The Rainbow Bridge
"Waiting at the Bridge” memorials are open to all SGRR alumni dogs and any beloved dogs who were not adopted through SGRR. SGRR encourages each of you who has loved and lost a wonderful pet, to honor them in this manner. By doing so, you will assist in funding the work SGRR does to continue saving the lives of homeless Goldens.
Click here to visit our more recent Rainbow Bridge dedications.
2016
In memory of Holley...
Holley came to us from SGRR in 2007 and immediately became part of our family. Our Golden, 1 1/2 years old at the time, welcomed Holley into our family and they quickly became sisters. Holley loved to chew sticks but mainly loved to be with people. She learned to love the water -- swimming in the ocean and in pools -- and enjoyed walking the neighborhood and the beach. Unfortunately cancer got the best of her. She left us on May 21,2016. She will not be forgotten.
~D'Auria family In memory of JJ...
In loving memory of JJ Pillinger, our pal. ~Cooper Fryd and family In memory of JJ...
In memory of Ava's beloved dog, JJ
~from Kathy Kelly. In memory of Buddy...
He was only in our lives for five months, but will remain in our hearts always. Candy said it best. It was like having a shooting star go through our lives, so brief... but brilliant and shiny and special. Buddy was all that and we truly loved him.
~Pinky and Sage In memory of Buddy...
In memory of Buddy (AKA Destructo), he had the best five months of his life with his best friends Pinky and Sage.
~from Kathy Kelly In memory of Bear...
Bear was that special dog that made you smile just thinking about him. Everyone who knew Bear knew they were blessed to have known him. He was a very special guy. But the two who loved him the most were Jana and Gene. And I know he loved them too.
~from Lisa Hume In memory of Bear...
In memory of Bear Renfroe ~from the Ransburg family In memory of Bear...
In memory of Bear Renfroe
~from Candy Van Sciver In memory of Teddy Bear...
In memory of Teddy Bear ~ from Craig and Christine Ollenschleger In memory of Cooper...
For Whisper's heartworm treatment, in memory of Cooper Hunter, adopted from SGRR in 2008
~from Jeff Hunter In memory of Buddy...
In memory of Buddy Galbo...adopted from SGRR about 10 years ago at age 10.5 and lived another 4 years!"
~from Dale Susan Galbo |
In memory of Abby...
Sweet Abby crossed the Rainbow Bridge a few weeks ago to join her best friend Jerry
I have loved each and every one of my dogs and cats with all my heart, but she was the hardest to let go. She was my best friend who was there for me when I lost my mom and dad. She was cheated out of half her life by people who neglected and discarded her. But she still had so much love in her heart and soul and all she asked was to be loved in return. I will miss you beautiful Abby. ~Ella DiPrima In memory of Cosmo...
Yellow Was the Color of my Cosmo’s Fur...
In the morning when I opened my eyes, I saw his face before me. He never made a noise. He just came to the bed and placed his face near mine and waited for me to awaken. Then he wagged and wiggled and greeted me. At least this was the way it played out for the first 14 years. After that, he just couldn’t do it any more. He needed help standing. But he adapted. He slept on the rug by my bed, with his face 6 inches from a fan. He loved the fan the last few years of his life. And when I woke, I could see him looking over his shoulder at me, waiting. What homage is appropriate for someone who shares your life for 15 years? Who never complains about the ups and downs of your fortunes? Who doesn’t care if you gain 10 pounds, or get old, or just get bitchy and impatient with life for no good reason? It was a bit like living with the Dali Lama, I think. (Except that all that peaceful acceptance by a human would just make me judge myself (harshly!) after a while and then I would get crazy and probably drink too much bourbon or something). But he never judged me. He loved me. Unconditionally. Always. Whatever I said, did, was wearing (This is why people have dogs, for those of you who don’t understand…we need unconditional love. For some of us, it was our mother, or father, or just a very bad combination of parenting or lack of. For others, those who aren’t damaged by life, maybe it’s just the frosting on the cake. But I wouldn’t know about that.) I hear people say that they loved an animal so much that they couldn’t go through the pain of losing one again. I don’t understand this. If you sit down and do a risk-benefit analysis of such a relationship, I can pretty much guarantee that the benefit column will be larger. (And by the way, he never judged me for doing things like a risk-benefit analysis!) When I think of all the times he made me laugh, and cry, and feel things that don’t come easy to me…When I think of all the times his mere presence enriched my life and made me a better and more compassionate human…When I think of all the times he showed me so clearly and succinctly the truth I could not grasp by myself… When he was a puppy, he wouldn’t even sleep in the same room with me. He liked sleeping under the big oak kitchen table with five legs. He would make forays into the room where I was and then return to his safe place. Once when he was about 5 months old, I had put a bouquet of yellow roses that were past their prime into the garbage. I was sitting in the living room in front of the fire, enjoying a novel when he appeared by my side, with the whole bouquet in his mouth. I remember so many moments of joy and happiness in our life together, but this one stands out. It seems emblematic of all he brought to me, gave to me. Something discarded, but still beautiful. Something unexpected, but moving. Something unimaginable, but so perfect as to defy any pretense of planning. I can think of so many adjectives to describe him, but none of those do him justice. He was more than his sum. He cast a long shadow, Cosmo. Will I ever love a dog the way I loved him? Probably not. But I will love. A different dog. A different way. But the main point is…I will love. And Cosmo will always be with me. In my heart. On those thousands of mornings, when he appeared by my bed to greet me, I sang to him. “Yellow is the color of my Cosmo’s fur, in the morning, when we rise, in the morning when we rise…” And you all know the words of the last verse…”Freedom is a word…” ~ from Iris Melton |
2015
In memory of Boone...
IN MEMORY OF Boone Fredo who went to the Rainbow Bridge on Sept 23, 2015
~from Martha Greer In memory of Cosmo...
"In memory of Iris Melton's Cosmo...who filled his home with joy for fifteen years."
from Kay Anderson In memory of Fred...
"In memory of Fred, beloved companion of Cindy and Doug Gray of Holyoke, MA"
from Joan O'Brien of Northampton. Ma. In memory of Shadow...
"In memory of Kim Mono's Shadow..."
from Kathleen O'Hara-Kelly In memory of Jackson...
"In memory of Jackson..." from Suzann Kaliff 8/2015 In memory of Boomer
"It is with a heavy heart that I write to say we lost beautiful Boomer to lymphoma a week ago. Our boy fought a good fight but we couldn't get his disease into remission. He kept his spirit (and appetite) to the end but his body couldn't support him. We thank Sunshine for bringing him to us and just made a paypal donation to Patch's care in his memory. As Boomer reminded us so often--love, laugh, and eat cheese this holiday and everyday."
~Nora 7/2015 In memory of Loba
In loving memory of SGRR’s Forever Foster, Loba. With gratitude to her Foster Mom, Pat, for loving her and giving Loba the best times of her life. ~ Sunshine Golden Retriever Rescue 5/2015 In memory of Charlie
"In memory of Charlie, a beautiful golden retriever with a true golden spirit. We will miss you, sweet boy!"
~Your friends at the Port Washington dog run. 1/2015 In memory of Sophie
"In memory of our sweet, wonderful Sophie Diamond. Our special girl who we will always love dearly."
~The Diamonds - Carol, Burt, Alyse & Alan 6/2015 In memory of Max
Max - March 12, 2003 - March 27, 2014
"Max, you are forever in our hearts. Not a day goes by that we don't think of you and we will always remember the "paw prints" you left in our lives. So sweet and kind and gentle to everyone you met. From the time you were a little pup until you grew to be a beautiful ol' boy. There are no words to describe how much we miss you everyday! We thank God for his beautiful creations and for our time, although not long enough, that we had with you here on earth. We love you Max, we always will. Surely you must have gone to heaven." ~Lemieux family 1/2015 In memory of Marley
"In memory of Marley and in honor of her devoted mom Elissa." from Kathleen and Terence Kelly In memory of Shelby
"In memory of Kathi and Chuck Schapp's beloved Golden, Shelby" from Dawn and Don Wilkes In memory of Bo
"In memory of Bo." ~John & Beverly Woods 11/2014 In memory of Dutchess
"In memory of sweet Dutchess. May she now be free to walk both far and fast, though she will never leave your heart."
~PW Dog Run 10/2014 In memory of Harry
In honor and loving memory of Harry, who bore no grudges and loved all living creatures. Run like the wind, Harry, happy and free!
With thanks to his Dad, Glenn, who gave gentle Harry 2-1/2 years of love. ~Candy 10/2014 In memory of SugarSugar feeling perky
Sugar, age 14, loved to stroll around our yard on warm, sunny days. She would take care of business, sniff for any dropped goodies or crumbs, watch for me to open the door and scoot back inside.She was a feisty little lady, did her best to get around despite hip stiffness, cancers,difficulty seeing and hearing. Although she was incontinent, she was careful to find her “convenience” pads (little rugs I had lined up in our hallway) and aim her squat accurately! She was determined (but was never rude to LULU or my cat) to have HER supper first, to choose which of her three beds she liked best for nighttime sleep, and her nose never failed to tell her when I was having a snack she might want.Then she panted and stared right at me until I shared! But never green beans or carrots, thank you! She was a homebody and even though she would go out with me in the dark for her last pee, nothing scared her or kept her from trotting back inside. When I was reading, watching TV, listening to the radio, she’d stretch out at my feet and snooze. She often made me laugh at her determined little antics to be “first in line” for whatever was going on. Her fluffy wagging tail assured me she was doing just fine, for as long as possible. She knew she was loved and she gave it back a thousand times over…..
~Bobbi 10/2014 In memory of Dutchess
"In memory of Dutchess. To my girl, whose spirit was an inspiration. Love, Mom 10/2014 In memory of Twister
"In memory of Twister Cooke"
~Peggy Ann Lane PH.D. In memory of Dixie Lou
"In memory of Dixie Lou whose story touched our hearts." ~Kathleen and Terence Kelly In memory of Holly
"In memory of Holly, beloved dog of the Gardner family. May she rest in peace and chase butterflies daily."
~Our love, the Leoni family In memory of Ginger
"In memory of my Ginger, a gentle, sweet soul. I miss you, Ginny mini."
~Mommy In memory of Grady
"In memory of Grady, beloved companion of Gretchen B."
~Maria Pontillo Brennen In memory of Emmi
We adopted Emmi from Sunshine Golden Rescue when she was six years old and she recently crossed the Rainbow Bridge at age 14. We fell in love with her instantly. She became like a second child for me, a brother for my son and a loving companion to our family members and friends. Emmi was so sweet and warm and such a pretty girl. She loved her groomer, her walker, her sitter and her family. She gave us so much happiness and her presence is deeply missed by us all. Thank you Sunshine Golden Rescue for finding and giving us so much happiness over the years.
~The Lufkin family In memory of Jake
"What we have once enjoyed we can never lose. All that we love deeply becomes a part of us."
In Loving Memory of Jake 2007-2014 ~Mama, Papa, Sissy, KK & GeGe In memory of Emma
"In Loving Memory of Emma, a sweet, gentle soul who loved pets and treats, especially her Wednesday night Carvel with her dad. We love and miss you Emma." ~PW Dog Run Group
Shea
"In loving memory of Shea"
~Dawn & Don and Simon Wilkes In memory of Wrigley
"In loving memory of Golden Retriever Wrigley Shaffer who went to the bridge on March 13, 2014 and was much loved by his people."
~from Chris Shaffer Jesse
On april 4th 2009, little did i know how my life would change for the better. on that date, my family & i went to meet jesse at his foster mom's sandy's house in ct. i remember walking up to the front door & seeing jesse. he looked big. when we got to the door & sandy opened it, i remember saying, "he's BIGGER than his website picture & i wanna rename him MOOSE"! i couldn't believe how BIG jesse was! i had never seen another golden retriever so BIG! jesse wasn't fat, he was unusually tall & long for a golden, as was confirmed by sandy. after awhile of talking w/ sandy & her husband about jesse, they wanted to know what we thought, if we would be interested in adopting jesse. i told sandy & her husband, that we had all discussed it before we came & we weren't leaving w/out him! i pulled out jesse's new collar (that had his new name tag that had his new home address & phone # on it) & his new leash. sandy was happy but also sad. sandy also loved jesse alot. i promised to take care of jesse & love him & to keep in-touch.
the past 4yrs & 6months have been the best part of my life! jesse took over my heart! jesse was my buddy, my confidant, my snuggle buddy, my furry tissue, my "food inspector", my son w/ the rare hair disorder, my shadow & my heart! my husband & daughters said that i had spoiled jesse, but, i just didn't see that. everyone that met jesse couldn't believe how big he was & thought he was a great pup! which he was! my favorite memories (of which there are alot) are, jesse trouting around my mother in-law's built in pool, trying to "catch" his battery operated "nemo", which she had gotten for the grandkids, but her grandpup declared was his! jesse spent every summer chasing his nemo around the pool! jesse figured out how to turn "nemo" on & off, & jesse would even drop him in the pool himself! jesse was a smart pup! jesse loved going for car rides too! the day we brought him home, jesse took over the bench seat in the van! my daughters were forced to seat together since then! jesse declared, that was "his" seat! as long as jesse could climb up into my jeep, jesse went everywhere i went. sometimes, i would borrow my husband's van since it was easier for him to get into, so jesse could take a ride with me. if he thought the ride wasn't long enough, jesse would refuse to get out of the van! he was a silly pup! back in february of this year, i had a senior well care check up completed on jesse. if there was some chance of jesse having cancer, i wanted to know, so we could plan his care. happily, the news was, jesse was, no signs of cancer! unfortuantely, the check up did find, that jesse had bad hip displasure & that jesse's heart was en-larged and his kidneys were starting to shut down. jesse was just shy of turning 14, when we received this news. from that moment on, jesse's doc put him on heart medicine to help the blood flow easier thru his kidneys. jesse's doctor said she was surprised to know of a golden retriever living this long & said it had to do with all the love & care he was being given. she also said, it was common for a dog of his age (which didn't help me). but she said, that jesse deserved to eat whatever he wanted, so, on march 6th, 2013 jesse's 14th birthday, i made him his favorite dinner, turkey breast & all the trimmings! for his birthday cake, jesse had carrot cake, which he loved! i did my best to make sure jesse was happy, healthy, comfortable and loved, as he could be since his diagnosis. this past saturday night, oct 5th, my family had pizza night, which was a favorite of jesse's too, as he loved all the pizza crust he got to eat! jesse didn't want to have any & i knew something was up. jesse wouldn't eat on saturday even though i tried giving him his favorites, turkey & bacon. saturday night i slept w/ him in front of the fire place, where he was settled since friday night. sunday came & jesse again, wouldn't eat & he started not to drink either. i could tell by his eyes, that the end was coming. it broke my heart! monday morning, he just gave me a look that said, "mommy, it's time, i can't fight no more". with that, i called my husband home from work & we gathered our girls & we went to jesse's vet. with all of us being around jesse, with me holding his paw & stroking & kissing his head....jesse went to sleep. the suffering was over for him, but not for me. it just began. jesse-boo, i miss you & i love you so very much! you are Forever in my heart, as you were my heart! i know time will help w/ the pain, but my heart will always ache for you. i miss our snuggle time! when it's my time, you better be at the bridge to meet me, with your brothers tanoose, jake & sister alina. forever in my heart & with your paw print on it! i love you & miss you, MY "jesse-boo"!! love, mommy xoxoxo (Jesse's family has set up a recurring monthly donation to honor Jesse's memory and to help other SGRR dogs in need.) Roxy...
"To our dear Roxy, we will miss you girl, especially your Dad. Run free, friend." ~ Love, PW Dog Run Booji...
"Booji, beloved companion and friend to Irene and Claude. You were much loved and will be greatly missed. Say hi to Sheba at the Rainbow Bridge." From - Susan Dakota...
"In honor of Dakota and Mike Lingenfelter, and The Angel By My Side" ~David |
In memory of Ginger...
In memory of Ginger (Gigi) my beautiful, sweet, and always joyful Golden Girl who left us for the Rainbow Bridge on January 2, 2015. Lovingly missed by your mom and dad and especially by King, your German Shepherd brother, to whom you showed and taught by example that the joyful, kind and sweet Golden Way of viewing life is really the only way to go. Whoever says that dogs don't mourn is woefully wrong. They do! It's almost been a year and not a day goes by, my sweet Gigi, that we don't think of you and miss you. Till we all meet again at the Rainbow Bridge. ~Tina, Jim & King MacTavish
In memory of Frosty...
