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Over the last three years, Sher Polvinale has transformed her sprawling Laytonsville property into a canine cloud nine, the nonprofit House with a Heart Pet Sanctuary. She takes in dogs from shelters who are too old or sick to be adopted or whose owners can no longer care for them.

"Our mission is to give a loving end-of-life experience to dogs," said Polvinale, 62, who has volunteered with animal rescue organizations for 30 years. "If you're a dog person, you have this pet and you love it, it's like your child," she said.

There are about 20 dogs and six cats — plus one senior horse boarded in Damascus — under Polvinale's care, in addition to a regular rotation of boarders who stay in the kennel and rooms in the basement. The dogs range in size from Pops, a lumbering pit bull mix from Prince George's County who may have been used for dog fighting, to Valentine, a blind Jack Russell terrier who was hit by a car on Valentine's Day.

"When older dogs are given up by families, their opportunity for adoption is very, very slim, and sometimes these dogs are euthanized right away. But the truth is they make wonderful pets and they have lots of life in them," said volunteer Harriette Sackler, 63, of Montgomery Village, who sits with the dogs and takes them on walks in the backyard. "It's a very peaceful place to me," she said. "It's a happy place."

The nonprofit has adult and youth volunteers who help with everything from refilling food and water dishes and vacuuming to giving the animals affection.

"I think what she does is very unique," said volunteer Jenny Morris, 31, of Mount Airy. "Her house is so clean and she cares so much about those animals. It's incredible."

Polvinale lives alone with her four-legged boarders. She often sleeps on the couch to monitor sick animals, and when she rests in her bedroom, the dogs loyally follow. Many of the animals are chronically ill and need medical care, and a doctor from Montgomery Mobile Veterinary Services stops by several times a week, Polvinale said.

"It's sort of like a hospice for a lot of these guys," she said.

The expense of medical care is often a major factor in pet owners' decision to relinquish their dogs, and Polvinale estimated she spent about $20,000 on the animals last year. The economy has forced even more people to give up their pets, she said.

It has also been a hard year for Polvinale. Her husband died of lung cancer in March, around the same time the construction company she worked for went out of business. Since then she has expanded the nonprofit sanctuary and taken in even more animals, and she said her husband would be proud to see how the project has grown.

"I feel like I'm one of the most lucky people in the world," Polvinale said. "I get to live my passion and purpose every day."