Sunshine Angels
Shadow
Click to read more about me!
Rest peacefully, sweet Shadow.
Breed: Golden Retriever/Rough-Coated Collie mix
Color: Cream and White
Age: 9-10 years
Size: 50 lbs
Sex: Male
Shadow is one of those dogs who makes you grin from ear to ear! He has a gentle demeanor and kind expressive eyes. Read more about this wonderful guy on his bio page.
Breed: Golden Retriever/Rough-Coated Collie mix
Color: Cream and White
Age: 9-10 years
Size: 50 lbs
Sex: Male
Shadow is one of those dogs who makes you grin from ear to ear! He has a gentle demeanor and kind expressive eyes. Read more about this wonderful guy on his bio page.
Charly (formerly Crimson) - Free to Fly
Beautiful Charly, who came to Sunshine as Crimson, a stray in LA, went to her home in February with Carolyn and Joe, a wonderful couple who live in rural VT. They knew something traumatic had happened to Charly in her past and they wanted to help her become the dog she was meant to be. Charly had some happy times and knew she was loved, especially in her safe place which was the bedroom, where she would run and play. But she was extremely afraid of being outdoors. Even normal outdoor sounds and sights like birds chirping or snow falling frightened her to the extent that she had to be carried outside to potty. She was simply terrified and it showed in her eyes. Carolyn and Joe reached out to veterinarians both locally and at Cornell, and a behaviorist who had experience with traumatized dogs. Eventually there were no other behavioral solutions or medicines to try, and they knew they had run out of options for helping Charly; she was living much of her life in fear. We always want happy endings for rescue dogs and sometimes it simply cannot be. With the advice and support of their veterinarians and her devoted trainer, they helped Charly across the Bridge to free her from her fears.
Rescue dogs are generally amazingly resilient and do not tell their secrets. We will never know what caused Charly to be so terrified of being outdoors that she could not recover, even with all the love and patience and kindness that she had in her home with Carolyn and Joe. Charly was estimated to be four years old, making their decision especially painful, and our hearts break with theirs that they have lost this sweet soul they grew to love. At the same time, there is relief for Charly that she is free of her demons and the past that haunted her. Run free and be happy with the Sunshine dogs who have crossed the Bridge before you, Charly, knowing that you were truly loved in this world.
Rescue dogs are generally amazingly resilient and do not tell their secrets. We will never know what caused Charly to be so terrified of being outdoors that she could not recover, even with all the love and patience and kindness that she had in her home with Carolyn and Joe. Charly was estimated to be four years old, making their decision especially painful, and our hearts break with theirs that they have lost this sweet soul they grew to love. At the same time, there is relief for Charly that she is free of her demons and the past that haunted her. Run free and be happy with the Sunshine dogs who have crossed the Bridge before you, Charly, knowing that you were truly loved in this world.
Sheba
Rest In Peace
Beautiful Sheba became ill suddenly the evening of July 2, 2020 and we had to set her free.
Thankfully, Sheba was in a loving foster home and knew all good things with them—watching TV, trotting in the yard, peanut butter kongs. Thanks to all who asked for Sheba and wanted to provide her a loving forever home. She was as sweet as she was pretty and we will always love her.
Sheba had a good last day. Foster Cheryl took her for a spa day to be groomed and Sheba enjoyed chicken that Cheryl cooked for her. Suddenly in the evening, Sheba seemed in pain and Cheryl and Paul rushed her to the emergency clinic. Sheba had a twisted bowel. Due to her age and heartworms, the vets gave her only a 20% chance of surviving surgery, probably less. It would have been unkind to put her through surgery, and so Sheba was set free. It was a very sad evening and it all happened so quickly.
Thanks to Cheryl and Paul for giving Sheba great care in their home. Sheba was able to know she was loved and had a wonderful foster home. And many thanks to Lisa who had to make the difficult decision to let her go. It is so sad when we lose any dog who has not reached a forever home, yet we are grateful that Sheba was with Cheryl and Paul and not at a clinic or shelter. To Sheba, she was home.
Sheba was a sweet girl as well as beautiful. She had the cutest trot, watched TV, liked peanut butter kongs, and enjoyed the couch. Be happy and free of pain, Sheba, with your Sunshine friends greeting you at the bridge. We will always have a place for you in our hearts.
Beautiful Sheba became ill suddenly the evening of July 2, 2020 and we had to set her free.
