Do not mourn the extinguishing of the flame ...
celebrate how brightly it burned.

 

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Ted Bear

Ted Bear

Our Ted Bear is no longer with us.

He lost total use of his legs yesterday.

At 15 he had no muscle left and his spine was loaded with arthritis.

 

We took him in this morning.

It was the right thing to do, but if you knew Ted Bear you would know what a personality he was, and so it was very difficult, doesn’t matter if it was the right thing to do.

 

His vet a wonderful woman, (and Ted did like the women), came in to the room, gave Ted some nice petting, and left to prepare and give us a few more minutes.

When she came in with the injection she started to cry and couldn’t do it. Only makes me respect her more as an Animal Doctor. She asked if it would be ok if we used another woman vet in the office, she said it’s absolutely the right thing to do but she was just emotionally invested with him. That’s our Ted Bear, a real Woman’s man.

 

I used to say he was the Sean Connery of Golden males.

He would come in to a room and kind of saunter, not with arrogance but with confident self-knowledge and a desire to socialize.

Ted was most definitely a “shaken not stirred” kind of guy.

 

I stayed until it was time and we just snuggled, but I could not watch. I left the room and Carlo stayed. Ted Bear left this world very gently. The shot did not hurt, he was not panting with distress, he was calm, lying down and it only took seconds.

 

If Ted Bears job on this earth was to make people smile, to make your heart love more, then his mission was accomplished.

 

Carlo and I are grateful to have had him in our lives.

RIP Ted Bear. GRINinc dog #164

 

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Dewey

Dewey's Story

Dewey came into our lives in June of 2007, just over a month after we lost our beloved 14 year-old Golden boy, Costa. My wife Kelly and I were unsure how a new dog would fit into our little family, especially considering the unique bond we had with Costa. But the house seemed so empty without a four-legged family member and we decided to look at the GRININC website to see who was available.

We had actually considered rescuing a Golden from GRININC while Costa was still alive. Dewey was available then but could not go to a home with other pets due to his intense animal aggression. We looked at some of the other fine goldens available but ultimately decided it would be too much for our aging boy so we waited.

When we returned to the GRININC website we were surprised and pleased to see Dewey was still available. Apparently the single pet requirement made him difficult to place in a forever home. Are we ever thankful for that!

We met Dewey at his foster parents' home and were delighted to find an affectionate, energetic dog who seemed to have a real zest for life. A few days later, we brought him home.

At first his animal aggression was somewhat disconcerting. He would bark and spin on his leash whenever we encountered another dog on our walks. One day Kelly was walking Dewey before work when a neighborhood cat, who used to walk along with us and Costa, came over to meet Dewey (he may not have realized it was a different dog). Before Kelly could react, Dewey had the cat in his mouth and the cat's paws wrapped around his head! Not knowing what to do, Dewey eventually released the cat, who ran off unharmed never to come close to Dewey – or us for that matter – again.

As aggressive as he was with other animals, he absolutely loved people. To family members and strangers alike, he would be your instant best friend, especially if you had a treat for him (ice cubes were his favorite!). We chalked his animal aggression up to lack of proper socialization during his early years based on his background story. He had apparently been left outside tied to a tree for the first 5-6 years of his life. It wasn't until a neighbor took him in that he ever experienced the inside of a house. Why people get pets only to treat them that way I'll never know. The way he was treated, you would think he would have a distrust of humans, but happily that was never the case.

Dewey did everything with gusto. People who didn't know him well would gasp at how he would gulp down his food by the mouthful. No sooner would we pour it into his bowl than he would be finished and looking for his "after-dinner cube". We worried that he would have problems digesting his food and develop a blockage so we eventually put a large rock in his bowl (too big to eat, of course) in an attempt to slow down his eating. It didn't really work, except to make it a little more effort to get to those last few morsels. I can still hear the sound of him pushing the rock around his metal bowl as he rummaged for every last piece of kibble.

As he got older and more comfortable in his routines, his aggressiveness toward other animals dissipated. When Kelly and I had to move back to NJ from Florida, we settled into a townhome community with lots of other neighborhood dogs. Prior to then, he had met a few other neighbor and family dogs and was beginning to show signs that he no longer felt the urge to try and eat them . As we got settled into our new home, he met many other dogs with whom he quickly became friends … or at least who he tolerated. We often joked that Dewey was not a "dog person".

Before long, he became the "mayor" of our neighborhood. All the other dogs loved him. And their owners loved him even more. We like to think that our Cesar Milan-style "rehabilitation" was the reason, but it was probably as much that he just needed to know he was safe and loved (which began with his great GRININC foster parents).

