Since 1996, I have donated and adopted from the Voorhees Animal Hospital. After my black lab/chow passed away at 17, I knew I needed to do something in her memory. I adopted another dog that had challenges. I did this knowing that her chances of finding a permanent home would be difficult. With love and patience and consistency she has become a beautiful addition to our home.
I then decided to further help by providing foster care for dogs, kittens and puppies. This proved to be very rewarding. To be a foster allows for special needs dogs, kittens and puppies the opportunity to be in a home and get medical care and socialization that otherwise would be hard to provide at a shelter due to the many other dogs that need to be taken care of.
I recently fostered for the Animal Orphanage of Voorhees. The dog I was asked to foster was found as a stray and old and sick with ear and eye infections, and two tick born diseases.
The animal orphange named her Grace and we call her Gracie. No one knows how she survived on her own being blind and deaf. She may have had only a few more days when she was picked from animal control and she would not have made it. They believe she was graced.
VAO reached out to their volunteers to request for a foster for this pup. I answered the request and fostered her. She was 4 pounds and very sick.
After having her for two months, we decided to adopt her. She is blind and deaf and now 14 pounds. She is the perfect housemate. Well behaved, quiet and a true sweet dog.
What is her story we will never know. It is sad to think that someone would just leave her out to die on her own because she was old, blind and deaf. This pup will be certified as a therapy dog. She has gone as someone’s discard to making people happy. There is such joy in volunteering and helping at shelters walking dogs and spending time with the dogs and cats to make sure that they are socialized and can go to good fur-ever homes. One animal at a time.
Margaret Giannecchini