Thankfully, Sheba was in a loving foster home and knew all good things with them—watching TV, trotting in the yard, peanut butter kongs. Thanks to all who asked for Sheba and wanted to provide her a loving forever home. She was as sweet as she was pretty and we will always love her.
Sheba had a good last day. Foster Cheryl took her for a spa day to be groomed and Sheba enjoyed chicken that Cheryl cooked for her. Suddenly in the evening, Sheba seemed in pain and Cheryl and Paul rushed her to the emergency clinic. Sheba had a twisted bowel. Due to her age and heartworms, the vets gave her only a 20% chance of surviving surgery, probably less. It would have been unkind to put her through surgery, and so Sheba was set free. It was a very sad evening and it all happened so quickly.
Thanks to Cheryl and Paul for giving Sheba great care in their home. Sheba was able to know she was loved and had a wonderful foster home. And many thanks to Lisa who had to make the difficult decision to let her go. It is so sad when we lose any dog who has not reached a forever home, yet we are grateful that Sheba was with Cheryl and Paul and not at a clinic or shelter. To Sheba, she was home.
Sheba was a sweet girl as well as beautiful. She had the cutest trot, watched TV, liked peanut butter kongs, and enjoyed the couch. Be happy and free of pain, Sheba, with your Sunshine friends greeting you at the bridge. We will always have a place for you in our hearts.
Gracie
It is with a heavy heart that we share that our sweet, sweet Gracie crossed the Rainbow Bridge on Monday, February 10, 2020, after losing her battle with the distemper virus.
Gracie arrived on January 18th and was welcomed lovingly by her new mom and dad. Her family adored her to pieces! Gracie was only 8 months old and had a Sunshiney-golden life to look forward to. Within weeks, Gracie started to exhibit some medical symptoms prompting the family to seek veterinary attention.
Gracie was admitted into the hospital’s ICU unit and for a week she fought to overcome the effects of distemper. The hospital staff quickly fell in love with this precious girl. Her mom and dad surrounded her with endless love and gave her the will to fight this battle every minute. Unfortunately, the distemper virus was too much for Gracie to overcome and Gracie received her angel wings. Gracie’s parents, the hospital staff, and the Sunshine family are all heartbroken.
Gracie's zesty golden spirit truly left a paw-print on everyone she met. Gracie, you were loved sweet girl. Run happy and free. You will be forever in our hearts.
Although Gracie was vaccinated for distemper in Sunshine’s care, Gracie must have been exposed previously to distemper. In Gracie’s honor, please take a moment to consider the importance of annual Veterinarian visits and vaccinations.
Gracie arrived on January 18th and was welcomed lovingly by her new mom and dad. Her family adored her to pieces! Gracie was only 8 months old and had a Sunshiney-golden life to look forward to. Within weeks, Gracie started to exhibit some medical symptoms prompting the family to seek veterinary attention.
Gracie was admitted into the hospital’s ICU unit and for a week she fought to overcome the effects of distemper. The hospital staff quickly fell in love with this precious girl. Her mom and dad surrounded her with endless love and gave her the will to fight this battle every minute. Unfortunately, the distemper virus was too much for Gracie to overcome and Gracie received her angel wings. Gracie’s parents, the hospital staff, and the Sunshine family are all heartbroken.
Gracie's zesty golden spirit truly left a paw-print on everyone she met. Gracie, you were loved sweet girl. Run happy and free. You will be forever in our hearts.
Although Gracie was vaccinated for distemper in Sunshine’s care, Gracie must have been exposed previously to distemper. In Gracie’s honor, please take a moment to consider the importance of annual Veterinarian visits and vaccinations.
In Memory and Honor of Simon
In mid-November our hearts broke when we lost magnificent senior, Simon, to distemper. Simon was a 10-year old purebred Golden Retriever who exemplified the best of his breed: loving, gentle, curious, handsome, and sweet to his core. Simon had lived his 10 years as a yard dog in AL before coming to Sunshine when his owner could no longer care for him, which was Simon’s lucky day. He was undernourished and heartworm positive, but we thought he had years ahead of him and we couldn’t wait to find him a loving forever home.
We suspect Simon had never seen a veterinarian or received puppy shots, let alone annual vaccinations, and he developed “old dog distemper” which took his life. This is a harsh reminder to all of us of the importance of annual vaccines. The AKC states that Distemper is one of the most serious diseases a dog can get. It is also one of the most preventable and is considered to be a “core vaccination” along with parvovirus and rabies vaccinations. Distemper is highly contagious and potentially lethal, as happened to Simon. It is closely related to the measles virus and causes severe illness by attacking multiple body systems, and is very difficult to treat. Our Veterinarian partner tried so hard to save Simon, but it was not to be, and we are so grateful for her heartfelt efforts.
