celebrating gracie | oakville senior dog photographer

Sometimes it’s hard to know if our pets are feeling unwell or how seriously ill they are – they are often quiet, stoic creatures when it comes to illness and suffering, always with a brave face and tail wagging, regardless of how they might be feeling. Earlier this summer, senior dog Gracie just wasn’t acting herself. A trip to the vet provided a devastating and totally unexpected diagnosis: lymphoma and a few weeks to live. Her family’s life went from ordinary to upside down in a matter of days.

That Gracie should be with her family is a story of fate. Her mom is a Toronto police officer, and while responding to a call at an unsavory bar during a bad snowstorm just before Christmas in 2008, she found a malnourished but extremely affectionate dog inside. Gracie, a german shorthaired pointer, had been found running on a very busy Toronto road and was brought to the bar by one of the patrons where she was being fed beer and buns. Her mom immediately scooped her up and put her in the back of her patrol car, where Gracie quickly snuggled into a bag of gym clothes in the back seat. Their bond was immediate, and Gracie settled right into her new life like she knew it was meant to be.

While speaking to the family prior to her Celebration Session, Gracie’s mom was sure the session would be short – maybe 15 minutes. Gracie was tiring easily, she had lumps on her throat that made her uncomfortable and she also suffered from arthritis (you can see how her paws point inward). But she surprised everyone – our time together stretched close to two hours and her energy never waned. She has always been a treat hound, and her illness didn’t affect her nose or her tummy when it came to my stinky, delicious treats. She would have stood on her head for one of those morsels! Her sweet smile resulted in her fair share.

Always by her family’s side, Gracie passed away during a trip to their cottage about four weeks after her diagnosis. Her mom has loved and lost other dogs, but Gracie had a special place in her heart — how can you put words to a relationship of fate, loyalty and true love? – and losing her has been incredibly difficult. I was touched that when looking for an Oakville senior dog photographer, they trusted me to give them memories of their girl.

Run free sweet Gracie – I feel lucky to have met you.