Gracie Is Finally Safe - Rescued 10/20/25

After five puppies were safely placed into a loving foster home, there was still one very important soul left behind.

Their mama.

Gracie had been surviving on her own for nearly six years. Long before that, she had once been someone’s pet. A photo later surfaced showing a young Gracie lying on a couch with two children, posted as a “missing dog.” She had been seen dragging a chain with a choke collar, likely tethered and escaping.

When her original family tried to catch her, Gracie ran. Eventually, they stopped trying and moved away, leaving Gracie to survive on her own.

For years, Gracie wandered rural roads and woods. She endured hot summers, cold winters, and gave birth to litter after litter of puppies—sometimes twice a year.

A local preacher and his wife noticed Gracie appearing on their property around the time they had lost their own dog. They began feeding her. Though they could never touch her, Gracie trusted them enough to return every day.

When her puppies were old enough to walk, Gracie would bring them to the property. The couple helped gather the puppies and find homes for them. Over the years, they helped more than 30 puppies find families.

This past spring, Gracie had another litter on the same property. Pickens County Animal Control contacted Anakin’s Trails to assist. The puppies were safely recovered and placed into foster care.

Then it was time for Gracie.

Gracie was smart. Very smart. She avoided traps and stuck closely to familiar paths she had followed for years.

Team members rebuilt and carefully camouflaged a humane trap so it blended into the natural surroundings. They studied her routine and adjusted their approach again and again.

After days of preparation, the trap was set and monitored.

As rain cleared and the sun came out, Gracie appeared walking down the road toward the feeding area.

This time, she walked into the trap.

Gracie was finally safe.

No more freezing winters. No more scorching summers. No more having babies in the woods.

At Anakin’s Trails, we are not a rescue. We are a stray and pet recovery organization that helps animals be located, trapped, or recovered so pets can be reunited with their families and strays can find a new forever home.

Gracie will spend the rest of her years indoors, warm, safe, and loved. 🐾❤️