~from Kathy & Terry Kelly 
For You Blue
I'm sitting here watching my dog die, anxiously watching the slow rise and fall of her breathing from the next room. I don't want her to hear me crying, weeping and anxious as she dies. I want her to die in her own time, in her own way. Without the presence of my (what I imagine) as overwhelming fear pheromones. You know, the kind that cause herd animals to stampede. Because I know that she's conscious of my anxiety. My fear and sorrow. I have thought of her illness as a problem to be solved. But not all problems can be solved. A problem to be solved. That is the way we tend to think of illness, and death. But death is not always a problem. Sometimes it's more of a solution. A solution to suffering, to a process of disease, a natural end to the process of life. Her life has been short, in the way we view years. She was almost 11. The first four years of her life she lived in Alabama. Then her family surrendered her to a rescue organization, because of a domestic violence issue. That's all I know. And having worked in the courts with Temporary Restraining Orders, I don't really need to know any more. Someone loved her once. I can tell. I speculate that it was a girl, perhaps someone turning into a teenager. Someone who hugged her and cried into her soft golden dog shoulder, when things were bad. When they were both afraid. And then there was that thing about her tail, when she was afraid of me brushing it. These domestic violence things tend to trickle down, and the dog is usually at the bottom of the fountain. For the first couple of years, she was afraid of men, particularly of men with sticks or canes. Need I say more? But the dog that came home with me, that was afraid to go outside and pee, that dog changed. She grew to love our long hikes in the woods. She grew to trust people. And she ceased to be afraid of men in general. She learned to play with Cosmo, my other dog. At first, she had no idea what he was doing when he mouthed her neck, and bowed with the intention of frolicking. But she learned, and grew to greet him whenever she had been separated from his company. For his part, he clearly adored her. Her trust was the gift she gave to me. She went to the beach. She played in the waves. She slept in my bed, sometimes. She was sweet and responsive, not the kind of dog that makes a dramatic impact on the world. But after all, drama is not all it's cracked up to be, is it? I always sing some particular song to each of my dogs. It's their song. For Cosmo II, it was "My Funny Valentine." For Zasu, it was James Taylor's "Something in the Way She Moves." For the current Cosmo, it's "Yellow is the Color of My True Love's Hair (my Cosmo's fur). "For You Blue" was Zoe's song. It summed up her personality precisely. Her sweetness, her loveliness, her grace, especially in light of her circumstances, that made an impact on me. In her own way, a dramatic impact. A sweet and lovely girl. My favorite thing about her was the way she would sleep in everybody else's bed. Mine when I wasn't home, and Cosmo's in the daytime. Goldilocks. Searching for the right thing exactly. But when I wasn't in the bedroom, and she thought she was alone and unobserved, lying on my bed, she would sometimes snort and roll, rub her back in the covers, and kick her feet in the air in a paroxysm of happiness. That was how I knew that she had found her home, her happiness, her place in the world. That is how I will always remember her. As the dog who found her home, her place in the world, and her happiness. The right thing exactly. We should all be so lucky. Goodbye Zoe. It was lovely having you here. 5/2015 In memory of Badger
"In memory of Badger, one of the sweetest, bravest Goldens ever. You will be missed sweet pup."
~Katherine Ortega In memory of Dutchess
In loving memory of Dutchess who brought her mother and friends so much love. You will always remain in our loving thoughts and memories.
~Anthony 10/2014 In memory of Molly
In honor of Molly Souza at the Lazy Dog Inn. Hope are you meeting up with Meagan and the two of you are having a blast! We miss you. ~Love, Mike, Sandy & Emmitt Molly was the beloved dog of Steve and Lauren Sousa, Lazy Dog Inn In memory of Molly Flynn
"Molly was very sweet, lovable and welcoming to everyone she met" ~Chris Haser & Scott Gamble
Molly was the beloved dog of Steve and Lauren Sousa, Lazy Dog Inn In memory of Truman
In memory of Ginger
"In honor and memory of sweet, sweet Ginger"
~from your friends at the run. In memory of Bella Recone
"In memory of Bella Recone, a beautiful Golden". ~ Margaret Curran In memory of Bentley
in memory of Bentley (aka Rusty), the sweetest dog and best companion a person could ask for.
~The Pierkowski family In memory of Rory
Our little sweetheart Rory past away today. She's been sick the last few weeks and after clearing up a bladder infection , she never really got her feet under her again and cancer was found. She adopted us over 5yrs ago. I think the first day it took her a few hours to figure out she was home and liked it. She stole our heart that first day and never gave it back. She will be sorely missed and has left a big hole in our hearts. Each dog we have brought into our family is loved and adored but this little girl was extra special. Words can not express the grief we're feeling.
~The Dumas family Emma
In Memory of Emma - Emma,
first known as Gloria, came to Sunshine in late February, 2014, after
living in a carport. She knew immediately that she was loved by her new
Mom and went with her every day to visit her new Dad at the
Alzheimer's facility. Emma knew all the residents, going to each one to
be petted and bringing smiles. She was there, calm and beautiful,
right between her Dad and his doctors during his last week. He passed
away one month after Emma's arrival, at the end of March.
Emma and her Mom carried on. Emma attended Committee Meetings and befriended every resident of the senior community where she lived. Everyone knew Emma and everyone loved her. After suddenly becoming ill, Emma crossed the Rainbow Bridge on May 6, 2014. Her Mom has lost her husband and her beautiful Golden within three months, but she is happy and grateful that Emma entered her life just when she needed her most. She told Sunshine that Emma was "a great gift." It was mutual. In those last three months of life, Emma had more love and companionship than some dogs ever know. Emma and her Mom rescued each other. We are reminded that it is not the length of a life, but the quality of a life that matters - and, that every rescue is important.~from Sunshine Golden Retriever Rescue Seger
A donation has been made to Sunshine Golden Retriever Rescue in memory of Seger, the Carr family's beloved dog. He will be missed!
Champ...
"We will miss you so much sweet Champ. You brought a special light to the neighborhood that we all cherished. May you rest in peace dear friend."
~Kim Wilcox In memory of Ciny and Nutmeg
In memory of Ciny and Nutmeg who wish to sponsor SGRR's Chance on his new journey! ~ Leone Family Malone...
"In memory of Malone, who passed away at age 13 on 7/1/13 and is missed by his owner, Robert Paquette." From John M Champ
Champ –10-4-2103 - 1 Month Anniversary
Feast of St Francis of Assisi It has been one month since our golden Champ left us. He is so missed but I realize I have so much to thank him for. Champ - Thank You for… -Helping me to get up in the morning; you knew how I hated to get up but giving you a belly rub helped us both to get up -Taking me on early morning walks to see the morning mist, sun emerging and experience the peaceful quiet of the new day -Allowing me to see each season bud, burst, bloom and fade as we walked and enjoyed each others company -Being the first to walk in new snow and see how you loved to lick this frosty treat -Making me sit with you and watch the sunset and see the beauty of the tall leafless trees -Allowing me to feel the wind, rain, freezing cold air, hot and humid seasonal temperatures of all kinds -The night walks where I saw the stars and moon and skies of all kinds -Stopping on our walks so you made sure I took in all nature surrounding us -Being a Golden Retriever and picking up the newspaper for our neighbors and delivering them to the front doors and then coming to me for your apple slice reward -Meeting our neighbors and making friends both young and old; folks who waited to see us on our walks and pet you -Going with me to visit Seniors and letting them pet your soft golden fur -Running on the sand and in parks so I could witness such pure joy in your runs and playfulness -Choosing which way to go on our walks because it was really your walk -Entertaining us with your "moose training", bed pulls and ball playing under the couch -Savoring your bone and tossing it up and down to show your profound happiness before devouring it -Telling me when to take a break from the computer by your nose resting on or nudging my arm -Reminding me to go to bed at 8PM because you knew how much I needed to rest and watch TV in bed -Telling me to pet you by thumping your big front paw to get my attention -Reminding us when your 4:30PM dinner time approached -Eating every morsel of your breakfast and dinner and keeping vigil by the fridge to help remind me to get your applesauce -For letting us care for and love such a wonderful golden and allowing us the pleasure of your company! Champ - We did not know how much you taught us and how much we have to be thankful for!!! Your family - G, D, M and G Yogi...
"Rest in peace, my friend. You were damaged beyond my ability to repair you, but I hope you know that for the last year and a half, you were loved." ~Mom
In Memory of Meghan
"She will be missed by her family and friends alike, but never forgotten. We know that where ever she is Meghan is barking orders, keeping everyone in check! Love you Meghan!"
~From Mike, Sandy & Emmitt Pendergast Meghan was the beloved dog of Steve and Lauren Sousa, Lazy Dog Inn Turbo...
"In memory of Turbo, who passed away from cancer. He was one of our favorite four-legged nephews,"
From Joe, Mary, Mia and Emily Bear-Bear...
I adopted Bear Bear in 2007, when he had been abandoned by his owners who tied him under a trailer, moved, and left him to die. His arthritis was horribly exacerbated so that he couldn't walk a single stair. Half of his fur had to be shaved because he had been lying in a pile of oil for days. He also tried to drink the oil to stay alive, and his insides were a mess. Because his top teeth had been yanked out for "hunting," the front of his tongue hung out of his mouth and shriveled to the point that he could barely use it to drink. The vet estimated his age was between 7-10+, and cautioned me that he was not likely to live much longer. Thank God for Martha and SGRR, who found him a wonderful foster in Florida then transported him to Connecticut for a new life.
While too much of Bear Bear’s life was marred by pain and physical challenges, you wouldn’t have known from his cheerful spirit. When he badly hurt his eye by running into debris buried in snow, he barely whimpered and I didn’t know how severe the injury was until the vet, also shocked, said that he needed corneal graft surgery. Bear Bear shouldered the surgery and months of recovery with the same stoic acceptance (much more than his mom, who was horrified and cried throughout the ordeal!). After observing his steadfast resilience, the vet nicknamed him the Energizer Bunny. Bear Bear actually worked with me in developing a physical therapy regimen. When I stretched his legs, he wrapped his “toes” around my hand as if he were shaking hands. We learned together how to help him go upstairs; he sat at the bottom until I was ready, then I supported his back legs as he took the steps one-by-one. Until the final weeks, Bear Bear greeted me at the door every time I came home, tossing his big head in an awesome, goofy way and "talking” until I petted him enough. He loved watching squirrels and occasionally attempted to chase after them with a few eager gallops. If he wanted to go for a ride, he sat by the garage and whimpered pitifully until I gave in; then he immediately headed for the rear passenger door and waited for me to pick him up and lay him on his dog bed in the back of the SUV. He learned that if he wanted *anything*, he could stare in its general direction until I looked the same way and realized what it was. Squeaky toys fascinated him; he loved ice cubes even though they were constantly falling out the gaps in his teeth, so we worked out a routine where I caught them and popped them back in for him! (Come to think of it, Mom may have been the one who was pretty well-trained…..) Bear Bear tolerated many Halloween costumes over the years; last year he was a male bride because Mom misjudged the size of the cowboy outfit. This year he was a Cinco de Mayo celebrant and handsomely posed for the photos. Two weeks later, I noticed that his gums were badly swollen and was alarmed enough to immediately schedule a vet appointment (though he had a check-up just days earlier). I thought it was an abscess. The vet confirmed that it was either that, or a very aggressive form of oral cancer. Sadly, it turned out to be the latter. The tumor grew so quickly that it was the size of a tangerine in 3 weeks, and because of its location, it was inoperable because most of his jaw would have to be removed. It was heartbreaking to witness his labored breathing, massive hemorrhaging, and failing appetite. I tried to relieve his suffering with multiple medications and hand-fed him soft food, but it became clear that he was worn out and had so much discomfort that the loving decision was to let him go. On December 3, 2012, Bear Bear crossed the Rainbow Bridge in the comfort of his home, with his head in my lap and surrounded by his sisters Delta and Honey and brother Jim. I sensed the peace and quiet relief as he lay in my arms, and I know to have kept him here longer would have been for much more my benefit than his. I know that we'll all be together again someday, but I will miss him terribly in this world. ~Jennifer OBO, Age 12...
Wonderful OBO visiting the nursing home, all calm and content after his morning swim. Oh OBO, you were my close friend for 5 years and I will always love and miss your gentle enthusiasm for what ever life could bring. I miss you forever...
~Bobbi Huck...
I got Huck approximately in 2008 through Sunshine Golden Retriever. At the time, it was estimated that he was about 12 years old, but "had lots of sweet life left in him". That proved to be an understatement. Although he had no bark, had no youth, he came with an abundance of hope, love and devotion to offer our family something we didn't know we were missing - a wet and muddy dog in our life again! He came, he saw - river, lake and ocean and he went...... splash! Leaving us on the embankment waiting for him to have his fill, it just never happened! This quiet soul was full of love for nature, water, trails, people, other dogs and more. The sweetest boy ever. He loved us all the way! Although we didn't have him as long as our first pup, he joined a list of dogs who loved and were beloved - and he'll be thought of so often, especially as I tramp through the woods and look over at the flowing river, where he ran and went splash! Till we meet again Huckie
~ Love, Mom |
In memory of Boone...
IN MEMORY OF Boone Fredo who went to the Rainbow Bridge on Sept 23, 2015
~from Martha Greer In memory of Cosmo...
"In memory of Iris Melton's Cosmo...who filled his home with joy for fifteen years."
from Kay Anderson In memory of Fred...
"In memory of Fred, beloved companion of Cindy and Doug Gray of Holyoke, MA"
from Joan O'Brien of Northampton. Ma. In memory of Shadow...
"In memory of Kim Mono's Shadow..."
from Kathleen O'Hara-Kelly In memory of Jackson...
"In memory of Jackson..." from Suzann Kaliff 8/2015 In memory of Boomer
"It is with a heavy heart that I write to say we lost beautiful Boomer to lymphoma a week ago. Our boy fought a good fight but we couldn't get his disease into remission. He kept his spirit (and appetite) to the end but his body couldn't support him. We thank Sunshine for bringing him to us and just made a paypal donation to Patch's care in his memory. As Boomer reminded us so often--love, laugh, and eat cheese this holiday and everyday."
~Nora 7/2015 In memory of Loba
In loving memory of SGRR’s Forever Foster, Loba. With gratitude to her Foster Mom, Pat, for loving her and giving Loba the best times of her life. ~ Sunshine Golden Retriever Rescue 5/2015 In memory of Charlie
"In memory of Charlie, a beautiful golden retriever with a true golden spirit. We will miss you, sweet boy!"
~Your friends at the Port Washington dog run. 1/2015 In memory of Sophie
"In memory of our sweet, wonderful Sophie Diamond. Our special girl who we will always love dearly."
~The Diamonds - Carol, Burt, Alyse & Alan 6/2015 In memory of Max
Max - March 12, 2003 - March 27, 2014
"Max, you are forever in our hearts. Not a day goes by that we don't think of you and we will always remember the "paw prints" you left in our lives. So sweet and kind and gentle to everyone you met. From the time you were a little pup until you grew to be a beautiful ol' boy. There are no words to describe how much we miss you everyday! We thank God for his beautiful creations and for our time, although not long enough, that we had with you here on earth. We love you Max, we always will. Surely you must have gone to heaven." ~Lemieux family 1/2015 In memory of Marley
"In memory of Marley and in honor of her devoted mom Elissa." from Kathleen and Terence Kelly In memory of Shelby
"In memory of Kathi and Chuck Schapp's beloved Golden, Shelby" from Dawn and Don Wilkes In memory of Bo
"In memory of Bo." ~John & Beverly Woods 11/2014 In memory of Dutchess
"In memory of sweet Dutchess. May she now be free to walk both far and fast, though she will never leave your heart."
~PW Dog Run 10/2014 In memory of Harry
In honor and loving memory of Harry, who bore no grudges and loved all living creatures. Run like the wind, Harry, happy and free!
With thanks to his Dad, Glenn, who gave gentle Harry 2-1/2 years of love. ~Candy 10/2014 In memory of SugarSugar feeling perky
Sugar, age 14, loved to stroll around our yard on warm, sunny days. She would take care of business, sniff for any dropped goodies or crumbs, watch for me to open the door and scoot back inside.She was a feisty little lady, did her best to get around despite hip stiffness, cancers,difficulty seeing and hearing. Although she was incontinent, she was careful to find her “convenience” pads (little rugs I had lined up in our hallway) and aim her squat accurately! She was determined (but was never rude to LULU or my cat) to have HER supper first, to choose which of her three beds she liked best for nighttime sleep, and her nose never failed to tell her when I was having a snack she might want.Then she panted and stared right at me until I shared! But never green beans or carrots, thank you! She was a homebody and even though she would go out with me in the dark for her last pee, nothing scared her or kept her from trotting back inside. When I was reading, watching TV, listening to the radio, she’d stretch out at my feet and snooze. She often made me laugh at her determined little antics to be “first in line” for whatever was going on. Her fluffy wagging tail assured me she was doing just fine, for as long as possible. She knew she was loved and she gave it back a thousand times over…..
~Bobbi 10/2014 In memory of Dutchess
"In memory of Dutchess. To my girl, whose spirit was an inspiration. Love, Mom 10/2014 In memory of Twister
"In memory of Twister Cooke"
~Peggy Ann Lane PH.D. In memory of Dixie Lou
"In memory of Dixie Lou whose story touched our hearts." ~Kathleen and Terence Kelly In memory of Holly
"In memory of Holly, beloved dog of the Gardner family. May she rest in peace and chase butterflies daily."
