Grace in Columbus, OH

Please meet Grace, a beautiful 3-year-old tricolor Cavalier. She was recovered from a very unkind place and was little more than a furry skeleton, fearful, timid, trembling when we first met. Cavalier Rescue USA gifted Grace with the care she desperately needed to blossom into the Cavalier that may become the love of your life.

Grace’s personality is sweet, submissive, and gentle with those she knows and trusts. She is learning all about kind people and new situations; her new family will want to continue to socialize her as well. She’s most content with her people and with her Cavalier foster siblings all of whom pile up for naps and nighttime cuddles. Grace is easily our Miss Congeniality!  

One of her most endearing attributes is how she will observe others’ behaviors and then will mimic the same. For example, when she observed that her foster Cavaliers are lifted by foster mom onto the sofa, she took her turn in line expecting to also be lifted up despite her athletic talents! This intelligent behavior served Grace well as she simply mimicked the other Cavaliers’ house manners and potty routines with proper Cavalier style; her foster mom remains impressed. So, Grace’s expectation is that her forever family will be willing and able to lift a 16-pound Cavalier onto the big bed, or upon the sofa, or into the family car!

Medically, Grace is heart clear, spayed, microchipped, and UTD on her vaccines. Grace did suffer a head injury in her prior life which resulted in the loss of her left eye; however, she is well sighted with her right eye and only requires minimal accommodations such as walking on her person’s left side so she can keep them in her line of sight. Grace is prescribed Gabapentin daily ($10/m) to manage neuropathic pain suspected to be linked to her prior injury and an amputation of her tail tip.  

Additionally, Grace has been diagnosed with Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency (EPI); she has responded well to her PancrePlus Enzyme Concentrate ($70/m via Chewy) that is added to her meals, and receives B12 support via monthly injections. EPI is a condition requiring a lifelong commitment to Grace’s dietary and vetting requirements. For those not familiar with EPI, please visit:  https://cavalierhealth.org/epi.htm

Grace is timid in new situations and with new people. Thoughtful, gentle exposure to new experiences will help enrich her confidence, and always with patience and positive reinforcement. Soft touches and reassuring whispers go a long way with this little girl. Recently she met an adorable preschooler who seemed to immediately empathize with Grace’s instinct to move far away from him. He squatted to her level while speaking softly and patting her ever so tenderly. What a moment to witness Grace cautiously trust this precious tyke!  

She will bark at dogs seen through the window or on her walks and will dart vigorously after squirrels or bunnies. A physically fenced yard is required for Grace, as well as leashing whenever she leaves the home even for short walks to the mailbox or car as she is a young, natural athlete with a heightened prey instinct. So, applicants who cannot run a 3-minute mile will appreciate having a secure fence in place for Grace!  

Her foster home does not have cats, birds, or reptiles in the home so we cannot speak to her level of interest in other species unless we take a cue from her reaction to squirrels and bunnies! She will initially retreat from human strangers of any age and chase creatures of any non-human species.  

Gracie is served her meals in her crate, as are all her Cavalier foster siblings. She is not at all comfortable staying in a crate for extended periods, however, and this is understandable considering her rough start in life. She has learned several commands but will need practice and consistency to be fully reliable in her new home. She will do best with her parent home most of the time and a Cavalier buddy, or other furry friend.

Gracie is very timid around strangers. It will take several visits with her before she will become comfortable with a new human in her life. Therefore, applicants within a two hour window will only be considered also, she definitely will need another friendly, small dog in the home to help her with her transition and a fenced in yard. Her new owner will need to be someone who has the time, ability and desire to provide her scheduled feedings and medication’s. A home with children under 10 would not will not work for Gracie.

If you have the means, commitment, and love to welcome Grace into your heart and home, please complete our Online Application if you haven’t already and then email Sherry Morgan at morgans817@sbcglobal.net  so she knows of your interest.

 Online Application