Saving Gracie

The saying “good things come in small packages” certainly applies to gentle little Gracie, our resident nine-pound Chihuahua who has been waiting patiently for almost a year for her new family. This sweet girl is about five years old and was rescued from a puppy mill last July. Mutts Matter took in over 35 dogs from that puppy mill bust, and Gracie is the only remaining dog still waiting for her forever home.

Like many puppy mill survivors, Gracie came in as a shell of a dog, shut down with fear and frightened of people and the world in general. She spent the first four years of her life locked up in a tiny, overcrowded cage, without any socialization or exposure to the outside world. She was forced to breed regularly, and was never shown love or human kindness, or given proper care. She understandably needed some time to adjust and learn to trust people, but she has really come out of her shell in her foster home.

Gracie is being fostered by two seasoned foster parents, Lisa and Tommy, who have been very patient and nurturing with her. In the beginning, they hand fed her to build trust, and would get down on the floor to be at her level so they could pet her, make eye contact, and introduce social interaction as part of her daily routine. They don’t treat her like she’s been wounded by her past; they give her independence and have allowed her to progress at her own pace, and she has responded well.

In foster care, Gracie has learned how to be a dog. She’s learned how to play with the other dogs in her pack, learned the joy and freedom of romping through the back yard, and learned how to bark and alert mom and dad that someone is coming to the door. She has also overcome many of her fears, which included the stairs, letting people pet her, and being picked up and groomed. Lisa describes Gracie as a gentle, curious dog who is very grateful to have a loving, stable home. She loves watching Gracie run, play, and act like a dog, knowing how far she has come.

Gracie now knows what it’s like to be part of a family and to feel safe, loved, and cared for, but her biggest joy is food time with her pack. She runs around in circles, excitedly wagging her tail and flashing her big brown eyes at Lisa in anticipation of the food. She’s also a huge fan of cheese treats, bully sticks, and her foster dad, Tommy. She warmed up to Tommy quickly and feels safer around men in general. Tommy can pick her up and carry her around with ease, and she will even hang out with him on her own initiative when the rest of the family has gone to bed for the night. Gracie really enjoys the quiet calm of night time and hanging out with dad.

While Gracie is still shy, she’s also has an independent streak, and likes to sleep in her own crate in the living room with the door open at night. She’s not yet a pup who likes to cuddle, but we hope that will be her next step as she settles in with her new family. Gracie currently lives out in the country, so she has not had much exposure to daily leash walks or traffic noises, but she’s crate trained and pee-pad trained, and will go potty outside with the other dogs. She’s ready to make the transition to be fully house trained at her new home.

When I met Gracie for her photo shoot she was calmer and less fearful than I expected. Many dogs are afraid of the camera, but Gracie held her own and calmly followed Lisa on leash around the park as I snapped her glamour shots. She let me pet her even though she was a little nervous, and did well adapting to a brand new place and new people.

Despite a tough beginning, Gracie is a gentle soul who doesn’t have an aggressive bone in her body. She needs a patient, experienced owner who will allow her time to adjust to her new surroundings and build trust. She needs a calm and stable home, and another small dog in the family for play and companionship would be ideal. Fearful dogs tend do better when there is another dog in the home they can connect with and learn from, so we want that for Gracie. She’s not the best fit for a home with young kids, but will be a great companion for the right family.

Gracie has been waiting so long to find her home, and she is ready to take the next step in her journey. Please considering giving this sweet pup the love and life she deserves.

To learn more about Gracie, go to the Mutts Matter Adoption Page and fill out an application, or you can contact Suzanne at suzanne@muttsmatterrescue.com.

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