~Our love, the Leoni family In memory of Ginger
"In memory of my Ginger, a gentle, sweet soul. I miss you, Ginny mini."
~Mommy In memory of Grady
"In memory of Grady, beloved companion of Gretchen B."
~Maria Pontillo Brennen In memory of Emmi
We adopted Emmi from Sunshine Golden Rescue when she was six years old and she recently crossed the Rainbow Bridge at age 14. We fell in love with her instantly. She became like a second child for me, a brother for my son and a loving companion to our family members and friends. Emmi was so sweet and warm and such a pretty girl. She loved her groomer, her walker, her sitter and her family. She gave us so much happiness and her presence is deeply missed by us all. Thank you Sunshine Golden Rescue for finding and giving us so much happiness over the years.
~The Lufkin family In memory of Jake
"What we have once enjoyed we can never lose. All that we love deeply becomes a part of us."
In Loving Memory of Jake 2007-2014 ~Mama, Papa, Sissy, KK & GeGe In memory of Emma
"In Loving Memory of Emma, a sweet, gentle soul who loved pets and treats, especially her Wednesday night Carvel with her dad. We love and miss you Emma." ~PW Dog Run Group
Shea
"In loving memory of Shea"
~Dawn & Don and Simon Wilkes In memory of Wrigley
"In loving memory of Golden Retriever Wrigley Shaffer who went to the bridge on March 13, 2014 and was much loved by his people."
~from Chris Shaffer Jesse
On april 4th 2009, little did i know how my life would change for the better. on that date, my family & i went to meet jesse at his foster mom's sandy's house in ct. i remember walking up to the front door & seeing jesse. he looked big. when we got to the door & sandy opened it, i remember saying, "he's BIGGER than his website picture & i wanna rename him MOOSE"! i couldn't believe how BIG jesse was! i had never seen another golden retriever so BIG! jesse wasn't fat, he was unusually tall & long for a golden, as was confirmed by sandy. after awhile of talking w/ sandy & her husband about jesse, they wanted to know what we thought, if we would be interested in adopting jesse. i told sandy & her husband, that we had all discussed it before we came & we weren't leaving w/out him! i pulled out jesse's new collar (that had his new name tag that had his new home address & phone # on it) & his new leash. sandy was happy but also sad. sandy also loved jesse alot. i promised to take care of jesse & love him & to keep in-touch.
the past 4yrs & 6months have been the best part of my life! jesse took over my heart! jesse was my buddy, my confidant, my snuggle buddy, my furry tissue, my "food inspector", my son w/ the rare hair disorder, my shadow & my heart! my husband & daughters said that i had spoiled jesse, but, i just didn't see that. everyone that met jesse couldn't believe how big he was & thought he was a great pup! which he was! my favorite memories (of which there are alot) are, jesse trouting around my mother in-law's built in pool, trying to "catch" his battery operated "nemo", which she had gotten for the grandkids, but her grandpup declared was his! jesse spent every summer chasing his nemo around the pool! jesse figured out how to turn "nemo" on & off, & jesse would even drop him in the pool himself! jesse was a smart pup! jesse loved going for car rides too! the day we brought him home, jesse took over the bench seat in the van! my daughters were forced to seat together since then! jesse declared, that was "his" seat! as long as jesse could climb up into my jeep, jesse went everywhere i went. sometimes, i would borrow my husband's van since it was easier for him to get into, so jesse could take a ride with me. if he thought the ride wasn't long enough, jesse would refuse to get out of the van! he was a silly pup! back in february of this year, i had a senior well care check up completed on jesse. if there was some chance of jesse having cancer, i wanted to know, so we could plan his care. happily, the news was, jesse was, no signs of cancer! unfortuantely, the check up did find, that jesse had bad hip displasure & that jesse's heart was en-larged and his kidneys were starting to shut down. jesse was just shy of turning 14, when we received this news. from that moment on, jesse's doc put him on heart medicine to help the blood flow easier thru his kidneys. jesse's doctor said she was surprised to know of a golden retriever living this long & said it had to do with all the love & care he was being given. she also said, it was common for a dog of his age (which didn't help me). but she said, that jesse deserved to eat whatever he wanted, so, on march 6th, 2013 jesse's 14th birthday, i made him his favorite dinner, turkey breast & all the trimmings! for his birthday cake, jesse had carrot cake, which he loved! i did my best to make sure jesse was happy, healthy, comfortable and loved, as he could be since his diagnosis. this past saturday night, oct 5th, my family had pizza night, which was a favorite of jesse's too, as he loved all the pizza crust he got to eat! jesse didn't want to have any & i knew something was up. jesse wouldn't eat on saturday even though i tried giving him his favorites, turkey & bacon. saturday night i slept w/ him in front of the fire place, where he was settled since friday night. sunday came & jesse again, wouldn't eat & he started not to drink either. i could tell by his eyes, that the end was coming. it broke my heart! monday morning, he just gave me a look that said, "mommy, it's time, i can't fight no more". with that, i called my husband home from work & we gathered our girls & we went to jesse's vet. with all of us being around jesse, with me holding his paw & stroking & kissing his head....jesse went to sleep. the suffering was over for him, but not for me. it just began. jesse-boo, i miss you & i love you so very much! you are Forever in my heart, as you were my heart! i know time will help w/ the pain, but my heart will always ache for you. i miss our snuggle time! when it's my time, you better be at the bridge to meet me, with your brothers tanoose, jake & sister alina. forever in my heart & with your paw print on it! i love you & miss you, MY "jesse-boo"!! love, mommy xoxoxo (Jesse's family has set up a recurring monthly donation to honor Jesse's memory and to help other SGRR dogs in need.) Roxy...
"To our dear Roxy, we will miss you girl, especially your Dad. Run free, friend." ~ Love, PW Dog Run Booji...
"Booji, beloved companion and friend to Irene and Claude. You were much loved and will be greatly missed. Say hi to Sheba at the Rainbow Bridge." From - Susan Dakota...
"In honor of Dakota and Mike Lingenfelter, and The Angel By My Side" ~David |
In memory of Ginger...
In memory of Ginger (Gigi) my beautiful, sweet, and always joyful Golden Girl who left us for the Rainbow Bridge on January 2, 2015. Lovingly missed by your mom and dad and especially by King, your German Shepherd brother, to whom you showed and taught by example that the joyful, kind and sweet Golden Way of viewing life is really the only way to go. Whoever says that dogs don't mourn is woefully wrong. They do! It's almost been a year and not a day goes by, my sweet Gigi, that we don't think of you and miss you. Till we all meet again at the Rainbow Bridge. ~Tina, Jim & King MacTavish
In memory of Frosty...
~from Kathy & Terry Kelly 
For You Blue
I'm sitting here watching my dog die, anxiously watching the slow rise and fall of her breathing from the next room. I don't want her to hear me crying, weeping and anxious as she dies. I want her to die in her own time, in her own way. Without the presence of my (what I imagine) as overwhelming fear pheromones. You know, the kind that cause herd animals to stampede. Because I know that she's conscious of my anxiety. My fear and sorrow. I have thought of her illness as a problem to be solved. But not all problems can be solved. A problem to be solved. That is the way we tend to think of illness, and death. But death is not always a problem. Sometimes it's more of a solution. A solution to suffering, to a process of disease, a natural end to the process of life. Her life has been short, in the way we view years. She was almost 11. The first four years of her life she lived in Alabama. Then her family surrendered her to a rescue organization, because of a domestic violence issue. That's all I know. And having worked in the courts with Temporary Restraining Orders, I don't really need to know any more. Someone loved her once. I can tell. I speculate that it was a girl, perhaps someone turning into a teenager. Someone who hugged her and cried into her soft golden dog shoulder, when things were bad. When they were both afraid. And then there was that thing about her tail, when she was afraid of me brushing it. These domestic violence things tend to trickle down, and the dog is usually at the bottom of the fountain. For the first couple of years, she was afraid of men, particularly of men with sticks or canes. Need I say more? But the dog that came home with me, that was afraid to go outside and pee, that dog changed. She grew to love our long hikes in the woods. She grew to trust people. And she ceased to be afraid of men in general. She learned to play with Cosmo, my other dog. At first, she had no idea what he was doing when he mouthed her neck, and bowed with the intention of frolicking. But she learned, and grew to greet him whenever she had been separated from his company. For his part, he clearly adored her. Her trust was the gift she gave to me. She went to the beach. She played in the waves. She slept in my bed, sometimes. She was sweet and responsive, not the kind of dog that makes a dramatic impact on the world. But after all, drama is not all it's cracked up to be, is it? I always sing some particular song to each of my dogs. It's their song. For Cosmo II, it was "My Funny Valentine." For Zasu, it was James Taylor's "Something in the Way She Moves." For the current Cosmo, it's "Yellow is the Color of My True Love's Hair (my Cosmo's fur). "For You Blue" was Zoe's song. It summed up her personality precisely. Her sweetness, her loveliness, her grace, especially in light of her circumstances, that made an impact on me. In her own way, a dramatic impact. A sweet and lovely girl. My favorite thing about her was the way she would sleep in everybody else's bed. Mine when I wasn't home, and Cosmo's in the daytime. Goldilocks. Searching for the right thing exactly. But when I wasn't in the bedroom, and she thought she was alone and unobserved, lying on my bed, she would sometimes snort and roll, rub her back in the covers, and kick her feet in the air in a paroxysm of happiness. That was how I knew that she had found her home, her happiness, her place in the world. That is how I will always remember her. As the dog who found her home, her place in the world, and her happiness. The right thing exactly. We should all be so lucky. Goodbye Zoe. It was lovely having you here. 5/2015 In memory of Badger
"In memory of Badger, one of the sweetest, bravest Goldens ever. You will be missed sweet pup."
~Katherine Ortega In memory of Dutchess
In loving memory of Dutchess who brought her mother and friends so much love. You will always remain in our loving thoughts and memories.
~Anthony 10/2014 In memory of Molly
In honor of Molly Souza at the Lazy Dog Inn. Hope are you meeting up with Meagan and the two of you are having a blast! We miss you. ~Love, Mike, Sandy & Emmitt Molly was the beloved dog of Steve and Lauren Sousa, Lazy Dog Inn In memory of Molly Flynn
"Molly was very sweet, lovable and welcoming to everyone she met" ~Chris Haser & Scott Gamble
Molly was the beloved dog of Steve and Lauren Sousa, Lazy Dog Inn In memory of Truman
In memory of Ginger
"In honor and memory of sweet, sweet Ginger"
~from your friends at the run. In memory of Bella Recone
"In memory of Bella Recone, a beautiful Golden". ~ Margaret Curran In memory of Bentley
in memory of Bentley (aka Rusty), the sweetest dog and best companion a person could ask for.
~The Pierkowski family In memory of Rory
Our little sweetheart Rory past away today. She's been sick the last few weeks and after clearing up a bladder infection , she never really got her feet under her again and cancer was found. She adopted us over 5yrs ago. I think the first day it took her a few hours to figure out she was home and liked it. She stole our heart that first day and never gave it back. She will be sorely missed and has left a big hole in our hearts. Each dog we have brought into our family is loved and adored but this little girl was extra special. Words can not express the grief we're feeling.
~The Dumas family Emma
In Memory of Emma - Emma,
first known as Gloria, came to Sunshine in late February, 2014, after
living in a carport. She knew immediately that she was loved by her new
Mom and went with her every day to visit her new Dad at the
Alzheimer's facility. Emma knew all the residents, going to each one to
be petted and bringing smiles. She was there, calm and beautiful,
right between her Dad and his doctors during his last week. He passed
away one month after Emma's arrival, at the end of March.
Emma and her Mom carried on. Emma attended Committee Meetings and befriended every resident of the senior community where she lived. Everyone knew Emma and everyone loved her. After suddenly becoming ill, Emma crossed the Rainbow Bridge on May 6, 2014. Her Mom has lost her husband and her beautiful Golden within three months, but she is happy and grateful that Emma entered her life just when she needed her most. She told Sunshine that Emma was "a great gift." It was mutual. In those last three months of life, Emma had more love and companionship than some dogs ever know. Emma and her Mom rescued each other. We are reminded that it is not the length of a life, but the quality of a life that matters - and, that every rescue is important.~from Sunshine Golden Retriever Rescue Seger
A donation has been made to Sunshine Golden Retriever Rescue in memory of Seger, the Carr family's beloved dog. He will be missed!
Champ...
"We will miss you so much sweet Champ. You brought a special light to the neighborhood that we all cherished. May you rest in peace dear friend."
~Kim Wilcox In memory of Ciny and Nutmeg
In memory of Ciny and Nutmeg who wish to sponsor SGRR's Chance on his new journey! ~ Leone Family Malone...
"In memory of Malone, who passed away at age 13 on 7/1/13 and is missed by his owner, Robert Paquette." From John M Champ
Champ –10-4-2103 - 1 Month Anniversary
Feast of St Francis of Assisi It has been one month since our golden Champ left us. He is so missed but I realize I have so much to thank him for. Champ - Thank You for… -Helping me to get up in the morning; you knew how I hated to get up but giving you a belly rub helped us both to get up -Taking me on early morning walks to see the morning mist, sun emerging and experience the peaceful quiet of the new day -Allowing me to see each season bud, burst, bloom and fade as we walked and enjoyed each others company -Being the first to walk in new snow and see how you loved to lick this frosty treat -Making me sit with you and watch the sunset and see the beauty of the tall leafless trees -Allowing me to feel the wind, rain, freezing cold air, hot and humid seasonal temperatures of all kinds -The night walks where I saw the stars and moon and skies of all kinds -Stopping on our walks so you made sure I took in all nature surrounding us -Being a Golden Retriever and picking up the newspaper for our neighbors and delivering them to the front doors and then coming to me for your apple slice reward -Meeting our neighbors and making friends both young and old; folks who waited to see us on our walks and pet you -Going with me to visit Seniors and letting them pet your soft golden fur -Running on the sand and in parks so I could witness such pure joy in your runs and playfulness -Choosing which way to go on our walks because it was really your walk -Entertaining us with your "moose training", bed pulls and ball playing under the couch -Savoring your bone and tossing it up and down to show your profound happiness before devouring it -Telling me when to take a break from the computer by your nose resting on or nudging my arm -Reminding me to go to bed at 8PM because you knew how much I needed to rest and watch TV in bed -Telling me to pet you by thumping your big front paw to get my attention -Reminding us when your 4:30PM dinner time approached -Eating every morsel of your breakfast and dinner and keeping vigil by the fridge to help remind me to get your applesauce -For letting us care for and love such a wonderful golden and allowing us the pleasure of your company! Champ - We did not know how much you taught us and how much we have to be thankful for!!! Your family - G, D, M and G In Memory of Meghan
"She will be missed by her family and friends alike, but never forgotten. We know that where ever she is Meghan is barking orders, keeping everyone in check! Love you Meghan!"
~From Mike, Sandy & Emmitt Pendergast Meghan was the beloved dog of Steve and Lauren Sousa, Lazy Dog Inn Turbo...
"In memory of Turbo, who passed away from cancer. He was one of our favorite four-legged nephews,"
From Joe, Mary, Mia and Emily Bear-Bear...
I adopted Bear Bear in 2007, when he had been abandoned by his owners who tied him under a trailer, moved, and left him to die. His arthritis was horribly exacerbated so that he couldn't walk a single stair. Half of his fur had to be shaved because he had been lying in a pile of oil for days. He also tried to drink the oil to stay alive, and his insides were a mess. Because his top teeth had been yanked out for "hunting," the front of his tongue hung out of his mouth and shriveled to the point that he could barely use it to drink. The vet estimated his age was between 7-10+, and cautioned me that he was not likely to live much longer. Thank God for Martha and SGRR, who found him a wonderful foster in Florida then transported him to Connecticut for a new life.
