In memory of Jordi 08-08

In Memory of Duke 07-30

In Loving Memory of Duke (07-30)

Monday Afternoon, May 23, 2011

Duke has left this world and has teamed up with my other dogs in the sky. He was turned in to Golden Retriever Rescue at the age of 9 because his previous owners were going to have him put down (not a pleasant story previous to that so I am told). I was happy to provide him the best life I could for an additional 4 years…he was 8 days shy of his 13th birthday. So happy he was able to have a wonderful Sunday before I had to say goodbye.

The weekend status report:

He is on probably his last of his nine lives (maybe he does not know that is supposed to be for cats) – took him in to the vet Friday afternoon after the call from Mom and he has lost another 10 pounds in about 2 months. His heart was throwing beats everywhere…nobody really expected him to make it through the night but he did, stubborn I guess. Saturday he drank a little water and ate a little steak (expensive tastes he has) and by Saturday afternoon he was back up and went for a little walk and swim! Dr Jensen said his heart may re-establish a normal pattern again and it looks like it did – for now. He is not by any means thriving, but he is eating some and drinking water and wanting to do some things. I guess that’s all I can ask for an old dog!

- Michelle

In Memory of Cara 02-29

In Loving Memory of Cara (02-29)

I adopted Cara in October of 2002. She was three years old. After a rough start, Cara turned out to be a loving companion. She had lived on a farm and was not used to the indoors. She wouldn’t walk on the tile floors or go up and down the stairs. After much coaxing and treats from my friend’s children, she took to the floors and stairs quickly. I was always amazed at how she would race up and down the stairs as if she had been doing it all her life! She took to a crate right away and never had an accident in the house. Since she wasn’t use to a vacuum cleaner, she had no fear of them. I was able to vacuum her and the minute I got out the attachments, she was at my side ready for her “massage.”

We also attended several dog obedience classes. Cara had not been socialized with other dogs and was always eager to make friends. The classes were to help her get use to other dogs. However, she always came on a bit too strong and often times frightened the other dogs. I sent her to doggy day care to help with the socialization and she always came home with “A’s” on her report card. One day she got an “Incident Report.” Evidently, she got a little too aggressive when they let out all the big dogs after nap time. That was too much stimulation for her! She did learn all the commands and was able to walk on a leash very well. We just avoided too much contact with other dogs. We had many enjoyable walks through Elmwood Park year round.

Dogs come into our lives and give us a gift. Cara’s gift to me was patience and many wonderful years of companionship. On Easter Sunday this year, I had to put Cara down. She was 12 and a half and had been healthy all her life. But, a few days before Easter, she became very lethargic and not herself. She was still eating and drinking. By Sunday morning she was unable to get up and had moved off her bed to a corner in our bedroom. After a trip to the emergency clinic, she was diagnosed with cancer and there was no hope of a recovery. She wasn’t in any pain that we know of, but so weak she couldn’t stand. It was such a shock, but we were glad we could be with her until the end. She will be in our hearts forever.

Diane Crouch and Dave Hayko

In Memory of Max 10-21

In memory of Max (10-021)

I’m writing to inform everyone of the passing of our foster dog, Max. Max was taken unexpectedly from us due to a large tumor that surfaced on his liver. It came suddenly with Max seeming not like himself and not wanting to eat. Max loved his food! When we took him to the great vets at Harvey Oaks they were at first thinking he might have some intestinal issues and gave him some medicine which seemed to make Max feel great again. However, in less than two days Max stopped eating completely and seemed to be getting weak. When he returned to the vet they found a large tumor on his liver that was pushing his stomach and all of his organs together. Max quickly deteriorated and it was decided that we needed to end any pain Max was having. Max passed quietly on Valentine’s Day, one day short of his 10th birthday. It was fitting that he pass over the rainbow bridge on the day of love as he gave nothing but love to everyone. Our Max was a great dog to bring to GRRIN events. He loved everyone and was always ready for a pet or to give a kiss, especially to the children. Max spent nine months with us and even when he decided to try to “eat” our couch we never once really wanted to part with him. Even though we worked hard to find him a home he really seemed to belong to us. This hit home when after Max passed the vet looked at me and said, “He really was your dog, wasn’t he?” Max, we miss you and hope you are having a great time with all the other dogs on the other side of that rainbow bridge.

Scott, Kelly, and Zach Bockelmann and your dog buddies Sherman 07-014 and Chloe

10-22 Lindsey

Lindsey came to us as a forever foster care Hospice Golden in Sept 2010. GRRIN labeled her as Hospice care because they said she was partially blind, partially deaf and had bad back legs. She did great with all of her ailments, most of the time you never knew she had them. She adjusted well with us and Shack, our adopted GRRIN golden. She took over his bed, so he went shopping with Irma and bought a new bed for her (she still liked to get in his bed when she could). She loved to play with toys especially the one’s Shack would be playing with. She loved to eat popcorn if you open the can she was right there (can’t hear uh). She loved to catch it (her personal best was 10 in a row (can’t see very well either). She loved to go for walks with Shack and I, we go to Walnut Grove park everyday
and she was walking about a mile a day, her legs were getting stronger. Lindsey taught Shack to beg from the table. She would lay between us and pretty soon Ron would get a gentle kick on his leg.

