Touch of Grace Rare Breed Rescue

Storm was a  7 month old Presa Canario rescued from life in a crate. Crates are an often debated method of training your puppy/dog. We have found that many people abuse the length of time or motivation for using this tool. Storm was a victim of such training.
As a result of poor training in the beginning, it also created physical as well as psychological problems. Storm was around a good part of the Eastern seaboard. He started out in Georgia and was kept in a crate ALL OF THE TIME. As a result, it damaged his growth and some of this tendons. According to veterinarians, he had severe dysplasia which was manmade, not genetic. He was afraid to come out of his crate and would creep up to his waterbowl or his food, quickly eat some and go back in. Because of his great personality, he was moved to Boston, Mass., … then Florida .. then Maryland.
When he arrived in Maryland, a contact was made with our rescue and we took him in as a foster. Storm was losing muscle mass and was supposed to be walked ½ hour twice a day.
At the young age of only 7 months, Storm was diagnosised with Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) rupture in his left rear leg. This was due to the constant crating he was subjected to before he found his way to our rescue. His surgery would cost us $2,700, which included pre-surgical x-rays, anesthesia and monitoring, epidural, analgesia, arthroscopy, surgery, post-operative x-rays and go home medications. (consultation, preoperative blood work and 6 and 12 week X-rays are not included).

 Storm is now living a wonderful life in his forever home!!!!! He received his much needed surgery and was adopted by a wonderful retired woman in northern New Jersey where he will live the remainder of his life with her, healthy, happy and thankful for his second chance at life.

Meet Guiness, a 2 year old English Mastiff that has found his way to our rescue in January 2009. His previous owners purchased him from a pet store in New York state. His owners had two young children who Guiness adored. Living with a pet can be beneficial to children. Pets can enhance a child’s self-esteem, teach them responsibility and help them to learn empathy. However, children and dogs are not always going to automatically start off with a wonderful relationship. Parents must be willing to teach  the children acceptable limits of behavior in order to make their interactions pleasant and safe.
Larger dogs sometimes are better able to tolerate the activity, noise and rough play that is an inevitable part of living with children. Guiness, however, sustained some injuries due to this kind of behavior and environment.
Guiness has been diagnosed with two Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) ruptures and if not treated will lead to progressive osteoarthritis.    he estimated cost for his much needed surgery is $4,000 per side, which totals $8,000.
Even sitting for this wonderful dog, is getting harder and more painful as the days pass.
We are seeking donations, large or small, every bit helps, to help defray the costs of giving the gift of a pain free life to this amazing English Mastiff.
All dogs deserve a life free of pain and a home where they are loved and can love.
Your donation towards our Storm Medical Fund can make a huge difference in his life. Regardless of the amount and size of you donation, every dollar helps. Although we do not solely rely on donations we are only two people who work extraneously to help and support all the animals in our care and those that are with our fosters as well. Donations are a pertinent source for all rescues being as though the government does not offer gratuities and only offers a limited amount of grants for non-profit animal rescue, if any.

With you help we can make all the difference in the world for the Guniness and the many other dogs that will make our way to our rescue, like Guiness and Storm. Rescues simply adore animals. It's obvious they don't do it because it pays well or because the work is easy. It doesn't and it isn't. We do it because we want to make a difference, give these special dogs the second chance at life and love that they deserve.