While too much of Bear Bear’s life was marred by pain and physical challenges, you wouldn’t have known from his cheerful spirit. When he badly hurt his eye by running into debris buried in snow, he barely whimpered and I didn’t know how severe the injury was until the vet, also shocked, said that he needed corneal graft surgery. Bear Bear shouldered the surgery and months of recovery with the same stoic acceptance (much more than his mom, who was horrified and cried throughout the ordeal!). After observing his steadfast resilience, the vet nicknamed him the Energizer Bunny. Bear Bear actually worked with me in developing a physical therapy regimen. When I stretched his legs, he wrapped his “toes” around my hand as if he were shaking hands. We learned together how to help him go upstairs; he sat at the bottom until I was ready, then I supported his back legs as he took the steps one-by-one. Until the final weeks, Bear Bear greeted me at the door every time I came home, tossing his big head in an awesome, goofy way and "talking” until I petted him enough. He loved watching squirrels and occasionally attempted to chase after them with a few eager gallops. If he wanted to go for a ride, he sat by the garage and whimpered pitifully until I gave in; then he immediately headed for the rear passenger door and waited for me to pick him up and lay him on his dog bed in the back of the SUV. He learned that if he wanted *anything*, he could stare in its general direction until I looked the same way and realized what it was. Squeaky toys fascinated him; he loved ice cubes even though they were constantly falling out the gaps in his teeth, so we worked out a routine where I caught them and popped them back in for him! (Come to think of it, Mom may have been the one who was pretty well-trained…..) Bear Bear tolerated many Halloween costumes over the years; last year he was a male bride because Mom misjudged the size of the cowboy outfit. This year he was a Cinco de Mayo celebrant and handsomely posed for the photos. Two weeks later, I noticed that his gums were badly swollen and was alarmed enough to immediately schedule a vet appointment (though he had a check-up just days earlier). I thought it was an abscess. The vet confirmed that it was either that, or a very aggressive form of oral cancer. Sadly, it turned out to be the latter. The tumor grew so quickly that it was the size of a tangerine in 3 weeks, and because of its location, it was inoperable because most of his jaw would have to be removed. It was heartbreaking to witness his labored breathing, massive hemorrhaging, and failing appetite. I tried to relieve his suffering with multiple medications and hand-fed him soft food, but it became clear that he was worn out and had so much discomfort that the loving decision was to let him go. On December 3, 2012, Bear Bear crossed the Rainbow Bridge in the comfort of his home, with his head in my lap and surrounded by his sisters Delta and Honey and brother Jim. I sensed the peace and quiet relief as he lay in my arms, and I know to have kept him here longer would have been for much more my benefit than his. I know that we'll all be together again someday, but I will miss him terribly in this world. ~Jennifer OBO, Age 12...
Wonderful OBO visiting the nursing home, all calm and content after his morning swim. Oh OBO, you were my close friend for 5 years and I will always love and miss your gentle enthusiasm for what ever life could bring. I miss you forever...
~Bobbi Huck...
I got Huck approximately in 2008 through Sunshine Golden Retriever. At the time, it was estimated that he was about 12 years old, but "had lots of sweet life left in him". That proved to be an understatement. Although he had no bark, had no youth, he came with an abundance of hope, love and devotion to offer our family something we didn't know we were missing - a wet and muddy dog in our life again! He came, he saw - river, lake and ocean and he went...... splash! Leaving us on the embankment waiting for him to have his fill, it just never happened! This quiet soul was full of love for nature, water, trails, people, other dogs and more. The sweetest boy ever. He loved us all the way! Although we didn't have him as long as our first pup, he joined a list of dogs who loved and were beloved - and he'll be thought of so often, especially as I tramp through the woods and look over at the flowing river, where he ran and went splash! Till we meet again Huckie
~ Love, Mom Yogi...
"Rest in peace, my friend. You were damaged beyond my ability to repair you, but I hope you know that for the last year and a half, you were loved." ~Mom
|
In memory of Boone...
IN MEMORY OF Boone Fredo
~by Martha Greer from Kay Anderson In memory of Fred...
"In memory of Fred, beloved companion of Cindy and Doug Gray of Holyoke, MA"
from Joan O'Brien of Northampton. Ma. In memory of Shadow...
"In memory of Kim Mono's Shadow..."
from Kathleen O'Hara-Kelly In memory of Jackson...
"In memory of Jackson..." from Suzann Kaliff 8/2015 In memory of Boomer
"It is with a heavy heart that I write to say we lost beautiful Boomer to lymphoma a week ago. Our boy fought a good fight but we couldn't get his disease into remission. He kept his spirit (and appetite) to the end but his body couldn't support him. We thank Sunshine for bringing him to us and just made a paypal donation to Patch's care in his memory. As Boomer reminded us so often--love, laugh, and eat cheese this holiday and everyday."
~Nora 7/2015 In memory of Loba
In loving memory of SGRR’s Forever Foster, Loba. With gratitude to her Foster Mom, Pat, for loving her and giving Loba the best times of her life. ~ Sunshine Golden Retriever Rescue 5/2015 In memory of Charlie
"In memory of Charlie, a beautiful golden retriever with a true golden spirit. We will miss you, sweet boy!"
~Your friends at the Port Washington dog run. 1/2015 In memory of Sophie
"In memory of our sweet, wonderful Sophie Diamond. Our special girl who we will always love dearly."
~The Diamonds - Carol, Burt, Alyse & Alan 6/2015 In memory of Max
Max - March 12, 2003 - March 27, 2014
"Max, you are forever in our hearts. Not a day goes by that we don't think of you and we will always remember the "paw prints" you left in our lives. So sweet and kind and gentle to everyone you met. From the time you were a little pup until you grew to be a beautiful ol' boy. There are no words to describe how much we miss you everyday! We thank God for his beautiful creations and for our time, although not long enough, that we had with you here on earth. We love you Max, we always will. Surely you must have gone to heaven." ~Lemieux family 1/2015 In memory of Marley
"In memory of Marley and in honor of her devoted mom Elissa." from Kathleen and Terence Kelly In memory of Shelby
"In memory of Kathi and Chuck Schapp's beloved Golden, Shelby" from Dawn and Don Wilkes In memory of Bo
"In memory of Bo." ~John & Beverly Woods 11/2014 In memory of Dutchess
"In memory of sweet Dutchess. May she now be free to walk both far and fast, though she will never leave your heart."
~PW Dog Run 10/2014 In memory of Harry
In honor and loving memory of Harry, who bore no grudges and loved all living creatures. Run like the wind, Harry, happy and free!
With thanks to his Dad, Glenn, who gave gentle Harry 2-1/2 years of love. ~Candy 10/2014 In memory of SugarSugar feeling perky
Sugar, age 14, loved to stroll around our yard on warm, sunny days. She would take care of business, sniff for any dropped goodies or crumbs, watch for me to open the door and scoot back inside.She was a feisty little lady, did her best to get around despite hip stiffness, cancers,difficulty seeing and hearing. Although she was incontinent, she was careful to find her “convenience” pads (little rugs I had lined up in our hallway) and aim her squat accurately! She was determined (but was never rude to LULU or my cat) to have HER supper first, to choose which of her three beds she liked best for nighttime sleep, and her nose never failed to tell her when I was having a snack she might want.Then she panted and stared right at me until I shared! But never green beans or carrots, thank you! She was a homebody and even though she would go out with me in the dark for her last pee, nothing scared her or kept her from trotting back inside. When I was reading, watching TV, listening to the radio, she’d stretch out at my feet and snooze. She often made me laugh at her determined little antics to be “first in line” for whatever was going on. Her fluffy wagging tail assured me she was doing just fine, for as long as possible. She knew she was loved and she gave it back a thousand times over…..
~Bobbi 10/2014 In memory of Dutchess
"In memory of Dutchess. To my girl, whose spirit was an inspiration. Love, Mom 10/2014 In memory of Twister
"In memory of Twister Cooke"
~Peggy Ann Lane PH.D. In memory of Dixie Lou
"In memory of Dixie Lou whose story touched our hearts." ~Kathleen and Terence Kelly In memory of Holly
"In memory of Holly, beloved dog of the Gardner family. May she rest in peace and chase butterflies daily."
~Our love, the Leoni family In memory of Ginger
"In memory of my Ginger, a gentle, sweet soul. I miss you, Ginny mini."
~Mommy In memory of Grady
"In memory of Grady, beloved companion of Gretchen B."
~Maria Pontillo Brennen In memory of Emmi
We adopted Emmi from Sunshine Golden Rescue when she was six years old and she recently crossed the Rainbow Bridge at age 14. We fell in love with her instantly. She became like a second child for me, a brother for my son and a loving companion to our family members and friends. Emmi was so sweet and warm and such a pretty girl. She loved her groomer, her walker, her sitter and her family. She gave us so much happiness and her presence is deeply missed by us all. Thank you Sunshine Golden Rescue for finding and giving us so much happiness over the years.
~The Lufkin family In memory of Jake
"What we have once enjoyed we can never lose. All that we love deeply becomes a part of us."
In Loving Memory of Jake 2007-2014 ~Mama, Papa, Sissy, KK & GeGe In memory of Emma
"In Loving Memory of Emma, a sweet, gentle soul who loved pets and treats, especially her Wednesday night Carvel with her dad. We love and miss you Emma." ~PW Dog Run Group
Shea
"In loving memory of Shea"
~Dawn & Don and Simon Wilkes In memory of Wrigley
"In loving memory of Golden Retriever Wrigley Shaffer who went to the bridge on March 13, 2014 and was much loved by his people."
~from Chris Shaffer Jesse
On april 4th 2009, little did i know how my life would change for the better. on that date, my family & i went to meet jesse at his foster mom's sandy's house in ct. i remember walking up to the front door & seeing jesse. he looked big. when we got to the door & sandy opened it, i remember saying, "he's BIGGER than his website picture & i wanna rename him MOOSE"! i couldn't believe how BIG jesse was! i had never seen another golden retriever so BIG! jesse wasn't fat, he was unusually tall & long for a golden, as was confirmed by sandy. after awhile of talking w/ sandy & her husband about jesse, they wanted to know what we thought, if we would be interested in adopting jesse. i told sandy & her husband, that we had all discussed it before we came & we weren't leaving w/out him! i pulled out jesse's new collar (that had his new name tag that had his new home address & phone # on it) & his new leash. sandy was happy but also sad. sandy also loved jesse alot. i promised to take care of jesse & love him & to keep in-touch.
the past 4yrs & 6months have been the best part of my life! jesse took over my heart! jesse was my buddy, my confidant, my snuggle buddy, my furry tissue, my "food inspector", my son w/ the rare hair disorder, my shadow & my heart! my husband & daughters said that i had spoiled jesse, but, i just didn't see that. everyone that met jesse couldn't believe how big he was & thought he was a great pup! which he was! my favorite memories (of which there are alot) are, jesse trouting around my mother in-law's built in pool, trying to "catch" his battery operated "nemo", which she had gotten for the grandkids, but her grandpup declared was his! jesse spent every summer chasing his nemo around the pool! jesse figured out how to turn "nemo" on & off, & jesse would even drop him in the pool himself! jesse was a smart pup! jesse loved going for car rides too! the day we brought him home, jesse took over the bench seat in the van! my daughters were forced to seat together since then! jesse declared, that was "his" seat! as long as jesse could climb up into my jeep, jesse went everywhere i went. sometimes, i would borrow my husband's van since it was easier for him to get into, so jesse could take a ride with me. if he thought the ride wasn't long enough, jesse would refuse to get out of the van! he was a silly pup! back in february of this year, i had a senior well care check up completed on jesse. if there was some chance of jesse having cancer, i wanted to know, so we could plan his care. happily, the news was, jesse was, no signs of cancer! unfortuantely, the check up did find, that jesse had bad hip displasure & that jesse's heart was en-larged and his kidneys were starting to shut down. jesse was just shy of turning 14, when we received this news. from that moment on, jesse's doc put him on heart medicine to help the blood flow easier thru his kidneys. jesse's doctor said she was surprised to know of a golden retriever living this long & said it had to do with all the love & care he was being given. she also said, it was common for a dog of his age (which didn't help me). but she said, that jesse deserved to eat whatever he wanted, so, on march 6th, 2013 jesse's 14th birthday, i made him his favorite dinner, turkey breast & all the trimmings! for his birthday cake, jesse had carrot cake, which he loved! i did my best to make sure jesse was happy, healthy, comfortable and loved, as he could be since his diagnosis. this past saturday night, oct 5th, my family had pizza night, which was a favorite of jesse's too, as he loved all the pizza crust he got to eat! jesse didn't want to have any & i knew something was up. jesse wouldn't eat on saturday even though i tried giving him his favorites, turkey & bacon. saturday night i slept w/ him in front of the fire place, where he was settled since friday night. sunday came & jesse again, wouldn't eat & he started not to drink either. i could tell by his eyes, that the end was coming. it broke my heart! monday morning, he just gave me a look that said, "mommy, it's time, i can't fight no more". with that, i called my husband home from work & we gathered our girls & we went to jesse's vet. with all of us being around jesse, with me holding his paw & stroking & kissing his head....jesse went to sleep. the suffering was over for him, but not for me. it just began. jesse-boo, i miss you & i love you so very much! you are Forever in my heart, as you were my heart! i know time will help w/ the pain, but my heart will always ache for you. i miss our snuggle time! when it's my time, you better be at the bridge to meet me, with your brothers tanoose, jake & sister alina. forever in my heart & with your paw print on it! i love you & miss you, MY "jesse-boo"!! love, mommy xoxoxo (Jesse's family has set up a recurring monthly donation to honor Jesse's memory and to help other SGRR dogs in need.) Roxy...
"To our dear Roxy, we will miss you girl, especially your Dad. Run free, friend." ~ Love, PW Dog Run Booji...
"Booji, beloved companion and friend to Irene and Claude. You were much loved and will be greatly missed. Say hi to Sheba at the Rainbow Bridge." From - Susan OBO, Age 12...
Wonderful OBO visiting the nursing home, all calm and content after his morning swim. Oh OBO, you were my close friend for 5 years and I will always love and miss your gentle enthusiasm for what ever life could bring. I miss you forever...
~Bobbi Huck...
I got Huck approximately in 2008 through Sunshine Golden Retriever. At the time, it was estimated that he was about 12 years old, but "had lots of sweet life left in him". That proved to be an understatement. Although he had no bark, had no youth, he came with an abundance of hope, love and devotion to offer our family something we didn't know we were missing - a wet and muddy dog in our life again! He came, he saw - river, lake and ocean and he went...... splash! Leaving us on the embankment waiting for him to have his fill, it just never happened! This quiet soul was full of love for nature, water, trails, people, other dogs and more. The sweetest boy ever. He loved us all the way! Although we didn't have him as long as our first pup, he joined a list of dogs who loved and were beloved - and he'll be thought of so often, especially as I tramp through the woods and look over at the flowing river, where he ran and went splash! Till we meet again Huckie
~ Love, Mom Dakota...
"In honor of Dakota and Mike Lingenfelter, and The Angel By My Side" ~David |
For You Blue
I'm sitting here watching my dog die, anxiously watching the slow rise and fall of her breathing from the next room. I don't want her to hear me crying, weeping and anxious as she dies. I want her to die in her own time, in her own way. Without the presence of my (what I imagine) as overwhelming fear pheromones. You know, the kind that cause herd animals to stampede. Because I know that she's conscious of my anxiety. My fear and sorrow. I have thought of her illness as a problem to be solved. But not all problems can be solved. A problem to be solved. That is the way we tend to think of illness, and death. But death is not always a problem. Sometimes it's more of a solution. A solution to suffering, to a process of disease, a natural end to the process of life. Her life has been short, in the way we view years. She was almost 11. The first four years of her life she lived in Alabama. Then her family surrendered her to a rescue organization, because of a domestic violence issue. That's all I know. And having worked in the courts with Temporary Restraining Orders, I don't really need to know any more. Someone loved her once. I can tell. I speculate that it was a girl, perhaps someone turning into a teenager. Someone who hugged her and cried into her soft golden dog shoulder, when things were bad. When they were both afraid. And then there was that thing about her tail, when she was afraid of me brushing it. These domestic violence things tend to trickle down, and the dog is usually at the bottom of the fountain. For the first couple of years, she was afraid of men, particularly of men with sticks or canes. Need I say more? But the dog that came home with me, that was afraid to go outside and pee, that dog changed. She grew to love our long hikes in the woods. She grew to trust people. And she ceased to be afraid of men in general. She learned to play with Cosmo, my other dog. At first, she had no idea what he was doing when he mouthed her neck, and bowed with the intention of frolicking. But she learned, and grew to greet him whenever she had been separated from his company. For his part, he clearly adored her. Her trust was the gift she gave to me. She went to the beach. She played in the waves. She slept in my bed, sometimes. She was sweet and responsive, not the kind of dog that makes a dramatic impact on the world. But after all, drama is not all it's cracked up to be, is it? I always sing some particular song to each of my dogs. It's their song. For Cosmo II, it was "My Funny Valentine." For Zasu, it was James Taylor's "Something in the Way She Moves." For the current Cosmo, it's "Yellow is the Color of My True Love's Hair (my Cosmo's fur). "For You Blue" was Zoe's song. It summed up her personality precisely. Her sweetness, her loveliness, her grace, especially in light of her circumstances, that made an impact on me. In her own way, a dramatic impact. A sweet and lovely girl. My favorite thing about her was the way she would sleep in everybody else's bed. Mine when I wasn't home, and Cosmo's in the daytime. Goldilocks. Searching for the right thing exactly. But when I wasn't in the bedroom, and she thought she was alone and unobserved, lying on my bed, she would sometimes snort and roll, rub her back in the covers, and kick her feet in the air in a paroxysm of happiness. That was how I knew that she had found her home, her happiness, her place in the world. That is how I will always remember her. As the dog who found her home, her place in the world, and her happiness. The right thing exactly. We should all be so lucky. Goodbye Zoe. It was lovely having you here. 5/2015 In memory of Badger
"In memory of Badger, one of the sweetest, bravest Goldens ever. You will be missed sweet pup."
