The Senior Doberman Project

Queen Sophia!

November, 2025 - Rest In Peace dear Queen Sophia!
You are so very loved, forever!!

Status Seeks Sponsor Only	Age 13	Sex Female	Color Black	Date Listed 10/14/25	Location Ontario, CA
Bella and Sunshine Rescue					Contact: Annalisa Mai President/Director Bella and Sunshine Rescue Email: bellaandsunshinerescue@gmail.com

Meet Queen Sophia!!

A Regal Lady always!!

Throne room. waiting for my court!!

Time for some tea and crumpets at court!!

Queen came to us mid-winter (December) of 2024 from one of THE highest kill shelters (and most overcrowded) in Southern California. She was picked up as a stray. The shelter had her aged at 8 years old, but we think that's ridiculous (look how grey she is!!) as she moves slowly like an antique pup and her teeth are pretty worn. At this particular shelter that she came from, a growl is a death sentence as the dog is considered “behavioral.” A sniffle would be a death sentence because a dog would now be "medical.” And if the dog does neither of those things above, and it just curls up in the corner, then it is "stressed" and also fast-tracked to euthanasia.

Poor Queen was guilty of getting pneumonia. Being in an outdoor shelter kennel in mid winter gave Queen pneumonia... and she also had a GIGANTIC mass on her abdomen the size of a grapefruit (that's probably why someone dumped her). We took her into the rescue and treated her pneumonia, and then took her in for surgery consult - our vet was very confident the mass was isolated and can be removed to make her more comfortable, but Queen's bloodwork showed too many issues with organ functions for our vet to safely put her under anesthesia.

So we put Queen in our senior hospice program, expecting her to pass within a few months. Well, she's still around. :) The mass has gotten bigger, but she is otherwise happy. Her foster mom says she's literally the BEST dog the family has ever had in their home. (It makes me smile to think that we always bring in these senior dogs expecting them not to make it very long... and they go into a foster home and think to themselves "hmm, I like it here - I'll stay around a bit longer".)

Special Needs if any: Not available at this time.

Geographic Areas: California and the surrounding states.

The Sponsor A Senior program helps Seniors by raising funds for their rescue programs. This helps offset some of the additional costs that come with caring for a senior (diet, medications, supplements, etc.). Please read more about this program on the Sponsor A Senior page.

Queen Sophia is looking for a sponsor! The cost to sponsor a Senior Dobe is $40 per month or $480 per year. You can sponsor a Senior for one month, one year, or somewhere in between. To sponsor Queen Sophia use the PayPal button below or visit the Sponsor A Senior page for instructions on sending a check. Thank you for any help you can give, it is MUCH appreciated!