This past December of 2012, Kelly and I decided to travel to Florida to visit family for Christmas. We made it a two-week trip so we could drive and take Dewey with us. Just days before we were planning to leave, he started to become a little picky with his food. This was very odd given his zest for eating but we chalked it up to a side effect of some medications he was on for an eye ulcer. We proceeded with our plans and set off for warmer climates, Dewey comfortably (more so than Kelly and me!) in tow.

During our trip, Dewey's pickiness became more pronounced. We switched him from his dry food to canned and he seemed to like that … for a bit. When it came time to head back north, he was eating less and less. He even stopped eating ice cubes. We were hopeful he was fighting off a virus or infection of some sort, or that maybe his teeth were bothering him, though I think in our hearts, we knew it was something more. We took him to an emergency veterinarian the night before we were to leave Florida. While we didn't get any definitive answers, the vet prescribed some medication to make him more comfortable for the 1300 mile ride.

Upon returning home, we took Dewey to our regular vet several times, each time ruling out a potential "good" diagnosis. Finally, we had an ultrasound done and discovered that he had multiple masses in his liver … too many to be surgically removed. All the while, Dewey grew weaker and ate less, though never showing signs of any discomfort. We were desperate to find an answer that we could do something about but we knew we were racing against the clock. We just couldn't believe that this dog, our Dewey, who had been so healthy just weeks earlier could suddenly be so sick.

By the time we were able to get a second opinion (only a matter of days), our poor guy had deteriorated to the point where he could barely get himself up without assistance. He was no longer eating voluntarily. Kelly and I were feeding him through a syringe just to get some nutrients into him. It was obvious, and the second opinion confirmed, there was simply nothing more we could do for him.

On Saturday, January 26, 2013, we had to do the only thing left we could for Dewey and put him to sleep. We were referred by one of our vets to a service that would come to the home, which we opted to do rather than put him through the trauma of a car trip and the scary sterile environment of the vet's office. Though we knew it was the right thing to do, and we are very glad he was able to be at home, it was incredibly difficult and Kelly and I wept when it was over. I have tears in my eyes as I type this even now.

Dewey left our lives and this world very peacefully. And we like to believe that he was and is relieved to be out of his pain and discomfort. He will always be with us in our hearts and memories. We have many, many great memories for which we are incredibly thankful. But more than that, we know that he is in a better place. For those reading this, who may have faced a similar ordeal, or who may have to struggle with the same difficult decision sometime in the future, I want to leave you with this brief personal story of hope and faith …

In early 2009, Dewey helped me through one of the most difficult times in my life. My best friend since grade school died suddenly and unexpectedly at the age of 40. At the same time, my business in Florida was struggling with the economic crash. Kelly had been offered and had to accept a job back in New Jersey. I suddenly found myself without my best friend, who I spoke with or texted or emailed on a nearly daily basis, and alone without my wife and partner in life. Dewey was my salvation, providing me with an unconditional love that sustained me until Kelly and I could be reunited and while I mourned the death of my dear friend.

Here's where the hope and faith comes in … when my friend Bill died, his distraught sister went to a psychic seeking some sort of answer or comfort. The psychic told her that Bill's spirit was symbolized by the cardinal. Upon hearing that, she broke down because there had been a cardinal that had taken up residence in hers and Bill's parents' back yard.

The day I heard about this, I felt a buckle in my knees because earlier that day, Dewey and I had been walking through our neighborhood in Sarasota when right in front of us, a cardinal flew slowly from one side of the street to the other. I took note of it because it was the most brilliant red color and I couldn't recall ever seeing a cardinal in the four-plus years we lived there.

 Time to bring it full-circle...

After we said good-bye to Dewey, we decided to clean the house, which had been taken over by our care for him during the previous few weeks. We filled a few garbage bags and took them to the community dumpster.

Next to the shed that houses the dumpsters is a tennis court surrounded by a high chain link fence. As we pulled up to the dumpster shed, facing the tennis courts, we looked up and saw a beautiful, brilliant red cardinal perched atop the fence directly in front of us.

We looked at it, then at each other and our eyes once again filled with tears. They were tears of sadness and tears of peace. We knew that Dewey was with Bill and that someday, we will be reunited with them both.

Thank you for reading this story of our beloved Dewey. And thank you to Mary Ellen at GRININC for allowing us to share it with you. 

- Rich & Kelly T

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REMUS

5/2001 – 1/2012

Remus came to us through Golden Rescue in Naples, Inc. in 2005. It was our veterinarian’s suggestion that we get a second dog since Bella was gaining weight from sleeping all day while we were at work and school.

