Loving Family Rescues Abandoned Dog

Published: February 8, 2009 | 7348th good news item since 2003

A couple of weeks ago Autumn Austin, 16, saw a Jeep Liberty come down the road, stop almost in front of her house only to see the driver throw out a little dog.

With expected temperatures as low as 18 degrees Fahrenheit for that night, this was no night for a small dog to be out. Autumn called the dog towards her.

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Dirty and a little bit shaken he came right to her.

“I thought it was weird, because I thought it was one of my friends (driving toward her).

I just felt really upset. I couldn’t believe someone could do that. … With the economy the way it is, people are stressing. Maybe they couldn’t afford to take care of her.

She’s a really sweet dog. It was the grace of God she was found.”
– Autumn Austin

They took the the dog, now named Gracie for God’s grace, to All Saints Animal Hospital.

The staff said the white and gray Shi Tzu was probably around 7 to 8 years old and had been well cared for.

Mom contacted a long time friend, Sherry Branch, who would travel to adopt Gracie.

“I’ve been looking for two years for a little dog.

That little dog is going to be so loved. She’s already loved. So she’ll be even more loved.”
– Sherry Branch, Gracie’s new owner

Well cared for and clearly without any health issues, the veterinarian thinks Gracie has become a victim of the economy.

Pet owners should be aware that help with vaccinations and pet food is available throughout many areas.

“My suggestion to anyone, if it is just a matter of dog food, contact the Humane Society.

Sometimes circumstances do happen. Call us, call different agencies. If there’s anything we can do to help you keep your pet, we can help.

By all means, if you absolutely cannot keep your animal, you cannot find a friend to take it, please take it to the county shelter. Giving the pet to the shelter means it has a chance to be adopted. Leaving it out to fend for itself opens a former pet up to all sorts of dangers, including starvation and being hit by a car.

– Linda Monteith, director of Humane Society, Blue Ridge

The rescue of Gracie was a family and friend affair: Autumn, Autumn’s mother Angela, Nan Price Adamson who fostered Gracie, and Sherry.

Published in Animals
See also: www.blueridgenow.com