The tragic story of two senior German shepherd Dogs looking for a loving new home has broken hearts after the death of their owner catapulted them into a confusing new world.

Ziggy and Bowie are 9 and 10 years old respectively, and should be preparing to live out their senior years in a comfortable, warm home with their loving owner.

But they found themselves in a shelter and mourning their owner, after she tragically died, and wasn't found for five days, with her pets by her side.

The Westside German Shepherd Rescue of Los Angeles (WGSR) shared the heartbreaking story in a post to Facebook on August 13, explaining their owner had died suddenly while at home.

She was looking after four other dogs at the time, who were being kept in crates as she slept, and "passed away in her room," with her beloved pets Ziggy and Bowie "by her side".

Senior dogs Ziggy and Bowie were found by their owner's side after she tragically passed away. They are now under the care of a rescue who are worried they won't find new homes due to... Senior dogs Ziggy and Bowie were found by their owner's side after she tragically passed away. They are now under the care of a rescue who are worried they won't find new homes due to their age. Facebook/ Westside German Shepherd rescue of Los Angeles

It took five days for someone to find the 54-year-old woman, and her dogs, but "mercifully" all six dogs survived the ordeal, the WGSR wrote.

The four dogs she was pet-sitting were returned to their families, but "Ziggy and Bowie have no family coming for them" after the death of their owner.

They were initially impounded at a shelter, but since Ziggy was adopted from WGSR in 2015, they receive a notification, and immediately set out to rescue him, but Bowie was due to be left behind.

"We couldn't do that to him or take away Ziggy's best friend after all they had been through together," they wrote on Facebook, and so Bowie joined the care of WSGR.

Pleading for donations for the medical care of both dogs, including surgery for Bowie, the organization admitted they are "terrified" no one will adopt the pets due to their age.

"These days, everyone wants young dogs, so please spread the word. They just can't spend their final years in a kennel," they urged.

Senior pets are often overlooked at shelters as families search for puppies or a younger dog, with the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) acknowledging seniors are often the last to be adopted and the first to be euthanized, should the shelter practice euthanasia.

But the charity urges people to give senior pets a chance, pointing out that their behavior will be far more predictable than a puppy, and their personalities already well-developed.

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Animal lovers were horrified by Ziggy and Bowie's story, with WGSR's post getting 1,300 reactions from concerned Facebook users, as commenters flooded the post with well wishes.

"Oh my gosh, they are gorgeous. What a sad story," one wrote, adding: "Praying for their owner she's resting in peace."

"Condolences to their family. Thanks for taking them in your care," another said.

And one said she was "praying their deepest needs are met through those who are able to financially help, and most of all, a new home with loving and able owners".

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