Bruce (Bruiser) was the last of four puppies to be adopted after they were abandoned in Knox County. He came to us at 11 months old with several rescue-type quirks but an obedient heart that wanted to please. Over the many years we shared with him, he took us on more than our share of adventures! When I quit work to have a baby he was thrilled. Every stroller ride or bike ride was led by his happy gait. You are never lonely with a GSP in the house! Twice he kept us from being burglarized and once he saved our toddler from being abducted. Pretty good, eh? Thank you, all who work with GSP rescue, for making it possible for us to own such a fine dog and friend. Your efforts allowed us to enjoy 15 years with this loyal dog. And believe me, he enjoyed himself, too! We had him put to sleep April 16 because he was having periods of severe pain related to old age. We couldn’t watch such a faithful boy suffer. Blessings in the continued work of rescue.
- Carol
Gator came to us a little 8 or 9 month old bag of skin and bones with a bleached coat and a permanent shoulder and toe injury that never really slowed him down. He was snatched from a shelter by a Good Samaritan the day before he was to be put down after he had been found wandering the countryside. I was a volunteer for GSP Care of Ohio at the time and convinced my husband we should foster him. Little did I know that Gator had other ideas. In his typical fashion, he decided he belonged to us. He was a “character” from the start.
But I know you are on the other side keeping ‘em all laughing and loved. You are in our hearts forever and we love you.
I think I first saw the picture of Baldwin in the shelter over a month ago and his face and eyes immediately struck me. I believe he had the same effect on many of us. The shelter had him named Chance, but the rescue (GSP Care of Ohio) named him Baldwin meaning Brave. That was definitely more fitting for this precious boy. Things worked out in perfect harmony for me to receive Baldwin so Cheryl and Matt dropped him off at my home a little over 3 weeks ago today 4-2-12. My husband that said we could never foster again agreed to take him in and I overheard him tell his friends he felt bad for the poor bastard. And really, who could not? He was completely emaciated and had a huge (what appeared to be a) goiter protruding from his neck. He was supposedly found as a stray and the best we can do is speculate as to what his life was like prior to being picked up in Trumbull County, Ohio. But anyone that saw his pictures saw his eyes- his incredible liquid brown eyes that penetrated all of our hearts.
In September 2000 we adopted a precious little female GSP from you. Her name was Von Darby’s Heidi and she quickly became the queen of the house and we loved her very much. It is with great sadness in our hearts that we write this letter to inform you our little Heidi went to heaven on the 14th of October 2011. She was exactly 16 years and 4 months old that day.
Our “JC” was adopted through GSP Care of Ohio in 2003. He was sweet as could be. He loved running around the big yard with his “brother” golden retriever Henry (who passed in 2007). Another of his favorite buddies was a possum who visited the bird feeders. JC never quite got the hang of riding quietly in the car because he would get too excited about going somewhere. In 2007 he lost vision in one eye to glaucoma, then became completely blind in 2009. Despite his disability, JC was an amazing little guy who continued to live a happy life with his family. As long as he could stretch out on his back on his favorite sofa and take long walks outside, he thought life was good. He blessed us with his company for 8 years. We lost him to congestive heart failure in June 2011 and miss him terribly. But we believe he is running and playing and seeing once again while he waits for us at the rainbow bridge.
After losing our 14 year GSP, we were looking for a dog to help us heal our hearts. I called Pam Kennedy and she suggested Duncan who was in rescue and 3 years old. My teenage daughter was really struggling with our recent dog lost. When we went to see Duncan, he ran right up to her like they were old friends. We knew our fate was sealed. He had boundless energy and a zest for life. He was impetuous, demanding, entertaining and we loved him deeply, He provided endless hours of entertainment and comfort. He was a beautiful boy, and he knew it. He loved to dress up for Halloween and Christmas. His main passion was attempting to remove all rocks from Lake Erie. He spent hours digging in the water, carefully plucking them out and placing them on the beach. Then when he was 9, my son, who jogged with him, noticed that he didn’t quite keep up the way he once had. After a vet exam and X-ray, we discovered that his lungs were full of cancer. Within a month, we were forced to say our final goodbyes. This brave boy took it all with dignity and grace. About two weeks after his passing, I was driving and missing him terribly wondering why he was taken so soon, when I saw a woman walking a very elderly lab slowly up the street. He was very gray and hobbled, and it occurred to me that Duncan would have been miserable as an old feeble dog. His vanity, charm and endearing personality had always attracted people to him, and I smiled. I believe his mission for the six years we were blessed to have him was to remind us that you have to embrace life everyday like it may be your last. Duncan we thank you for choosing us!
My “Sweet Pete” was adopted around Thanksgiving of 2002. He was a very special part of our family. He came to me by accident. I was his transport to a family that decided they did not want him. I fell in love in less than 24 hours. He had a long road in life. He battled heart worm right after he came into my home, atypical Addison’s disease and finally a throat sarcoma. My heart broke the day he left our family on May 20, 2011. He was my best friend and constant companion. I was blessed to share my life with such a wonderful and loving animal.
Daisy Mae was taken from owner by animal control. She had deep lacerations, abrasions, severe infection, gangrene, and was underweight by at least 20 pounds. On top of the severe neglect Daisy was Heartworm positive. She was treated for HW when she gained enough weight and the infections were under control. Her leg that we feared may be amputated was saved. July 2001- Daisy has left this world for a better place. She was having some temperament issues. The specialists felt it may have been caused by her horrid start to life. The malnutrition, hw treatment, and the considerable things she went through. It came down to a neurological problem and issues that we felt were not something that would heal with time.
May 12, 2000 – July 21, 2001 It is with sadness that this is written. I can’t believe that it is three months to the day, April 28th, that I met Daisy Mae. We, Ohio Rescue, not only said good-bye to Daisy, but other rescues and our own dogs, too many in such a short time. In Daisy’s memory, I would like to thank the people who helped her in her short life. The neighbor who called the police; the police who called the Wayne County Humane Society; Liz and the WCHS for working with rescue.
July 2001- Dale, you were with us for such a short time. Yet you will always be remembered. Dale was sent to the bridge after it was discovered he had heartworm, cancer, arthritis, and severe thunderstorm anxiety.
In November 1999, my husband and I adopted C.J., then 9 years old, who my husband learned about through your rescue organization. He immediately became a member of our family, which also included 2 cats and a 5 yr old Golden Retriever, Henry. There are not enough good words to say about C.J. He met us by running (wiggling) to us with the biggest rawhide bone in his mouth we’d ever seen (8″ or so). He very soon became a very big part of our lives. He & Henry traveled with us almost everywhere. C.J. loved his bed in the pickup truck, and would get so excited when he sensed we were getting ready to go somewhere. He was a constant companion, along with Henry, for my husband, who is retired.