Grace is the latest addition to the ranch. I will tell her story as I know it and hope I've heard it correctly and in telling do it justice.
We don't know exactly when Grace was born. The vet made a best guess of September 2009. The logical guess is that she was born in Phoenix because that is where she was rescued. She is Rottweiler and something .... thinking cattle dog or some type of working dog. Grace was a stray at an industrial complex where friends of ours worked - of course, then they weren't yet our friends - they are now! Being folks with big hearts and a soft spot for anyone who could use a hand and was cute to boot .... they set about trying to rescue Grace. 6 or 7 weeks and no success. They put out treats and toys and still, Grace remained on her own. Finally, just before the last resort (tranquilizer gun), they tried a sedative from their vet buried in bacon and were able to secure her and bring her to their vet. Grace was rescued!! She was healthy and safe - now the problem needing to be solved was "where would Grace live"? Our wonderful sweet friends had managed against the odds to rescue her; however, they couldn't take her to live with them, they were at critter capacity.
She was rescued. She was healthy; however, as a stray and used to fending for herself she was also cautious and shy. It would take a home with space and time and patience. Enter our friend we've known and adored for years. A man with an equally big heart, a dog admirer and appreciator .... although not so much a "dog dude" and Grace was going to need a dog dude or dudette. So the man with the big heart and huge smile sent the pictures of Grace in her kennel at the vets to his friends, asking did anyone know anyone who might be able to take or want to take Grace.
Ta-dummm. Enter stage right: Us. it sounds dramatic and yet that is how it worked out ..... We turned out to be the last corner of the triangle. It was coming together without even knowing what was coming together.
I looked at the pictures of Grace in her kennel at the vet and saw a sweet little girl that needed a place to find herself, where she could grow into the dog she was meant to be. A place where life moved at the pace it needed to rather than the pace set by the rest of the world. The ranch is that place. We offered, if they were willing, to take the girl.
She got her name because when I saw her pictures, the first thing that came into my mind, was Grace - and Grace she became. Our new friends with a heavy heart and much jubilation ... and after an in depth interview agreed Grace should come to the ranch. You can understand the double edged emotion, they were sad to see her leave because the loved her and yet were happy that she was coming to live at the ranch.
Our friend handled the transportation and was there with us to meet Grace at the airport. There is an airline just for pets .... How cool is that??!! On March 22, 2011 Grace arrived at, well - she didn't just arrive, she moved into the ranch.
Big city traffic on the way to Rocky Mountain Airport to meet Grace - dang the roads to the ranch are NOTHING like this!!
Grace's plane - her flight unloading
Knowing that she'd been a stray for who knows how long and that when you are a stray - safety, security and food are all at the top of your list for "must haves" we set a large dog kennel up in the living room - that way Grace could be a part of the family and start to get used to us, while at the same time having a space that was just hers.
Grace's house
Keeping in mind, she'd been living in an industrial complex you might imagine she had a bit of a surprise when we opened her travel crate at the ranch.
Grace's first sniff of the ranch, her nose was going a mile a minute ....
Before Grace got to check out her house.... there were a couple of ranch residents that wanted to meet her.
The whole herd stopped by. How they knew Grace had arrived, I've no idea - or it could have been coincidence as it was about their supper time.
Miss, being Miss - had to get the closest sniff. Grace did great! I'm guessing she'd never met a horse before and she was so good .... or maybe just petrified?!! I could almost hear her thinking "when did they start making dogs that big - what is this place?"
Grace no sooner got settled and Murphy strutted up to say "hello". Murphy was always very polite that way .... Grace gave a bit of a grumble, which of course Murphy couldn't hear (lost most of his hearing some time ago), I think the grumble was more for Grace than for Murphy. Murphy having introduced himself and said his hellos, wandered off and Grace got started making her dinner disappear.
Grace with her 'binky' and her SECOND helping of dinner.
That was the first night. The second day she met some of the other members of the ranch family.
Grace and Tiggsgrr
Tiggs coming back for a closer look / sniff. We even got a tail wag out of her when she met Tiggs. Or maybe I should say "Tiggs got a tail wag out of her when they met" .......
The horses lined up to get a look at the new girl.
The hooligans (Shadow, Miss and Hank) got as close as they could - Grace didn't seem to mind a bit.
Enjoy the sun and very seriously checking out the activities around the yard.
Really enjoying the sunshine and nice weather
All stretched out and feeling gooooood.
On her fist day at the ranch Grace learned or perhaps remembered a really important part of being a dog - BELLY RUBS!! I can honestly say that I am not sure I have ever seen a dog so enjoy a belly rub - Grace takes it to a whole new level of bliss.
Grace's belly rub face
See what I mean ... now that is a dog enjoying herself!!
