About Us

Gretchen's Story

Gretchen did not arrive looking like a mascot.

She came in underweight, unspayed, and medically fragile — a senior Chihuahua with pneumonia, two bad knees, and eyes that needed serious intervention. Her left eye needed to be removed. Her right needed lifelong treatment. She also needed dental work, a spay, and frankly, a lot of patience.

What she had: a buffalo check fleece blanket, a very loud snore, and the audacity of someone with no idea how much trouble she was in.

Anne fostered Gretchen through the Louisiana SPCA — and never gave her back.

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 — there are pet stairs in every room now. Every morning she scrambles out to nap in the sun. She takes three eye drops and an ointment on four schedules. The Costco pharmacy dreads her name.

She is, in every way, 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