So here comes Remus (or as Dennis calls him ‘Big Boy’ or ‘Remus Bemus’), a bouncing bubble of joy. His first four years were terrible – void of love, training or kind contact with a human. He craved your attention, your touch and a kind word. From the time he came to us, he never knew a moment of irritation or deprivation. He hit the Dog Lottery.

However he brought a nasty habit of huffing and puffing (right next to Dennis and making Dennis’ blood pressure shoot right through the roof) and throwing up all over the carpets. No warning…just walking along, tail wagging and BLAH!

After two weeks, Dennis decided we could no longer keep Remus and his habits. He went to pick Holland up from school and explain the reason Remus was always throwing up was because he missed the Rescue people so much. Well, Holland jumps into the car and babbles excitedly, ‘Look Pop. I got an A on my English paper! Do you want to hear it?’ Naturally Dennis says, ‘Sure Buddy, read it to me’. MY NEW DOG REMUS AND WHY I LOVE HIM SO MUCH. Dennis was defeated. Remus had a Forever Home.

Throughout the years he brought us such joy. He was the instigator. He tried to pick a play fight with Bella at 9pm in front of the TV. They would go at it so loudly you would think you were listening to grizzly bears going at it! Fake snarling, growling, rolling over and over one another. It was the best. You could never be mad at him. His tail would just wag with that look of complete happiness on his face and Yes, thankfully the throwing up did stop.

Remus and Bella were inseparable. They played tug-of-war constantly and if Bella were relaxing, Remus would come over and head butt until she would get up and play. Mostly everyone thought Remus was the younger of the two. He never grayed and maintained the puppy mentality up until his

last three weeks.

  

 

He slowly stopped eating and drinking. His tail still wagged whenever you spoke to him and he tried to meet you at the door but his legs were too weak to walk. It was heartbreaking to see him slowly ebb away day by day.

Today we took the hardest step and helped him to pass on to where I am certain there is a heaven filled with puppies for him to play with and angels to pet and love him until we are reunited. We will see him again waiting for us with the wagging tail, trusting brown eyes, and the non-stop barking of ‘hello’.

~ Dennis and Deb C.

 

 

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Sonnet

Dear Mary Ellen,

We wanted you to know that today we lost our gentle and beautiful little Sonnet.  We could not have ever wished for a more wonderful and delightful girl and we will miss her terribly.  

In spite of her not being blessed with the best of health, we have over the years, been able to provide her a very good quality of life through great veterinary care and a loving home.

Unfortunately, she had recently become extremely frail, particularly in her hind quarters, and since Christmas had been unable to get around. The past day or two she's been pretty much unable to walk more than a few steps at a time even with pain medication.

We felt that it was definitely not in her best interest to continue life under conditions that were rapidly deteriorating with no chance for improvement.

Our hearts are broken.  We wish God speed to our little girl who we're sure is now in heaven.  She brought great happiness to us and we shall miss her dearly.

Jeanette & Ron G.

Naples 12/29/12
 

 

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Sophie

 

Sophia Marie (1999 – 2012)

We didn’t know much about her previous life when we picked her up in Sarasota September 11, 2008. She had been on her own. She was fat and stinky and about 9 years old. When we got her home she got a bath. She wasn’t too happy about it, but most dogs aren’t. As we brushed her out she rolled over on her back, closed her eyes and nodded off. So was the start of her weekly "spa days". She loved Saturday’s as much as we did. I would bath her and Barb would do her nails, trim her hair, and clean her "areas". All the while she would lie on her back and nod off totally relaxed. The sessions ended as she climbed into bed with a blanket over her to sleep the day away. What a life!

Sophie must have had children in her previous life. Every time she saw a child she would perk up her ears and wag her tail as hard as she could. As if to wonder if they were her first family. I don’t know who they were but she never forgot them. Sophie didn’t play with other dogs, chase a ball or like to swim. She just loved people, all people. At 11 years of age she completed a grueling full day exam to become a certified therapy dog. We were so proud of her strength that day. Her days as a therapy pet were only limited by her stamina. She loved to walk the retirement home and give the residents a lick on the hand until she could walk no more.

Daily she went off to work with Barbara. She greeted everyone who came into the office with loud beats of her tail on the floor. If you were a man she would roll over and show you her belly. Sophie love men! Her foster-mom called her "speed bump". She always had to be in the same room with you and preferred the doorways. You never walked by Sophie, always over her. At home she was my best friend. She lay in her bed next to my chair for countless hours just in reach of my hand. She loved me to stroke her but was content with just a touch. That was the minimum or I would get a look from her until I put my hand back. I learned to changed channels with my other hand.