~Katherine Ortega In memory of Dutchess
In loving memory of Dutchess who brought her mother and friends so much love. You will always remain in our loving thoughts and memories.
~Anthony 10/2014 In memory of Molly
In honor of Molly Souza at the Lazy Dog Inn. Hope are you meeting up with Meagan and the two of you are having a blast! We miss you. ~Love, Mike, Sandy & Emmitt Molly was the beloved dog of Steve and Lauren Sousa, Lazy Dog Inn In memory of Molly Flynn
"Molly was very sweet, lovable and welcoming to everyone she met" ~Chris Haser & Scott Gamble
Molly was the beloved dog of Steve and Lauren Sousa, Lazy Dog Inn In memory of Truman
In memory of Ginger
"In honor and memory of sweet, sweet Ginger"
~from your friends at the run. In memory of Bella Recone
"In memory of Bella Recone, a beautiful Golden". ~ Margaret Curran In memory of Bentley
in memory of Bentley (aka Rusty), the sweetest dog and best companion a person could ask for.
~The Pierkowski family In memory of Rory
Our little sweetheart Rory past away today. She's been sick the last few weeks and after clearing up a bladder infection , she never really got her feet under her again and cancer was found. She adopted us over 5yrs ago. I think the first day it took her a few hours to figure out she was home and liked it. She stole our heart that first day and never gave it back. She will be sorely missed and has left a big hole in our hearts. Each dog we have brought into our family is loved and adored but this little girl was extra special. Words can not express the grief we're feeling.
~The Dumas family Emma
In Memory of Emma - Emma,
first known as Gloria, came to Sunshine in late February, 2014, after
living in a carport. She knew immediately that she was loved by her new
Mom and went with her every day to visit her new Dad at the
Alzheimer's facility. Emma knew all the residents, going to each one to
be petted and bringing smiles. She was there, calm and beautiful,
right between her Dad and his doctors during his last week. He passed
away one month after Emma's arrival, at the end of March.
Emma and her Mom carried on. Emma attended Committee Meetings and befriended every resident of the senior community where she lived. Everyone knew Emma and everyone loved her. After suddenly becoming ill, Emma crossed the Rainbow Bridge on May 6, 2014. Her Mom has lost her husband and her beautiful Golden within three months, but she is happy and grateful that Emma entered her life just when she needed her most. She told Sunshine that Emma was "a great gift." It was mutual. In those last three months of life, Emma had more love and companionship than some dogs ever know. Emma and her Mom rescued each other. We are reminded that it is not the length of a life, but the quality of a life that matters - and, that every rescue is important.~from Sunshine Golden Retriever Rescue Seger
A donation has been made to Sunshine Golden Retriever Rescue in memory of Seger, the Carr family's beloved dog. He will be missed!
Champ...
"We will miss you so much sweet Champ. You brought a special light to the neighborhood that we all cherished. May you rest in peace dear friend."
~Kim Wilcox In memory of Ciny and Nutmeg
In memory of Ciny and Nutmeg who wish to sponsor SGRR's Chance on his new journey! ~ Leone Family Malone...
"In memory of Malone, who passed away at age 13 on 7/1/13 and is missed by his owner, Robert Paquette." From John M Champ
Champ –10-4-2103 - 1 Month Anniversary
Feast of St Francis of Assisi It has been one month since our golden Champ left us. He is so missed but I realize I have so much to thank him for. Champ - Thank You for… -Helping me to get up in the morning; you knew how I hated to get up but giving you a belly rub helped us both to get up -Taking me on early morning walks to see the morning mist, sun emerging and experience the peaceful quiet of the new day -Allowing me to see each season bud, burst, bloom and fade as we walked and enjoyed each others company -Being the first to walk in new snow and see how you loved to lick this frosty treat -Making me sit with you and watch the sunset and see the beauty of the tall leafless trees -Allowing me to feel the wind, rain, freezing cold air, hot and humid seasonal temperatures of all kinds -The night walks where I saw the stars and moon and skies of all kinds -Stopping on our walks so you made sure I took in all nature surrounding us -Being a Golden Retriever and picking up the newspaper for our neighbors and delivering them to the front doors and then coming to me for your apple slice reward -Meeting our neighbors and making friends both young and old; folks who waited to see us on our walks and pet you -Going with me to visit Seniors and letting them pet your soft golden fur -Running on the sand and in parks so I could witness such pure joy in your runs and playfulness -Choosing which way to go on our walks because it was really your walk -Entertaining us with your "moose training", bed pulls and ball playing under the couch -Savoring your bone and tossing it up and down to show your profound happiness before devouring it -Telling me when to take a break from the computer by your nose resting on or nudging my arm -Reminding me to go to bed at 8PM because you knew how much I needed to rest and watch TV in bed -Telling me to pet you by thumping your big front paw to get my attention -Reminding us when your 4:30PM dinner time approached -Eating every morsel of your breakfast and dinner and keeping vigil by the fridge to help remind me to get your applesauce -For letting us care for and love such a wonderful golden and allowing us the pleasure of your company! Champ - We did not know how much you taught us and how much we have to be thankful for!!! Your family - G, D, M and G Yogi...
"Rest in peace, my friend. You were damaged beyond my ability to repair you, but I hope you know that for the last year and a half, you were loved." ~Mom
In Memory of Meghan
"She will be missed by her family and friends alike, but never forgotten. We know that where ever she is Meghan is barking orders, keeping everyone in check! Love you Meghan!"
~From Mike, Sandy & Emmitt Pendergast Meghan was the beloved dog of Steve and Lauren Sousa, Lazy Dog Inn Turbo...
"In memory of Turbo, who passed away from cancer. He was one of our favorite four-legged nephews,"
From Joe, Mary, Mia and Emily Bear-Bear...
I adopted Bear Bear in 2007, when he had been abandoned by his owners who tied him under a trailer, moved, and left him to die. His arthritis was horribly exacerbated so that he couldn't walk a single stair. Half of his fur had to be shaved because he had been lying in a pile of oil for days. He also tried to drink the oil to stay alive, and his insides were a mess. Because his top teeth had been yanked out for "hunting," the front of his tongue hung out of his mouth and shriveled to the point that he could barely use it to drink. The vet estimated his age was between 7-10+, and cautioned me that he was not likely to live much longer. Thank God for Martha and SGRR, who found him a wonderful foster in Florida then transported him to Connecticut for a new life.
While too much of Bear Bear’s life was marred by pain and physical challenges, you wouldn’t have known from his cheerful spirit. When he badly hurt his eye by running into debris buried in snow, he barely whimpered and I didn’t know how severe the injury was until the vet, also shocked, said that he needed corneal graft surgery. Bear Bear shouldered the surgery and months of recovery with the same stoic acceptance (much more than his mom, who was horrified and cried throughout the ordeal!). After observing his steadfast resilience, the vet nicknamed him the Energizer Bunny. Bear Bear actually worked with me in developing a physical therapy regimen. When I stretched his legs, he wrapped his “toes” around my hand as if he were shaking hands. We learned together how to help him go upstairs; he sat at the bottom until I was ready, then I supported his back legs as he took the steps one-by-one. Until the final weeks, Bear Bear greeted me at the door every time I came home, tossing his big head in an awesome, goofy way and "talking” until I petted him enough. He loved watching squirrels and occasionally attempted to chase after them with a few eager gallops. If he wanted to go for a ride, he sat by the garage and whimpered pitifully until I gave in; then he immediately headed for the rear passenger door and waited for me to pick him up and lay him on his dog bed in the back of the SUV. He learned that if he wanted *anything*, he could stare in its general direction until I looked the same way and realized what it was. Squeaky toys fascinated him; he loved ice cubes even though they were constantly falling out the gaps in his teeth, so we worked out a routine where I caught them and popped them back in for him! (Come to think of it, Mom may have been the one who was pretty well-trained…..) Bear Bear tolerated many Halloween costumes over the years; last year he was a male bride because Mom misjudged the size of the cowboy outfit. This year he was a Cinco de Mayo celebrant and handsomely posed for the photos. Two weeks later, I noticed that his gums were badly swollen and was alarmed enough to immediately schedule a vet appointment (though he had a check-up just days earlier). I thought it was an abscess. The vet confirmed that it was either that, or a very aggressive form of oral cancer. Sadly, it turned out to be the latter. The tumor grew so quickly that it was the size of a tangerine in 3 weeks, and because of its location, it was inoperable because most of his jaw would have to be removed. It was heartbreaking to witness his labored breathing, massive hemorrhaging, and failing appetite. I tried to relieve his suffering with multiple medications and hand-fed him soft food, but it became clear that he was worn out and had so much discomfort that the loving decision was to let him go. On December 3, 2012, Bear Bear crossed the Rainbow Bridge in the comfort of his home, with his head in my lap and surrounded by his sisters Delta and Honey and brother Jim. I sensed the peace and quiet relief as he lay in my arms, and I know to have kept him here longer would have been for much more my benefit than his. I know that we'll all be together again someday, but I will miss him terribly in this world. ~Jennifer |
In memory of Cosmo...
"In memory of Iris Melton's Cosmo, who filled his home with joy for fifteen years."
from Kay Anderson In memory of Fred...
"In memory of Fred, beloved companion of Cindy and Doug Gray of Holyoke, MA"
from Joan O'Brien of Northampton. Ma. In memory of Shadow...
"In memory of Kim Mono's Shadow..."
from Kathleen O'Hara-Kelly In memory of Jackson...
"In memory of Jackson..." from Suzann Kaliff 8/2015 In memory of Boomer
"It is with a heavy heart that I write to say we lost beautiful Boomer to lymphoma a week ago. Our boy fought a good fight but we couldn't get his disease into remission. He kept his spirit (and appetite) to the end but his body couldn't support him. We thank Sunshine for bringing him to us and just made a paypal donation to Patch's care in his memory. As Boomer reminded us so often--love, laugh, and eat cheese this holiday and everyday."
~Nora 7/2015 In memory of Loba
In loving memory of SGRR’s Forever Foster, Loba. With gratitude to her Foster Mom, Pat, for loving her and giving Loba the best times of her life. ~ Sunshine Golden Retriever Rescue 5/2015 In memory of Charlie
"In memory of Charlie, a beautiful golden retriever with a true golden spirit. We will miss you, sweet boy!"
~Your friends at the Port Washington dog run. 1/2015 In memory of Sophie
"In memory of our sweet, wonderful Sophie Diamond. Our special girl who we will always love dearly."
~The Diamonds - Carol, Burt, Alyse & Alan 6/2015 In memory of Max
Max - March 12, 2003 - March 27, 2014
"Max, you are forever in our hearts. Not a day goes by that we don't think of you and we will always remember the "paw prints" you left in our lives. So sweet and kind and gentle to everyone you met. From the time you were a little pup until you grew to be a beautiful ol' boy. There are no words to describe how much we miss you everyday! We thank God for his beautiful creations and for our time, although not long enough, that we had with you here on earth. We love you Max, we always will. Surely you must have gone to heaven." ~Lemieux family 1/2015 In memory of Shelby
"In memory of Kathi and Chuck Schapp's beloved Golden, Shelby" from Dawn and Don Wilkes In memory of Marley
"In memory of Marley and in honor of her devoted mom Elissa." from Kathleen and Terence Kelly In memory of Bo
"In memory of Bo." ~John & Beverly Woods 11/2014 In memory of Dutchess
"In memory of sweet Dutchess. May she now be free to walk both far and fast, though she will never leave your heart."
~PW Dog Run 10/2014 In memory of Harry
In honor and loving memory of Harry, who bore no grudges and loved all living creatures. Run like the wind, Harry, happy and free!
With thanks to his Dad, Glenn, who gave gentle Harry 2-1/2 years of love. ~Candy 10/2014 In memory of SugarSugar feeling perky
Sugar, age 14, loved to stroll around our yard on warm, sunny days. She would take care of business, sniff for any dropped goodies or crumbs, watch for me to open the door and scoot back inside.She was a feisty little lady, did her best to get around despite hip stiffness, cancers,difficulty seeing and hearing. Although she was incontinent, she was careful to find her “convenience” pads (little rugs I had lined up in our hallway) and aim her squat accurately! She was determined (but was never rude to LULU or my cat) to have HER supper first, to choose which of her three beds she liked best for nighttime sleep, and her nose never failed to tell her when I was having a snack she might want.Then she panted and stared right at me until I shared! But never green beans or carrots, thank you! She was a homebody and even though she would go out with me in the dark for her last pee, nothing scared her or kept her from trotting back inside. When I was reading, watching TV, listening to the radio, she’d stretch out at my feet and snooze. She often made me laugh at her determined little antics to be “first in line” for whatever was going on. Her fluffy wagging tail assured me she was doing just fine, for as long as possible. She knew she was loved and she gave it back a thousand times over…..
~Bobbi 10/2014 In memory of Dutchess
"In memory of Dutchess. To my girl, whose spirit was an inspiration. Love, Mom 10/2014 In memory of Twister
"In memory of Twister Cooke"
~Peggy Ann Lane PH.D. In memory of Dixie Lou
"In memory of Dixie Lou whose story touched our hearts." ~Kathleen and Terence Kelly In memory of Holly
"In memory of Holly, beloved dog of the Gardner family. May she rest in peace and chase butterflies daily."
~Our love, the Leoni family In memory of Ginger
"In memory of my Ginger, a gentle, sweet soul. I miss you, Ginny mini."
~Mommy In memory of Grady
"In memory of Grady, beloved companion of Gretchen B."
~Maria Pontillo Brennen In memory of Emmi
We adopted Emmi from Sunshine Golden Rescue when she was six years old and she recently crossed the Rainbow Bridge at age 14. We fell in love with her instantly. She became like a second child for me, a brother for my son and a loving companion to our family members and friends. Emmi was so sweet and warm and such a pretty girl. She loved her groomer, her walker, her sitter and her family. She gave us so much happiness and her presence is deeply missed by us all. Thank you Sunshine Golden Rescue for finding and giving us so much happiness over the years.
~The Lufkin family In memory of Jake
"What we have once enjoyed we can never lose. All that we love deeply becomes a part of us."
In Loving Memory of Jake 2007-2014 ~Mama, Papa, Sissy, KK & GeGe In memory of Emma
"In Loving Memory of Emma, a sweet, gentle soul who loved pets and treats, especially her Wednesday night Carvel with her dad. We love and miss you Emma." ~PW Dog Run Group
Shea
"In loving memory of Shea"
~Dawn & Don and Simon Wilkes In memory of Wrigley
"In loving memory of Golden Retriever Wrigley Shaffer who went to the bridge on March 13, 2014 and was much loved by his people."
~from Chris Shaffer Jesse
On april 4th 2009, little did i know how my life would change for the better. on that date, my family & i went to meet jesse at his foster mom's sandy's house in ct. i remember walking up to the front door & seeing jesse. he looked big. when we got to the door & sandy opened it, i remember saying, "he's BIGGER than his website picture & i wanna rename him MOOSE"! i couldn't believe how BIG jesse was! i had never seen another golden retriever so BIG! jesse wasn't fat, he was unusually tall & long for a golden, as was confirmed by sandy. after awhile of talking w/ sandy & her husband about jesse, they wanted to know what we thought, if we would be interested in adopting jesse. i told sandy & her husband, that we had all discussed it before we came & we weren't leaving w/out him! i pulled out jesse's new collar (that had his new name tag that had his new home address & phone # on it) & his new leash. sandy was happy but also sad. sandy also loved jesse alot. i promised to take care of jesse & love him & to keep in-touch.
the past 4yrs & 6months have been the best part of my life! jesse took over my heart! jesse was my buddy, my confidant, my snuggle buddy, my furry tissue, my "food inspector", my son w/ the rare hair disorder, my shadow & my heart! my husband & daughters said that i had spoiled jesse, but, i just didn't see that. everyone that met jesse couldn't believe how big he was & thought he was a great pup! which he was! my favorite memories (of which there are alot) are, jesse trouting around my mother in-law's built in pool, trying to "catch" his battery operated "nemo", which she had gotten for the grandkids, but her grandpup declared was his! jesse spent every summer chasing his nemo around the pool! jesse figured out how to turn "nemo" on & off, & jesse would even drop him in the pool himself! jesse was a smart pup! jesse loved going for car rides too! the day we brought him home, jesse took over the bench seat in the van! my daughters were forced to seat together since then! jesse declared, that was "his" seat! as long as jesse could climb up into my jeep, jesse went everywhere i went. sometimes, i would borrow my husband's van since it was easier for him to get into, so jesse could take a ride with me. if he thought the ride wasn't long enough, jesse would refuse to get out of the van! he was a silly pup! back in february of this year, i had a senior well care check up completed on jesse. if there was some chance of jesse having cancer, i wanted to know, so we could plan his care. happily, the news was, jesse was, no signs of cancer! unfortuantely, the check up did find, that jesse had bad hip displasure & that jesse's heart was en-larged and his kidneys were starting to shut down. jesse was just shy of turning 14, when we received this news. from that moment on, jesse's doc put him on heart medicine to help the blood flow easier thru his kidneys. jesse's doctor said she was surprised to know of a golden retriever living this long & said it had to do with all the love & care he was being given. she also said, it was common for a dog of his age (which didn't help me). but she said, that jesse deserved to eat whatever he wanted, so, on march 6th, 2013 jesse's 14th birthday, i made him his favorite dinner, turkey breast & all the trimmings! for his birthday cake, jesse had carrot cake, which he loved! i did my best to make sure jesse was happy, healthy, comfortable and loved, as he could be since his diagnosis. this past saturday night, oct 5th, my family had pizza night, which was a favorite of jesse's too, as he loved all the pizza crust he got to eat! jesse didn't want to have any & i knew something was up. jesse wouldn't eat on saturday even though i tried giving him his favorites, turkey & bacon. saturday night i slept w/ him in front of the fire place, where he was settled since friday night. sunday came & jesse again, wouldn't eat & he started not to drink either. i could tell by his eyes, that the end was coming. it broke my heart! monday morning, he just gave me a look that said, "mommy, it's time, i can't fight no more". with that, i called my husband home from work & we gathered our girls & we went to jesse's vet. with all of us being around jesse, with me holding his paw & stroking & kissing his head....jesse went to sleep. the suffering was over for him, but not for me. it just began. jesse-boo, i miss you & i love you so very much! you are Forever in my heart, as you were my heart! i know time will help w/ the pain, but my heart will always ache for you. i miss our snuggle time! when it's my time, you better be at the bridge to meet me, with your brothers tanoose, jake & sister alina. forever in my heart & with your paw print on it! i love you & miss you, MY "jesse-boo"!! love, mommy xoxoxo (Jesse's family has set up a recurring monthly donation to honor Jesse's memory and to help other SGRR dogs in need.) Roxy...
