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My Diary

My sweet Gracie Lou has passed away!

Gracie has a story that you cringe at when you hear it. It involved severe neglect, betrayal and abuse at the hands of her former "caretakers" and society in general. One day I will post her story but it is too painful right now.

Gracie came to me as a foster dog for AZ Cocker Rescue. She was too scared to move or to come out from behind tables or hiding in corners. She slowly blossomed into one of the sweetest and funniest dogs I have ever known. My love for her was unending. The amount of trust and love she had for me was unmeasurable. When I had finally realized that I could not let her go, no matter how I rationalized it, fate played a terrible joke on us.

In August 2007, Gracie Lou stopped eating and moving. She would puff her cheeks when you touched her (the pain was immense, but she never growled or barked, just puffed). I rushed her to the vet, and it was auto immune hemolytic anemia. A rare disease that can strike cockers, poodles, and old english sheep dogs more than any other breed. It likes to target midddle aged females in these groups. Gracie battled this disease with grace and heart. I visited her every day and one percentage point (red blood count) at a time, she grew a little better. I had hope based upon the tests, but I knew looking at her that she was struggling. Then just 4 days after diagnosis, she crashed so suddenly, there was not time for me to get there to be with her. She left this world with her trusted vet holding her.

Gracie Lou touched me so deeply that I don't know if I will ever truly recover. I have always been a dog person, I love all my dogs dearly and would offer my own life for theirs. Still Gracie Lou touched heart so much deeper (I didn't think possible). The trust she put in me. I wonder every day if she hadn't had such a tortured past, maybe she would have had enough energy and strength to fight. I know that she did everything she could and that now she is not only my guardian angel, but one for all those dogs in need.

Rest in peace my sweet Gracie Lou. I will miss you always and forever...

I am attaching some pictures of Gracie Lou, she was always scared of the flash in the cameras, so they never did her justice. Her soul was the most beautiful I have ever known.

My thanks to AZ Cocker Rescue who assumed responsiblity for Gracie's bills as I had not completed the adoption paperwork at the time she got sick. I was waiting until my birthday, I wanted us to have the same one. She died 12 days earlier. If you can help with her medical bills, please visit www.azcockerrescue.org. We are having candle sales, dog washes and more to pay for the costs of her treatment.