This week, meet Laura Posey and her dogs Gracie and George. Laura’s pet project, Save This Pup, is an effort to unite shelter pets in need with pet lovers willing to sponsor their care, ensuring the pet a safe place and a full food bowl until they find their forever home.
The Poseys
The Poseys - Gracie, Laura, and George
Name: Laura Posey
Pets’ names/ages: Gracie, 11 and George, 1
How did Gracie and George come to live with you? I got Gracie from a breeder as a pup. I was online looking for a breed that 
fit my lifestyle and Ibizan Hound came up as my number 2 (Standard Poodle was #1 but I didn’t want a dog I had to groom). There was a breeder in Alta Vista, VA who just happened to have some pups. I went to see the dogs and met Gracie. She literally knocked another puppy out of the way, jumped into my arms and bit my nose. It was love at first sight.
George came from a shelter in southern Maryland. My aunt got him for my 85- year old Grandma whose dog had died recently. Grandma decided she wasn’t up to caring for a dog and my aunt already had 5 dogs (two of her kids work at shelters and they have 18 dogs between them!) so I volunteered to take George.
Gracie is an interesting-looking dog: Gracie is a purebred Ibizan Hound and is the half-sister of Bunny, a champion Ibizan who has been to Westminster.
I hear George has a nickname – care to explain? His official name is George William Robert Posey because the name he got at the shelter was Billy Bob. I couldn’t handle that so he was christened George at my house. He also goes by Prince George the Everpresent because he is always wherever you are. He LOVES people.
Does either dog have an awesome trick? I wouldn’t call them tricks exactly. Gracie can communicate when she wants you to get up off the couch, give her your warm spot and go get a blanket to drape over her. She has a particular stare that she uses just for that.
George has absolutely no tricks other than being able to love everything that breathes.
Where are other Pet Lovers most likely to spot you and the gang (cafe, dog park, etc.)? We live in Northside so you’ll see us walking the streets and alleys around there a lot. They also love Mary’s backyard. George recently went to a fundraiser and he decided he likes parties and wants to go to more. Gracie is very particular about the company she keeps and isn’t likely to show up at events unless they are in her honor.
What do your dogs know about you that no one else does? Gracie and I have been together a LONG time and she knows all my secrets. Luckily she is easily bribed with pizza bones and won’t tell any of them.
George knows that I have a weakness for puppy bellies and will kiss them at a moment’s notice.
Would you tell us about your project, Save This Pup? How can other Pet Lovers get involved or help your cause? SaveThisPup is like Christian Children’s Fund for dogs. Sponsors visit our (soon to be built) website, find a dog to sponsor and donate $25/mo to that dog’s care. In exchange they receive monthly updates about their dog’s wellbeing and progress. SaveThisPup is a way for hard-to-place dogs to have enough money to be kept alive until they find forever homes. Our goal is to raise at least $10 million/year to save homeless dogs.
The best way for Pet Lovers to get involved is to “like” us on Facebook. That way we can keep you updated on our progress and let you know about fundraisers and other events we have going on. You can find us at www.facebook.com/savethispup.
Thanks Laura! And thanks to Gracie and George, for sharing a little bit about yourselves.
BARK back Richmond! Introduce yourselves to the Poseys, and nominate a fellow Pet Lover for an upcoming Meet a Pet Lover feature.
{ 8 comments… read them below or add one }
George and Gracie Posey rock! Sweet, sweet, sweet babies. I’m pretty sure they get that from their mom, Laura! Oh, and Gracie knows a couple of my secrets, too!
Thanks so much for the wonderful article! Gracie and George feel they were represented very fairly. Gracie wants to know where her royalties are (she accepts pizza bones, cheese and bags of drugged squirrels). George just wagged his tail and said thanks.
Tell Gracie that I’m a fan a pizza bones myself, but I’ve got a backyard full of squirrels that she is welcome to!
I think both Laura and Gracie & George are lucky to have found each other. Looks like they have a good time together!
George is such a Prince. I meet him at his first party. He soaked in all of the fun while being content just being at Laura’s side. I have not had the pleasure of meeting Gracie. Maybe I am too particular for her taste.
I have the pleasure of knowing both Gracie and George, and I’d like to remind Laura that Gracie has an amazing trick called the French Whore. Spray perfume in the air and she will roll herself all over the place. She also is known to shove her long nose into armpits to get the scent of deodorant on her
Funny!
the story of how Laura met Gracie made me laugh out loud!!! good thing i was alone in the office!!