Today I thought I'd do a personal post for a couple reasons, among them the fact that it's been a while since I've done one and also I didn't have any other posts prepared ;-) Time management fail.
Some of you may know that six weeks ago, after a long and emotionally challenging process, my husband and I adopted a 2-year-old pit bull from a local rescue organization. Her name is Gracie (I have a thing for names that start with "g", I can't help it!) and I meant to do a post about her after we first brought her home, but she had some allergy- related medical complications right out of the gate, and then a couple weeks later our boxer Griffin was diagnosed with cancer (we lost his brother Gatsby to cancer in December), so it's been a challenging couple of months canine-wise.
While we're not sure how long we have left with Grif, Gracie is really settling in, and after living with her for a while I'm convinced I have the most absurd pit bull in existence. She's the biggest goofball and she makes me laugh every single day with her antics–something I desperately need to distract me from Griffin's diagnosis–and I couldn't adore her more.
Without going into a long rant about the prejudice against pit bulls as a breed, suffice to say we were on the receiving end of a LOT of hostility during the adoption process when we told people what kind of dog we were rescuing, something that was hugely hurtful and disheartening because Gracie and so many other pitbulls are sweet, loving animals who deserve good homes. Since we've had her though, she's won everyone she's met over completely, and it makes me ridiculously happy to see the kids on our street get excited to see her whenever she's outside with us.
Gracie is the first dog my husband and I have rescued but she will most certainly not be the last as giving her a forever home has been rewarding beyond measure. We still run into negativity now and again when we're out and about, and I imagine we will continue to do so until the stigma of the breed fades in time, but for now I thought I'd share some pictures of her as a belated welcome to the family!
(click to enlarge)
(See
that sliver of space to the left of Griffin in the top left picture?
That would be where I sleep. WTH? Also, Gracie's ears are ridiculous
when she lays on her side.)
Oh Jenny, Griffin too? Dammit!! *all the big hugs*
ReplyDeleteI'm really glad to hear you rescued a lovely doggie and pitbulls get this awful reputation when they do not deserve it! I have another friend that also rescued a lovely pit called Gretta (another G!) and she's now fostering two adorable pit puppies and I know how loving those dogs are!
Gracie looks like an absolute sweetie and a goofball!! Give them both loads of squishy hugs from me!
Thanks Pili, Griffin's diagnosis was definitely a blow. We'd hoped we'd have a couple more years - it's why we got Gracie to start, so he'd have a sibling again:) She's awesome though, and I'm definitely a pit lover now!
DeleteCongratulations! She is adorable! I rescued my dog as well and found the whole thing to be so rewarding. We rescued Scout from a Lancaster puppy mill. I'm so sorry to hear about Griffin. Please keep us updated on that. It's so hard! I'm glad to hear things with Gracie are going well. Happy Friday, Jenny!
ReplyDeleteThanks Christina! Rescuing was awesome, I'm completely addicted to it and will definitely rescue all our dogs in the future:)
DeleteI'm so sorry about Grif Jenny. Losing a pet, even if you are prepared for it (really can you ever be?) is never easy. *hugs*
ReplyDeleteBut seriously, I love Gracie! She is stinking adorable and I can tell from all the pictures that she has quite ther personality! We have a pit mix and he is the funniest dog ever. Very vocal. He tries to talk all the time and he is demanding! He flips his water dish when the water gets too "dirty" for his liking. Seriously, he cracks us up every single day!
I'm so happy you rescued her and she has a wonderful home now!!
It's definitely been a rough year Ali. Hopefully we have a little while with Griffin yet though:)
DeleteAnd thank you! We absolutely adore Gracie. She's super vocal too, she barks at us when she feels we're not paying her enough attention O.o
Gracie! That's what my boyfriend's mom named her rescue (errr, well, technically the dog's name is "Amazing Grace" and Gracie is the shortened version of that).
ReplyDeleteGracie looks super sweet, and I love that you've taken on the pit bull stigma. They were once considered the nanny dog, because they're gentle and loyal.
*hugs*
She's a total sweetheart Amanda, and it's made me really sad when we've encountered people who are convinced she'll be vicious just because she's a pit. We told a neighbor and he was all "she's not going to eat my 14 year old Bichon is she?" I had a hard time formulating a response to that. He's come around since then though ;-)
DeleteGood for you for looking past that pit bull stigma! They are such beautiful animals! I volunteer for a pug rescue, and have sworn off bringing any more animals into this house (let's see how long that lasts ha!) but the whole family is wanting to make our next rescue a pit bull.
ReplyDeleteTHEY ARE! She's super chill (so much calmer than Griffin despite the fact that she's 5 years younger) and loves everyone she meets. She's a good breed ambassador:)
DeleteLook at that face! She certainly looks like a mischievous little thing! I'm so glad you guys were able to adopt this beauty. I'm sorry that you had to bear with some negative ninnies. The prejudice against pit bulls is alarming, but I'm glad that there are people like you willing to give them a chance. :)
ReplyDeleteI'm so happy she makes you this happy, Jenny!
ISN'T SHE CUTE, NICK?!!! The weeks leading up to her actually coming home were hard, there was a whole string of people we told who gave us the condescending "is that safe?" and "do you know what you're doing?" response and that just took all the wind out of our sails. I'm giving a deserving dog a good home, that's what I'm doing:)
DeleteOh my, not Griffin too ?! Oh, big hugs to you and your family Jenny, I can't imagine how trying this all must be for you all. ♥♥
ReplyDeleteBUT. Congrats on Gracie!! I guess I missed your updates on that but I've been crazy busy with work and behind on blogging and social media updates. I'm glad that you decided to rescue and that you decided to bring another fur baby into your family ♥ One of my cousins and friends has 3 pitbulls and she's very vocal on how people misjudge the breed constantly. She had another one before those three who is no longer with her but she was a sweet, kind spirit, as are her other three now :) I wish you many years with your new baby and I'm sending lots of love and warm thoughts to Griffin and to you all xoxoxo
Thanks Micheline, it's been a rough year for us.
