The following pictures were taken just shortly before Gracie left us on her journey to the Rainbow Bridge. They are treasured as no other pictures can be of her. They speak volumes about her fortitude, her love of life and her acceptance of all that was to come.
My heart is sad yet in my thoughts I know we did the right thing to show our ultimate love for Gracie.
The Pet Finder information stated the following information regarding Gracie. Basett Hound. Size: Medium, Age: Adult, Sex: Female. With following notation "Grace is very gentle, nice and gets along with other animals, good with children. Grace is about 5 years old.
Having discovered Gracie on the Pet Finder website somehow we just knew she was the one we wanted to be in our home. To become a part of our family. We studied her pictures with interest and building hopes. We knew nothing of her past history...nor did we care all we knew is that she would be such a great friend and companion to have. Gracie was amazing to us even before we had met her in person.
Gracie was more then we had expected her to be, with her extremely long ears and heavy jowls she was all Bassett Hound indeed. She had a look on her facial expression that could have easily been used for commercials or calendars...her attitude of "oh well here I am and if you like me well I like you too" and "if you don't well I still like you!" She could win over anyone who has a love for Bassetts. We were lucky...we were indeed the lucky ones to have found her and being able to bring her home with us. For that we are very grateful for people like Don Garrett and those with the Wright County Humane Society.
We received Gracie's records from the Goldfield Veterinary Clinic in Goldfield, Iowa and along the margin of the records was written..."Very nice dog-so glad she's got a good home!" And we are grateful for their care of Gracie during her time of ordeal.
Their records contained the following information regarding Gracie at that time. She was named Grace, female, spayed borthday estimated as 05-01-00, color Tri, age approximately 5 years weight 40.5 lbs.
E MAIL TO OUR FAMILY ABOUT GRACIE.
February 8, 2006
Hi all, Well today as such a beautiful day...no not the weather it was rather cold here and we are expecting bitter cold temps and snow coming our way. It was though still a beautiful day. Thurston came home today and so now he is with Mason, his little buddy just as Heidi is with Jam. It was such a wonderful feeling to have Thurston's remains returned to our home.
Well we do have some other news to tell you guys too. We have located another dog. She too is a Bassett and her name is Grace, (Mom's wants to call her Gracie) so that is what we shall call her. Gracie is around 5 to 6 years old, she was left abandoned at one of the rest stops near the interstate...when the Wright County Humane Society got her she was in such dire need and straits that they were going to put her to sleep...but God worked his miracle their for her and a gentleman who does rescue work for them said "no" let me take her home (he has a farm near Goldfield, Iowa which is about one hour from Mason City)...well he saved her life and now we hope to become her new family. We were going to go down Tuesday to check her out and bring her home, but things just didn't work out for that day as this gentleman had been called to rescue some horses which had been mistreated. It is something to read about and know that in this world there are those who care for the smallest of God's creatures.
Sunday Mom and I will be driving down to Goldfield to hopefully bring Gracie back home with us. We bought new water and food dishes for her, new toys and a new collar and retractable lead.
So today was a wonderful day for us here.
Gracie wighs about 45 pounds so is much smaller than Thurston who was 85 lbs. But she is all Bassett and we look forward to many fun days ahead with her.
Once again we are happy and glad to have Thurston back home with us.
Well that's our news for now...will update you on Gracie when we have her here with us.
Love to all, Dad
RESPONSE FROM SUE AND THE BOYS
February 10, 2006
Oh that is the best news! I'm so happy you both rescued another dog. Gracie is beautiful and will have a great home with you guys! I printed off the pics so I can share the news with the boys.
I am particularly happy that you made the decision to open your home again. It doesn't do anyone justice, including Thurston, to refrain. And it will be fun to get to know Gracie, and you will not forget Thurston at all. I bet you will enjoy comparing the two....and lets see if Gracie sneaks any hot dogs, as Thurston did! Just as siblings have their distinct personalities...the same breed of dog do too. So fill us in with the new stories!!!