When you looked down at Lindsey she would be looking at you with the big brown eyes and a look of determination on her face. Lindsey was never denied. If fact when she got sick the saying went “whatever Lindsey wants Lindsey gets”. Shack got in on it too and the two really could get anything. They started to act like two kids that really cared about each other but didn’t want anyone to know. They would sleep with their paws or noses barely touching. Then in late January we found a large lump the size of a tennis ball on her left leg it came up over night. The Vet said it was a Spindle Cell Tumor and amputation was the only hope. She turned 13 years old on February 9th so that didn’t seem to be a good option. We said we would bring her home and watch her. Her walks became to the mailbox down the street and around the yard. She never lost her playfulness and her easy going ways.

On Thursday February 24th the tumor was continuing to get bigger(about the size of a grapefruit) and she could no longer go up and down the stairs without falling. So we had to make the decision to let her go. She looked so peaceful and wasn’t hurting any more. SHE WAS ONE GREAT GIRL. We really miss her. We love you Lindsey. We know you are an angel in heaven.

Ron, Irma, and Shack

In Loving Memory of Watson 07-27

Watson (07-27) came to us as a foster dog and as our usual pattern, after 2 days, we couldn’t give him up, so he became our dog. He was the youngest 11 year old dog we had seen, and when he ‘crossed over the bridge’ last week, he was the youngest acting 14 year old we have seen. He could still bound up and down our hill like a youngster, especially if there was food involved. He had a stroke which took his life and we are thankful that he didn’t suffer with old age issues. He was a great big ball of fluff and we will miss him a lot.

Tim & Konda N

Bobalou, Chester and Watson frolicking in the field.

A Tribute to Molly 10-86

A Tribute to Molly: a short time with GRRIN at the end of a long life.

As the saying goes, it takes a village. This was certainly the case with sweet Molly. At 13 years old she was a senior among our wonderful senior foster dogs, and a village of volunteers helped her get to her final resting place on January 4, 2011.

Molly was living with 2 other dogs, on their own, in their owner’s home for many months following the owner’s death. A volunteer with No Pets Left Behind rescued Molly from her abandoned home and took her to a vet where she received evaluation of her health and needed health care. While No Pets Left Behind waited for GRRIN to locate a foster home for her they continued to care for Molly in a volunteer’s home. The next step of Molly’s journey involved a myriad of GRRIN volunteers including a hotline volunteer, intake worker, foster coordinator, transportation coordinator, temporary foster home, foster home, caseworker, rescue team coordinator, and board members.

Molly proved to be a very sweet and adaptable girl. She never met anyone she didn’t like and the feeling was mutual. Initially in foster care Molly began regaining some strength and weight. However, at her age it proved to be too large a task for her to recover from the 6 months she spent alone in her home after her owner died. After just 3 weeks with GRRIN Molly crossed the Rainbow Bridge. We believe she has been able to reunite with her recently deceased owner.

While all those who have met Molly will miss her we know she is in a better place. Molly has given us the opportunity to reflect on all the volunteers who would and will gladly do it all over again to rescue the next dog, and the next, and the next.

Molly loved the comfy sofa and all those pillows

Molly having a good day

Molly curled up on her bed

In Loving Memory of Harley 02-20

On October 14th, 2010, an important GRRIN volunteer passed away, Harley, GRRIN dog 02-20.

Story follows display of pictures.
Hover over photo for description and click to expand image.

On October 14th, 2010, an important GRRIN volunteer passed away. Harley (GRRIN dog 02-20) was adopted in 2002 by Terry and Lori Kirkpatrick. Harley was lovingly fostered by Julie White. When Julie needed someone to watch Harley while she went on vacation the Kirkpatricks agreed to take on their very first foster dog. Little did they know, but Harley didn’t plan on ever leaving their house and they joked that they failed Fostering 101. The Kirkpatricks fell in love with Harley and their first foster dog became a permanent member of their family. Harley loved to swim and found every excuse to jump in the water after running at the dog park. He was a toy hog, guarding his toys from his golden sister, Maggie, and always carried three tennis balls around in his mouth. Harley soon took on a new, very important role on the GRRIN rescue team. Since 2002, Harley and the Kirkpatricks have fostered close to 30 wonderful GRRIN dogs. While nuzzling, barking and leading the way, Harley coaxed the best out of each and every dog that entered his door. For the young, rowdy and exuberant dogs that had been surrendered to GRRIN, Harley, in his own special dog language, seemed to let them all know how to learn to start a new life with a new forever family. He taught them by example and tried to let them know how to make a great first impression. Harley talked tough to some of them to set some ground rules, but deep down he was a loving 85 pound lap dog and a big teddy bear. Harley is already greatly missed, and Terry says he might have to work a little harder with any new foster dogs that come to his home since Harley isn’t there to take so much of the lead. Harley’s contributions to GRRIN are immeasurable and we will all miss him.
– Written by Andrea K. for Terry

In Loving Memory of Chester 98-27

On Thursday, November 11, our 13 ½ year old golden crossed over the Rainbow Bridge. We were honored to have Chester with us for 3 years. He was the perfect example of what a golden retriever is. He was sweet, laid back, always wanted a treat and just didn’t want to be any trouble. We seem to always have 3 dogs at our house, and our family and friends have all made the comment that Chester was their favorite. He was just too sweet. So we will miss him a lot. Because we have fostered and adopted so many senior dogs, we put in our minds the picture of them all scampering around together with healthy bodies on the other side of the Rainbow Bridge and just waiting for us to come join them. Can’t wait!

Tim and Konda

Chester, Watson and Bobalu celebrating Christmas!