DeleteGracie is a light though, we just love her. The breed definitely gets a bad name, it's all about the people around them, not the dogs themselves:)
Gracie is gorgeous - really those markings are beautiful! The best way for people to change their mind about a certain concept is to see it in another light - and they will when they see the love and kindness Gracie has about her! I'm so sorry to hear about Griffin *big hugs* Jenny.
ReplyDeleteThank you! I fell in love with her the minute I saw her picture on the rescue site:) Gracie has changed our whole street's view of pit bulls, so I consider that a win. The more people she meets, hopefully the more minds she'll change!
DeleteWe lost our Germen shepherd to cancer a couple of years ago so I know exactly how you feel. I'm so sorry, Jenny. But I'm glad Gracie is settling in, I know you had some trouble adopting her. I'm sure you'll bring each other so much joy.
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry to hear that Maja, losing a four-legged family member is devastating. It was looking like her adoption might not go through in the 11th hour there, but we couldn't be happier to have her in our lives:)
DeleteJenny, she is BEYOND ADORABLE!!! I just want to kiss all over that pink muzzle of hers! And those ears!!! *goes in for the snuggle* Rescues are by far the best and I feel terrible for all those large-breed dogs so stare balefully at you when you visit any rescue organization. All my pups have been rescues and, even though i'm dying for a Corgi, I'm a rescue mutt mom through and through.
ReplyDeleteI hate to hear that about your other baby. Dogs are so awesome but they're with us for way too short a time. *hugs to you and Grif* *sniffles*
THANK YOU MARY!!!! I smother that face in kisses everyday. I have to limit myself on how often I look at the rescue site, I want to bring all those babies home with me! I'm definitely a rescue mom through and through now:)
DeleteAw. Gracie is adorable!!! You guys are awesome for adopting a rescue. I wish I can convince my husband to pick one up too, but I think he wants to wait for a bit until work is not crazy for the both of us. Anyway, I love reading personal posts about the bloggers I follow, so thank you for this, Jenny!
ReplyDeleteThanks so much Joy! Rescuing has been awesome, and we will definitely continuing to do so in the future:) I hope you and your husband are able to get a pup once your schedules even out!
DeleteBABY!!! <3
ReplyDeleteCONGRATIES!
ReplyDeleteI'm also so sorry about Griffin. ((GIGANTIC HUGS))
Btw, I love pitties and the goofball stuff is quite normal for them. LOL I had one when I was a kid and he was so adored by my extended family that even those who wouldn't take in a pittie would take him in. Totally natural for the breed. We could so exchange stories. We also experienced prejudice. :( People can be so ignorant and stupid. Despite that (or knowing me because of it), I probably will get another one in the future.
Thank you so much Melissa! We're making the best of all the time we have left with Grif:)
DeleteThe breed stigma has been hard, I've been reduced to tears a number of times because she's such a good dog, and that kind of negativity is why so many pits are automatically put on death row when they would make such great family members. It's made me all the more determined to rescue more pits in the future though!
I'm so sorry about Griffin! (((((hugs))))
ReplyDeleteCongrats on Gracie! She's adorable. Her coloring is really pretty! Almost every pit and bully type dog I've met has been an absolute goof! Glad she's helping you during such a hard time.
Thank you so much! She's the most ridiculous animal and we love her something fierce:)
DeleteGOOD LUCK GIGI!!! I hope her meeting tomorrow goes well and she finds a permanent home:)
ReplyDeleteI know I would get super attached if we fostered too, I would worry about them once they were with their new families! And yes, Gracie has a ridiculous grin, it's infectious:)
what a beautiful girl!!! Congratulations on your new addition. I wish you and your family the best and I'm sorry to hear about your other furbaby. Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteJenny, I'm so sorry to hear about Grif! I've never had a pet but my mom had a dog growing up and still misses her terribly and recounts what a painful experience it was to watch her become sick. I'm so glad to hear that you have Gracie now, though, and she's absolutely beautiful! Thanks for sharing with us, dearest--I love the pictures! :)
ReplyDeleteJenny, so sorry to hear about Grif!!! :( Gracie is sooo cute! I hope I get to meet her soon! We'll have to get together again soon!
ReplyDeleteShe is a cutie, and it will be a comfort to have her there when Griff is no longer with you :/
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry to hear about Griff, Jenny. That's terrible news, but I know what great pet parents you are. He's a lucky guy to have you. And so is Gracie!!! We've had a pit bull for 11 years now, and she has been one of the BEST dogs I've ever had. I've had a lot throughout my life. I had a friend who was anti pit bull until she spent enough time around ours, and now my friend LOVES them. I'm so happy for Gracie to have found a home with you guys.
ReplyDeleteOh :( I am sooo very sorry to hear about Griffin. Hopefully Gracie will be able to help all of you through this time. You've done a great thing...She is absolutely adorable.
ReplyDeleteI <3 Pit Bulls
I'm really sorry to hear about Griffin, that's really sad news. :( But Gracie is adorable! I actually love pit bulls and we had a beautiful girl named Destiny until we had to live with my in laws and they wouldn't allow her in the house. It was just too cold outside so we found her a better home. But we sure loved her! It makes me happy that you were able to adopt and now can show others that pit bulls are amazing dogs. Thank you for sharing!
ReplyDelete