06/04/2026
Yesterday we said goodbye to Gracie. 💔
Last year, we rescued Gracie from Contra Costa Animal Services . When she arrived, she was shut down, uncomfortable, and clearly not feeling well. We took her to the vet, hoping for answers, and received heartbreaking news: Gracie had lymphoma, a rare and aggressive form of cancer.
From that day forward, our goal was never to "fix" Gracie. It was simply to love her.
We wanted her to know comfort. Safety. Kindness. We wanted her to experience what it felt like to belong to someone.
And little by little, she let us in.
The scared dog who arrived at the ranch slowly transformed into a dog who slept beside Roxanne every night. A dog who trusted. A dog who knew she was loved. A dog who became family.
Over the past year, Gracie was surrounded by people who adored her. She enjoyed sunny days, soft beds, good meals, walks around the ranch, and the simple joy of being cared for. While we couldn't change her diagnosis, we could give her something just as important: time. Time filled with love, comfort, safety, and peace.
That is what we strive to give every dog who comes through Roxy's Ranch Haven. We may not always be able to change their past or their circumstances, but we can make sure they are cherished, protected, and given the very best life possible while they are with us.
For Gracie, every moment mattered.
Last week, we learned that the cancer had continued to spread throughout her body. More recently, it moved into her mouth, making it difficult for her to eat. We knew then that the kindest gift we could give her was peace.
Gracie passed away surrounded by love and is now buried on Roxanne's property, where she will always remain close to the person who loved her so deeply.
In her final days, Roxanne took Gracie on walks around the ranch, telling her what a good girl she was and how loved she was. We hope those were the words she carried with her.
We also want to extend our heartfelt gratitude to Brandner Veterinary Hospital. Their team provided exceptional care throughout Gracie's diagnosis, treatment, and end-of-life journey. They were compassionate, thoughtful, and supportive every step of the way, not only for Gracie, but for all of the animals in our care. We are endlessly grateful for the kindness they show our rescue dogs.
Rescue is not always happy endings and adoption photos. Sometimes it is heartbreak. Sometimes it is loving a dog knowing your time together will be short. Sometimes it is carrying the weight of saying goodbye.
But Gracie is exactly why we do this work.
Because every dog deserves to know what it feels like to be loved.
And Gracie was loved beyond measure.
Run free, sweet girl. We will miss you forever. 🌈💛
