Rescued poodle-cross Gracie gets her happy ever after

2 hours ago

Jack Macleanand

Neve Gordon-Farleigh

Maureen Elmer (left) said she would call the RSPCA every day in the hopes of being able to rehome a "tiny little dog"

RSPCA Maureen and Richard Elmer with Gracie the poodle-cross. On the left is Maureen who is sitting on a chair in a living room. She is wearing a blue knitted top with a necklace and is wearing a pair of glasses. She is looking directly at the camera and smiling. On the right is Richard who is kneeling down with his arms around Gracie. He is wearing a red and white checked shirt with a cream jumper over the top and a pair of glasses. He is looking directly at the camera and smiling. In the middle of the couple sat on the floor is Gracie, a poodle-cross with light brown fur. — Maureen Elmer (left) said she would call the RSPCA every day in the hopes of being able to rehome a "tiny little dog"

One of the last dogs to be rescued from an overcrowded house captured in a poignant photo has undergone a remarkable recovery with her new owners.

Gracie, a 13-year-old poodle cross, was one of 250 animals found crammed in the undisclosed property in January, with 87 rescued by the RSPCA and others taken in by Dogs Trust.

Maureen Elmer, 84, who lives near Downham Market in Norfolk, phoned West Norfolk RSPCA Eau Brink rehoming centre - which took in 12 of the dogs - every day, hoping for a "tiny little dog" that could sit on her lap.

She said: "She had chosen us — her nature is so beautiful she hasn't got a bad bone in her body. She is the most perfect dog."

After sharing a picture of dozens of dogs in the home of a breeder, the RSPCA refuted allegations that the picture was fake or AI-generated.

Carl Saunders, West Norfolk RSPCA branch manager, said the picture was one he could "hardly strike" from his mind.

Carl Saunders said the scene of the dogs before their rescue was "heart-breaking"

RSPCA A number of different poodle-cross dogs, all with shaggy coats in various shades of grey, white and tan, are crowded into one living space inside a property. One dog is howling, and another is sitting in a wood burner — Carl Saunders said the scene of the dogs before their rescue was "heart-breaking"

Gracie needed to be checked over by vets and shaved to remove the matted fur from her body

RSPCA Gracie found in a bedroom in the property. She is laying on the floor and her fur is incredibly matted. — Gracie needed to be checked over by vets and shaved to remove the matted fur from her body

"When we first saw her [Gracie], honestly it was just heart-breaking," he said.

"She was in such an awful condition she was so matted. Apparently she sat very placidly and waited for all the other dogs to be taken out around her and she sat there for 48 hours just waiting.

"It was almost as if she knew she was being rescued.

"Once we got Gracie shaved... she virtually had no fur left on her by the time we finished. Her fur is growing back beautifully, it's so fluffy and soft I can't quite comprehend she is the same dog we took in and it warms my heart that we found this lovely situation for her."

Maureen said Gracie gives her a reason to get up in the morning

Jack Maclean/BBC Maureen sitting on a chair with Gracie a poodle-cross dog. Maureen is sitting on the left of the chair and is looking away from the camera towards Gracie. She is wearing a white T-shirt, with a yellow cardigan, an orange jewelled necklace and brown trousers. Gracie is on the right of the chair and is being given a belly rub. In the middle of them is a teddy bear in NCFC kit. — Maureen said Gracie gives her a reason to get up in the morning

Richard Elmer, 86, said: "We are so happy to have Gracie — and so grateful to the West Norfolk RSPCA for letting us rehome her.

"Sometimes at our age it can feel like people seem to forget you — but this wasn't the case here."

Maureen said she was "really privileged" to have been able to rehome Gracie, and the poodle-cross had already settled well with the couple at home.

"It may sound as though I had a safe life before — I didn't I had a happy life — but she has really enhanced it because I never thought we would have her at our age.

"I think she gets a bit fed up with me because I am forever cuddling and kissing her.

"I think I drive her crazy but we love her. She's given us a reason to get up in the morning."

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