"To our dear Roxy, we will miss you girl, especially your Dad. Run free, friend." ~ Love, PW Dog Run Booji...
"Booji, beloved companion and friend to Irene and Claude. You were much loved and will be greatly missed. Say hi to Sheba at the Rainbow Bridge." From - Susan OBO, Age 12...
Wonderful OBO visiting the nursing home, all calm and content after his morning swim. Oh OBO, you were my close friend for 5 years and I will always love and miss your gentle enthusiasm for what ever life could bring. I miss you forever...
~Bobbi Huck...
I got Huck approximately in 2008 through Sunshine Golden Retriever. At the time, it was estimated that he was about 12 years old, but "had lots of sweet life left in him". That proved to be an understatement. Although he had no bark, had no youth, he came with an abundance of hope, love and devotion to offer our family something we didn't know we were missing - a wet and muddy dog in our life again! He came, he saw - river, lake and ocean and he went...... splash! Leaving us on the embankment waiting for him to have his fill, it just never happened! This quiet soul was full of love for nature, water, trails, people, other dogs and more. The sweetest boy ever. He loved us all the way! Although we didn't have him as long as our first pup, he joined a list of dogs who loved and were beloved - and he'll be thought of so often, especially as I tramp through the woods and look over at the flowing river, where he ran and went splash! Till we meet again Huckie
~ Love, Mom Dakota...
"In honor of Dakota and Mike Lingenfelter, and The Angel By My Side" ~David |
For You Blue
I'm sitting here watching my dog die, anxiously watching the slow rise and fall of her breathing from the next room. I don't want her to hear me crying, weeping and anxious as she dies. I want her to die in her own time, in her own way. Without the presence of my (what I imagine) as overwhelming fear pheromones. You know, the kind that cause herd animals to stampede. Because I know that she's conscious of my anxiety. My fear and sorrow. I have thought of her illness as a problem to be solved. But not all problems can be solved. A problem to be solved. That is the way we tend to think of illness, and death. But death is not always a problem. Sometimes it's more of a solution. A solution to suffering, to a process of disease, a natural end to the process of life. Her life has been short, in the way we view years. She was almost 11. The first four years of her life she lived in Alabama. Then her family surrendered her to a rescue organization, because of a domestic violence issue. That's all I know. And having worked in the courts with Temporary Restraining Orders, I don't really need to know any more. Someone loved her once. I can tell. I speculate that it was a girl, perhaps someone turning into a teenager. Someone who hugged her and cried into her soft golden dog shoulder, when things were bad. When they were both afraid. And then there was that thing about her tail, when she was afraid of me brushing it. These domestic violence things tend to trickle down, and the dog is usually at the bottom of the fountain. For the first couple of years, she was afraid of men, particularly of men with sticks or canes. Need I say more? But the dog that came home with me, that was afraid to go outside and pee, that dog changed. She grew to love our long hikes in the woods. She grew to trust people. And she ceased to be afraid of men in general. She learned to play with Cosmo, my other dog. At first, she had no idea what he was doing when he mouthed her neck, and bowed with the intention of frolicking. But she learned, and grew to greet him whenever she had been separated from his company. For his part, he clearly adored her. Her trust was the gift she gave to me. She went to the beach. She played in the waves. She slept in my bed, sometimes. She was sweet and responsive, not the kind of dog that makes a dramatic impact on the world. But after all, drama is not all it's cracked up to be, is it? I always sing some particular song to each of my dogs. It's their song. For Cosmo II, it was "My Funny Valentine." For Zasu, it was James Taylor's "Something in the Way She Moves." For the current Cosmo, it's "Yellow is the Color of My True Love's Hair (my Cosmo's fur). "For You Blue" was Zoe's song. It summed up her personality precisely. Her sweetness, her loveliness, her grace, especially in light of her circumstances, that made an impact on me. In her own way, a dramatic impact. A sweet and lovely girl. My favorite thing about her was the way she would sleep in everybody else's bed. Mine when I wasn't home, and Cosmo's in the daytime. Goldilocks. Searching for the right thing exactly. But when I wasn't in the bedroom, and she thought she was alone and unobserved, lying on my bed, she would sometimes snort and roll, rub her back in the covers, and kick her feet in the air in a paroxysm of happiness. That was how I knew that she had found her home, her happiness, her place in the world. That is how I will always remember her. As the dog who found her home, her place in the world, and her happiness. The right thing exactly. We should all be so lucky. Goodbye Zoe. It was lovely having you here. 5/2015 In memory of Badger
"In memory of Badger, one of the sweetest, bravest Goldens ever. You will be missed sweet pup."
~Katherine Ortega In memory of Dutchess
In loving memory of Dutchess who brought her mother and friends so much love. You will always remain in our loving thoughts and memories.
~Anthony 10/2014 In memory of Molly
In honor of Molly Souza at the Lazy Dog Inn. Hope are you meeting up with Meagan and the two of you are having a blast! We miss you. ~Love, Mike, Sandy & Emmitt Molly was the beloved dog of Steve and Lauren Sousa, Lazy Dog Inn In memory of Molly Flynn
"Molly was very sweet, lovable and welcoming to everyone she met" ~Chris Haser & Scott Gamble
Molly was the beloved dog of Steve and Lauren Sousa, Lazy Dog Inn In memory of Truman
In memory of Ginger
"In honor and memory of sweet, sweet Ginger"
~from your friends at the run. In memory of Bella Recone
"In memory of Bella Recone, a beautiful Golden". ~ Margaret Curran In memory of Bentley
in memory of Bentley (aka Rusty), the sweetest dog and best companion a person could ask for.
~The Pierkowski family In memory of Rory
Our little sweetheart Rory past away today. She's been sick the last few weeks and after clearing up a bladder infection , she never really got her feet under her again and cancer was found. She adopted us over 5yrs ago. I think the first day it took her a few hours to figure out she was home and liked it. She stole our heart that first day and never gave it back. She will be sorely missed and has left a big hole in our hearts. Each dog we have brought into our family is loved and adored but this little girl was extra special. Words can not express the grief we're feeling.
~The Dumas family Emma
In Memory of Emma - Emma,
first known as Gloria, came to Sunshine in late February, 2014, after
living in a carport. She knew immediately that she was loved by her new
Mom and went with her every day to visit her new Dad at the
Alzheimer's facility. Emma knew all the residents, going to each one to
be petted and bringing smiles. She was there, calm and beautiful,
right between her Dad and his doctors during his last week. He passed
away one month after Emma's arrival, at the end of March.
Emma and her Mom carried on. Emma attended Committee Meetings and befriended every resident of the senior community where she lived. Everyone knew Emma and everyone loved her. After suddenly becoming ill, Emma crossed the Rainbow Bridge on May 6, 2014. Her Mom has lost her husband and her beautiful Golden within three months, but she is happy and grateful that Emma entered her life just when she needed her most. She told Sunshine that Emma was "a great gift." It was mutual. In those last three months of life, Emma had more love and companionship than some dogs ever know. Emma and her Mom rescued each other. We are reminded that it is not the length of a life, but the quality of a life that matters - and, that every rescue is important.~from Sunshine Golden Retriever Rescue Seger
A donation has been made to Sunshine Golden Retriever Rescue in memory of Seger, the Carr family's beloved dog. He will be missed!
Champ...
"We will miss you so much sweet Champ. You brought a special light to the neighborhood that we all cherished. May you rest in peace dear friend."
~Kim Wilcox In memory of Ciny and Nutmeg
In memory of Ciny and Nutmeg who wish to sponsor SGRR's Chance on his new journey! ~ Leone Family Malone...
"In memory of Malone, who passed away at age 13 on 7/1/13 and is missed by his owner, Robert Paquette." From John M Champ
Champ –10-4-2103 - 1 Month Anniversary
Feast of St Francis of Assisi It has been one month since our golden Champ left us. He is so missed but I realize I have so much to thank him for. Champ - Thank You for… -Helping me to get up in the morning; you knew how I hated to get up but giving you a belly rub helped us both to get up -Taking me on early morning walks to see the morning mist, sun emerging and experience the peaceful quiet of the new day -Allowing me to see each season bud, burst, bloom and fade as we walked and enjoyed each others company -Being the first to walk in new snow and see how you loved to lick this frosty treat -Making me sit with you and watch the sunset and see the beauty of the tall leafless trees -Allowing me to feel the wind, rain, freezing cold air, hot and humid seasonal temperatures of all kinds -The night walks where I saw the stars and moon and skies of all kinds -Stopping on our walks so you made sure I took in all nature surrounding us -Being a Golden Retriever and picking up the newspaper for our neighbors and delivering them to the front doors and then coming to me for your apple slice reward -Meeting our neighbors and making friends both young and old; folks who waited to see us on our walks and pet you -Going with me to visit Seniors and letting them pet your soft golden fur -Running on the sand and in parks so I could witness such pure joy in your runs and playfulness -Choosing which way to go on our walks because it was really your walk -Entertaining us with your "moose training", bed pulls and ball playing under the couch -Savoring your bone and tossing it up and down to show your profound happiness before devouring it -Telling me when to take a break from the computer by your nose resting on or nudging my arm -Reminding me to go to bed at 8PM because you knew how much I needed to rest and watch TV in bed -Telling me to pet you by thumping your big front paw to get my attention -Reminding us when your 4:30PM dinner time approached -Eating every morsel of your breakfast and dinner and keeping vigil by the fridge to help remind me to get your applesauce -For letting us care for and love such a wonderful golden and allowing us the pleasure of your company! Champ - We did not know how much you taught us and how much we have to be thankful for!!! Your family - G, D, M and G Yogi...
"Rest in peace, my friend. You were damaged beyond my ability to repair you, but I hope you know that for the last year and a half, you were loved." ~Mom
In Memory of Meghan
"She will be missed by her family and friends alike, but never forgotten. We know that where ever she is Meghan is barking orders, keeping everyone in check! Love you Meghan!"
~From Mike, Sandy & Emmitt Pendergast Meghan was the beloved dog of Steve and Lauren Sousa, Lazy Dog Inn Turbo...
"In memory of Turbo, who passed away from cancer. He was one of our favorite four-legged nephews,"
From Joe, Mary, Mia and Emily Bear-Bear...
I adopted Bear Bear in 2007, when he had been abandoned by his owners who tied him under a trailer, moved, and left him to die. His arthritis was horribly exacerbated so that he couldn't walk a single stair. Half of his fur had to be shaved because he had been lying in a pile of oil for days. He also tried to drink the oil to stay alive, and his insides were a mess. Because his top teeth had been yanked out for "hunting," the front of his tongue hung out of his mouth and shriveled to the point that he could barely use it to drink. The vet estimated his age was between 7-10+, and cautioned me that he was not likely to live much longer. Thank God for Martha and SGRR, who found him a wonderful foster in Florida then transported him to Connecticut for a new life.
While too much of Bear Bear’s life was marred by pain and physical challenges, you wouldn’t have known from his cheerful spirit. When he badly hurt his eye by running into debris buried in snow, he barely whimpered and I didn’t know how severe the injury was until the vet, also shocked, said that he needed corneal graft surgery. Bear Bear shouldered the surgery and months of recovery with the same stoic acceptance (much more than his mom, who was horrified and cried throughout the ordeal!). After observing his steadfast resilience, the vet nicknamed him the Energizer Bunny. Bear Bear actually worked with me in developing a physical therapy regimen. When I stretched his legs, he wrapped his “toes” around my hand as if he were shaking hands. We learned together how to help him go upstairs; he sat at the bottom until I was ready, then I supported his back legs as he took the steps one-by-one. Until the final weeks, Bear Bear greeted me at the door every time I came home, tossing his big head in an awesome, goofy way and "talking” until I petted him enough. He loved watching squirrels and occasionally attempted to chase after them with a few eager gallops. If he wanted to go for a ride, he sat by the garage and whimpered pitifully until I gave in; then he immediately headed for the rear passenger door and waited for me to pick him up and lay him on his dog bed in the back of the SUV. He learned that if he wanted *anything*, he could stare in its general direction until I looked the same way and realized what it was. Squeaky toys fascinated him; he loved ice cubes even though they were constantly falling out the gaps in his teeth, so we worked out a routine where I caught them and popped them back in for him! (Come to think of it, Mom may have been the one who was pretty well-trained…..) Bear Bear tolerated many Halloween costumes over the years; last year he was a male bride because Mom misjudged the size of the cowboy outfit. This year he was a Cinco de Mayo celebrant and handsomely posed for the photos. Two weeks later, I noticed that his gums were badly swollen and was alarmed enough to immediately schedule a vet appointment (though he had a check-up just days earlier). I thought it was an abscess. The vet confirmed that it was either that, or a very aggressive form of oral cancer. Sadly, it turned out to be the latter. The tumor grew so quickly that it was the size of a tangerine in 3 weeks, and because of its location, it was inoperable because most of his jaw would have to be removed. It was heartbreaking to witness his labored breathing, massive hemorrhaging, and failing appetite. I tried to relieve his suffering with multiple medications and hand-fed him soft food, but it became clear that he was worn out and had so much discomfort that the loving decision was to let him go. On December 3, 2012, Bear Bear crossed the Rainbow Bridge in the comfort of his home, with his head in my lap and surrounded by his sisters Delta and Honey and brother Jim. I sensed the peace and quiet relief as he lay in my arms, and I know to have kept him here longer would have been for much more my benefit than his. I know that we'll all be together again someday, but I will miss him terribly in this world. ~Jennifer In memory of Loba
In loving memory of SGRR’s Forever Foster, Loba. With gratitude to her Foster Mom, Pat, for loving her and giving Loba the best times of her life. ~ Sunshine Golden Retriever Rescue 5/2015 In memory of Badger
"In memory of Badger, one of the sweetest, bravest Goldens ever. You will be missed sweet pup."
~Katherine Ortega In memory of Dutchess
In loving memory of Dutchess who brought her mother and friends so much love. You will always remain in our loving thoughts and memories.
~Anthony 10/2014 In memory of Molly
In honor of Molly Souza at the Lazy Dog Inn. Hope are you meeting up with Meagan and the two of you are having a blast! We miss you. ~Love, Mike, Sandy & Emmitt Molly was the beloved dog of Steve and Lauren Sousa, Lazy Dog Inn In memory of Molly Flynn
"Molly was very sweet, lovable and welcoming to everyone she met" ~Chris Haser & Scott Gamble
Molly was the beloved dog of Steve and Lauren Sousa, Lazy Dog Inn In memory of Truman
In memory of Ginger
"In honor and memory of sweet, sweet Ginger"
~from your friends at the run. |
In memory of Charlie
"In memory of Charlie, a beautiful golden retriever with a true golden spirit. We will miss you, sweet boy!"