04-22 Kipper

The first time I saw Kipper’s face was on the GRRIN website, and I instantly fell in love. We had just lost our original golden, Jake. We had two other goldens, and we were all missing Jake very much. I didn’t know much about GRRIN, but I was willing to give them a call and see what we needed to do. A meeting was set up for us to meet Kipper at his foster home, and we knew the minute we saw him in person, that he was just what we needed to fill the hole left in our hearts. Kipper joined our family on July 24, 2004. He was welcomed by his new brothers, and it was like he had always been a member of the three musketeers. He was such a sweet boy, and I knew from my experience with per therapy, that Kip was a perfect candidate to become a therapy dog. I was right, by August 3, 2004,(less than 2 weeks), Kipper and I were a registered therapy team. Kipper was not only a sweet boy, he was quite the clown. I don’t think a single day went by that he didn’t make me laugh. He loved to play, and every time we would come in from outside, he would hoot and howl at me. When I was going through my cancer in 2008, Kipper was right there for me showing me what a great therapy dog he was. In the last year, as I have been trying to get myself back into shape, Kipper was my partner on the walking trail, and we even participated in the first annual Bark for Life this year. One of Kipper’s favorite things to do, was to lay his head on my leg whenever I was sitting down. Unfortunately, our partnership was cut short. On August 30, after playing with his newest brother Einstein (also from GRRIN), as Kipper was headed for the door to go outside, he had stroke and was gone instantly. It only lasted about 5 seconds, but it seemed like an eternity, he was only 7 1/2 years old. I want to thank GRRIN for allowing us to give Kipper his forever home, I wished our forever had lasted longer. I’m not sure who rescued who, but I do know that he will be missed very deeply. I will miss his silly personality that always made me laugh. The house is so quiet with out his hooting and howling. And as I sit here typing, I miss the weight of his head on my leg. I will miss his footsteps beside mine on the trail. It does help to know that he went quickly, and didn’t suffer. He was one of a kind, and he will be in our hearts forever.
WE LOVE YOU KIP!

Gene and Bill

97-39 Riley

Dear GRRIN,

It is with a sad heart that I write to tell you that we lost our GRRIN golden Riley (97-39, formerly Pluto) over the summer. He was 14 years old. Riley was my first golden. I adopted him before I met my husband, and he was the reason we became so involved with GRRIN while we lived in Nebraska. Two years after adopting him, I met my husband & we adopted Sage (99-07). Sage and Riley were with us when we got married, stood by us through graduate school, accepted & loved our boys when they were born, and made the move from Nebraska to Maryland four years ago with no complaints. I am attaching some pictures of Riley during our winter storm last year. He loved the snow. Just this past spring, Riley was still chasing squirrels and rabbits-he even caught one in May. He started having trouble walking in late spring, and by the end of June, he was unable to walk on his own. Despite his discomfort, he would wag his tail and lick our faces when we came home each night. He even tried to play with Sage flat on his back while she circled him. Not quite the same as the “butt in the air” play, but for two old dogs, they were lovin’ it!

We feel so fortunate to have had 13 years with Riley. He added more to our family than words can say.

Thank you GRRIN for bringing such a warm, loving soul into our lives.

Dana, Mark, Eli, Sam & Sage Van Bemmel

In Memory of Lexi 08-10

Lexi initially entered GRRIN in March of 2008 when she was 6 years old. Her calm demeanor and gentle soul immediately made an impact on Stacy and Bryan. It became obvious to everyone that she would make a great addition to their family. She quickly fell in step with their routine as they soon welcomed their third daughter. Lexi watched over the girls like a “stepmom”.

In early summer of 2009, Lexi started limping, and her vet gave her some shots and pills to help alleviate the pain and reduce inflammation. They thought that she might have strained a ligament because she bounced back to her normal self in 1-2 days. In September of 2009, Lexi started limping again, and within 3 days she couldn’t walk.

Due to an extreme financial hardship resulting from the recent cancer treatment of their other dog, Stacy and Bryan reached out to GRRIN for assistance. We coordinated an examination with X-rays at the vet, and a subsequent consultation with the Midwest Vet Specialty Hospital. Lexi’s diagnosis revealed that she had spinal issues that were unlikely to improve with surgery. The decision was made to release her from her discomfort and help her cross the Rainbow Bridge. Stacy and Bryan were by her side to let her know that she was loved.

Lexi’s ashes are spread in a grassy pasture where Golden Retrievers regularly run and play, an appropriate resting place for a sweet girl with a sunny disposition. She’ll always be remembered fondly by everyone who was lucky enough to know her.

In Loving Memory of Rivers 08-50

We met her at a park in Lincoln and instantly fell in love. She had beautiful blonde hair and was definitely turning heads in the crowd. When we finally reached the family that she was with, we introduced ourselves and asked for a little of her time, and she walked away with us for a little one on one. It was love at first sight for us and we could only hope it was for her also!

We spent about an hour or so with her that day and that was the beginning of a wonderful relationship. The beginning of our new family. We could not take her home that day, so we had to wait and make sure that her foster parents (the Kujath’s) liked us and when we got that call, we jumped in the truck and drove the 2 ½ hours to her foster home to bring her home.

Her name was Chloe, but we decided to name her Rivers which was a name we decided on from the lovely couple that did our home visit, the Tinders. Their dog’s name was Rivers and was a delight to have in our home. Our Rivers lived up to this name.

She was a perfect sweetheart from day one. She loved her walks and would let me know if I missed one. One of her favorite things to do was to make snow angels! No matter how deep the snow, she was out rolling in the snow and making her angels. Even when there was no snow she would try to do this in the grass and it would be worn down in patches where she had made them. She even made dog lovers out of family members of ours who didn’t care for dogs before they met her. They said she was just different from most dogs and we totally agree! She had a very sweet and soft demeanor about her and knew when to leave people alone and when to lean in for more.