She helped us foster other Goldens like her. She would keep her distance but after about a week she would quietly groom their ears. Sophie groomed everyone she loved. Sometimes just to say thank you for a cold drink, others times long enough to clean every inch of my arm from my wrist to my elbow. Then we got Sammy. Sammy was a gentle boy a little younger than Sophie. He loved Sophie, she pretended not to notice. Once in a while he would coax a short but evident bit of playfulness from her. Never long enough to get on film, but it happened. She groomed his ears too. She loved him more than we knew. When Sammy got cancer, she knew. When his nose bled, she cleaned him. When he was gone, she started her decline. She died 4 months later. She is with Sammy now. I can only imagine him being so excited to see her again and her ignoring him. That was my girl. My heart is forever broken. I have had dogs all my life and loved them all. Sophie was special. Barb says we were two peas in a pod.

Brad and Barb Carpenter

 

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Sammie

Sammie was always the campground "mayor" and ambassador. He would greet everybody and make friends immediately. He was our loving & loyal companion on many trips. He visited friends & family with us all around the country. Everyone loved him & he was sweet to everyone.Sammie knew right away that we were his forever family. He made that decision. We met Sammie in Naples with Mary Ellen of GRINinc. Sammie climbed right into our motorhome, got up on the sofa, put his head on the back of the sofa then gave us a look that said, "I am home, you all work out the details". So we did. 

Our other Golden Gigi Noel & Sammie were inseparable companions, playmates, best friends. Where you saw one you saw the other.Sammie did have his special way of making you laugh. At home, anyone that sat in the recliner just had to give him a treat. He knew the box of treats was there & he was determined that you were going to give him one. And of course, Gigi let him do all the work…then she got one too.

Sammie was more of a "field dog" than a "water dog". Gigi loves to swim in a pool. Sammie would just run all around the pool barking at her. Occasionally, he would slip and fall into the pool. The first time he fell in, he didn't know how to swim, so Gigi went to his rescue, and swam beside him showing him how to do it.

Sammie, loved to sit in the yard on this little rise, he would lie down, roll over on his back & slide down the hill, wiggling all the way down. It looked like he was having great fun. 

Sammie was our "guard dog". We felt safer when he was nearby. Sammie had very keen hearing, but, was not anxious to run & see what was going on. So when he heard something, he would just make a low quiet growling sound that Gigi would hear. Then she would go running to the front window to see who was there. If she needed Sammie's help, she would bark and he would run to her. They had a system.

Once, we were visiting my cousin in PA-she has cats & dogs-the cat was sitting inside in the living room & we were out on the screened porch. There was a sliding screen door between Sammie & the cat.  They sat there for the longest time, just watching each other. Then the cat made a run for it into the living room & Sammie took off after her, right thru the screen door with a loud bang. He never did catch the cat, she knew where to hide. Sammie just got this silly look on his face, so embarrassed. 

One of Sammie's favorite things to do on a walk in the woods was to look for animals, squirrels, chipmunks, fox's, etc.  He never understood what happened when they ran up the tree & he could not climb a tree after them. On one of these walk, we stopped to chat with other campers and in an instant Sammie turned and darted after a squirrel. He moved so quickly, he spun Carl around & yanked him off his feet & Carl went airborne down the hill.  Carl got a few bruises on that one, but he never dropped the leash. Then we learned that you can never take your eyes off of 135 lb's of Sammie in the woods. He was one very strong boy & a very quick one.

Everywhere we went, kids wanted to hug Sammie & Gigi. They looked forward to all the extra pets.

I especially miss his sweet way of waking me up by putting his head on the bed & watching me. He always woke me up like that. He was a sweet leaner & a Velcro dog, with the most beautiful eyes. He could communicate so much with just a look. 

When were traveling in the motorhome, Gigi would sit by the door touching my feet & Sammie would sit by me, leaning on my legs all the way to wherever we were going. I tried to get them to ride up on the sofa, or in the living room, but no, they had to be touching me all the way there. When Carl got out of the motorhome to refuel the motorhome, Sammie would sit in the driver’s seat & watch him every minute, until he got back in. Sammie loved his Daddy..

Even though we live in Florida, Sammie & Gigi experienced winter & snow for 2 winters. They tunneled thru the snow with their noses & had fun times. They enjoyed watching the deer, wild turkeys, birds, & other small animals that came by our motorhome. There was always something to watch out the windows, plus they loved the long walks in the woods. Carl usually walked them about 4 miles a day, up & down the western PA hills.