We take comfort knowing that Simon lived the last weeks of his life in the loving care of our wonderful fosters, Cheryl and Paul, who for years have cared for our most needy dogs. Simon, at first, would not come into their house from the yard, but once he became familiar with a dog bed, warmth, and petting, he did not want to go out! He even had a sweater to wear in a cold spell! He enjoyed peanut butter, chicken and special treats, and we are sure he has some happy stories to tell other Sunshine dogs who have crossed the Rainbow Bridge before him.
In Simon’s honor, please take a moment to consider the importance of your dog’s annual Veterinarian visits and vaccinations. If you would like to make any small contribution to Sunshine to pay for other rescue dogs to be vaccinated, that is of course always appreciated. Mostly, we take this moment to remember a truly wonderful Golden.
Run free and happy, sweet Simon. We won’t forget you.
We suspect Simon had never seen a veterinarian or received puppy shots, let alone annual vaccinations, and he developed “old dog distemper” which took his life. This is a harsh reminder to all of us of the importance of annual vaccines. The AKC states that Distemper is one of the most serious diseases a dog can get. It is also one of the most preventable and is considered to be a “core vaccination” along with parvovirus and rabies vaccinations. Distemper is highly contagious and potentially lethal, as happened to Simon. It is closely related to the measles virus and causes severe illness by attacking multiple body systems, and is very difficult to treat. Our Veterinarian partner tried so hard to save Simon, but it was not to be, and we are so grateful for her heartfelt efforts.
We take comfort knowing that Simon lived the last weeks of his life in the loving care of our wonderful fosters, Cheryl and Paul, who for years have cared for our most needy dogs. Simon, at first, would not come into their house from the yard, but once he became familiar with a dog bed, warmth, and petting, he did not want to go out! He even had a sweater to wear in a cold spell! He enjoyed peanut butter, chicken and special treats, and we are sure he has some happy stories to tell other Sunshine dogs who have crossed the Rainbow Bridge before him.
In Simon’s honor, please take a moment to consider the importance of your dog’s annual Veterinarian visits and vaccinations. If you would like to make any small contribution to Sunshine to pay for other rescue dogs to be vaccinated, that is of course always appreciated. Mostly, we take this moment to remember a truly wonderful Golden.
Run free and happy, sweet Simon. We won’t forget you.
Thank you to the angels who donated in Simon's honor and memory:
Kathleen Kelly, Karin Artinian, Kim O’Brien, Mary Montefusco, Susan Love, John Cavallo, Erma Pascucci, Nancy Bocian, Dave Tibbetts
Kathleen Kelly, Karin Artinian, Kim O’Brien, Mary Montefusco, Susan Love, John Cavallo, Erma Pascucci, Nancy Bocian, Dave Tibbetts
Charlie Brown - RIP
Sweet little senior, Charlie Brown, crossed the Rainbow Bridge on Monday, September 23, 2019. He developed complications from a surgery to remove the large growth that was affecting his mobility. We had to try to help him in spite of his advanced age. We are heartbroken that Charlie Brown did not recover and get to his wonderful waiting adopter. This is the sad side of rescue — and we are so grateful to his veterinarian and vet staff who loved and cared for him during his time with us.
Charlie Brown was a happy dog who loved everyone and touched many hearts. We imagine him running free and joyfully with the Sunshine dogs who have crossed the Bridge before him.
We love you, Charlie Brown.
Charlie Brown was a happy dog who loved everyone and touched many hearts. We imagine him running free and joyfully with the Sunshine dogs who have crossed the Bridge before him.
We love you, Charlie Brown.
Lola
In memory of beautiful SGRR Lola, who died accidentally from ingesting Ibuprofen...
We promised we would share information about food, plants, and medicines that are poisonous to pets in hopes of preventing another tragedy. We recently posted information about safe and toxic foods. Below is comprehensive information about human medications. Even if you feel you are cautious, it is well worth reading. Most importantly, if you have not yet done so, please post the APCC Poison Control Hotline where you can easily use it if ever needed. We hope it never will be. ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (APCC) 888-426-4435
The AVMA (American Veterinary Medical Association) lists the ten top “poison pills” ingested by pets. The result is that about one quarter of all phone calls to the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (APCC) 888-426-4435 are about human medications. There are several things we can do to prevent accidentally poisoning our pets, and easy steps we can all take are also listed below. Please take a minute to read this valuable information, in honor of Lola. It may someday save your own best friend, who depends on you.
