When Grace arrived at the shelter, she was pregnant and clearly not feeling well. A volunteer from Pups Without Borders picked her up and gently placed her into the rescue van, whispering, “It’s okay.” Despite her swollen belly, Grace didn’t seem quite right. She was carried carefully to the vet, but the diagnosis was uncertain. The vets speculated that Grace’s large litter could be the cause of her distress.
The initial plan was to foster her until she gave birth and then drive her to her new foster home in Northern California. But things didn’t go as planned. Grace’s belly, once full of life, grew quiet. Tragically, she lost all her puppies. Eve and the team were devastated. They had already taken precautionary PCR samples from Grace, as they did with all pregnant dogs, and the results came back positive for canine herpes virus. While the virus is typically harmless to adult dogs, it’s fatal for puppies under three weeks old.
It was a heartbreaking blow. Grace was clearly grieving, and Eve did her best to comfort her. “Good girl,” Eve whispered as she rubbed Grace’s face, hoping the love and gentle touch would help soothe her pain.
In an attempt to bring some light into Grace’s life, the rescue team kept her distracted with walks, treats, and plenty of cuddles. Then, about a week later, an unexpected call came in from a nonprofit organization with a volunteer pilot program. There was a litter of 11 orphaned puppies in Northern California, just three and a half weeks old, who had lost their mother. The shelter was preparing to euthanize them since the puppies weren’t eating and refused formula.
The pilot volunteers, unsure of the next steps, decided to fly the puppies to LA, where there were more rescue organizations. As the puppies were airborne, a plan began to form. Eve’s team at Pups Without Borders had Grace, and although she carried the herpes virus, the puppies were old enough that they might not be at risk. It felt like a long shot, but it was their best chance.
When the puppies arrived at 11 o’clock at night, Eve wasted no time. She rushed to pick them up, drove them home, and opened the crate. Grace, curious and gentle, immediately began sniffing the puppies, wagging her tail, and licking them. It was clear—Grace was ready to be a mama.
“Oh, Mama! You’re such a good girl,” Eve whispered, watching as Grace lay down on her soft bedding, letting the puppies nurse and snuggle against her. She was so gentle, so patient with them. “You just ate, you little fatty,” Eve chuckled as one of the puppies playfully licked her finger.
As the days passed, Grace’s love for her new puppies grew. The rescue team named them after the Avengers, and Grace became their devoted surrogate mother, nursing them until they were ready for adoption. Her instincts were unwavering, and she was exactly what the puppies needed.
While Grace’s exact backstory remains a mystery, it was clear she had once belonged to someone. She was social, affectionate, and loved to cuddle. “You’re a happy girl, aren’t you?” Eve asked as she rubbed Grace’s soft fur. It was likely that Grace had been abandoned after becoming pregnant, perhaps by a family too scared of the responsibility that came with it. “She is so sweet. She loves to snuggle,” Eve said, watching Grace curl up next to her.
Grace’s nurturing nature didn’t stop there. After she was spayed, she continued to act as a surrogate mother to other litters that came through the rescue. Her love for puppies knew no bounds. “Are you the sweetest?” Eve asked, receiving a gentle kiss from Grace. The bond they shared only deepened over time.
Eventually, Grace found her forever family. Eve couldn’t help but fall more in love with her every day, and they officially adopted her. “I’m so glad we got you,” Eve said, petting Grace with a smile.
As Grace settled into her new home, she was at peace, surrounded by love and warmth. And somewhere beyond the Rainbow Bridge, there’s a black mama dog nursing brown puppies peacefully, still sharing her love and care with those in need.
