Baby Grey’s dearest buddy Gracie died a year ago, but the cat still attends their planned playdates.
Every day at the same time, Baby Grey will stray into the yard and stand by the sliding door, as though expecting her pal to hurry and meet her there. She waits there for anything between 20 and more minutes.
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Gracie’s owner, Shea Belew Brennaman, a fourth-grade teacher in Decatur, Alabama, first noticed the mysterious cat visiting her yard two and a half years ago. “I think it lives two cul-de-sacs over from us and I don’t know its name,” Brennaman told The Dodo. “Me and my family just refer to it as Baby Grey.”
When Baby Grey first climbed into Brennaman’s fenced-in backyard, she was greeted by Gracie, a guard dog more interested in making friends than scaring off intruders.
“Gracie was an American Eskimo and stayed outside almost all the time,” Brennaman said. “She loved nature and, while she was a protector of our house, she loved all other animals and they loved her.”
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Gracie was friends with everyone on her property, from the chipmunks and rabbits to even the hawks, and she was eager to learn more about the newest visitor.
“Gracie accepted her into our yard immediately and the two became fast friends,” Brennaman said.
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Gracie was friends with everyone on her property, from the chipmunks and rabbits to even the hawks, and she was eager to learn more about the newest visitor.
“Gracie accepted her into our yard immediately and the two became fast friends,” Brennaman said.
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Over time, Baby Grey’s visits became more frequent. Gracie was always a generous host when her cat friend popped over — and it seemed the two animals had found in each other a kindred spirit.
“We would leave Gracie tomatoes on our porch, as they were her favorite treat, and she would share them with the cat,” Brennaman said, “which was a huge deal because Gracie was very particular about sharing food.”
“When Baby Grey started coming over frequently the two of them shared tomatoes and sunbathed together,” she said. “Sunbathing was their absolute favorite activity.”
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While Brennaman marveled at the animals’ close relationship, it seemed in keeping with the dog’s personality. Gracie would do anything for her friends and family — including saving Brennaman from a water moccasin attack when she was just an 8-month-old puppy.
“She had a sweet personality,” Brennaman noted. “[She] was a friend to all and was very motherly, especially to our Yorkie.”
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In late October 2017, just after Gracie’s 12th birthday, Brennaman noticed the pup slowing down dramatically. A trip to the vet and numerous tests and X-rays revealed the cause: Gracie had aggressive lymphoma.
“Gracie spent most of her remaining days on the cold porch,” Brennaman said. “I think part of it gave her relief but, in reality, she was saying goodbye to her territory and to all of her friends in her yard.”
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And, sure enough, Baby Grey was there.
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Either that, or she doesn’t think the small puppy truly vanished.
Since Gracie’s passing, Baby Grey has visited our porch many times every week, according to Brennaman. She will initially approach the door quickly to check for Gracie. I don’t know how long she waits, but occasionally she waits for 20 minutes before leaving to go sit on the porch. Eventually, she lies down and takes a sunbath.
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Brennaman has come to expect Baby Grey’s continued visits, and though she hates to see the little cat suffering, it inspires some uplifting feelings as well.
“It breaks my heart to see Baby Grey still looking for Gracie,” Brennaman added, “but at the same time it gives me so much hope that these two animals had such a strong bond.”