About Us: Gretchen's Story

Gretchen's Story

Gretchen did not arrive looking like a mascot.

She came in underweight, unspayed, and medically fragile. She was a senior Chihuahua/shih tsu/ toy poodle thing with pneumonia, two bad knees, and eyes that needed serious intervention. Her left eye needed to be removed, period. Her right needs lifelong treatment. She also needed dental work, a spay, and frankly, a lot of patience. She's a mess. We love her.

What she had: a very loud snore, a snarky personality, and the audacity of a dog with main character energy. We can't get enough of her.

Anne snatched Gretchen into foster care through the Louisiana SPCA and did not give her back. Oops.

Gretchen completed every surgery she needed: Left eye enucleation ✅ Right eye lens treatment ✅ Spay ✅ Dental work ✅

She relearned how to run (dangerous with one eye; she does not care). She makes Deirdre her groomer give her pink mohawks. She climbs everything, falls off some things - there are pet stairs and floor cushions in every room now. Every morning she scrambles outside to nap in the sun. She takes three eye drops and an ointment on four schedules. The Costco pharmacy dreads her name.

She is thriving.

Gretchen is FTAF's Mascot and Chief Inspiration Officer — a staff favorite at VCA Algiers, the face of our merch line, and living her absolute best life. She has high standards. She approves of this organization.

Support the animals who come after her: Donate via Zeffy