An old man dies. Alone except for his two old dogs, Indigo and Blue.

They stayed by his side for weeks until his body is found.

It's the sort of tragic story that makes people wonder how it could happen, and often ends sadly for all involved — including the faithful pets.

That was the scenario faced by Tasmania Police when they entered a property in the north of the state to check on the welfare of the occupant.

While nothing could be done for the elderly owner, the police called the local dog catcher, Des, who "has a way with animals" according to Emma Haswell, the founder of Brightside Farm Sanctuary.

Des called Ms Haswell, who had already heard about the dogs.

"The owner had died, and no-one knew, and he had been dead for two weeks when the police found him," she said.

"His two dear old dogs protected him and wouldn't let the police go near him, they were guarding their owner.

"It would have been very stressful for the dogs and very difficult for them when the police came in and they didn't know what was going on. They were very, very protective. Apparently the police weren't game to go near them.

"Nobody from the family could or would take them, so their future was looking pretty grim, so I said I would [find them a new home]."

The two old dogs are believed to be 10 and 12 years old, and Ms Haswell said it was likely they would have been euthanased.

The dogs have settled into their new home together. ( Supplied: Brightside Farm Sanctuary )

"I was amazed. They were the most beautiful dogs. They were adored. You just want to squeeze them," she said.

"They are mother and daughter, so the [red] heeler is the mother, and the kelpie-cross is the daughter.

"When I took them to their new home, I took them out into the garden to explore and it was just gorgeous. The daughter kept looking back and checking on the mother as they wandered around — they're really bonded.

"They're well cared for and in good health."

New life for old dogs

Emma Haswell with rehomed greyhounds at Brightside Farm Sanctuary. ( ABC News: Rhiannon Shine )

It's not always easy to find the right home for older dogs. They often have complicated and expensive medical problems.

A friend of Ms Haswell's was sceptical when she said she was going to find them beautiful homes.

"And I rang her about five hours later and said 'Guess what? they've got the best home!' and it's with an incredibly good vet who does mainstream vet work, but also does acupuncture and all those things," Ms Haswell said.

Rescued German shepherd from New Norfolk ( Supplied: Emma Haswell )

"She took another old dog from me once before … a 10-year-old shepherd that had been left out the back of a fish and chip shop and had been in a terrible state of ill health — he could hardly walk.

"And he looked and behaved like a five-year-old dog by the time she had finished with him."

Ms Haswell said it was a good story among those of the swathes of abandoned and unwanted animals that people want her to take each week.

"Just pages of animal surrenders for the past six weeks — it's just insane. Every day getting numerous calls about dogs, heaps of rabbits, guinea pigs — it's very difficult when you can't say yes to them all," she said.

"It's nice when you can just pluck some animals out of something awful and just transfer them straight into paradise, it's just a really good feeling."