When Graycie was found in the middle of the street, she was very ill and terrified of the people around her.
Rescuers took her under Dr. Mathis’s care, a rescue center vet. Graycie was underweight and malnourished, so Dr. Mathis put Graycie on her kennel and gave her food. Even when the doctor left, she didn’t bother to touch her food. She just hid at the back corner, too scared to move.
Dr. Mathis thought of sitting beside Graycie inside her kennel to encourage her to eat. For a while, Dr. Mathis needed to hand-feed her to get her started eating. Until slowly, she started chewing on her own.
Dr. Mathis stayed and ensured that Graycie was comfortable with his presence. He kept asking the Graycie if she was okay and assuring her that he only meant well. Because of that, Graycie finished her first bowl of food since her rescue.
Three days later, with the help of Dr. Mathis, Graycie was eating all by herself. It’s been almost five days since they found Graycie, and her appetite continued to become better with each passing day.
Graycie gained about a pound and half of her weight in just three days in Dr. Mathis’s care. Two to three people walked into the clinic and asked why Graycie didn’t have a collar. Their unfamiliar presence made Graycie a bit scared and uncomfortable.
Patiently, Dr. Mathis helped Graycie overcome her fear of everyone else around her. With the doctor by her side, Graycie kept getting braver and braver every day. She even started playing with other dogs. However, she was still scared of people that it has become a challenge to get her a new family.
Dr. Mathis tried to get Graycie adopted, as was the original plan. He was to give her medical attention, get her well, and find her a new home. Things didn’t go as planned as Dr. Mathis realized that he couldn’t let Graycie go.
It seems that Graycie is happy to become an office dog, welcoming animals at the vet. Dr. Mathis and Graycie celebrate each year on the day Graycie got rescued by sharing a meal reminiscent of their first meal together.
Images courtesy of Andy Mathis Dvm.
