Gracie’s Guardians

Gracie’s Guardians, an initiative of Richmond Animal League, is a non-profit, advocacy and rescue group dedicated to improving the lives of pit bulls in our area. The initiative takes it's name from Gracie, one of the dogs from the Michael Vick case who was adopted by a Richmond Animal League board member. The name is a tribute to her perseverance and a desire to ensure that her legacy is to enhance the welfare of pit bulls in the greater Richmond area.

Gracie's Guardians takes a holistic approach to rescue, attempting to address both the root cause of problems facing pit bulls as well as helping dogs in immediate need. We offer fostering and individual care for a limited number of pit bulls, mostly from local shelters, while also focusing on public outreach and education to raise awareness of the plight of pit bulls; the reasons for negative perceptions and the ways in which people can help. Lastly, Gracie’s Guardians actively engages in proactive spay and neuter outreach to reduce pet overpopulation in our city.