Name: Lucille
Family Member: Gwenieth
How long has Lucille been in the family? Since April 2012
Profession: Partner, Commercial Lease Management
Location: Dunwoody, GA.
Nicknames: Lucy, Lucy Lu, Lulu, Luly, Boo
5 words/phrases that best describe Lucy?
Goofy/Silly
Affectionate/Loving
Very Intelligent
Playful/fun/Comical/Hilarious
Insightful
What makes Lucy unique? She has learned certain phrases such as “Do you think you need to clean up your toys?” She snatches up her toy and runs away with it. Or if I am eating something in the living room, I will say “Do you think you need to go to the kitchen?” She will run into the kitchen and just sit there patiently waiting for me to come into the kitchen to give her the leftovers! It is hilarious! She also will growl at me when I don’t pay attention to her and will slap me with her paw!
Such a pretty smile!
Rescue Story: Lucy was pulled from the Macon, GA dog shelter by a rescuer named Hailey as she was about to be euthanized – first heart tug. Although still mourning the loss of my Eddy (my first rescue), I agreed to meet her. I drove to Jackson, GA to Hailey’s house and when I drove up I saw this silly black dog with white markings (2nd heart tug as Eddy was black with white markings) romping around in the background with a gimp leg. Okay…no one said anything about a gimp leg…another heart string just pinged! We met and I felt an instant attraction to her but something after meeting her begged the question about her being a “lab mix”. I could see that she had pit bull/terrier in her. Her yawn gave it away along with her muscled body. I told Hailey I would think about everything and drove away. I called Hailey on the way home, it was a 2 hour drive so I had time to think and said I was apprehensive because of her having pit bull/terrier in her and because of all of the horror stories you hear about these “types” of dogs. I WAS A DISCRIMINATOR. Hailey understood and asked me to just do some research on her before I made a final decision. I said I would. What I found was alarming. Alarming because this type of information should make the headlines about how great these dogs are and not the horror shows that do. I read about their love and devotion to their owners, their intelligence, train-ability, about the bad rap they are given and on and on. She stayed on my mind. I called Hailey back and said I would take her. That has become one of the best decisions I have ever made in my life. I love her to the ends of the earth and would not give her up for anything. I wish everyone would take the time to really understand these dogs as they are quite spectacular. Oh…and the gimp leg? Suddenly seemed fine after I took her home and the vet could not find anything wrong! I wonder…
Lucy in her forever home!
What is your favorite pastime as a family? I work from home so we are bonded at the hip every day. Our best times are our early morning walks. She deciphers all of the smells of the earth while I meditate and gather my thoughts.
What is life like since you rescued Lucy? Lucy rescued me. The year I got her I experienced many deaths, first my dog Eddy, then my Dad, then my relationship with a man I thought I was going to marry, then the worse was my nephew who died very tragically. This all happened in an 8 and a half month span. Had it not been for Lucy, I am not sure I would have made it. She was my heartbeat. She forced me to get out of bed and move. I knew that she needed me everyday to feed her, take her out, walk her but she had no idea just how much I needed her needing me. I will be forever indebted to her for rescuing me.
Photographers Note: I met up with Gwen & Lucy on a pretty brisk morning which meant that Lucy was full of energy and frankly just a hoot. All of her antics had me laughing nearly the whole time. When I laid down on my stomach in front of her to get some shots of her, she just wanted to hold my hand. She belly crawled closer and then would smack my hand with her paw. This seems to be a move she is known for. Then as we were finishing up, I noticed a small tail hanging out of her mouth, she had captured a gecko. When I said something to Gwen, it escaped (or she dropped it) and then the search for her new friend began. She just buried herself in the monkey grass and searched, other then a few rolls in the grass, she was determined, until Gwen had to pull her away! (bummer Mom!)
With this story, here we are with another person who took the time to educate herself and see Lucy for the dog she is, no other label needed. Education is key and when trying to change perceptions, suggesting people do some research is a great place to start. Of course sending them to this website, is a great way for them to add to that education! :)