We had so many fun times with Sammie, we always felt so lucky to have him in our lives. He will always hold a special place in our hearts. 

Sadly missed by Carl, Joan and Gigi K.

 

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Captain

Captain - The Big Red Dog, passed away recently.  While he was a big hearted fellow, in the end it was his heart that finally gave out.  Rather suddenly actually.  And for a chronically happy dog this was not a bad thing.

            When he came to us everybody thought he was fully grown.  He was then the largest Golden Retriever anybody could remember.  But we were all wrong, he got even bigger, one winter Captain got up to over 135 pounds.  His normal weight ended up being right at 125 pounds.  He was not a fat dog, he was just big.

            Like most giants he was gentle, and was misunderstood. It became apparent rather quickly that his doggie-childhood was not a happy one.  He had severe separation-anxiety, so bad we had to get another Golden for a companion so he could be left alone during the day.  Thunder-phobia so bad we came to think he had been tied to a tree during a storm.  With his great size the only part of himself that he could get underneath the couch was his nose.

            They say it was 25,000 years ago that the first wolf stayed behind from its pack at a human campfire and paired up with a man.  Together they combined their hunting skills, their specialties, and together they both prospered.  Man and dog.  Captain understood that.  He was not just a “velcro dog”.  He wanted to be a part of your day, a part of your success.  Of course in a modern society with no mammoths or giant sloths to track and hunt he was a little out of time and place.  The world can be a cruel place for giants, for the unusual, for the different.  Captain took it all in stride as best he could.

            Life with us was tame for sure, but good, and quiet, and peaceful.  In return for our kindness Captain taught us the true meaning of  loyalty and unconditional love.  I can think of no better teacher.  He also taught us the meaning of PATIENCE, for he was too big to ignore.  He had his quirks and his foibles, don’t we all.  But he never meant any harm.

            He is survived not only by us but also his canine companion, Mattie.  He may have been a pain in her behind, but together they were a pack.  While they went everywhere together, she was not above getting up sometimes and going to another room.  But she always seemed to know her job was to keep him on an even mental keel.  Now that task is done.

 

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Toby

 

It is with great sadness that we report the sudden and untimely passing of Toby. He was a wonderful dog who was a blessing to our family and a joy to everyone who met him. While the time we had together was too brief, we thank you for it.

Friday evening, about 7, Toby was playing in the back yard.  Jean was out watching him.  He came trotting back toward her and suddenly just went down.  He was lying on his right side when she got to him.  He took a couple last very shallow breaths and stopped.  He was completely limp, no signs of life at all.  I heard a couple of last widely spaced heart contractions and then nothing.

The vet said there is a tumor called a Hemangiosarcoma that is not uncommon in large dogs (especially Goldens) that is very malignant and grows into the right side of the heart weakening the wall.  At some point, probably with exertion, the heart wall ruptures and death follows very quickly.  The Vet who owns the Animal Hospital we use has Goldens.  One of his died that way and they have had 1 or 2 others.  It is just a nasty tumor that is almost never found soon enough to do any good, and in the heart the most common presentation is sudden death.  There are a few human conditions that behave in a similar fashion.  

If I sat on the floor, he would come and put his head in my lap. You know how when you really care about your animals, you always wonder after the fact, whether you really did all you could for them. I always felt bad that I could not spoil him more.  The possibility of an allergic reaction precluded that.  Funny that for the last year or so his favorite treat was an ice cube.  If Jean or I was in the kitchen, he would sit by the fridge and look expectantly. Then he would take it back to his towel to eat it.  

He was my little blessing. The following is a poem I wrote for Toby.

Blessings

We wish for them.

We pray for them.

We work hard to get them.

Then if we are lucky, we finally get one.

At first we appreciate how wonderful it is.

How unique and special it is. 

But all too often, yesterday’s wonderful becomes today’s ordinary.

The glow seems to fade.

We think now that we have it, it will be there forever.

We take it for granted.

It may begin to occupy less of our attention

May not continue to be the focal point of our lives that it once was. 

Maybe we even start to think about another blessing we might like.

And then one day it’s gone.

Because nothing is forever.

We miss it deeply.

We wish we had cherished it more.

Done more with it, paid more attention to it.

Realized part of its specialness was that it was only ours for a short time.

But we didn’t.

And it is gone.

Forever.

