Steve Greig has devoted his life to adopting and taking care of senior dogs and other animals who have trouble finding homes.
The 50-year-old's house and rented farm property in Denver is currently home to nearly two dozen animals: eight elderly dogs, two Calico cats, two ducks and a miniature pot-belly pig named Bikini (who happens to think she's one of the dogs). Greig also regularly cares for two other dogs —— one belonging to his roommate and another to his sister.
"It's definitely very time consuming and a part-time job in itself," he told ABC News. "But they're my family. It's a good feeling —— knowing that these little guys are loved, cared for and together in a home they deserve."
Greig said he first started adopting the animals after his beloved red miniature Pinscher named Wolfgang passed away four years ago.
"I was so distraught, but I wanted to find a way for something great to happen, to give his death meaning," he said. "So I decided to go to the shelter and adopt the oldest, least likely to be adopted dog there."
That dog was a 12-year-old Chihuahua named Eyore, he said, adding that Eyore had bad knees and a heart murmur.
"And it just took off from there," Greig said. "Whenever I came across a dog that didn't look like it was going to find a home, I took it in."
Along the way, Greig also ended up taking an abandoned miniature pot-belly pig, two ducks and two cats that had been left in a cat carrier in an alley during a heavy rainstorm.
"We are a full house, but taking in these guys and giving them the opportunity to live has felt like a nice way to honor Wolfgang's memory," he said.
Greig, who works as an accountant on weekdays, said he gets up at 5 a.m. every morning.
"I have to make all their individual meals," he said. "Each one has to eat something different since they all have different allergies. One doesn't have teeth so he needs his food blended and another has stomach problems so he needs special food."
He added that his roommate and a housekeeper help take care of the pets while he's away at work, though he always comes back during his lunch break to check in on them.
And while the full house keeps Greig busy around the clock, he said he wouldn't have it any other way.
"Despite everything, there's also something that's almost easier in taking care of senior dogs," Greig said. "They're much more come and wiser, and they're just like puppies. They love attention and care and they're very grateful."
Fuente: abcnews.go.com
