4 Dogs Whose Owners Died of COVID Find New Home 'Together'
Nassau County SPCA
Four dogs lost their human family to COVID-19 and are in search of a new home.
Pets Oliver, 5, Winston, 5, Isabelle, 4, and Izzy, 6, were brought to the Nassau County Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals "to temporarily help their owners who were affected by COVID," the organization wrote on Facebook.
The dog's owner – Jennifer Stien – was hospitalized with severe symptoms and asked her father Barry Stien to care for the dogs. Barry was also battling COVID-19, but he was doing so from home.
"Normal day-to-day care of the dogs became impossible for him and although difficult to part with his daughter's dogs (her babies), he knew [bringing to animals to the Nassau County SPCA] was the only way he could get better and help his daughter recover," the center wrote.
They added, "We assured him they would be waiting right here for her when she got released from the hospital."
A Nassau SPCA rep tells PEOPLE, "He just couldn't care for them anymore, he was having trouble breathing just getting the dogs out to us."
Nassau County SPCA
Unfortunately, the father's health rapidly declined and he died "a few days" after temporarily surrendering the animals.
"We were all so hopeful the daughter would recover and she would have her babies to come home to. Unfortunately that reunion will never happen as Oliver, Winston, Isabel and Izzy lost their mom this past week. They've lost everything," the SPCA said.
Nassau County SPCA
Nassau County SPCA
Nassau County SPCA
Nassau County SPCA
The organization added, "It breaks our hearts when we look into their little faces and they are asking when they could go home, but we are determined to keep those tails wagging."
A rep for the Nassau SPCA tells PEOPLE, "This case was just very hard because it was just the daughter and father and that was it. It was just her, the dad and the dogs."
"Now we have these amazing sweet dogs – hopefully, we can get a home that will take all four of them," the rep adds. "We are trying."
Rodgers added that the SPCA is "hoping to try to get all four of them in together" with one family.
On May 21, the SPCA revealed that all four dogs were adopted by a woman who previously had five dogs at one time, but the number dwindled down to two so she was eager to adopt.
"I am able to work from home for the most part, so I spend most of my time with all the dogs, which I feel has helped to make the new ones feel safe & secure. Despite a couple of very minor disagreements, all six dogs have meshed together as two herds blended into one and have all found their individual places with each other," Linda tells PEOPLE in a statement of welcoming her new pets.
She adds, "I LOVE having Oliver, Winston, Izzy & Bella here with me and I'm so thankful that I was able to give them a happy 'fur-ever' home!! They have a big fenced yard to play in, lots of toys and too many treats!!"
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The Nassau SPCA has helped many pet owners throughout the pandemic.
"We've gotten a lot of families who need help financially with not being employed at the moment or losing their job – but our main thing is just helping families financially with medical care, lifesaving medical care for their dogs that they can't afford or providing food," the rep tells PEOPLE.
The rep added that they've also helped temporarily house animals of families who "need time to get back on their feet" due to losing their home amid the pandemic.
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