Lance and Jean Davis

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Goldie

 

A TRIBUTE TO GOLDIE

GRIN dog #95

Jan 1, 1997 --- Oct 26, 2011

 

Time was so short with our precious Goldie.  I was selfish and wanted Goldie to be around forever knowing full well that was not going to be possible.  No matter how long they’re with us it just isn’t long enough. 

We saved Goldie from being euthanized six years ago, but in all reality she saved us.  True to the magnet on our car…”my rescue dog rescued me.”  Goldie went on to become a therapy dog, passed advanced obedience classes and earned her Canine Good Citizen award in those six short years.  We were so proud of all her accomplishments.  She loved to work during obedience classes.  She participated in the Wags And Tales program at our local library and school.  Children read to her and she listened with such great attention.  Even the children that didn’t like to read were eager to do so with Goldie.  Dogs are so non judgmental.  Twice a month she visited the children in pediatrics at our local hospital.  Nurses and children alike loved seeing her.  She was so charming, kind, patient and gentle.  She also participated as a therapy dog in the local diabetic camp for children.  In my opinion she was the BEST!   

I miss Goldie’s enthusiasm when going for a walk, a ride in the car or when it’s time to eat.  Oh, how she loved to eat!  I also miss seeing her stretch on the sofa from a deep sleep as she got older, lying in the kitchen while I worked waiting for some food to drop, her snuggles, her warm soft fur, but most of all I miss her being at my feet, always there where ever I was…sometimes waiting for a crumb to fall other times just to be close by. 

She was so full of love and had such a zest for life…a companion and best friend that left a big paw print in our hearts that will be there forever.  She was a “golden thread” that wound around us providing so much love. 

Goldie has a sister that is also a GRIN dog.  Maggie really looked up to Goldie.  Goldie gave her what she lacks the most…confidence.  She misses her sister.  For days Maggie would run into the house expecting Goldie to be lying on the sofa like she always was and then sadly look away.  Thank goodness we have Maggie in our lives.  She has helped to ease our grief and will continue to do that in the days ahead.  

Dogs come into our lives only temporarily, but in that short time they become our greatest teachers, our greatest listeners and love us unconditionally.  Oh how that time is so short.  They are God’s perfect creatures who bring endless joy to our lives.  We are so fortunate to have had Goldie for those six short years.  She left an empty spot in our home and hearts, but we have so many “tail waggin” memories that will be with us forever.  I know she will be there to greet us in heaven and pick up right where she left off.  

We love you Goldie Girl…

Greg, Virginia and Maggie

 

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Dallas

           

I'd like to introduce you to my buddy Dallas. GRINinc dog # 312. We had the pleasure of sharing life with him for just a few moments. Well, it felt like just a few moments, not nearly long enough, but actually three years I believe.

Dallas came to us because his family couldn't keep him. He had been in a wonderful foster home but they were becoming very attached and Dallas needed a forever home. And we just couldn't resist that white face. So in he walked into our hearts and made himself at home. We decided Dallas had come to us for his retirement and we wanted to make sure it was wonderful.

Dallas had a bad limp from an untreated accident in  his youth. But that didn't slow him down. You were wise to get out of his way if there was food to be had! Or a ball! He lived to play, swim, eat and be loved. He would lay beside me wherever I was. And when I was in the kitchen he had a knack for plopping down in the least convenient place. I'd move everything over and he'd move too! Nothing phased him, even when I spilt orange juice on him. He loved the kitchen, the magic room where food appeared. And don't try and get ice out of the freezer without sharing a cube with Dallas!

He was so loving and appreciative. I would look up from whatever I was doing and he'd be staring at me with the most loving, happy look. I miss that most. He loved being part of out family pack which included an alpha beagle sister (they shared alpha-ship) and younger rescue golden brother Taylor. The Goldens got great pleasure out of stealing one another's toys. It got so that when I would bring new toys home I would purposefully give the wrong gift to each dog, knowing they would steal the other's toy. Such characters! One day we came home and found the chocolate pound cake I had left in a covered cake dish was missing. From what we could guess, the youngest golden had pulled it down and the three dogs had a feast. There was little sympathy from the humans, but I never could raise a voice to my friend Dallas.

Dallas had skin that was prone to infections and I was constantly treating his sores. He was so tolerant of the treatments, somehow knowing they were for his own good. I remember one time I was cutting away a bit of fur and accidentally snipped his skin. He never even whined and we had to go get two stitches. Bless his heart. And another time the door bell rang and I left a big bag of M&M's unattended. In less than a minute he consumed all of them. After consulting the vet we had to pour hydrogen peroxide down his throat to make him vomit. He was such a sport about that, never even tried to avoid it. But I swear there was a twinkle in his eye that said "I don't regret eating those M&M's".