~Your friends at the Port Washington dog run. 1/2015 In memory of Max
Max - March 12, 2003 - March 27, 2014
"Max, you are forever in our hearts. Not a day goes by that we don't think of you and we will always remember the "paw prints" you left in our lives. So sweet and kind and gentle to everyone you met. From the time you were a little pup until you grew to be a beautiful ol' boy. There are no words to describe how much we miss you everyday! We thank God for his beautiful creations and for our time, although not long enough, that we had with you here on earth. We love you Max, we always will. Surely you must have gone to heaven." ~Lemieux family 1/2015 In memory of Marley
"In memory of Marley and in honor of her devoted mom Elissa." from Kathleen and Terence Kelly In memory of Shelby
"In memory of Kathi and Chuck Schapp's beloved Golden, Shelby" from Dawn and Don Wilkes In memory of Bo
"In memory of Bo." ~John & Beverly Woods 11/2014 In memory of Dutchess
"In memory of sweet Dutchess. May she now be free to walk both far and fast, though she will never leave your heart."
~PW Dog Run 10/2014 In memory of Harry
In honor and loving memory of Harry, who bore no grudges and loved all living creatures. Run like the wind, Harry, happy and free!
With thanks to his Dad, Glenn, who gave gentle Harry 2-1/2 years of love. ~Candy 10/2014 In memory of SugarSugar feeling perky
Sugar, age 14, loved to stroll around our yard on warm, sunny days. She would take care of business, sniff for any dropped goodies or crumbs, watch for me to open the door and scoot back inside.She was a feisty little lady, did her best to get around despite hip stiffness, cancers,difficulty seeing and hearing. Although she was incontinent, she was careful to find her “convenience” pads (little rugs I had lined up in our hallway) and aim her squat accurately! She was determined (but was never rude to LULU or my cat) to have HER supper first, to choose which of her three beds she liked best for nighttime sleep, and her nose never failed to tell her when I was having a snack she might want.Then she panted and stared right at me until I shared! But never green beans or carrots, thank you! She was a homebody and even though she would go out with me in the dark for her last pee, nothing scared her or kept her from trotting back inside. When I was reading, watching TV, listening to the radio, she’d stretch out at my feet and snooze. She often made me laugh at her determined little antics to be “first in line” for whatever was going on. Her fluffy wagging tail assured me she was doing just fine, for as long as possible. She knew she was loved and she gave it back a thousand times over…..
~Bobbi 10/2014 In memory of Dutchess
"In memory of Dutchess. To my girl, whose spirit was an inspiration. Love, Mom 10/2014 In memory of Twister
"In memory of Twister Cooke"
~Peggy Ann Lane PH.D. In memory of Holly
"In memory of Holly, beloved dog of the Gardner family. May she rest in peace and chase butterflies daily."
~Our love, the Leoni family In memory of Dixie Lou
"In memory of Dixie Lou whose story touched our hearts." ~Kathleen and Terence Kelly In memory of Ginger
"In memory of my Ginger, a gentle, sweet soul. I miss you, Ginny mini."
~Mommy In memory of Grady
"In memory of Grady, beloved companion of Gretchen B."
~Maria Pontillo Brennen In memory of Emmi
We adopted Emmi from Sunshine Golden Rescue when she was six years old and she recently crossed the Rainbow Bridge at age 14. We fell in love with her instantly. She became like a second child for me, a brother for my son and a loving companion to our family members and friends. Emmi was so sweet and warm and such a pretty girl. She loved her groomer, her walker, her sitter and her family. She gave us so much happiness and her presence is deeply missed by us all. Thank you Sunshine Golden Rescue for finding and giving us so much happiness over the years.
~The Lufkin family In memory of Jake
"What we have once enjoyed we can never lose. All that we love deeply becomes a part of us."
In Loving Memory of Jake 2007-2014 ~Mama, Papa, Sissy, KK & GeGe In memory of Emma
"In Loving Memory of Emma, a sweet, gentle soul who loved pets and treats, especially her Wednesday night Carvel with her dad. We love and miss you Emma." ~PW Dog Run Group
Shea
"In loving memory of Shea"
~Dawn & Don and Simon Wilkes In memory of Wrigley
"In loving memory of Golden Retriever Wrigley Shaffer who went to the bridge on March 13, 2014 and was much loved by his people."
~from Chris Shaffer Jesse
On april 4th 2009, little did i know how my life would change for the better. on that date, my family & i went to meet jesse at his foster mom's sandy's house in ct. i remember walking up to the front door & seeing jesse. he looked big. when we got to the door & sandy opened it, i remember saying, "he's BIGGER than his website picture & i wanna rename him MOOSE"! i couldn't believe how BIG jesse was! i had never seen another golden retriever so BIG! jesse wasn't fat, he was unusually tall & long for a golden, as was confirmed by sandy. after awhile of talking w/ sandy & her husband about jesse, they wanted to know what we thought, if we would be interested in adopting jesse. i told sandy & her husband, that we had all discussed it before we came & we weren't leaving w/out him! i pulled out jesse's new collar (that had his new name tag that had his new home address & phone # on it) & his new leash. sandy was happy but also sad. sandy also loved jesse alot. i promised to take care of jesse & love him & to keep in-touch.
the past 4yrs & 6months have been the best part of my life! jesse took over my heart! jesse was my buddy, my confidant, my snuggle buddy, my furry tissue, my "food inspector", my son w/ the rare hair disorder, my shadow & my heart! my husband & daughters said that i had spoiled jesse, but, i just didn't see that. everyone that met jesse couldn't believe how big he was & thought he was a great pup! which he was! my favorite memories (of which there are alot) are, jesse trouting around my mother in-law's built in pool, trying to "catch" his battery operated "nemo", which she had gotten for the grandkids, but her grandpup declared was his! jesse spent every summer chasing his nemo around the pool! jesse figured out how to turn "nemo" on & off, & jesse would even drop him in the pool himself! jesse was a smart pup! jesse loved going for car rides too! the day we brought him home, jesse took over the bench seat in the van! my daughters were forced to seat together since then! jesse declared, that was "his" seat! as long as jesse could climb up into my jeep, jesse went everywhere i went. sometimes, i would borrow my husband's van since it was easier for him to get into, so jesse could take a ride with me. if he thought the ride wasn't long enough, jesse would refuse to get out of the van! he was a silly pup! back in february of this year, i had a senior well care check up completed on jesse. if there was some chance of jesse having cancer, i wanted to know, so we could plan his care. happily, the news was, jesse was, no signs of cancer! unfortuantely, the check up did find, that jesse had bad hip displasure & that jesse's heart was en-larged and his kidneys were starting to shut down. jesse was just shy of turning 14, when we received this news. from that moment on, jesse's doc put him on heart medicine to help the blood flow easier thru his kidneys. jesse's doctor said she was surprised to know of a golden retriever living this long & said it had to do with all the love & care he was being given. she also said, it was common for a dog of his age (which didn't help me). but she said, that jesse deserved to eat whatever he wanted, so, on march 6th, 2013 jesse's 14th birthday, i made him his favorite dinner, turkey breast & all the trimmings! for his birthday cake, jesse had carrot cake, which he loved! i did my best to make sure jesse was happy, healthy, comfortable and loved, as he could be since his diagnosis. this past saturday night, oct 5th, my family had pizza night, which was a favorite of jesse's too, as he loved all the pizza crust he got to eat! jesse didn't want to have any & i knew something was up. jesse wouldn't eat on saturday even though i tried giving him his favorites, turkey & bacon. saturday night i slept w/ him in front of the fire place, where he was settled since friday night. sunday came & jesse again, wouldn't eat & he started not to drink either. i could tell by his eyes, that the end was coming. it broke my heart! monday morning, he just gave me a look that said, "mommy, it's time, i can't fight no more". with that, i called my husband home from work & we gathered our girls & we went to jesse's vet. with all of us being around jesse, with me holding his paw & stroking & kissing his head....jesse went to sleep. the suffering was over for him, but not for me. it just began. jesse-boo, i miss you & i love you so very much! you are Forever in my heart, as you were my heart! i know time will help w/ the pain, but my heart will always ache for you. i miss our snuggle time! when it's my time, you better be at the bridge to meet me, with your brothers tanoose, jake & sister alina. forever in my heart & with your paw print on it! i love you & miss you, MY "jesse-boo"!! love, mommy xoxoxo (Jesse's family has set up a recurring monthly donation to honor Jesse's memory and to help other SGRR dogs in need.) Roxy...
"To our dear Roxy, we will miss you girl, especially your Dad. Run free, friend." ~ Love, PW Dog Run Booji...
"Booji, beloved companion and friend to Irene and Claude. You were much loved and will be greatly missed. Say hi to Sheba at the Rainbow Bridge." From - Susan OBO, Age 12...
Wonderful OBO visiting the nursing home, all calm and content after his morning swim. Oh OBO, you were my close friend for 5 years and I will always love and miss your gentle enthusiasm for what ever life could bring. I miss you forever...
~Bobbi Huck...
I got Huck approximately in 2008 through Sunshine Golden Retriever. At the time, it was estimated that he was about 12 years old, but "had lots of sweet life left in him". That proved to be an understatement. Although he had no bark, had no youth, he came with an abundance of hope, love and devotion to offer our family something we didn't know we were missing - a wet and muddy dog in our life again! He came, he saw - river, lake and ocean and he went...... splash! Leaving us on the embankment waiting for him to have his fill, it just never happened! This quiet soul was full of love for nature, water, trails, people, other dogs and more. The sweetest boy ever. He loved us all the way! Although we didn't have him as long as our first pup, he joined a list of dogs who loved and were beloved - and he'll be thought of so often, especially as I tramp through the woods and look over at the flowing river, where he ran and went splash! Till we meet again Huckie
~ Love, Mom Dakota...
"In honor of Dakota and Mike Lingenfelter, and The Angel By My Side" ~David |
In memory of Bella Recone
"In memory of Bella Recone, a beautiful Golden". ~ Margaret Curran In memory of Bentley
in memory of Bentley (aka Rusty), the sweetest dog and best companion a person could ask for.
~The Pierkowski family In memory of Rory
Our little sweetheart Rory past away today. She's been sick the last few weeks and after clearing up a bladder infection , she never really got her feet under her again and cancer was found. She adopted us over 5yrs ago. I think the first day it took her a few hours to figure out she was home and liked it. She stole our heart that first day and never gave it back. She will be sorely missed and has left a big hole in our hearts. Each dog we have brought into our family is loved and adored but this little girl was extra special. Words can not express the grief we're feeling.
~The Dumas family Emma
In Memory of Emma - Emma,
first known as Gloria, came to Sunshine in late February, 2014, after
living in a carport. She knew immediately that she was loved by her new
Mom and went with her every day to visit her new Dad at the
Alzheimer's facility. Emma knew all the residents, going to each one to
be petted and bringing smiles. She was there, calm and beautiful,
right between her Dad and his doctors during his last week. He passed
away one month after Emma's arrival, at the end of March.
Emma and her Mom carried on. Emma attended Committee Meetings and befriended every resident of the senior community where she lived. Everyone knew Emma and everyone loved her. After suddenly becoming ill, Emma crossed the Rainbow Bridge on May 6, 2014. Her Mom has lost her husband and her beautiful Golden within three months, but she is happy and grateful that Emma entered her life just when she needed her most. She told Sunshine that Emma was "a great gift." It was mutual. In those last three months of life, Emma had more love and companionship than some dogs ever know. Emma and her Mom rescued each other. We are reminded that it is not the length of a life, but the quality of a life that matters - and, that every rescue is important.~from Sunshine Golden Retriever Rescue Seger
A donation has been made to Sunshine Golden Retriever Rescue in memory of Seger, the Carr family's beloved dog. He will be missed!
Champ...
"We will miss you so much sweet Champ. You brought a special light to the neighborhood that we all cherished. May you rest in peace dear friend."
~Kim Wilcox In memory of Ciny and Nutmeg
In memory of Ciny and Nutmeg who wish to sponsor SGRR's Chance on his new journey! ~ Leone Family Malone...
"In memory of Malone, who passed away at age 13 on 7/1/13 and is missed by his owner, Robert Paquette." From John M Champ
Champ –10-4-2103 - 1 Month Anniversary
Feast of St Francis of Assisi It has been one month since our golden Champ left us. He is so missed but I realize I have so much to thank him for. Champ - Thank You for… -Helping me to get up in the morning; you knew how I hated to get up but giving you a belly rub helped us both to get up -Taking me on early morning walks to see the morning mist, sun emerging and experience the peaceful quiet of the new day -Allowing me to see each season bud, burst, bloom and fade as we walked and enjoyed each others company -Being the first to walk in new snow and see how you loved to lick this frosty treat -Making me sit with you and watch the sunset and see the beauty of the tall leafless trees -Allowing me to feel the wind, rain, freezing cold air, hot and humid seasonal temperatures of all kinds -The night walks where I saw the stars and moon and skies of all kinds -Stopping on our walks so you made sure I took in all nature surrounding us -Being a Golden Retriever and picking up the newspaper for our neighbors and delivering them to the front doors and then coming to me for your apple slice reward -Meeting our neighbors and making friends both young and old; folks who waited to see us on our walks and pet you -Going with me to visit Seniors and letting them pet your soft golden fur -Running on the sand and in parks so I could witness such pure joy in your runs and playfulness -Choosing which way to go on our walks because it was really your walk -Entertaining us with your "moose training", bed pulls and ball playing under the couch -Savoring your bone and tossing it up and down to show your profound happiness before devouring it -Telling me when to take a break from the computer by your nose resting on or nudging my arm -Reminding me to go to bed at 8PM because you knew how much I needed to rest and watch TV in bed -Telling me to pet you by thumping your big front paw to get my attention -Reminding us when your 4:30PM dinner time approached -Eating every morsel of your breakfast and dinner and keeping vigil by the fridge to help remind me to get your applesauce -For letting us care for and love such a wonderful golden and allowing us the pleasure of your company! Champ - We did not know how much you taught us and how much we have to be thankful for!!! Your family - G, D, M and G Yogi...
"Rest in peace, my friend. You were damaged beyond my ability to repair you, but I hope you know that for the last year and a half, you were loved." ~Mom
In Memory of Meghan
"She will be missed by her family and friends alike, but never forgotten. We know that where ever she is Meghan is barking orders, keeping everyone in check! Love you Meghan!"
~From Mike, Sandy & Emmitt Pendergast Meghan was the beloved dog of Steve and Lauren Sousa, Lazy Dog Inn Turbo...
"In memory of Turbo, who passed away from cancer. He was one of our favorite four-legged nephews,"
From Joe, Mary, Mia and Emily Bear-Bear...
I adopted Bear Bear in 2007, when he had been abandoned by his owners who tied him under a trailer, moved, and left him to die. His arthritis was horribly exacerbated so that he couldn't walk a single stair. Half of his fur had to be shaved because he had been lying in a pile of oil for days. He also tried to drink the oil to stay alive, and his insides were a mess. Because his top teeth had been yanked out for "hunting," the front of his tongue hung out of his mouth and shriveled to the point that he could barely use it to drink. The vet estimated his age was between 7-10+, and cautioned me that he was not likely to live much longer. Thank God for Martha and SGRR, who found him a wonderful foster in Florida then transported him to Connecticut for a new life.
While too much of Bear Bear’s life was marred by pain and physical challenges, you wouldn’t have known from his cheerful spirit. When he badly hurt his eye by running into debris buried in snow, he barely whimpered and I didn’t know how severe the injury was until the vet, also shocked, said that he needed corneal graft surgery. Bear Bear shouldered the surgery and months of recovery with the same stoic acceptance (much more than his mom, who was horrified and cried throughout the ordeal!). After observing his steadfast resilience, the vet nicknamed him the Energizer Bunny. Bear Bear actually worked with me in developing a physical therapy regimen. When I stretched his legs, he wrapped his “toes” around my hand as if he were shaking hands. We learned together how to help him go upstairs; he sat at the bottom until I was ready, then I supported his back legs as he took the steps one-by-one. Until the final weeks, Bear Bear greeted me at the door every time I came home, tossing his big head in an awesome, goofy way and "talking” until I petted him enough. He loved watching squirrels and occasionally attempted to chase after them with a few eager gallops. If he wanted to go for a ride, he sat by the garage and whimpered pitifully until I gave in; then he immediately headed for the rear passenger door and waited for me to pick him up and lay him on his dog bed in the back of the SUV. He learned that if he wanted *anything*, he could stare in its general direction until I looked the same way and realized what it was. Squeaky toys fascinated him; he loved ice cubes even though they were constantly falling out the gaps in his teeth, so we worked out a routine where I caught them and popped them back in for him! (Come to think of it, Mom may have been the one who was pretty well-trained…..) Bear Bear tolerated many Halloween costumes over the years; last year he was a male bride because Mom misjudged the size of the cowboy outfit. This year he was a Cinco de Mayo celebrant and handsomely posed for the photos. Two weeks later, I noticed that his gums were badly swollen and was alarmed enough to immediately schedule a vet appointment (though he had a check-up just days earlier). I thought it was an abscess. The vet confirmed that it was either that, or a very aggressive form of oral cancer. Sadly, it turned out to be the latter. The tumor grew so quickly that it was the size of a tangerine in 3 weeks, and because of its location, it was inoperable because most of his jaw would have to be removed. It was heartbreaking to witness his labored breathing, massive hemorrhaging, and failing appetite. I tried to relieve his suffering with multiple medications and hand-fed him soft food, but it became clear that he was worn out and had so much discomfort that the loving decision was to let him go. On December 3, 2012, Bear Bear crossed the Rainbow Bridge in the comfort of his home, with his head in my lap and surrounded by his sisters Delta and Honey and brother Jim. I sensed the peace and quiet relief as he lay in my arms, and I know to have kept him here longer would have been for much more my benefit than his. I know that we'll all be together again someday, but I will miss him terribly in this world. ~Jennifer |
In memory of Dutchess
"In memory of Dutchess. To my girl, whose spirit was an inspiration. Love, Mom 10/2014 In memory of Twister
"In memory of Twister Cooke"
~Peggy Ann Lane PH.D. In memory of Dixie Lou
"In memory of Dixie Lou whose story touched our hearts." ~Kathleen and Terence Kelly In memory of Holly
"In memory of Holly, beloved dog of the Gardner family. May she rest in peace and chase butterflies daily."