10 “POISON PILLS” Ingested by Pets
The APCC provided the 10 most common human medication complaints they receive. Here they are, in order based on the number of complaints:
1 Ibuprofen – Ibuprofen (Advil®, Motrin®) is the most common human medication ingested by pets. Many brands have a sweet outer coating that makes it appealing to pets (think "M&M," but a potentially deadly one). Ibuprofen can cause stomach ulcers and kidney failure.
2 Tramadol – Tramadol (Ultram®) is a pain reliever. Your veterinarian may prescribe it for your pet, but only at a dose that's appropriate for your pet – never give your medication to your pet without first consulting your veterinarian! Too much tramadol can cause sedation or agitation, wobbliness, disorientation, vomiting, tremors and possibly seizures.
3 Alprazolam – Alprazolam (Xanax®) is prescribed as an anti-anxiety medication and a sleep-aid. Most pets that ingest alprazolam can become sleepy and wobbly; however a few will become very agitated instead. These pills are commonly ingested by pets as people put them out on the nightstand so they remember to take them. Large doses of alprazolam can drop the blood pressure and could cause weakness or collapse.
4 Adderall® – Adderall® is a combination of four different amphetamines and is used to treat Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) in children. This medication doesn't have the same effect in pets as it does in people; it acts as a stimulant in our pets and causes elevated heart rate and body temperature, along with hyperactivity, tremors and seizures.
5 Zolpidem – Zolpidem (Ambien®) is a sleep-aid for people. Pets commonly eat pills left on the bedside table. Zolpidem may make cats wobbly and sleepy, but most pets become very agitated and develop elevated heart rates.
6 Clonazepam – Clonazepam (Klonopin®) is used as an anticonvulsant and anti-anxiety medication. It is sometimes also prescribed as a sleep-aid. When animals ingest clonazepam they can become sleep and wobbly. Too much clonazepam can lower the blood pressure, leading to weakness or collapse.
7 Acetaminophen – Acetaminophen (Tylenol®) is a very common pain killer found in most households. Cats are extremely sensitive to acetaminophen, but dogs can be affected too. Acetaminophen can cause liver damage. It can also cause damage to your pet's red blood cells so that the cells are unable to carry oxygen – like your body, your pet's body needs oxygen to survive.
8 Naproxen – Naproxen (Aleve®, Naprosyn®) is an over-the-counter pain reliever. Dogs and cats are very sensitive to naproxen and even small amounts can cause stomach ulcers and kidney failure.
9 Duloxetine – Duloxetine (Cymbalta®) is prescribed as an antidepressant and anti-anxiety agent. When ingested by pets it can cause agitation, vocalization, tremors and seizures.
10 Venlafaxine – Venlafaxine (Effexor®) is an antidepressant. For some unknown reason, cats love to eat the capsules. Ingestion can cause agitation, vocalization, tremors and seizures.
As you can tell from this list, a medication that does one thing for people does not necessarily do the same for our pets. And although this may be the list of the medications about which the APCC receives the largest numbers of complaints, remember that any human medication could pose a risk to your pets – not just these 10.
Here is a link to the general classes of human medications that are poisonous to our pets: www.petpoisonhelpline.com/pet-owners/basics/top-10-human-medications-poisonous-to-pets
You can keep your pets safe by following simple common sense guidelines:
• Always keep human medications away from pets unless you are specifically instructed by a veterinarian to give the medication
• Do not leave pills sitting on counter or any place a pet can get to them
• Do not leave pill bottles within reach of pets (You'll be surprised how fast your dog can chew through a pill bottle.)
• If you're taking medications out of the bottle and you drop any of it, pick it up immediately so you know your pet won't be able to eat it
• Always contact your veterinarian if your pet has ingested any medication not prescribed for them
• Never give your medication (or any medications prescribed for a two-legged family member) to your pet without first consulting a veterinarian
…and last, but not least, always keep the number for your veterinarian and the APCC handy where you will see it. Don’t assume you will remember where it is in an emergency. ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (APCC) 888-426-4435
We promised we would share information about food, plants, and medicines that are poisonous to pets in hopes of preventing another tragedy. We recently posted information about safe and toxic foods. Below is comprehensive information about human medications. Even if you feel you are cautious, it is well worth reading. Most importantly, if you have not yet done so, please post the APCC Poison Control Hotline where you can easily use it if ever needed. We hope it never will be. ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (APCC) 888-426-4435
The AVMA (American Veterinary Medical Association) lists the ten top “poison pills” ingested by pets. The result is that about one quarter of all phone calls to the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (APCC) 888-426-4435 are about human medications. There are several things we can do to prevent accidentally poisoning our pets, and easy steps we can all take are also listed below. Please take a minute to read this valuable information, in honor of Lola. It may someday save your own best friend, who depends on you.