In March of 2009, we started noticing some problems with her and thought they were just a simple UTI. We had her treated for a few months and things were not responding, so x-rays and ultrasounds were done. To our devastation, they found a cancerous tumor. We talked to Dr Dimari and he decided to remove the tumor. The surgery went great except our goofy little girl decided to be one of those rare ones and be allergic to the normal material they use for sutures, so, they had to go back in and take out all of the previous ones and use a special material and she healed just GREAT!

The next year was wonderful and we had no problems. We went to many GRRIN events, the dog park was a regular stop on our routine and she went with me just about everywhere I could take her! My family got used to seeing Rivers with me all the time, we were pretty much a team.

In May of this year, almost a year to the date of the previous diagnosis, Rivers stopped eating and having regular bowel movements. I took her to see Dr Dimari and after ruling out minor things, he did x-rays and ultrasounds and found that the cancer was back but in a different place and not encapsulated like it was before.

There was no way to tell how much time we would have but we made it the best we could for her. All the extra treats she never had before she now had. She decided one day to reach up in the front seat of the car and treat herself to my ice cream cone! She even made an appearance at “Bandana Days” just 2 days before we lost her and she was happy and playing with the other dogs.

On Monday June 7th, she seemed fine, but that evening she started having irregular breathing. We spoke to Dr Dimari a few times that night and by the time we knew it was time, we agreed to meet at Harvey Oaks and we brought our baby girl in and Dr Dimari said she was very close. She took just a few final breaths and crossed over “the Rainbow Bridge.”

About 2 weeks before Rivers passed away, she started growing these little “tufts” of hair on her shoulder blades and when the wind caught them, they looked like angel wings. My husband was the first to notice them and pointed them out to me and said, “ Look, I think she is growing her wings!” I have no doubt in my mind that Rivers will be there waiting for us when we pass away!

We love you baby girl!

In Memory of Duke 02-38

“Loved and missed by Laurie, John, and kids.”

In Memory of CJ 07-21

We got CJ in Aug, 1995. He was 4 mos old. He was part of a litter brought to my children’s summer camp to be given away. My daughter wanted CJ’s sister, but she was already gone. That was ok, because CJ was my favorite of the litter. CJ was smart. Sometimes too smart for his own good. It didn’t take long for CJ & I to develop our own way of communicating. My family teased me that CJ didn’t really understand, but I knew and eventually the rest of the family agreed that CJ did understand.
CJ became a part of our family like a brand new baby. He became spoiled like a baby, too. The kids would feed him food (mostly vegetables) from the table. Dad would fry up fat trimmed from steaks. And, mom gave him plates to lick. CJ loved to play w/ his balls or rope toys. He also loved to have his head and his belly rubbed. If he didn’t feel like he was getting enough attention he would let you know. CJ loved the snow. He loved to eat it and play in it, especially while it was coming down.
CJ hurt his back when he was about 8 or 9 years old. This resulted in a weakness in his back right leg. This didn’t stop him, though. He would run and jump and try to climb trees. He was determined to catch one of the many squirrels and birds he saw.
In April, 2007 we had to give CJ away due to medical problems w/ my husband. That was very difficult. It was like giving away a child. Fortunately, we were able to give him to GRRIN. We were assured that he was in good hands. And, we knew he was. CJ was 12 when he was surrendered. Unfortunately, most seniors aren’t very adoptable. CJ was an only dog at home, and he thought it was his job at his foster home to guard the bucket of toys. He soon found out that was not the case. CJ had 2 foster moms. The first one had to move out of state and couldn’t take CJ w/ her. So, he got a new mom. CJ got along w/ her dog, but didn’t like strange dogs. This meant he wasn’t able to go to a lot of the GRRIN events. CJ lived w/ his 2nd mom until he died.
On Oct 27, 2007, at the young age of 14, CJ became weak and unable to move. CJ’s foster mom and the vet decided it was CJ’s time to go. CJ’s dad passed away in Sept, and now he has his ol’ buddy up there to keep him company. Some people question whether dogs go to Heaven or not. I believe they do, because a dog loves and forgives unconditionally. I know some day I’ll get to see my CJ bud again!

I would like to thank GRRIN and especially the families who took CJ in and cared for him. I am so grateful that he had somebody to love him up until the end.

In Memory of Bubba 07-25

My Angel Bubba 07-25

My first foster failure left for the bridge on Dec 18th at 10:30 am. It was a short bout with cancer. My wonderful goofy boy was not himself for about a week or so before he stopped eating all together.
When I took him in we thought it was just a type of intestinal infection and tried treating with antiboditics.
But he wasn’t getting any better so we did an ultra sound and found he had cancer in his liver.
I found out on Wednesday and the decision was made to release him from his pain on Friday.
Bubba made me smile every single day. I was amazed at his vocabulary and all the things he knew how to do. Bubba was Buddy when he arrived at my home but never answered to that name so I just called him
Bubba and he seemed to take to that name, so Bubba he became. This wonderful boy was a big fat mess at 108 lbs but when I saw his sugar face it was love at first sight when I picked him up to just be an emergency foster his fate was sealed and he became a permanent member of the golden gang.

Bubba, when he first came to my house as a fat boy!

