Grace Constantine Porter

You were born in New York 9 years ago and raised by a loving silver haired elderly man and his wife for 7 years in a New York high rise. Your loving silver haired master died leaving you alone with his widow. You began to suffer greatly at the hands of her mental decline with dementia. So much damage happened before her children placed her in a home and took you to Brittany Rescue Society. The Rescue Society put you up for adoption three times and all three times you were taken back to the rescue society. The families said you couldn't love. They wanted a dog who could love. I called the Brittany Rescue Society looking for someone who could fill my heart left by the gaping hole of Hope's passing. I was certain no dog could hold a candle to her legacy. I adopted you and my heart sank. I felt like you couldn't love me. I almost took you back for the fourth time to the rescue society, but the next day a miracle happened. I began to notice you had an uncanny ability to sense changes in me and respond. You were cool, calm, collected and eerily smart. There was a deep magic to you that I was beginning to see. That night you decided to sleep next to me. I canceled my appointment with the rescue society. Over the months and years you formed a bond with me stronger than most human relationships. You were a trauma rescue. You taught me that time, love and patience were the only strategies for a trauma survivor, but once those bonds are made they are among the strongest in the world. People are drawn to you. I'll never forget the Christmas when we went down to Burnside's homeless camps to deliver our gifts and you curled up in the lap of the biggest, strongest, surliest resident at the camp and he held you until he cried. "I used to have myself a dog" he said. You make connections with so many. It's like they can see the light in you. I don't know if I deserve to be a steward of such an amazing animal, but I am forever grateful nonetheless. Happy Birthday my best friend. Please give me as many years as you can.