10 “POISON PILLS” Ingested by Pets
The APCC provided the 10 most common human medication complaints they receive. Here they are, in order based on the number of complaints:
1 Ibuprofen – Ibuprofen (Advil®, Motrin®) is the most common human medication ingested by pets. Many brands have a sweet outer coating that makes it appealing to pets (think "M&M," but a potentially deadly one). Ibuprofen can cause stomach ulcers and kidney failure.
2 Tramadol – Tramadol (Ultram®) is a pain reliever. Your veterinarian may prescribe it for your pet, but only at a dose that's appropriate for your pet – never give your medication to your pet without first consulting your veterinarian! Too much tramadol can cause sedation or agitation, wobbliness, disorientation, vomiting, tremors and possibly seizures.
3 Alprazolam – Alprazolam (Xanax®) is prescribed as an anti-anxiety medication and a sleep-aid. Most pets that ingest alprazolam can become sleepy and wobbly; however a few will become very agitated instead. These pills are commonly ingested by pets as people put them out on the nightstand so they remember to take them. Large doses of alprazolam can drop the blood pressure and could cause weakness or collapse.
4 Adderall® – Adderall® is a combination of four different amphetamines and is used to treat Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) in children. This medication doesn't have the same effect in pets as it does in people; it acts as a stimulant in our pets and causes elevated heart rate and body temperature, along with hyperactivity, tremors and seizures.
5 Zolpidem – Zolpidem (Ambien®) is a sleep-aid for people. Pets commonly eat pills left on the bedside table. Zolpidem may make cats wobbly and sleepy, but most pets become very agitated and develop elevated heart rates.
6 Clonazepam – Clonazepam (Klonopin®) is used as an anticonvulsant and anti-anxiety medication. It is sometimes also prescribed as a sleep-aid. When animals ingest clonazepam they can become sleep and wobbly. Too much clonazepam can lower the blood pressure, leading to weakness or collapse.
7 Acetaminophen – Acetaminophen (Tylenol®) is a very common pain killer found in most households. Cats are extremely sensitive to acetaminophen, but dogs can be affected too. Acetaminophen can cause liver damage. It can also cause damage to your pet's red blood cells so that the cells are unable to carry oxygen – like your body, your pet's body needs oxygen to survive.
8 Naproxen – Naproxen (Aleve®, Naprosyn®) is an over-the-counter pain reliever. Dogs and cats are very sensitive to naproxen and even small amounts can cause stomach ulcers and kidney failure.
9 Duloxetine – Duloxetine (Cymbalta®) is prescribed as an antidepressant and anti-anxiety agent. When ingested by pets it can cause agitation, vocalization, tremors and seizures.
10 Venlafaxine – Venlafaxine (Effexor®) is an antidepressant. For some unknown reason, cats love to eat the capsules. Ingestion can cause agitation, vocalization, tremors and seizures.
As you can tell from this list, a medication that does one thing for people does not necessarily do the same for our pets. And although this may be the list of the medications about which the APCC receives the largest numbers of complaints, remember that any human medication could pose a risk to your pets – not just these 10.
Here is a link to the general classes of human medications that are poisonous to our pets: www.petpoisonhelpline.com/pet-owners/basics/top-10-human-medications-poisonous-to-pets
You can keep your pets safe by following simple common sense guidelines:
• Always keep human medications away from pets unless you are specifically instructed by a veterinarian to give the medication
• Do not leave pills sitting on counter or any place a pet can get to them
• Do not leave pill bottles within reach of pets (You'll be surprised how fast your dog can chew through a pill bottle.)
• If you're taking medications out of the bottle and you drop any of it, pick it up immediately so you know your pet won't be able to eat it
• Always contact your veterinarian if your pet has ingested any medication not prescribed for them
• Never give your medication (or any medications prescribed for a two-legged family member) to your pet without first consulting a veterinarian
…and last, but not least, always keep the number for your veterinarian and the APCC handy where you will see it. Don’t assume you will remember where it is in an emergency. ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (APCC) 888-426-4435
Hayley - RIP
Pretty Hayley with the pure and happy spirit crossed The Rainbow Bridge on Saturday, July 28, due to cancer. Hayley became ill rather suddenly and declined quickly. Her vets agreed it was not possible to pull her through and that the kindest thing would be to let her go. We are heartbroken. She was as sweet as can be and we so wanted her to have her chance at a golden Sunshine life. We are comforted knowing that Hayley received love, pets, and kindness during her final weeks and we think about all the Sunshine dogs who are welcoming her warmly at The Bridge. Run free and happy, Hayley, knowing you were loved.
