GRACIE
Gracie and Shinga were released to Bouvier Rescue in March 2017. In all my years of rescuing Bouviers I have never seen such emotionally traumatized, scared, neglected, tortured, abused, and emotionally tormented dogs.
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Unfortunately we cannot tell you where they came from as the release of these two dogs was anonymous, with the permission of the previous owners. Shinga was adopted by well know Bouvier lovers Rob and Judy Kloeck who have owned Bouviers in their family for over 40 years. His story will also be told in the near future. There was no way we could rehome Gracie into a new home, that had enough experience to understand her fear of people, open spaces, loud sounds and more. You see Gracie had spent her entire life up to the age of 4 years in a cement kennel approximately 2m x 2m. The vet confirmed that she had been bred many times. She is somewhat dwarfed due to lack of exercise and proper nutrition. We placed her in a foster home with Julia Keddie Middleton. In a family environment we watched her, accessed her. We were hoping for interaction with the family dogs. In Julia's bedroom Gracie found a corner where she stayed for months. She refused to look at you, would turn her head away curled up in a tight little bundle towards the wall. The soft bed and blanket we gave her she moved aside and slept on the floor. She would take no treats or food from your hands. We had to place the bowl of food on the floor a little way away from her and leave the room. Then she would eat. She suffered from terrible diarrhea, infested with worms , very malnourished and thin. We had to clip her right down to the skin as I don't think she had ever been bathed or groomed. Her dewclaws had grown around in circles. Not a sound ever came out of Gracie's mouth when we clipped her, bathed her, when the vet examined her, vaccinated her. We had her spayed immediately. Julia had to carry Gracie outside to release her bladder and bowels. Many times she did it just there in the room a little way from her bed. We accepted all her behavioural tweeks and just started loving her talking to her. She did not interact with the family dogs in the beginning. She would just look at them and let them sniff her. So week after week went by and there was just no improvement. She accepted Julia touching her, stroking her and talking to her but her behaviour of turning her face away was the same. Eventually she accepted the soft bed but still slept in her corner avoiding human contact unless Julia came to her. Another thing we noticed was that when you approached her if she could not turn her face from you she would look up, staring into space. Julia started taking Gracie out to the garden everyday. She would run, run and run looking up into the sky. Not normal running more like pacing back and forth. She was petrified of everything outside even the grass. Then one day she took a treat from Julia, Oh! Julia and I were over the moon. Slowly she progressed, started interacting with the family dogs. Some days it would go well and suddenly she would revert back to staying just in her corner. For what felt like ages this behaviour carried on. After about 4 months Gracie started moving around in Julia's room, exploring on her own with a little interaction with the family dogs. She would look like she wanted to play by pawing Julia's very playful Giant Schnauzer. Julia started picking up Gracie onto her bed and play with her, she was starting to respond very positively, but many times would go back to her safe corner and previous behaviour. Julia kept carrying her outside everyday. She would pace endlessly until she would tire, sit and pant. Then came Jellybean! She came in as a foster with Julia. For some reason Jellybean had a profound influence on Gracie. Jellybean a big gentle giant female Bouvier. Gracie started to change, it was as if there was some connection between the two dogs. Gracie's behaviour started to change. She started playing with the other dogs, was still fearful outside but Jellybean had a calming effect on her that we cannot explain. More and more Gracie started coming out of her shell. For Julia who was with Gracie all the time, loving her this was such a joy to see. Things had started changing. Gracie got onto the bed, sat on the couches, even slept on them. She even started watching TV with Julia. Picture far right of Julia and Jellybean Picture right of Gracie on the bed. We are so thankful to Julia and of course Jellybean who has started Gracie on her road to recovery. Gracie still has a long way to go. She is still very skittish around strangers and will not approach them easily. She now goes up and down the stairs out into the garden when she wishes. She plays with the other dogs, joins in and is starting to become part of the family. Staying with the family watching TV or just hanging around with the pack in the kitchen. |
Above Gracie the day she was released to Bouvier Rescue. Photograph on the right Shinga.
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Watch this short video of Gracie's progress in 7 months
Gracie still sometimes reverts back to
her original behaviour but this does not last long. She will never come up for adoption as we fear that she will not cope with a new home, strangers. So after nearly a year Gracie is finally on the road to recovery and will live with Julia for the rest of her natural life.
Thank you Dr Julia Keddie Middleton for your ongoing rehabilitation with Gracie and for giving her a forever loving home.
With love to you and your family,
Bouvier des Flandres Rescue South Africa,
We would like to thank all the people who felt Gracie in their hearts and gave donations towards her rehabilitation, vet, food and care costs.
Special thank you to our friends Bouvier Welfare and Rescue UK for their generous donation towards Gracie's rehabilitation costs.
We would also like to thank Tertius Kleinhans and his wife for their generous donations to help Gracie.
her original behaviour but this does not last long. She will never come up for adoption as we fear that she will not cope with a new home, strangers. So after nearly a year Gracie is finally on the road to recovery and will live with Julia for the rest of her natural life.
Thank you Dr Julia Keddie Middleton for your ongoing rehabilitation with Gracie and for giving her a forever loving home.
With love to you and your family,
Bouvier des Flandres Rescue South Africa,
We would like to thank all the people who felt Gracie in their hearts and gave donations towards her rehabilitation, vet, food and care costs.
Special thank you to our friends Bouvier Welfare and Rescue UK for their generous donation towards Gracie's rehabilitation costs.
We would also like to thank Tertius Kleinhans and his wife for their generous donations to help Gracie.
Thank you for visiting Gracie
We always need donations and support. Bouvier Rescue SA is starting a new project. We need to acquire a property to turn into a Bouvier Sanctuary for all our dogs that come into rescue. We need a safe haven for Bouviers like Gracie where we can rehabilitate, rehome dogs in need.
THANK YOU.
We always need donations and support. Bouvier Rescue SA is starting a new project. We need to acquire a property to turn into a Bouvier Sanctuary for all our dogs that come into rescue. We need a safe haven for Bouviers like Gracie where we can rehabilitate, rehome dogs in need.
THANK YOU.
BOUVIER RESCUE SA
FIRST NATIONAL BANK
ACCOUNT NO 62583513687
Current/cheque account
SWIFT CODE FIRNZAJJ
FNB - BRANCH CODE: 211217
or contact Sonja : [email protected]
083 260 2153
