| GRACIE by Bethann Culpepper
As usual, I was rushing around one Saturday with no time to spare. But something or Someone told me to go to the Albany Humane Society right now! I had been meaning to volunteer, but hadn’t gotten around to doing it. While I was sitting in the lobby completing the volunteer papers, I caught a glimpse of several dogs running around. They had let them out to mingle with the people. A very thin, scruffy little white dog came around the desk and gently put her feet up on my knee; she looked up at me with imploring soft, caramel-colored eyes. The receptionist exclaimed, “I can’t believe she is doing that! She was abused and is terribly afraid of everyone; that’s why we let her out, hoping she would become used to people”. By this time, I had picked her up and put her in my lap and it seemed like a perfect fit. They always pick out a name for the animals at the humane society-it seems to give them a better chance at finding a home – so they had been calling her Tracy. I had decided months before that I would name my next pet Gracie. Tracy/Gracie-it could work.
I had no intention of getting an animal that day-I already had two cats. But I took Gracie home, and she immediately found a special place in my heart. I began socializing her by taking her with me everywhere I went, getting her used to new people and experiences. It was a slow process, but she is now very outgoing and friendly. She still has that gentle touch she used on me the first day I saw her, and all the people we visit reach out and take her paw.
I had heard about Paws Patrol, a local pet therapy group. It sounded like a great thing to do so Gracie and I started going with them. At first, it was just six ladies with dogs visiting people when we could. After we became associated with Delta Society, Gracie and I were certified in September ’01. Gracie was voted most obedient in Obedience Class and also earned her Canine Good Citizen Award that same year.
During one of our first visits in an Alzheimer’s unit, a frail older lady smiled and reached out to stroke Gracie’s fuzzy face. As we were leaving, the nurse told me that this was the first response they had seen from this woman since she had arrived three months ago. When I heard this, I was hooked. To give someone happiness from such a simple thing as bringing your dog to visit them is so rewarding. Gracie and I have been doing our best to bring a little puppy love to people for many years now. I really don’t know who gets more joy out of it-the people that we visit, me, or Gracie. She gets very excited when we go visiting, dancing around in the car and “talking” excitedly as we pull up into the parking area.
I work fulltime, so I can’t visit as much as I like, but Gracie and I participate in many special events. We have been blessed to be involved with Special Olympics, we work with the youth detention center, we attend an Easter Egg Hunt as well as Bark in the Park (now River Bark) which is a fun day that Paws Patrol organized for people and their dogs. We also participate with children’s grief workshops. One of Gracie’s favorite activities was a dance class for local preteens-Gracie just loves to dance!
I am so thankful that I listened to that “voice” years ago when it told me to go to the humane society and take that little dog home. I rescued Gracie from some unknown fate, but if you want to know the truth, SHE rescued me! I cannot imagine my life without her. |