Well the boy lost 30 lbs and was on Thyroid meds and he acted like a pup playing with my 3 year old wild child golden Luna. Bubba would carry my groceries for me or anything else that I had in my hand that he thought I need help with. He could sit up, speak, sit in a bar stool chair, crawl, play dead, roll over and was the best snuggler.
I miss him more that I can say .He loved our walks and never seem to want to run off. He was picked up as a stray 3 times and the last time the people that owned him had a disconnected phone and the house was vacant. Their loss my gain! People say that it was me who gave him a second chance at happiness but it was he who made my life brighter. When Bubba left he took a piece of my heart and the light that always seemed to shine when I get home is a little dimmer now. I was lucky to have enjoyed my wonderful boy for 2 ½ years. An eternity for a dog but just a flash for me. He was truly loved and will be missed by Carol,
Cozmo, Michael, Luna, and Clarence the cat. Clarence thinks hes a golden so we aren’t telling him any different.

This was sent by another friend who lost her dog right before I lost my Sweet Bubba.

Toby Keith, Cryin for Me (Wayman’s Song)

Sorry you missed me
Ill get back with you as soon as I can
Thank you and god bless

Got the news on Friday mornin
But a tear I couldnt find
You showed me how Im supposed to live
And now you showed me how to die
I was lost till Sunday mornin
I woke up to face my fear
While I’m writing you this goodbye song
I found a tear

Im gonna miss that smile
Im gonna miss you my friend
Even though it hurts the way it ended up
Id do it all again
So play it sweet in heaven
Cause thats right where you wana be
Im not crying because I feel so sorry for you
Im crying for me

I got up and dialed your number
And your voice came on the line
That old familiar message
I heard a thousand times it just said
Sorry that I missed you
Leave a message and god bless
I know you think Im crazy
But I had to hear your voice again

Im gonna miss that smile
Im gonna miss you my friend
Even though it hurts the way it ended up
Id do it all again
So play it sweet in heaven
Cause thats right where you wana be
Im not crying because I feel so sorry for you
Im crying for me

So play your upside-down, left handed
Backwards base guitar
And Ill see you on the other side
Superstar

Im gonna miss that smile
Im gonna miss you my friend
Even though it hurts the way it ended up
Id do it all again
So play it sweet in heaven
Cause thats right where you wana be
Im not crying because I feel so sorry for you
Im crying for me

Im still crying
Im crying for me
Im still crying

In Memory of Raleigh 08-31 Foster

Raleigh came to our home in 2008 as a foster dog. He was 12 years old and lived with us for 14 months. He was so easy-going and entertaining. He had many of the typical Golden characteristics, but Raleigh’s particular mix made him unique.

Raleigh loved playing with his toys with remarkable zeal. He especially liked his tennis ball. As the months passed, he became more Golden and less Retriever. Fetch became catch. He played just as hard, but it was easier on his joints.

He won First Prize, Senior Dog, at a 2008 Halloween Costume Party at Kenl-Inn. What a load of wonderful prizes!

At a dog show in Lincoln, he decided to lie down on the platform — and stay there! Usually agreeable, he wouldn’t budge! The crowd had a good laugh. Typical Raleigh.

He was a friend to anyone who would pet him. He’d lie down once the petting was underway. I laughed at his odd mix of playtime and naptime enthusiasms.

Raleigh’s zest for life was top-notch! He was a happy, sweet dog with a lovable and friendly spirit. Raleigh suffered acutely from arthritis, and he slipped and stumbled. He licked hot spots, his vision was poor, he slobbered, he snored loudly and his body slowed him down. He didn’t mind! You would not know his age by his attitude and his effort!

Unlike any other morning, he awoke and his hind legs betrayed his desires. Our gracious veterinarian, Dr. Jennifer Hiebner, came to our home to help Raleigh make his trip on the Rainbow Bridge. It was August 2009, and he was 2 months shy of 14 years old.

Judy R., a fellow GRRIN volunteer, shared these words with me:
Raleigh was the epitome of a Golden, playful, gentle, trusting…We can all take a lesson. He didn’t let age keep him from enjoying life!

Susie, Patricia and the cats, Rocky and Charlie

In Memory of Rex 99-01

Dear GRRIN,

We wanted to inform you of the passing of Rex (99-01) on October 23, 2009. I got Rex in the spring of 1999 and he became a very dear member of our family for the past 11 years. Having just recently graduated from college at the time, I had purchased a home in my old neighborhood, living near to my parents place. I had never had a pet of my own, but had always wanted a one, so I decided to pursue an adoption from GRRIN. Katie Burks and another volunteer helped me to match me up with Rex.

Me and the friends who were my roommates at the time welcomed Rex into our home becoming one of the guys. Rex always loved attention, but was very well-behaved, never getting on the furniture or making much of a mess in the house. If he had a flaw, it was that he did shed quite a bit, which was a major complaint of the previous owners who surrendered him to GRRIN. For me, it was just a small price to pay for the great friendship and love that he shared with us for 11 years. Rex did have a thing for thunderstorms, especially at night. Still, I did manage to figure out that if he hung out on the bathroom floor with the lights on, it would help calm him enough that he would relax. Unfortunately this fear did equate into a fear of flash cameras. I usually had to trick Rex into getting his picture taken, since he would run from the sound of turning a digital camera on. With the advent of camera cell phones I was able to get more pictures of him, but for the majority of his life, pictures of Rex were a rare, but much treasured treat and keepsake.

