b'Some people justify spending thousands people find that they cannot afford to care forof dollars on inanimate objects to restore and a senior or special needs dog. Nevertheless,then admire them as they sit idle just looking after having lived their whole lives in a homebeautiful. Millions of Americans love collect- environment,aseniororspecialneedsdoging vintage and classic cars, a hobby that grew does not deserve to end up spending whateverfirst with baby boomers, and has now cap- time he has left in a shelter environment. turedtheheartsofMillennials.Barrett- Continued on the following page gJackson, an auction house that specializes inclassic and antique cars, has seen the numberof Millennial buyers increase an average of 48percent every year since 2009. Car collectinghas flourished the last two years during thepandemic.Whileseniorpets(andpeopleforthatmatter) may not garner the same sexy aura ofa classic car, thankfully there are those who When Jamesons ownersee the beauty in older sentient beings. The passed away, the out-of-towndetails are not often as apparent as the shined daughter contacted Pascoup chrome on an old car, but there is history County Animal Services to do awith an older dog. There is also something welfare check. She thought herunexplainableaboutbringingaseniordog dad had maybe three or fourinto the fold of the household, nurturing and hunting dogs on his property.caring for them. When animal services officersJennifer Hummel is founder and direc- arrived on the property, theytor of Vintage Paws Sanctuary in Sarasota, found 22 Hound dogs chainedFlorida. SinceopeningACE PetResort in or in kennels, all in poorSarasotaalmost18yearsago,Jenniferhas condition. They were all verymadehelpinghercommunitydogsand sweet, like Jameson. Butpeoplepart of her business model. What terrified, said Jenniferdriveshertohelpseniorandspecialneeds Hummel, founder of Vintagedogswasinspiredbysomethingthat Paws Sanctuary.happened when shewas still in high school.Its a memory still very raw in her mind. Jameson was photographedArrivinghomefromhighschoolone next to a 1961 Cadillac Seriesafternoon,16-year-oldHummelfoundher 1962 Coupe at the Sarasota17-year-oldsistercrying,andknewsome- Classic Car Museum.thing was terribly wrong.We had three senior dogs, and I foundout that mom had owner-surrendered themto Bishop Animal Shelter. Hummels motherwasterminallyill,andfeltthatthedogswouldbeanextrafinancialburdenonher kids.Looking back all these years later, I realizeshe was only doing what she thought wouldbe best for her kids. But, it still sucked, saidHummel.A dog shouldnt have to pay withhis life because his owner is going through adifficultsituation,financiallyorotherwise,sheemphaticallyadded.Andmostofthetime, the owner doesnt want to have to giveuptheirdogeither.Sometimesthough,www.TheNewBarker.com THE NEW BARKER 25'