Probably one of the worst days of our lives was January 31, 2010. Dallas woke us up having grand mal seizures that didn't stop. After going to three vets he was diagnosed with a brain tumor and cancer in his liver and spleen. There was no hope for him and the best we could do for our friend was to put him to sleep.

Our hearts and home are not the same without our friend. We were so blessed to be his last family and I'm thankful we could share his retirement together. I look forward to his being the first one to greet me in heaven..

 Melanie and Mike P. 

 

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Our Humphrey

Loved:

 Being the leader of our pack

Catching tennis balls

Going for walks

Being the first to eat

Sneaking up on the couch

Learning to track with Bill

Shredding napkins and plastic bags

Hiding in my closet for safety

Acting as referee while the others wrestled

Guarding the front door

Giving a warning bark or growl-howl

Burrowing under pillows

Working in the garage with Bill

Long naps in the afternoon

Chewing grass

Sitting and getting a treat

Swimming in the lake

Cuddling between us during a storm

Getting a hug or lots of petting

Being gently brushed

Chasing rabbits and squirrels

Snuggling next to Nick

Curling up on his dog bed

Hanging out in the kitchen

Having food fall on the floor

Being right next to you

Feeling secure and loved

Being told he’s a “Good Dog!”

 

He left a big paw print on our hearts.

July 11, 1999 – May 25, 2011

GRINinc dog #184

 Shelley and Bill Hunsberger and GRINinc buddies Brady and Nick

 

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Summi

      

♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

 Summi came into my heart and her Golden flame will burn forever.  She was a very special golden girl…I called her my “Little Red”. I have three other goldens and she was the smallest red in the gang.  Summi was very sick and depressed when she came into my heart…I nursed her with hand feedings, medications and a ton of love.  Summi had thyroid cancer that had spread to other parts of her body. She came from an abusive home and was forced to live outside. Summi deserved a good life… My family and I would give that to her here, at Golden Acres…she was a joy to each of us… she was very protective if anyone came on to the property!  She would always be right on my heels…whether I was getting ready for work or in the kitchen fixing dinner.  The first week I had Summi I slept on the floor with her…she was not feeling well and I just couldn’t leave her alone. She needed to know that I cared about her and that I was going to help her. I made a special blanket for her to sleep on…not one night went by that she didn’t sleep on it!!  After Summi was feeling better I introduced her to my other three goldens “Marley” “Molson” and “Scooby Doo”. Summi was now a part of the family.

My husband, son and I would care for her till her last breath. She was always so happy to see each of us come home. I watched her come from being scared and insecure to a bouncy, confidant, happy golden. LIFE WAS GREAT!! She had baths and brushings, toys and bones to play with and a ton of love.

On Tuesday May 3^rd…it was evident that her health was failing…I spoke to Marry Ellen around midnight and we decided that it was time for Summi to go to Dog Heaven.

In Dog Heaven they sleep on clouds and GOD watches over them …and there are no bad dreams. I know that when I get to Heaven…my “Little Red” will be waiting for me.

Until we meet again…I Love you “Summi”♥

 The Jeremias Family/Golden Acres

 

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Jack

When I rescued a dog, who had been surrendered twice, I thought I was doing a wonderful thing for Jack.  As time went on, I realized that it was Jack who was doing a wonderful thing for me.  Jack loved me unconditionally!  He filled my life with laughter, love, and companionship.  Jack was always at the door to greet me ~with a "Golden grin" and a wagging tail!

Chasing tennis balls was a favorite pass-time.  Jack could manage three balls in his mouth at once and still grin.  He allowed the grandchildren to dress him in ridiculous get ups~ and always had time to listen to their stories. 

As the years moved on, the energy faded and the face turned white.  He could could no longer chase tennis balls....just carried them around.  Walks became shorter and naps became longer.; but the unconditional love was constant....

On April 14, Jack crossed the" Rainbow Bridge"...he fills our hearts with the memory of unconditional love and a "Golden" grin.  Joanne G.

 

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Lucy

Goodbye Sweet Lucy

Lucy came into the GRIN family a little over 3 ½ years ago. She was picked up as a stray in Sarasota. To say she had a hard life would surely be an understatement. Another understatement would be to say she had less then a huge desire to live. Lucy had several fatty tumors. One big lymphoma under her front leg was the size of a softball. When they were removed one on her rear hip was cancerous. The vet got as much as he could out, but said it would return.

