After her owners had to make the heartbreaking decision to surrender her due to medical costs, a little pup named Grace found herself in an uncertain world, not knowing what lay ahead.

With a mystery illness and no diagnosis, Grace’s best hope was to find a family willing to go the extra mile to uncover what was ailing her.

Thankfully, The Animal Pad, an all-breed, non-profit dog rescue in San Diego, California, stepped in and connected her with a family that was just what she needed.

Taking It Slow

The first night in her new California home, surrounded by unfamiliar faces, was anything but easy for Grace.

With barely any energy, she spent those first nights huddled in a pile of blankets, whimpering softly. It was her way of telling her new family that something wasn’t right.

“We were up throughout the night with her. She was incredibly underweight,” Katie shared with The Dodo.

No matter how much they coaxed her, Grace simply wasn’t interested in food. But whenever she managed to take even the tiniest bite, her family was overjoyed.

They cheered her on with every little nibble, hoping the next one would be a little bit more.

“Whenever she would wag her tail, which was rare, she just made our day,” she added.

Blossoming with Love

As time passed, the love and warmth of her new home truly helped Grace blossom. She began to show little glimpses of her puppy spirit once again!

In the beginning, she played with her family only while lying down. But with lots of gentle encouragement, Grace found the strength to start running!

Throughout her stay with her foster family, Grace continued to have regular vet check-ups. Everyone was committed to uncovering the cause of her illness.

After countless tests, the vets finally made a breakthrough: Grace’s breeders had failed to vaccinate her, and she was diagnosed with distemper, a severe neurological disease.

Today, Grace is a joyful and healthy pup, but her early neglect will have lasting effects.

“She has a little bobbing, ticking head that’s pretty constant, and that’s just a part of her now,” her foster mom shared.

A Forever Family

After spending so much time with Grace and watching her blossom into the beautiful pup she is today, her foster family realized they simply couldn’t let her go. 

“We truly went through something profound together. My family and I stood by her side through all the lows. To see her now, so happy and full of life, is beyond rewarding. I just adore her,” Katie shared.

Adopting this sweet girl was easily the best decision they ever made.

Now, Gracie is living her dream life. Her days are filled with loving people, adorable playdates, the comfiest naps, and the tastiest treats.

What more could a pup possibly wish for?!