The protagonist of this story is a road paver operator. While working on the road, he noticed an extremely emaciated dog struggling to stand on the roadside. Deciding not to ignore the poor animal, the man contacted an animal rescue service. Volunteers soon arrived at the scene and took the dog to a shelter.
The dog, extremely weak and exhausted, barely reacted to the presence of people.
During the trip to the shelter, it seemed as if she didn’t have the strength to comprehend what was happening. The volunteers named their new charge Gracie.
- It’s unclear why the dog ended up in such a state of extreme starvation by the roadside, but the volunteers had their theories.
- Most likely, someone tried to train Gracie as a hunting dog. However, her friendly nature made her unsuitable for the role.
Realizing that Gracie wasn’t fit for hunting, her owner likely abandoned her without considering how she would survive on the streets.
During her first weigh-in, the vets were shocked. Gracie weighed only 8 kg, which was far below the healthy weight for a dog of her size and age. The test results were equally disheartening: Gracie was suffering from parasites. However, treatment couldn’t start immediately because her emaciated state could worsen with the medication. To help her recover faster, one of the shelter staff took her home to foster her. After a few days, the man realized that Gracie was suffering from depression.
For a week, Gracie refused food and even water. She simply lay by the door, uninterested in anything around her.
She would occasionally get up and walk around the room but would return to her spot without showing any interest. It took a lot of time and patience to show Gracie that she was safe and wouldn’t be harmed.
Gradually, Gracie began to eat and gain weight. Over time, she started to go on walks with her caretaker and even showed interest in toys. Once her weight neared a healthier level, treatment for her other health issues began.
Thanks to the volunteers’ help, Gracie overcame both her health problems and her depression.
She gained weight, became energetic, and grew to love human interaction. Now, Gracie is a happy and playful dog, eagerly awaiting a loving family where she can give her unconditional love in return for care and affection.
