Rescue Stories is a series of articles related to local dogs in need of community support. Today we feature Grady who was recently rescued by Valiant Animal Rescue & Relief

With the motto "More Love Less Cruelty", Valiant Animal Rescue has served the community for more than a decade. Valiant is a 501-C3 nonprofit operating in North and South Carolina. The organization sets itself apart from other rescues specializing in cruelty cases, including dogfighting, puppy mills, and gunshot wounds. Executive Director Michelle Reid is an animal cruelty investigator and consultant. Her areas of expertise include animal cruelty consulting for Government Entities, animal forensics, management and coordination of animal seizes, and training local law and animal control officers.

For this reason, Reid sees some of the worst abuse cases in the Carolinas. As part of Valiant's mission to provide love to the animal in the wake of abuse, they help rehabilitate them to find loving homes. The foster-based rescue has saved multiple species, including bears, tigers, birds, and especially dogs. Without public support, the nonprofit private rescue could not assist in numerous cases. Cases like Grady, the mutt looking for a second chance at life, would have never known love if it were not for Valiant.

Grady is a 120-pound Mastiff mix with the spirit of a puppy. Valiant rescued him after calls of abandonment in Colleton County, SC. The team quickly realized he had a severely damaged eye. In hopes of alleviating the pain, the organization had it surgically removed and treated with antibiotics. There seemed to be a glimmer of hope for Grady. As inflammation went down, his personality shined through as he splashed every puddle in sight. Time passed, but the swelling came back with a vengeance continuing to grow 24-36 hours before his eye specialist appointment. Anticipating Grady needing more tissue removed, Reid and her team were heartbroken to learn he has an orbital tumor the size of a baseball. The surgeon removed it down to the bone, but the prognosis was still weak. Grady's rare form of cancer proliferates despite the removal. 

Sweet Grady only has four to six weeks to live, but Valiant is helping him live it to the fullest. Do you remember those puddles he loved to splash in when they first found him? His foster mom bought him a pool so that Grady can play till his heart is content. Valiant affirms as long as Grady is happy and has a good quality of life, they will push forward until he crosses the rainbow bridge. Grady is accepting prayers as well as donations of food and toys from their amazon wishlist: https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/3NKI3U5P7EC9R?ref_=wl_share.

Although his case is a somber one and not inherently a win for Valiant Animal Rescue+Relief, if Reid did not step in when she did, he would have died alone. Sometimes gains are not a matter of getting an animal adopted or prosecuting the person responsible for the neglect. It is showing an animal it is worthy of love. To learn more about Valiant and how you can help visit their website, Valientanimalrescue.org, or visit them on their Facebook or Instagram pages. If you want to provide financial contributions, go to PayPal.me/valiantrescue or their Venmo Account @Valiantanimalrescue. Remember, the world needs "more love, less cruelty."

Written by Fern Wooden, Staff Writer