Cleopatra Grace

6/26/25 AWESOME ADOPTION ALERT – times two! From the foster-turned-forever momma: Wow—how do I even begin telling the story of my first foster failure?

Nana Bloom came into our lives in April. She was so shy at first, quietly observing everything from a safe distance. But little by little, she found her place in our home—and eventually, her perfect spot on the couch. Nana Bloom is independent by nature. She likes her space, but she began getting closer and closer to our resident Bulldog, Kevin. It didn’t take long before she was one of the crew.

Then, in May, foster girl Cleopatra Grace arrived.

She came into our lives after a heartbreaking loss that had me questioning whether I could continue fostering. While fostering is deeply rewarding, it can also be incredibly hard—full of joy, yes, but also sorrow when dogs pass. I wasn’t sure if I had it in me to open my heart again. But then Cleo came along.

Cleopatra Grace was the most neglected dog I had ever encountered. She was in such a fragile state that when I left her at the vet for surgery, I was terrified she wouldn’t make it. But she did. And when she came back home, her personality began to blossom.

She quickly bonded with Kevin—they became absolutely inseparable. Nana Bloom even began sharing in their excitement, and before long, the three of them were totally in sync. They found a rhythm: trips to the lake, sharing ice cream, and play-fighting in bed. Day by day, their bond grew stronger.

One afternoon, while out on a walk, a neighbor asked, “How are the three musketeers doing? They look incredibly happy.” And the truth is—we were happy. We are happy. The thought of separating them broke my heart… and I think it would have broken theirs too. So we made the decision to officially become a family of five.

Cleopatra Grace and Nana Bloom are now home forever. My husband and I are the proud parents of three incredible Bulldogs—and we couldn’t be happier! To celebrate this new beginning (and Kevin’s 4th birthday!), the musketeers enjoyed a little cake. Of course, they made a mess, but it was totally worth it.

INTRODUCTION: “I couldn’t hold back the tears when I saw her. I arrived as soon as the shelter opened because the photos told me she needed help—urgently. But nothing could have prepared me for what I found.

The smell hit me first—like something long gone. Every inch of her body was crawling with fleas, even her most sensitive areas. It would take your breath away. Her poor body has been used and used—bred until her nipples, swollen and stretched, dragged the ground.

I placed her in the front seat, since Marc Anthony, the other shelter save, was in the crate. She curled into a tight little ball and rested her head on my leg. It was hard to drive while watching the ticks crawling on her. But Cleopatra Grace? She just laid there, exhausted, finally safe. I could feel it in her touch—relief, but also a question: ‘Why did it take so long?’”

For years, Cleopatra Grace was likely nothing more than a money-maker. That life ended today.

Welcome to freedom, Cleopatra Grace. We are so sorry it took this long. But the rest of your life will be filled with love, care and dignity.

A huge thank-you to our friends at Petz Mania—when we called and described her condition, they said without hesitation: “Bring her in.” They had everything ready—medicated shampoos, flea and tick treatment, Dawn dish soap—whatever it took to start her healing journey.

This is what rescue looks like.

And this is only the beginning for Cleopatra Grace.

5/21/25 Update: I brought Cleopatra Grace home yesterday and the state she’s in is beyond heartbreaking.

Her fur is missing in several areas, and she has a noticeable nasal discharge. Her ears are severely infected and appear to be causing her significant discomfort. She’s terrified—refusing to leave her blanket and barely able to walk. I’m uncertain if her difficulty walking is due to malnutrition, pain, a physical deformity or sheer fear.

This morning, I found her drinking her own urine from the floor, despite having a water bowl nearby. She has the most sorrowful expression, and one of her nails is painfully embedded in her skin.

We’re still removing ticks from her body, and her fur emits a foul odor. Additionally, she’s experiencing bloody anal discharge.

Despite all this, Cleopatra Grace is an incredibly beautiful girl. She will just require immense care to recover.

She doesn’t want to leave her blanket, so I’ve been gently coaxing her to allow me to clean it. She’s extremely hungry and I’ve been feeding her every couple of hours.

It seems she suffers from nightmares. Last night, I camped next to her for hours because she would just howl and twitch on her sleep. My dog Kevin and foster girl Nana Bloom were very disturbed by it, so It was a very difficult night.

I thought my experience with Candi Hart had prepared me for caring for former neglected breeder mommas, but Cleopatra’s situation is on an entirely different level.

Cleopatra Grace is so sweet though. I can’t wait to see her overcome this, but my heart breaks knowing there are “people” out there who do this to dogs. I will never be able to understand how or why.

5/23/25 Update: Our sweet girl is recovering well after her big surgery day—she was spayed, had a dental, and had her tail removed. She’s still under observation at the vet, but if all goes well, she’ll be heading back to her foster home tomorrow!

Today she even walked outside on her own—a huge milestone and a sign of her strength.

Thank you to everyone who’s kept Cleopatra Grace in your thoughts.