Animal Tales
Once abandoned as a puppy, Gracie now frolics with the chickens and lives happily with her forever family.
Chickens and a loving family help a rescued dog feel at home.
When she was a 5-week-old puppy, Gracie was abandoned in a box at an animal shelter. A woman took her home but decided that adding Gracie to her brood of four dogs was too much. The shelter was full, and time was running out for Gracie. Luckily, we rescued her, and she’s now about 6 years old. Though Gracie belongs to our daughter Felicia, we all claim her.
At first, Gracie was a nightmare. She chewed on everything and whined all night in her kennel. After a few sleepless nights, Felicia let the dog sleep with her, and the whining stopped. And thankfully, Gracie eventually grew out of the chewing stage.
Gracie also has a very vocal personality. When she hears the UPS truck coming, she lets us know. She waits for my husband, Bobby, at the door, and when his vehicle arrives, Gracie barks up a storm. (I think it’s because he brings her chicken nuggets.)
Outside, Gracie loves to run, chase a ball (she gets it but won’t bring it back) and play with our chickens. The hens aren’t afraid of her—they chase her around the yard the way she chases them. She’s playing, but a few of them don’t appreciate it and will fluff up and peck at her, which she loves.
Most of all, Gracie loves to chase squirrels. She caught one once, but now she’s not fast enough. She usually visits her favorite tree and sits under it, hoping a squirrel will make an appearance. But the wise squirrels know better. Eventually, Gracie looks back at the house as if to say, Come, make it jump down and play with me!
We’re pretty sure Gracie tries to talk to us, but we can’t understand what she is saying. Maybe she’s asking, Where have you been?
Gracie loves string cheese and can hear me opening the wrapper from the other side of the house. If I’m eating a snack in my recliner, she lays her head on my knee and looks up at me with those sad blue eyes. Who can say no? When we ask her if she wants a treat, she tries her best to tell us yes.
I’m not sure if we found Gracie or she found us, but we feel truly lucky to have her in our lives. Gracie is a beautiful dog and we love her very much!