Photo by Katie Trapp

She looks cute, doesn’t she?

Of course she does. She always looks cute and sweet when she’s sleeping.

My name is Corey Inscoe. I’m a recent graduate from the School of Journalism and Mass Communication at UNC Chapel Hill.

Last August, I moved to Charlotte for a job covering high school sports for the Charlotte Observer.

It was my first time moving off on my own. Ever since I moved, I wanted a dog.

Gracie was given to me as a Christmas present in 2009 by my girlfriend, Courtney.

Originally named Hannah, Gracie is a (supposedly) full-bred American fox hound that came from Charlotte Mecklenburg Animal Control. After thorough testing, I found that she had no clue that her name was Hannah, so I changed it to Gracie after a favorite Ben Folds song.

I guess I underestimated how much work goes into taking care of a dog, but I learned quickly.

At times calm and loving, then sporadically neurotic and seemingly possessed, taking care of Gracie is always an adventure.