During that time, my dad would come over often to tend the large garden we had in my back yard in his retirement. From my dad’s frequent visits, Rex and he became best friends, essentially becoming Rex’s “Grandpa”. Like most grandpas, dad would dote on Rex by spoiling him with people food treats even if I didn’t necessarily condone it. Oddly, his favorite people food treat was apples that my dad would cut up and share with him on the back porch or put in his food bowl. My dad also loved grooming Rex and brushing his teeth, probably to the point of overdoing it, but Rex would just proudly sit get pampered by Grandpa. My dad also loved taking Rex on a lot of extra walks through the neighborhood helping him to stay happy, fit and content. Rex being the smart boy he was, would often be let loose a block away from the house. You would always find him waiting patiently on the steps.

In 2003, I met my wife Debra and she became a part the family, eventually becoming a doting mother to Rex. She would spend gobs of time laying or sitting on the floor playing and loving on Rex. There were times when I wondered if we were dating just so she could love on Rex. Debra did enjoy a feeling of safety from having Rex in the house. Rex was a very vigorous barker whenever someone approached the house doors.

2005 proved to be a transitional year for our family and Rex. Debra and I were married that year. Rex proved to be a very cordial host when we had family visiting. Later that year, we lost my dad and I received a promotion at work that resulted in my moving from Lincoln to North Platte. All during this time, Rex proved to be a loyal and invaluable companion for Debra since I had to commute between Lincoln and North Platte all week for the first 4 months of 2006. Finally in the spring of 2006, we were able to move permanently to North Platte. During this time, he took everything in stride. Rex grew old in our North Platte home; getting to run around in the huge fields at North Platte High School on walks and trips out to Lake Maloney to see the beach. Oddly enough, on these trips, he never had any desire to get wet swimming in the lake.

Rex definitely slowed in his last year, but even as a 14yr old, he was still quite spry, running up and down the stairs, even though he would, sometimes, slide uncontrollably on our wood floors. During this time, he had a few extra trips to the vet, but had always managed to bounce back to his happy self. Still during the last few weeks we noticed that he was having more and more problems going up and down the stairs. Because of this, we began to limit his activities to the main floor of our home. Finally we noticed that he would spend inordinate amounts of time attempting to pee without really producing urine. It got to the point that he would strain his old hind legs enough that it was starting to affect his ability to walk. At this point, we had the vet check him out again and found out that he had a large growth in his bladder. From this, we and our vet decided that it was time for Rex to rest. Our vet handled the work with professionalism and compassion. Rex went very peacefully. Debra and I take comfort in know that Rex is now reunited with Grandpa and is probably enjoying some apples and some quality time in the garden with him.

Thanks again to GRRIN for providing us with the opportunity to have Rex in our family. It is so immeasurable the joy you helped us and Rex achieve. Thanks again.

Sincerely,

Noel & Debra Salac
North Platte, NE

p.s. Sorry, this seems a little long, but there was a lot to say about the 11 years we had with Rex.

In Memory of Jesse and Ginger

“Just a Dog” by Lisa J. Guill 1/7/10
Some will say it was just a dog, it was just a family pet
Others might even wonder why, for the grief they just don’t get
I feel sorry for those that don’t understand the love of a best friend,
One that is trusting, devoted, and kind, one that depends on you til the end

As a child it was Mitzi on the farm, then Casey when first on my own,
But Dad found a special one, I named Zach, to be with me living alone.
After Zach’s death, I rescued Jesse and Ginger, and they rescued me
Little did I know how special those two beautiful Goldens would be

Jesse had been abandoned, left to starve, to die out in the cold
And the only person Ginger had known gave her up after she was 6 years old.
They were unsure at first, not knowing what their new life would bring
But slowly they learned to trust and quickly Jesse became the King,

Ginger was the little princess, with lots of energy and spunk
and if you did not cover the trash cans she loved to play in the junk.
They grew together, quickly became best friends and claimed their space
Before too long it was Ginger that asserted herself as the ruler of the place
She decided when it was time for a treat, when it was time to go out
then Jesse would watch her, take her lead, and follow her about

The walks in the neighborhood side by side was a part of their daily routine
They strutted and pranced with elegance and grace hoping to be seen
Those passing by would smile and take a another glance
at the two special Goldens that got a second chance

Ginger broke her leg, and bone cancer was the probable reason
so she lost her life unexpectedly in the prime of her fall season
Before she left, she wagged her tail and gave me a kiss on the cheek
as if to say it’s ok, and thank you for giving me all the love I did seek

Jesse missed her terribly and was quiet but stayed proud
then not too long after Ginger’s death another dark cloud
Jesse was getting weak and they found a tumor on his heart
I have to wonder if his missing Ginger played a sad, lonely part.

Jesse had several good weeks and even took some short walks
but eventually he got so weak that we resorted to good talks
I think he wanted to find Ginger but yet also wanted to stay
so in the end we let him go and prayed he would find his way

So to those that say their just a dog or just a family pet
don’t judge something you obviously don’t understand and never will get
You will never know the love from a dog that is devoted til the very end ,
one that will give you more back than you ever gave to them.

In Memory of George

~George, Bill, Nicole and Chloe~

~Bill and George~

My name is Bill, and George was my buddy for the past 2 years.

Regretfully and very heartbroken, I’m send this letter to everyone in the GRRIN organization to inform them that George is no longer with us. His demons finally got the best of him.

I remember seeing George on the GRRIN web site about 4 or 5 years ago and thought what a great Golden he would be for me, but I traveled too much for work to get a pet. Then a few years later the traveling stopped and I was ready for a Golden. About the same time, GRRIN sent an urgent email asking for help with an old senior – George.

