Hello! I’m Hershey, the cute little Terrier mix, and this is my beautiful Southern belle sister Gracie, a Yellow Lab. We live with the Rademacher family on Summerfield Drive. I’m eight years old and was adopted at twelve weeks from Joyful Rescue. I started out scared and timid, as many rescues are, but with patience, training, and love, I’ve become an incredibly happy dog.

You might already know me or at least think I look familiar. Back in April 2021, I escaped from my yard and was missing for almost five nights. So many neighbors searched for me, but I wouldn’t let anyone catch me (even a professional trapper had no luck). More than 600 people shared my lost dog post. My family was away on vacation, but thanks to social media and the kindness of Summerfield neighbors, I was found on Schwartz Road cold, wet, and hungry. My mom flew home early just in time for me to be brought back. That’s why I’m special: I’m a survivor.

These days I stay close to home. I’ve had enough adventure for a lifetime. My family says the best thing about me is that I’m small and fit perfectly when we’re snuggling, which we do often.

Now, about my sister Gracie. She’s the shy, quiet type, so I’ll tell her story.

Gracie joined our family on August 17, 2024, adopted from Sadie’s Safe Harbor Rescue. They estimated she was three years old. Her story is one of survival too. It began when my older brother Calvin passed away. I didn’t think I’d ever find another friend like him. Then my parents saw Gracie’s adoption post and applied.

Here’s the amazing part: Gracie arrived in Buffalo from Uvalde, Texas, the very same day and within the same hour that Calvin went to heaven. My mom, who volunteers in rescue, learned that Gracie had been hit by a car, taken to a shelter, and never claimed. She was only days away from being euthanized to make space for other dogs. It took me three days to accept her, but I soon realized she was something special. Gracie is a gentle soul who just needed care and love, just like I did.

Today she’s thriving, and she’s exactly what our family needed. Our favorite thing about Gracie is that she loves stuffed animals. She usually carries one in her mouth, and if she doesn’t have one, she’ll go get it. Gracie also proves that purebred dogs can come from rescues; her DNA confirmed it. There are so many dogs like Gracie and me who need homes. We’re just two of the lucky ones.