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.
We still remember what you told us the day we picked her up. You stated that she was a “Diamond in the Rough” and would be a very active little girl, you have no idea how right you were. My job in the military required us to move across the country several times as well as for me to deploy and be away from the house for extended periods. Heidi was my wife’s constant companion, friend, watch dog, protector, exercise partner, snuggle buddy and just a joy to have in our home.
Whenever we were traveling, Heidi would sit in the back seat and just watch the world go by without a care because she was with her forever family. While on the road we would stop at Arby’s because that was her favorite restaurant, and get her a roast beef sandwich which we would feed to her being careful not to lose a finger in the process. She was a real chow hound, she loved to eat and never missed a meal which is one of the ways we were able to train her as well as win her confidence and gain her trust. Heidi was a smart little girl she would walk up to you and bark as if she needed to go outside, so when we would get up to let her out she would run over to the closet where we keep all of the dog treats. As Heidi grew older and we needed to give her medicine, she figured out that we were hiding pills in her treats so we went through the entire spectrum of treats (every dog treat we could buy, Oreo cookies, hot dogs, pizza crust, peanut butter, pasta noodles and yes e ven steak) anything to get pills in to her. She was a friendly girl; in fact she shared her home with 2 other GSP’s, Hans Von Wine Stube, (Ellie) Eloise Von Hohenzollern, and a little rowdy coonhound named Buddy.
Heidi constantly patrolled her yard against all intruders (squires and birds) and she was a very active girl until her last 6 months when we noticed that her hind quarter was getting weak, she was slowing down, sleeping more and losing her appetite. We were concerned and thought it was just old age but being the concerned GSP parents that we are, we took her to the Vet just to be sure. After several trips and lots of tests and medicine she finally let us know she was tired and no longer willing to fight. In the end there was nothing we could do other than love her and make her comfortable as the cancer robbed us of our little girl. We did not want her to be in pain or suffer so we asked the Vet to put her to sleep. She went to heaven in my wife’s arms and afterward we brought her home and buried in her back yard under a peach tree so she could be with her family. So every morning we drink coffee with Heidi under her tree as we think of her patrolling her yard and pro tecting her family against all the evil squires of the world.
We just wanted to drop you a note to thank you for the precious gift and joy you allowed to come into our lives, we think of her often and she is missed very much. In this Letter you will find a donation in Heidi’s name please use the money to help another “Diamond in the Rough” find a forever family. Again thank you very much for all of the years of happiness by allowing our little Heidi to be a part of our family.
Sincerely,
John and Susan
Hans, Ellie and Buddy
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.
It is with great sadness that I inform you of the passing of Brutus (Seth) Mouat from cancer Monday July 26th, 2004.
In Memory of Paisley