The Smithey Family and Penny Jenkins

Dear Saving Grace Shelter,

I am writing this letter to thank you so much for the service you provide to both humans and the animals who you save until they can be paired up with exactly the right family. We are one such happy family.

Earlier this year we adopted Maggie from Saving Grace Shelter in Roseburg, Oregon. She has touched so many lives since she has been with us that I would like to tell some of the stories. People walk up to us and just fawn over Maggie and we get to know folks we otherwise would not meet.

My nieces, Rachael (16) and Jordan (15) live with me, for a long time they have wanted a dog. I told them that there had to be just the right dog, so we put together a list of what we wanted. Maggie was our answer to prayers.

The change in my girls is so beautiful that I can see them growing in new ways. They are responding to the responsibilities that come with a dog and they put the needs of another being before their own. We call Maggie Rachael’s “Velcro dog” because she attached herself to Rachael and is so delighted to see her—then I look at Rachael’s face and see the delight mirrored there. Jordan is like a dedicated Auntie when Rachael is gone-taking Maggie for walks and sitting on the loveseat with Maggie in her lap, she always makes sure Maggie has been fed and goes out for her “potty breaks”.

Rachael told the dental assistant (Tammy) about Maggie and Tammy insisted that the dental office meet Maggie. Our dentist is one of a kind and when Rachael took Maggie in with her to meet everyone—the whole staff commented to me how Rachael was--like a different person when Maggie came with her. The normally shy and very reserved girl, talked, was animated and “looks so happy” according to the staff. They even said that Rachael could hold Maggie when she got her next tooth filled—which Rachael did and everything was just fine.

We have had some troubled roads, but Maggie has given us the unconditional love to help us continue to walk a caring path.

Thank you again for the services you provide and the lives you change.

God Bless.

Katherine Hayes

Hello, I'm Rachael. A few months ago my family adopted Maggie from Saving Grace Shelter in Roseburg, Oregon. Maggie is an eight year old Pug. She is the best thing that has happened to me in a long time. Even though we adopted her as a family dog, she has pretty much became my dog (which is okay by me). Maggie has helped me throughd a lot of road blocks I have enocuntered. One of the things she has helped me through is to not be afraid of the dark, because I know that if Maggie is in the room- then I am safe. She has also helped me change how I live my everyday life. by this I mean Maggie and I have a morning ritual. Every morning we wrestle and play tug-a-war with her bone. It prepares both of us for our day. I love maggie and I wouldn't change anything about her. No one could ask for a more perfect well behaved dog. Ever since she has been a part of my life I have been happy and smiling. :)