My friend Belinda is a foster parent to dogs and cats. She saves lives just as the farmer does. In fact she was one of the few selected to go to New Orleans to rescue abandoned animals after Hurricane Katrina. I will go thru her when we are ready to adopt, in a few years. She always shows me pics of her fosters and there are so many that just make your heart melt! All the shelters down here in Tucson, as most places are, are "Kill Shelters" and if it wasn't for the foster families thousands of animals would not survive.
Good luck and drive safely to get Gracie!!! What a cute name..I love it!
Susie
This is my favorite picture of Gracie and I have it framed and hanging on my kitchen wall.
MORE NOTES FROM GRACIE'S DIARY
Well JoAnn and I are flying out to Tucson, Arizona for our daughter's (Sue) graduation with a Masters from the Arizona State University. So this will be the first time Gracie will be boarded with Doctor Cornick and his staff at the Pioneer Animal Hospital for a couple of weeks. I must admit I am very nervous and I do hope that she will not feel abandoned again.
Upon our return I couldn't wait to pick her up on that Sunday evening. The minute Gracie heard my voice she bounded up the stairs from her boarding area and greeted us gladly...ready and wanting to come home. Gracie seemed to be in good spirits and though she needed a good grooming she was otherwise in very good condition. So all in all it would appear as if Gracie did alright...though I am sure she would rather forgone that experience. At least she was in good and caring hands while we were gone.
It is now a little over four months since we first got Gracie and brought her home. Gracie is a "gem" she is so sweet and loving. She is so expressive and she wants to know where I am at all the times. She will wait for my return if I have to leave for work or run an errand. Gracie loves going along...she will ride in the front seat of my car and just look out as we are driving. She likes going to Petco for her treats!!!
Gracie had some ear infection which we finally got under control. With continued cleaning I don't expect this to be of any further problem.
We have done up a special picture collage of Gracie with the inscription "Thank You...Don Garrett and the Wright County Human Society for giving me my life...Gracie" which we are sending to Mr. Garrett along with a donation. Just our way of saying thanks for bringing Gracie into our lives.
Gracie listens now for JoAnn to come home...and when she drives into the driveway she is there to greet her with tail waggging.
We are very happy to have Gracie as a member of our family.
Noodles came our way rather suddenly from a lady who worked in the same mall as our shop is. She knew our love of dogs and she knew a friend of hers who never took care of this Dachshund. She stopped in our shop in the mall and asked if we might be interested in having him as this friend of her's wanted to find someone. I must admit I had my reservations simply because I did not know how Gracie would take to having a new dog to share our house with. But I didn't hesitate in saying yes because of the circumstances and the way this Dachshund was being treated. I brought Noodles home on a Saturday in the late afternoon. He was in a dog carrier and he didn't like that idea at all. I placed him in our backyard and then went in to tell JoAnn, who did not know I was bringing him home, to come outside for a surprise...Gracie came also. It was as if those two dogs had been friends for ever. Gracie immediately took to Noodles and Noodles to her. Over the next couple of days both played and Noodles would groom Gracie by licking her face. It was another gift to us and one that was just meant to be.
I am amazed at how well the two hit it off. Sometimes one does make the right choices!
GRACIE'S FRIEND NOODLES
June 2008
A NOTE ABOUT NOODLES
When JoAnn and I returned home from the Pioneer Animal Hospital after Gracie passed on Noodles was there to greet us and he immediately smelled Gracie on our clothes and hands. His tail was wagging and he was so excited to think Gracie had come home with us. You could tell when he discovered she was not here his ears drooped and he became sullen and had a sad look on his face. You could tell he just knew she would never be back. Noodles looked into my eyes as if to say, "I understand, it's alright, I knew Gracie was very ill." Noodles knew...don't ask me how I can't explain it but his saddness was as real as our own.
Noodles is one very special Dachshund and was Gracie's friend and play mate.
I know he misses Gracie.
...Dan
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