I picked up George from Dan and Cheryl (foster parents) on a Thursday evening in September, and he came home to his new forever home. It took about 3 or 4 weeks for George to get settled in to the routine, but once he figured it out, he was perfect.

I went everywhere with George: my parents, my friends, down to the range, even out shopping. He loved to go for rides. If it wasn’t too cold or too hot, George was going with me. We even went on vacation to Bella Vista, Arkansas and went for a couple of boat rides. It was the greatest trip for him – 6 hours in the front seat. He loved every minute of the vacation. He played with a couple of other GRRIN buddies, Toby and Razzi down there.

Dinner (food!!) was always a big moment for George, he would jump, bark, ran around. It was so funny to watch him eat; food was like a new adventure every time. His enthusiasm for food never faded.

Last June, I meet Nicole (now my wife) at work. We dated and got engaged in a short time frame, but she had a chocolate Lab (Chloe) and two cats (Miles and Zipper). As Nicole and I were planning our future together, I was concerned about George and living with another dog and cats. When I got George from GRRIN, they said he would “eat cats”, so this concerned me.

Nicole and I did several meet and greets with Chloe and the two cats. Chloe and George were a perfect match. They were girlfriend and boyfriend, they played, they rolled around, they slept right by each other. As for the cats, it took a few times, but George warmed up to the two and they lived happily together.

George couldn’t have wanted anything else, everyday grandpa would come over and visit with George, Chloe, and the cats. It was a great life for the “old man” of the house.

His last two years were absolutely wonderful.

But….
From time to time, his seizures would act up and then would go away. As time went on his seizures ended up getting worse and worse. He would go after his behind, and as a result he would catch his tail. On several occasions he’d tore his tail up pretty good. As a result of this haunting he was experiencing, he had bitten my wife Nicole, Grandpa Jim, and myself.

At nights, he really had a difficult time. George was almost unable to relax and sleep through the whole night. He would growl and go after his back side in the dark. He wouldn’t get to sleep; he was up at 1a.m. and 4a.m. We tried meds for pain, to relax him, and other things, but there was something going on in his head and we will never know what. I would even lay with him on the floor at nights hoping he could feel safe, but not even me there to protect him could ease what was going on.

It would break our hearts to see him like this, because there was nothing we could do to calm him down. We were in question about having children coming over during the wedding. We didn’t know when he would have a bad moment or if the cats were safe.

On, April 15th, we took George in to go to the Rainbow Bridge.

~Chloe and George~

In Memory of Jacob 04-10

Jacob came to us as a 5-year-old foster dog in the summer of 2004, and we adopted him a week later. As my husband said, once Jacob met me he had no intention of being adopted by anyone else. We are forever grateful that he chose us. Jacob moved with us to Colorado Springs in April of 2006. He loved treats, being petted, and romping around the Rockies. He was at my side like velcro from the day he walked into our home. Sadly, Jacob crossed over the bridge on June 10 at the age of 10.5 years old. Our hearts are broken over his absence. We thank GRRIN and everyone involved with bringing him into our lives.

The Hartmanns

Queenie

Queenie was 14 years old in December and had come to GRRIN in June of 2008 when her owner had to move to a rental property and couldn’t keep Queenie or her son, Casper any longer. (Casper is a mere 12 years old.) Queenie loved going to the dog park and raced around like a pup greeting all the people and the other dogs. After a brief bout with a very aggressive form of cancer in her sinuses she was unable to get around much at all. Cindy, Queenie’s foster mom knew the time had come to let Queenie go peacefully. Cindy’s house will seem a little emptier without Queenie, but Casper will keep her company.

In Loving Memory of Lila 99-28

In September 1999, we welcomed Lila into our lives after she was nursed back to health through the Golden Retriever Rescue program. She was left at an abandoned house when her owner moved away and left Lila and several other animals with the house. Lila was the dog GRRIN matched us with when we contacted them interested in adopting our first dog since we married. At the time Lila was around 2 years of age and had plenty of puppy left in her. Her counter-thief habits became legendary, and rewarded her with cookies, pudding, and even a bag of flour. In her younger years, she enjoyed sneaking a nap on the couch while we were away. Lila was the best dog we could have imagined. Always patient, she welcomed our two children into the world with gentleness and love. Lila was always ready to go for a walk at a moment’s notice. She also preferred to relocate items instead of retrieving them. Lila had a full life with us. Within the last year and a half arthritis began to slow her down and she was diagnosed with a grade 4 heart murmur. On February 26th, Lila wasn’t feeling well and we took her to the vet. The vet took some x-rays and noticed a large splenic tumor, which was not visible in x-rays 5 weeks earlier. We knew our time with her was limited, but didn’t realize how much so. Lila returned home with us at 6:30 and passed away peacefully and quickly that same evening at 9:00. Our hearts will always know Lila, and we are blessed that she spent 10 years, and most importantly her final hours with us at home. We are thankful to American Animal Hospital and Dr. Dave Kroeger for the wonderful care and concern he showed for Lila over the past several years. Lila will be forever missed, but will always remain in our hearts.

In Memory of Shasta

“My brother and sister-in-law recently relocated back to Nebraska from South Carolina. The one member of their family unable to make this journey was their beloved Shasta. Shasta passed away during the summer and my brother was devastated. Shasta was a rescue and truly found her dream home with my brother–a great house on a lake, a wonderful man and woman who adored her and two Siamese friends–Itchy and Scatchy. So. . . I’m sending this donation from Scratchy in Shasta’s name.”

