Like their human counterparts, pets need a little extra TLC in their final days. And CNN Hero and dog lover Sherri Franklin knows just how to give animals the right kind of care as they age.

Through years of volunteering to walk dogs at her local shelter, Franklin noticed how younger dogs were typically adopted while the older ones were left behind. Inspired to help the more mature mutts, she created Muttville Senior Dog Rescue.

Not only does Muttville find warm and loving homes for older animals, many with terminal or non-treatable illness, but the organization also covers the cost of palliative care until the dog passes away. As evidenced in this two-minute video, these pets go peacefully in the company of loved ones, living in the moment and appreciating every day to the fullest.

Take Polar Bear — a tiny but mighty pooch with moderate dementia and severe hip arthritis. Like the other dogs, his journey from shelter to Muttville was a happy one as he was given proper veterinary care and grooming to ensure a better quality of life. And the final leg of his journey to a new loving home was exactly what every rescue dog deserves — especially the older pups.