by Grandma Dot is a deaf, heartworm positive, dog reactive, senior Pit Bull with terminal cancer. She never had a real home until one day a new volunteer at the shelter happened to meet her during her introductory tour and learned her sad history.
Grandma Dot arrived at LifeLine Animal Project’s animal shelter with a heavy chain around her neck and was surrendered by her owner. They believe the elderly Pit Bull was chained up outside before she came to them. Although she doesn’t like other dogs and appears to have been used for breeding, Grandma Dot is also super affectionate and loves nothing better than a big hug and cuddle.
The rescue shelter was hoping to find her a home, then they received devastating news. She had cancer – an untreatable lymphoma.
LifeLine Animal Project was devastated when they learned that Grandma Dot was terminally ill. They didn’t want her to spend her remaining days inside the shelter so they sent out a plea for help.
“Our precious Grandma Dot was recently diagnosed with Lymphoma. We are absolutely heartbroken for this wonderful senior pup and want to find her a foster home as soon as possible,” they wrote on Facebook. “We are not sure how long she has left – it could be weeks, it could be months – but she deserves to know life outside of our shelter walls.”
They added that they would provide all the food and supplies and vet care for Grandma Dot, all she needed from the person who took her in was “love”.
Their plea went out at the same time Jessica Miller was just completing her volunteer orientation at their shelter. While on tour at their facilities, she stopped by Grandma Dot’s kennel – the last she would see that day.
She learned about Grandma Dot’s sad life and the staff’s hope that she would have a true home for whatever time she had remaining.
That’s when Jessica decided to become Grandma Dot’s foster hospice (“fospice”) parent and within a week of the shelter’s plea going out, Grandma Dot finally had a forever home.
Grandma Dot was all smiles when she left the shelter and got into the car with Jessica.
And since she came home to live with Jessica, the two are sharing amazing adventures together while getting to know one another and learning to communicate with one another.
The two have visited pet stores together, eaten Chinese food together, and shared slices of pizza. “Grandma Dot would do anything for love…. and pizza,” says Jessica.
After their first week together, Jessica remarked, “Today marks one week of unconditional hugs, kisses, and love. Lots of treats. Lots of wonderful moments together. Just enjoying every moment we have!”
Grandma is on daily medications to keep her pain at bay. “Grandma’s mornings have gotten a little bit worse day by day,” Jessica revealed. “Thankfully her medicine helps and its almost immediate once I give it to her.”
Grandma Dot is nothing but smiles! 🐶😁❤️
Posted by The Adventures of Grandma Dot on Sunday, July 9, 2017
“We are still smiling and taking each day as a blessing but the struggles are there,” wrote Jessica. However, she has no regrets having taken her in and Grandma is now a happy, spoiled and loved family pet, and it’s wonderful to see.
Posted by The Adventures of Grandma Dot on Sunday, July 9, 2017
Jessica shares much of their daily activities on The Adventures of Grandma Dot on Facebook and updates it almost every day and hopes people are inspired to volunteer or foster a dog themselves, as there are many other “Dot’s” out there.
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