Karen S. ~ Lincoln

In Memory of Elliott Cronin

The enclosed donation is in memory of Elliott Cronin (GRRIN ID #98-26). Elliott spent 10 wonderful years with us and brought us great joy. He was euthanized Monday, October 6th, the same month he would have turned 13. Thank you for the incredible service you provide in allowing the Goldens to be a part of our lives.

Sincerely,
Nancy and Mike Cronin and Duke (GRRIN #04-54)

In Memory of Daizee and Gino Henderson

By Kellie Henderson Ramirez

Daizee first came into my life when I was just a teenager. I remember how I devoted all my attention to her (much to the chagrin of my cat, Whisper). She was a good puppy and grew to be a great dog. She loved to aggravate Rocket and hang on his neck and jowls. He tolerated it nicely and was a great “uncle” to her.

Daizee’s funniest characteristic was the curl she’d get in her lip, kind of like Elvis, when she got over-excited, usually when one of the family came home. When she gave birth to seven adorable puppies, she changed a lot and became a much more unique doggie. It was the only litter she ever had the chance to birth, but she certainly was a great mother.

Daizee’s son Gino, who we kept, was originally not supposed to stay with us. Somehow, though, no one really claimed him, and eventually we stopped looking for a new family and he became part of ours. Gino was my man. He was the most lovable, handsome dog I’ve ever seen or known. And I don’t say that only as his “mother.” He truly had a soul. He loved to follow me around the house, whatever I was doing, and although it could be annoying at times, I look back and really miss that.

They were two of the best dogs out there, wonderful Golden Retrievers, and I miss them. I hope one day to have another Golden and hopefully relive some of the joy I shared with Daizee and Gino.

(Gino died on 5 October 2006, prematurely of a brain tumor, and Daizee passed away on 16 October 2007 from old age and the complications of arthritis.)

In memory of Teri

In August 2007, GRRIN lost a great friend and supporter, Teri Osbon-Kitzelman. Teri was an animal lover throughout her life. In 2002, Teri and her husband Mark Kitzelman lost both their senior Goldens within a few months, and they came to GRRIN in hopes of finding another dog to love. Around that time, an area shelter contacted GRRIN about a Golden puppy that had been left tied to the shelter door during the night. Mark and Teri had been planning to adopt an older dog, but somehow this little puppy seemed like he might be a perfect fit for them. When we called to ask Teri if she would be interested in a puppy, she didn’t hesitate for even a second! The first words out of her mouth were, “How soon can we get him?”

Teri brought the little guy home and named him Harry after a grandfather. Harry was a fun-loving, mischievous puppy who loved everyone and enjoyed being the life of the party. Several months later, Mark and Teri decided he needed a buddy, and again they called GRRIN. This time, they adopted a young adult and named him Tony, after another grandfather. Tony was a much more serious dog who had his work cut out for him, trying to keep Harry in line! The two dogs became great pals, but Teri explained that if Harry got too rowdy, Tony would sit on him to settle him down!

Teri always had funny stories about the antics of these two dogs. She loved them dearly, and they made her laugh every day. During her illness, they were her constant companions, spending their time in or next to her bed. After Teri passed away, her friends and family held a benefit in her honor, and per Teri’s request, a portion of the proceeds were donated to GRRIN. Teri had the same joyful, loving personality that we see in our Goldens, and she is deeply missed.

In memory of Toby

By the Pfeiflers

Our dog Toby from GRRIN died today. He was a great friend and had a fabulous 15 years. His heart just gave out. Thank you for bringing him to us.

In memory of Shadow

By the Walker Family – Steve, Angela, Emily, Megan, Sadie, Addison and Christopher

Dear GRRIN,
We wanted to send you a quick note to let you know that our beloved Shadow was put down after finding an aggressive tumor in his mouth. He was loved by our family of seven for a little over eight years. We moved to Colorado about five years ago, and Shadow loved to go to the mountains with us and walk the trails. He enjoyed catching the Frisbee and not returning it. We’ll miss him dearly and want to thank you all for the work you do and for the connection you helped us make with a very dear friend all those years ago. I’ve attached a picture of him from a hike to the mountains a year or so ago. Thanks again!

In Memory of Sandy

Sandy 98-30
By Michelle Wright

In her own inimitable style, Sandy – my 12 ½ year old “tough broad” Golden Retriever – has gone on to be with Cody, Boji and Max.

When they get to be senior seniors - that’s what I call the much older ones - we know every day is a gift, but it was still unexpected. Sandy had a great day Saturday with finding bread to eat at the lake (ducks will be fat now without her intercepting their snacks!), McDonald’s for dinner (our weekly Saturday custom), and long naps (with belly rubs) in between our three outings. Everything was as normal as could be, and if I had not been awakened by hearing her unusual breathing at 3 o’clock this morning, I may have just found her gone when I got up. But luckily I was able to be with her as her breathing slowed and then stopped.

Sandy was a rescued dog from GRRIN (#98-30) who had been given up by two homes before I was blessed with her. She had not had an easy life up until then, but as those who know me understand, my world revolves around my dogs, so Sandy’s almost five years with me I tried to make her most wonderful years ever - I think she would agree.

Editor’s note: Sandy was a GRRIN dog in 1998. She was returned to us in 2003 along with another Golden named Boji. The two arrived in rescue as a pair just before the 4th of July. Sandy was 8 years old, Boji had cancer at age 5, and both dogs were terrified of fireworks. Michelle Wright quickly adopted the two and gave them a wonderful life. Michelle is now the proud mother of GRRIN dog Duke (07-30).