That is when Lucy became a permanent GRIN foster and a "Murphy Dog". I am told that being a "Murphy Dog" is about as good as it gets. Plenty of love, good food, toys, long walks, and the biggie…couch and bed privileges. It is rumored Murphy’s have a sign on the front door that reads………."The dogs live here, you don’t….if you don’t want hair on your clothes then don’t sit on the furniture."

We all learned to live together; mom, dad, Lucy, Sienna, and Nina. Lucy had spent a good portion of her life fending for herself, and she had a few traits that were not desirable to the rest of the Murphy clan. She was very "thunder-phobic", and wanted to sit in your lap during storms. Lucy was a world class "counter surfer". She once managed to snag a 2 pound turkey breast, fresh out of the oven. Probably because of her life before GRIN she was food-focused. Anytime Sally or I were in the kitchen we had to deal with a large Golden lump in front of the refrigerator, or the stove, or where ever food was being prepared. It was nearly impossible to get her to move. We learned to work around her.

Lucy had a Golden heart and personality when it came to people. She liked nothing better then to lean against you or sit beside you and be petted. In the morning she would lie on her back and wiggle till she got her tummy scratched. About a year ago the tumor was growing on Lucy’s hip again. Then five months ago I found out I had cancer. Sally and I believe Lucy understood and decided to wait till my treatments and surgery were complete before she would leave us. A week after I got home from surgery Lucy let us know it was time for her to say goodbye.

My dear friend Leslie Myers put it best in her note to me. "I know how much you love your ’kids’. But of course we go into our ’contract’ with our four-legged furry ones, full well knowing that it is only temporary, mostly short term at best. We do it anyway because they are our greatest friends, teachers, and unconditional loves. It is all good."

Goodbye sweet Lucy,

Mom and Dad

 

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ARCHER

Archer was one of GRINinc's permanent foster dogs.  Please read his tribute.  We encourage our adopters who have lost their GRINinc goldens to write a tribute about their dog.   You may smile, you may shed tear,s but honoring your dog in a story will ease the heaviness and pain in your heart and if you choose to share this story with us we will be happy to put the story on our GOLDEN FLAME PAGE.  Mary Ellen

 

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KASEY

Kasey went to the Rainbow Bridge on 05/15/10.  She lived her last months in peace, happiness and love.  GRINinc will be forever thankful to the Reintsema family for their dedication, sacrifice and love shown to our sweet senior golden girl.

 

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CHARLIE
 

 

Recently my Nana (Mary Ellen Metro) lost one of her marvelous Golden Retrievers, Charlie. Charlie was found by himself swimming in a lake in Florida. The poor dog was panting, scraped all along his body, his teeth were horrible, and you could see his ribs. He was shaking off the bitter cold water all along his body. You could tell by looking at this poor dog that he needed help from some source. After searching for his owner and trying 100% to find this dog’s home finally a conclusion came. No owner was found. This dog was obviously abandoned. He was just left somewhere to live. Luckily my Nana saved his life. So what she did was she took him home and cared for him.

Charlie was not just an ordinary dog. This dog had a passion. A passion you couldn’t imagine. Swimming. My grandparents live in a home with a pool and if you can imagine… HEAVEN FOR CHARLIE! By looking in his eyes and body he was just dying to jump into the water. All this dog wanted to do was swim. Nana ordered a life vest for Charlie to use when he would swim. When he saw the vest he was confused. He never saw anything like it. Nana would go over and put it on him. Finally he understood that this vest was a *signal* that he could go into the water and do what he loved. SWIM! If Charlie had a choice he would swim all day! So when you got him in the water, it was very difficult to get him out! When Grandpa would say “alright Charlie boy, its time to rinse off and get out of the water. Comon Charlie! Comon…” Charlie would give Grandpa the eye and ignore him! He would just continue on swimming all around in circles. Finally after dragging him out Charlie would put his head down and go all sad on you because he knew that water time was up! Charlie had a personality like no other.  I think that all he went through made Charlie have feelings that no other dog had. He was just a dog you would look at and a grin would come upon your face. He was a happy dog all the time! He brought many laughs and smiles. He was just a special dog. I can’t describe the way he would make me feel when I would visit and see him.

 

Sadly, we found out that Charlie was diagnosed with cancer everyone kind of knew that his road ahead of him was short. He lived a year longer than expected. That was such a miracle. I think without Charlie here it isn’t the same but, I know that he is happy and looking down at the pool. I miss him so much and I cry whenever I think about him but I know those tears are tears of happiness because I know he lived his life the best after my Nana found him.
I love you Charlie and I always will.
HANNAH P.