MONDAY, October 19, 2026|
Photo – Joy and Bosco – Courtesy Must Love Dogs Sanctuary
Saratoga’s Must Love Dogs Sanctuary has found a new home for a pair of Border Collies after their owner was diagnosed with an aggressive form of cancer.
On October 1st, Must Love Dogs Sanctuary founder Theresa Manley posted on social media about what she described as the saddest case she’s encountered in her three‑plus years of running her Carbon County dog rescue. Speaking to Bigfoot99 and The Bandit102, Manley explained that the situation began when a friend in Encampment learned of a resident diagnosed with terminal cancer who could no longer care for his two Border Collies, Joy and Bosco.
The friend urged the sick man to contact Must Love Dogs Sanctuary. While she is normally focused on finding homes for stray and abandoned dogs, Manley said the situation compelled her to help rehome the two beloved pets.
Manley announced the story on social media, explaining that the dogs are a mother‑and‑son bonded pair in their early teens. She wrote that they are housebroken and very active, and that both will require medical exams, with the male possibly needing to be neutered. Manley said she was concerned that finding a home for both dogs would be difficult. However, she said two potential families reached out soon after the post was made.
Through Must Love Dogs Sanctuary, Manley offered to pay for the dogs’ initial medical care, including vaccinations and a possible neuter.
Manley explained that the first family to express interest in adopting Joy and Bosco lives on a ranch and had recently lost two senior dogs. She said the couple was moved by the story and offered to give the Border Collies a safe, loving home.
Manley said the family was concerned that the former owner might recover and want the dogs back, but she assured them that would not be the case. After meeting the family, she said the owner was comfortable with them taking the dogs.
It’s been roughly two weeks since the family adopted Joy and Bosco, and Manley reported that all is going well. She added that the second person to reach out about the dogs was also well qualified to adopt them.
Must Love Dogs Sanctuary is a 501c(3) recognized charity that relies on donations to continue finding homes for stray and abandoned dogs. Manley explained how supporters can contribute to the organization.
Longtime readers may remember that Manley, through Must Love Dogs Sanctuary, was working with the Saratoga Police Department to construct a new animal shelter at the town’s dog park. Per its agreement with the town, the rescue raised more than half of the shelter’s expected $40,000 construction costs, but the price has since more than tripled, and the project is now on indefinite hold.
