfortunately, after 5 days with us she would not settle, and her anxiety continued to climb. All parties agreed it was in her best interest for her to be returned.

After returning Haven our minds were in overdrive. It was clear she was content where she was. And while not our decision, we feared moving her again would only exacerbate her anxiety. It was also clear that her foster family loved her dearly. What could we do to help?

This is when we proposed to ‘adopt’ Haven but allow her to permanently stay with her foster, while we cover her medical care. By doing so the rescue could move forward with helping other animals in need, her foster could continue loving on her as she has done for 3 years, we’d be able to participate in her care, and Haven would be as happy as a clam.

So while not a resident at the sanctuary, Haven is part of The Henry Haven family, living her best life with her Forever Foster.

Approximate Birth Year: 2009

Rescue Date: 5/2/2025

In 2023 Simon found himself at the Animal Welfare League of Hot Springs Village. He was placed into foster, and they soon became aware he was having seizures. After settling in with his foster mom for a while she ultimately decided to adopt Simon.

As Simon’s guardian got older, she realized it was important for her to relocate closer to family. Unfortunately, circumstances did not allow Simon to join her, and she made the incredibly hard decision of trying to find him a new home.  Animal Welfare League HSV graciously offered to help. In July 2025, we received a well-written letter from their organization seeking assistance for Simon.

Anyone involved with rescue knows it’s difficult to find placement for animals…especially those with medical conditions. At approximately 7-8 years of age Simon has been on an interesting journey with his epilepsy. While on 3 different medications he still has breakthrough seizures. This is why it was so important to his guardian and the organization to find an appropriate landing for Simon.

Simon is the perfect example of animals we serve with our mission, and we have experience managing epilepsy. Our hope is that we can come up with a treatment plan to better manage his seizures.

Approximate Birth Year: 2017

Rescue Date: 7/21/2025