~Our love, the Leoni family In memory of Ginger
"In memory of my Ginger, a gentle, sweet soul. I miss you, Ginny mini."
~Mommy In memory of Grady
"In memory of Grady, beloved companion of Gretchen B."
~Maria Pontillo Brennen In memory of Emmi
We adopted Emmi from Sunshine Golden Rescue when she was six years old and she recently crossed the Rainbow Bridge at age 14. We fell in love with her instantly. She became like a second child for me, a brother for my son and a loving companion to our family members and friends. Emmi was so sweet and warm and such a pretty girl. She loved her groomer, her walker, her sitter and her family. She gave us so much happiness and her presence is deeply missed by us all. Thank you Sunshine Golden Rescue for finding and giving us so much happiness over the years.
~The Lufkin family In memory of Jake
"What we have once enjoyed we can never lose. All that we love deeply becomes a part of us."
In Loving Memory of Jake 2007-2014 ~Mama, Papa, Sissy, KK & GeGe In memory of Emma
"In Loving Memory of Emma, a sweet, gentle soul who loved pets and treats, especially her Wednesday night Carvel with her dad. We love and miss you Emma." ~PW Dog Run Group
Shea
"In loving memory of Shea"
~Dawn & Don and Simon Wilkes In memory of Wrigley
"In loving memory of Golden Retriever Wrigley Shaffer who went to the bridge on March 13, 2014 and was much loved by his people."
~from Chris Shaffer Jesse
On april 4th 2009, little did i know how my life would change for the better. on that date, my family & i went to meet jesse at his foster mom's sandy's house in ct. i remember walking up to the front door & seeing jesse. he looked big. when we got to the door & sandy opened it, i remember saying, "he's BIGGER than his website picture & i wanna rename him MOOSE"! i couldn't believe how BIG jesse was! i had never seen another golden retriever so BIG! jesse wasn't fat, he was unusually tall & long for a golden, as was confirmed by sandy. after awhile of talking w/ sandy & her husband about jesse, they wanted to know what we thought, if we would be interested in adopting jesse. i told sandy & her husband, that we had all discussed it before we came & we weren't leaving w/out him! i pulled out jesse's new collar (that had his new name tag that had his new home address & phone # on it) & his new leash. sandy was happy but also sad. sandy also loved jesse alot. i promised to take care of jesse & love him & to keep in-touch.
the past 4yrs & 6months have been the best part of my life! jesse took over my heart! jesse was my buddy, my confidant, my snuggle buddy, my furry tissue, my "food inspector", my son w/ the rare hair disorder, my shadow & my heart! my husband & daughters said that i had spoiled jesse, but, i just didn't see that. everyone that met jesse couldn't believe how big he was & thought he was a great pup! which he was! my favorite memories (of which there are alot) are, jesse trouting around my mother in-law's built in pool, trying to "catch" his battery operated "nemo", which she had gotten for the grandkids, but her grandpup declared was his! jesse spent every summer chasing his nemo around the pool! jesse figured out how to turn "nemo" on & off, & jesse would even drop him in the pool himself! jesse was a smart pup! jesse loved going for car rides too! the day we brought him home, jesse took over the bench seat in the van! my daughters were forced to seat together since then! jesse declared, that was "his" seat! as long as jesse could climb up into my jeep, jesse went everywhere i went. sometimes, i would borrow my husband's van since it was easier for him to get into, so jesse could take a ride with me. if he thought the ride wasn't long enough, jesse would refuse to get out of the van! he was a silly pup! back in february of this year, i had a senior well care check up completed on jesse. if there was some chance of jesse having cancer, i wanted to know, so we could plan his care. happily, the news was, jesse was, no signs of cancer! unfortuantely, the check up did find, that jesse had bad hip displasure & that jesse's heart was en-larged and his kidneys were starting to shut down. jesse was just shy of turning 14, when we received this news. from that moment on, jesse's doc put him on heart medicine to help the blood flow easier thru his kidneys. jesse's doctor said she was surprised to know of a golden retriever living this long & said it had to do with all the love & care he was being given. she also said, it was common for a dog of his age (which didn't help me). but she said, that jesse deserved to eat whatever he wanted, so, on march 6th, 2013 jesse's 14th birthday, i made him his favorite dinner, turkey breast & all the trimmings! for his birthday cake, jesse had carrot cake, which he loved! i did my best to make sure jesse was happy, healthy, comfortable and loved, as he could be since his diagnosis. this past saturday night, oct 5th, my family had pizza night, which was a favorite of jesse's too, as he loved all the pizza crust he got to eat! jesse didn't want to have any & i knew something was up. jesse wouldn't eat on saturday even though i tried giving him his favorites, turkey & bacon. saturday night i slept w/ him in front of the fire place, where he was settled since friday night. sunday came & jesse again, wouldn't eat & he started not to drink either. i could tell by his eyes, that the end was coming. it broke my heart! monday morning, he just gave me a look that said, "mommy, it's time, i can't fight no more". with that, i called my husband home from work & we gathered our girls & we went to jesse's vet. with all of us being around jesse, with me holding his paw & stroking & kissing his head....jesse went to sleep. the suffering was over for him, but not for me. it just began. jesse-boo, i miss you & i love you so very much! you are Forever in my heart, as you were my heart! i know time will help w/ the pain, but my heart will always ache for you. i miss our snuggle time! when it's my time, you better be at the bridge to meet me, with your brothers tanoose, jake & sister alina. forever in my heart & with your paw print on it! i love you & miss you, MY "jesse-boo"!! love, mommy xoxoxo (Jesse's family has set up a recurring monthly donation to honor Jesse's memory and to help other SGRR dogs in need.) Roxy...
"To our dear Roxy, we will miss you girl, especially your Dad. Run free, friend." ~ Love, PW Dog Run Booji...
"Booji, beloved companion and friend to Irene and Claude. You were much loved and will be greatly missed. Say hi to Sheba at the Rainbow Bridge." From - Susan OBO, Age 12...
Wonderful OBO visiting the nursing home, all calm and content after his morning swim. Oh OBO, you were my close friend for 5 years and I will always love and miss your gentle enthusiasm for what ever life could bring. I miss you forever...
~Bobbi Huck...
I got Huck approximately in 2008 through Sunshine Golden Retriever. At the time, it was estimated that he was about 12 years old, but "had lots of sweet life left in him". That proved to be an understatement. Although he had no bark, had no youth, he came with an abundance of hope, love and devotion to offer our family something we didn't know we were missing - a wet and muddy dog in our life again! He came, he saw - river, lake and ocean and he went...... splash! Leaving us on the embankment waiting for him to have his fill, it just never happened! This quiet soul was full of love for nature, water, trails, people, other dogs and more. The sweetest boy ever. He loved us all the way! Although we didn't have him as long as our first pup, he joined a list of dogs who loved and were beloved - and he'll be thought of so often, especially as I tramp through the woods and look over at the flowing river, where he ran and went splash! Till we meet again Huckie
~ Love, Mom Dakota...
"In honor of Dakota and Mike Lingenfelter, and The Angel By My Side" ~David |
In memory of Molly
In honor of Molly Souza at the Lazy Dog Inn. Hope are you meeting up with Meagan and the two of you are having a blast! We miss you. ~Love, Mike, Sandy & Emmitt Molly was the beloved dog of Steve and Lauren Sousa, Lazy Dog Inn In memory of Molly Flynn
"Molly was very sweet, lovable and welcoming to everyone she met" ~Chris Haser & Scott Gamble
Molly was the beloved dog of Steve and Lauren Sousa, Lazy Dog Inn In memory of Truman
In memory of Ginger
"In honor and memory of sweet, sweet Ginger"
~from your friends at the run. In memory of Bella Recone
"In memory of Bella Recone, a beautiful Golden". ~ Margaret Curran In memory of Bentley
in memory of Bentley (aka Rusty), the sweetest dog and best companion a person could ask for.
~The Pierkowski family In memory of Rory
Our little sweetheart Rory past away today. She's been sick the last few weeks and after clearing up a bladder infection , she never really got her feet under her again and cancer was found. She adopted us over 5yrs ago. I think the first day it took her a few hours to figure out she was home and liked it. She stole our heart that first day and never gave it back. She will be sorely missed and has left a big hole in our hearts. Each dog we have brought into our family is loved and adored but this little girl was extra special. Words can not express the grief we're feeling.
~The Dumas family Emma
In Memory of Emma - Emma,
first known as Gloria, came to Sunshine in late February, 2014, after
living in a carport. She knew immediately that she was loved by her new
Mom and went with her every day to visit her new Dad at the
Alzheimer's facility. Emma knew all the residents, going to each one to
be petted and bringing smiles. She was there, calm and beautiful,
right between her Dad and his doctors during his last week. He passed
away one month after Emma's arrival, at the end of March.
Emma and her Mom carried on. Emma attended Committee Meetings and befriended every resident of the senior community where she lived. Everyone knew Emma and everyone loved her. After suddenly becoming ill, Emma crossed the Rainbow Bridge on May 6, 2014. Her Mom has lost her husband and her beautiful Golden within three months, but she is happy and grateful that Emma entered her life just when she needed her most. She told Sunshine that Emma was "a great gift." It was mutual. In those last three months of life, Emma had more love and companionship than some dogs ever know. Emma and her Mom rescued each other. We are reminded that it is not the length of a life, but the quality of a life that matters - and, that every rescue is important.~from Sunshine Golden Retriever Rescue Seger
A donation has been made to Sunshine Golden Retriever Rescue in memory of Seger, the Carr family's beloved dog. He will be missed!
Champ...
"We will miss you so much sweet Champ. You brought a special light to the neighborhood that we all cherished. May you rest in peace dear friend."
~Kim Wilcox In memory of Ciny and Nutmeg
In memory of Ciny and Nutmeg who wish to sponsor SGRR's Chance on his new journey! ~ Leone Family Malone...
"In memory of Malone, who passed away at age 13 on 7/1/13 and is missed by his owner, Robert Paquette." From John M Champ
Champ –10-4-2103 - 1 Month Anniversary
Feast of St Francis of Assisi It has been one month since our golden Champ left us. He is so missed but I realize I have so much to thank him for. Champ - Thank You for… -Helping me to get up in the morning; you knew how I hated to get up but giving you a belly rub helped us both to get up -Taking me on early morning walks to see the morning mist, sun emerging and experience the peaceful quiet of the new day -Allowing me to see each season bud, burst, bloom and fade as we walked and enjoyed each others company -Being the first to walk in new snow and see how you loved to lick this frosty treat -Making me sit with you and watch the sunset and see the beauty of the tall leafless trees -Allowing me to feel the wind, rain, freezing cold air, hot and humid seasonal temperatures of all kinds -The night walks where I saw the stars and moon and skies of all kinds -Stopping on our walks so you made sure I took in all nature surrounding us -Being a Golden Retriever and picking up the newspaper for our neighbors and delivering them to the front doors and then coming to me for your apple slice reward -Meeting our neighbors and making friends both young and old; folks who waited to see us on our walks and pet you -Going with me to visit Seniors and letting them pet your soft golden fur -Running on the sand and in parks so I could witness such pure joy in your runs and playfulness -Choosing which way to go on our walks because it was really your walk -Entertaining us with your "moose training", bed pulls and ball playing under the couch -Savoring your bone and tossing it up and down to show your profound happiness before devouring it -Telling me when to take a break from the computer by your nose resting on or nudging my arm -Reminding me to go to bed at 8PM because you knew how much I needed to rest and watch TV in bed -Telling me to pet you by thumping your big front paw to get my attention -Reminding us when your 4:30PM dinner time approached -Eating every morsel of your breakfast and dinner and keeping vigil by the fridge to help remind me to get your applesauce -For letting us care for and love such a wonderful golden and allowing us the pleasure of your company! Champ - We did not know how much you taught us and how much we have to be thankful for!!! Your family - G, D, M and G Yogi...
"Rest in peace, my friend. You were damaged beyond my ability to repair you, but I hope you know that for the last year and a half, you were loved." ~Mom
In Memory of Meghan
"She will be missed by her family and friends alike, but never forgotten. We know that where ever she is Meghan is barking orders, keeping everyone in check! Love you Meghan!"
~From Mike, Sandy & Emmitt Pendergast Meghan was the beloved dog of Steve and Lauren Sousa, Lazy Dog Inn Turbo...
"In memory of Turbo, who passed away from cancer. He was one of our favorite four-legged nephews,"
From Joe, Mary, Mia and Emily Bear-Bear...
I adopted Bear Bear in 2007, when he had been abandoned by his owners who tied him under a trailer, moved, and left him to die. His arthritis was horribly exacerbated so that he couldn't walk a single stair. Half of his fur had to be shaved because he had been lying in a pile of oil for days. He also tried to drink the oil to stay alive, and his insides were a mess. Because his top teeth had been yanked out for "hunting," the front of his tongue hung out of his mouth and shriveled to the point that he could barely use it to drink. The vet estimated his age was between 7-10+, and cautioned me that he was not likely to live much longer. Thank God for Martha and SGRR, who found him a wonderful foster in Florida then transported him to Connecticut for a new life.
While too much of Bear Bear’s life was marred by pain and physical challenges, you wouldn’t have known from his cheerful spirit. When he badly hurt his eye by running into debris buried in snow, he barely whimpered and I didn’t know how severe the injury was until the vet, also shocked, said that he needed corneal graft surgery. Bear Bear shouldered the surgery and months of recovery with the same stoic acceptance (much more than his mom, who was horrified and cried throughout the ordeal!). After observing his steadfast resilience, the vet nicknamed him the Energizer Bunny. Bear Bear actually worked with me in developing a physical therapy regimen. When I stretched his legs, he wrapped his “toes” around my hand as if he were shaking hands. We learned together how to help him go upstairs; he sat at the bottom until I was ready, then I supported his back legs as he took the steps one-by-one. Until the final weeks, Bear Bear greeted me at the door every time I came home, tossing his big head in an awesome, goofy way and "talking” until I petted him enough. He loved watching squirrels and occasionally attempted to chase after them with a few eager gallops. If he wanted to go for a ride, he sat by the garage and whimpered pitifully until I gave in; then he immediately headed for the rear passenger door and waited for me to pick him up and lay him on his dog bed in the back of the SUV. He learned that if he wanted *anything*, he could stare in its general direction until I looked the same way and realized what it was. Squeaky toys fascinated him; he loved ice cubes even though they were constantly falling out the gaps in his teeth, so we worked out a routine where I caught them and popped them back in for him! (Come to think of it, Mom may have been the one who was pretty well-trained…..) Bear Bear tolerated many Halloween costumes over the years; last year he was a male bride because Mom misjudged the size of the cowboy outfit. This year he was a Cinco de Mayo celebrant and handsomely posed for the photos. Two weeks later, I noticed that his gums were badly swollen and was alarmed enough to immediately schedule a vet appointment (though he had a check-up just days earlier). I thought it was an abscess. The vet confirmed that it was either that, or a very aggressive form of oral cancer. Sadly, it turned out to be the latter. The tumor grew so quickly that it was the size of a tangerine in 3 weeks, and because of its location, it was inoperable because most of his jaw would have to be removed. It was heartbreaking to witness his labored breathing, massive hemorrhaging, and failing appetite. I tried to relieve his suffering with multiple medications and hand-fed him soft food, but it became clear that he was worn out and had so much discomfort that the loving decision was to let him go. On December 3, 2012, Bear Bear crossed the Rainbow Bridge in the comfort of his home, with his head in my lap and surrounded by his sisters Delta and Honey and brother Jim. I sensed the peace and quiet relief as he lay in my arms, and I know to have kept him here longer would have been for much more my benefit than his. I know that we'll all be together again someday, but I will miss him terribly in this world. ~Jennifer |