Sure, one person’s trash is another’s treasure.
But all life is a treasure.
Meet Gracie. She’s had a rough start to life, discarded by her previous owners because of a birth defect that left her without front limbs.
Completely unwanted, she was abandoned at the vet.
When she eventually made her way to local shelter Mostly Mutts Animal Rescue, she was missing patches of fur around her eyes, and she was covered in insects.
I mean just look at that face, why would anybody want to simply throw Gracie away?
Due to her troubling medical history, Mostly Mutts Animal Rescue understood Gracie’s entire existence would likely be a struggle. Especially if she did not receive the attention that she both required and deserved.
The family running the Mostly Mutts Animal Rescue, the Turley family, quickly adopted the dog, seeking to provide her with a high-quality life despite her idiosyncrasies.
Unfortunately, concerns about her long-term health and mobility remained. Her lack of front limbs naturally puts incredible strain on her torso and spine. Her owners worried that chronic physical problems could develop over time without proper care.
Now was the time to act.
Given Gracie’s small size and expected growth, she was deemed unfit for a proper dog wheelchair. Generally, they’re made for larger, adult dogs dealing with arthritis and spinal or disc issues.
Gracie’s life completely changed again after meeting 12-year-old animal shelter volunteer Dylan.
Gracie looks at home in Dylan’s loving arms!
Dylan quickly put his budding engineer skills and giant heart to the test, fashioning a working LEGO dog wheelchair specifically for Gracie.
His passion and ingenuity impacted Gracie’s life on a daily basis, giving her the extra mobility and support needed to get through her first pup year.
That’s true love and empathy – the exact opposite of what her original caretakers provided.
As Gracie grew, so did her wheelchair.
Dylan would cater the wheelchair to Gracie’s rapidly growing puppy body, literally carrying her to adulthood. The wheels were replaced amid a larger and wider LEGO body.
She looks so happy in her new wheels.
Upon reaching physical maturation, Gracie was quickly outfitted with an adult dog wheelchair!
Thanks to the beautiful efforts of Dylan and the Turley family, she was able to make it through her first year without much of a problem. The LEGO wheelchair worked wonderfully when nothing else would. She was spared the immense stress of moving around without proper support and protection.
Gracie now has the emotional and physical support to lead a normal dog life. And she’s so happy these days!
Here’s Gracie as an adult dog! She’s come such a long way from her incredibly humble origins.
Against all odds, Gracie overcame a plethora of early struggles by no fault of her own. Fortunately, a group of special, loving people was there to help her at every step on her journey. Dylan and the Turley family have given Gracie their genuine love, and she leads a completely different life because of it.
Through their combined efforts, Gracie flourishes. A little love and effort go a long, long way. She was soon given the apt nickname, “Amazing Gracie.”
Amazing Gracie… I really like the sound of that. She truly is amazing.
Watch the entire heat-melting video below, detailing Gracie’s humble origins and growth, as well as Dylan’s immeasurable impact on her life.
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