BARABOO, Wis. — Tucked into the rolling hills near Devil’s Lake, Jane’s Journey Home for Dogs provides a peaceful retirement for senior and special-needs dogs who have nowhere else to go.

The nonprofit sanctuary, founded in 2021, is the realization of a dream by the late Jane Barton, whose son, Larry Barton and his wife, Melanie, transformed a 36-acre farm into a haven for aging dogs.


What You Need To Know

  • Jane’s Journey Home offers end-of-life sanctuary care to senior dogs who are often overlooked for adoption
  • Retired social worker Gina Whiting provides weekly nursing-style care, including personalized medication prep, for the sanctuary's aging residents
  • The nonprofit often steps in when elderly owners can no longer care for their pets or pass away without a plan in place
  • Founded in memory of Jane Barton, the 36-acre Baraboo sanctuary provides a peaceful final chapter for up to a dozen senior dogs at a time

“I see this as kind of a canine nursing home, and I mean that in a positive way,” said volunteer Gina Whiting, a retired geriatric care social worker.

Every Wednesday, Whiting prepares customized meals mixed with medications for the dogs, ensuring their comfort and dignity.

“Much like people, as we get older, our tastes change. Food isn’t as appealing. So, you really have to think of how to keep them comfortable because they don’t understand they’re taking pills,” she explained.

Executive Director Rachel Leuzinger emphasized the sanctuary’s mission.

“What we do here is we focus on permanent care as opposed to adoptive and re-homing,” said Leuzinger.

The facility currently supports around a dozen dogs, providing individualized care plans tailored to each animal’s needs.

Jane’s Journey Home often steps in when elderly pet owners can no longer care for their animals because of health issues or after they pass away without making arrangements for their pets.

“The hard part for me is that there’s four different areas of elder abuse and the most prominent is self-neglect. As we get older, we have cognitive impairment, that sort of thing. We have more difficulty taking care of ourselves; ergo, our animals also,” Whiting said.

The sanctuary’s grounds feature groomed trails, indoor and outdoor yards, and a visitors center, creating a home-like environment where dogs can enjoy their golden years.

“Planning for our pets is one of the best ways to show them that we love them, no matter what,” Leuzinger said.

Jane’s Journey Home is open by appointment from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., seven days a week. For more information on volunteering or donating, visit here.

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