A Ceresco couple is dedicating their lives to providing love and comfort to elderly dogs in need. No matter the age or health condition, each dog is guaranteed a forever home with Shawna Clement and her husband, Joshua Bomberger.
It all started five years ago when Clement and Bomberger moved onto a 10-acre property about 20 miles north of Lincoln and founded The Farm: Senior Dog Sanctuary. The couple, who have had dogs for most of their lives, had a soft spot for the older dogs who they say are often overlooked.
“There was an obvious need for it,” Bomberger said. “These dogs, they needed somewhere to go for the last little bits of their life and we wanted to provide them with something that was quiet and peaceful and very loved on instead of a shelter.”
But as pet owners know, it’s not a cheap endeavor. Last year, The Farm’s total expenses surpassed $30,000, with the majority going toward veterinary care. Over $23,000 came from donations, with the rest coming from Clement and Bomberger’s pockets.
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From 2-5 p.m. Saturday, one of The Farm’s supporters is hosting a fundraiser at Lincoln’s Off Leash Dog Bar to help rally in more donations. The fundraiser will include a raffle, food and furry visitors from The Farm.
Clement said after vet and food costs, the rest of the money will be used for fencing material, beds, flea and tick prevention, toothpaste, toys and treats.
Currently, the youngest dog at The Farm is 8 years old, but the dogs typically range between 12 and 18 years old. When they began, the couple decided they wouldn’t have more than six dogs at a time, but that number has quickly risen to their current 13 calling the acreage their forever home.
As The Farm is licensed under the Department of Agriculture, they don’t necessarily have a numerical limit on how many dogs they can take in as long as the dogs are taken care of. However, Clement said they have their own personal limit based on the level of care they want the dogs to have while still providing a home environment rather than a kennel environment.
“There’s always adult and old and geriatric dogs that are at every shelter that need a home, and I’m so glad that we’re able to do this, but there’s no shortage,” Clement said.
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