05/15/2026
I’m finding it hard to put into words everything Gracie meant to our family and the kennel.
She was our crash course into owning a reactive dog and the inspiration behind creating a place where dogs like her, and owners like us, could feel safe and understood. If you’ve ever loved a reactive dog, you know how isolating it can be, and how hard it is to trust someone else with your dog.
Over the years, so many owners quietly told me, “They really don’t like other dogs,” and I always answered the same way: “Our girl Gracie doesn’t either. I get it. You’re not alone.”
I’m trying to focus on what a gift Gracie’s reactivity became to the community of reactive dogs and owners who trusted us with their own “Gracies.”
She was the soul of our family and the quiet heartbeat of the kennel, reminding us every day why we do what we do.
Please give your dog an extra squeeze for me tonight. It would make me feel a little less sad.
Rest easy, Gracie girl.