Cody
4/23/18 - We are heartbroken to report that Cody (on the right) has crossed the Rainbow Bridge. Cody had a cough which suddenly became much worse. Overnight emergency care was needed and it was determined Cody had congestive heart failure. His prognosis was 2-3 weeks, even with many medications. With veterinarians’ advice, the decision was made to let him go the next day. His loving fosters were with him and we are so grateful to them for loving Cody. We are also grateful to all the other Sunshine volunteers who knew this sweet dog and cared for him. Cody loved his stuffed teddy bear and his ball. He loved his sister, Cady. They loved their walks together and slept together. He was good to his sister except when he ate her food! He was a dear boy who is now at peace.
4/23/18 - We are heartbroken to report that Cody (on the right) has crossed the Rainbow Bridge. Cody had a cough which suddenly became much worse. Overnight emergency care was needed and it was determined Cody had congestive heart failure. His prognosis was 2-3 weeks, even with many medications. With veterinarians’ advice, the decision was made to let him go the next day. His loving fosters were with him and we are so grateful to them for loving Cody. We are also grateful to all the other Sunshine volunteers who knew this sweet dog and cared for him. Cody loved his stuffed teddy bear and his ball. He loved his sister, Cady. They loved their walks together and slept together. He was good to his sister except when he ate her food! He was a dear boy who is now at peace.
Max - rest in peace - 12/29/17
We lost Max this past week, tragically. Handsome, shy, 5 year-old Max
was gaining confidence and was on his way to his best years. As he was being transferred onto the transport truck that would bring him north to his forever home, Max panicked, broke free, and ran away. We did all the things that are supposed to be done, notifying vets, shelters, and calling together dedicated people to set traps and gather to search for him. But we were also dealt a big dose of bad luck when Max chose to run toward the interstate highway, rather than toward homes and woods in the opposite direction. Max was found on the side of the highway, and we are told he did not suffer.
We all, of course, are suffering. As we mourn Max’s loss, we will review practices, policies, communication, and equipment used. We will brainstorm what we can improve so that this never happens again. Sunshine is a careful rescue, putting emphasis on our dogs’ safety. We are one of the few rescues who have volunteers at transport stops to help adopters meet their dogs safely, we stress leashing in un-fenced areas, we urge the use of slip leads, and we have never been complacent about the safety of dogs in our care. Yet we learned that accidents still happen in a split second.
We urge our volunteers, fosters, adopters, applicants, and anyone reading Max’s story to take a moment for self-examination, as are we. Please do all you can to keep your dog safe. That split second when a dog chases a critter, is frightened by a sudden noise, or runs to greet someone across a street can change the dog's life and yours forever. Slip leads are the safest, but a martingale-type collar, and a long 30’ lead in open areas or at the beach can save a dog’s life. Being off-leash and having blind trust that your dog loves you and will stay with you is too risky. Sunshine will be making any changes we find are needed to honor Max and we hope you who are reading this will hug your dogs and do the same.
One of our long-time Sunshine Family members, Peggy Knox, said it succinctly and best: If we ALL come away from this tragedy with our awareness of using proper leashing at all times strengthened, Max will have succeeded in teaching and reminding us of a critical life lesson as his last act on this earth.
Rest in peace, sweet Max. You were loved by many who never met you.
was gaining confidence and was on his way to his best years. As he was being transferred onto the transport truck that would bring him north to his forever home, Max panicked, broke free, and ran away. We did all the things that are supposed to be done, notifying vets, shelters, and calling together dedicated people to set traps and gather to search for him. But we were also dealt a big dose of bad luck when Max chose to run toward the interstate highway, rather than toward homes and woods in the opposite direction. Max was found on the side of the highway, and we are told he did not suffer.
We all, of course, are suffering. As we mourn Max’s loss, we will review practices, policies, communication, and equipment used. We will brainstorm what we can improve so that this never happens again. Sunshine is a careful rescue, putting emphasis on our dogs’ safety. We are one of the few rescues who have volunteers at transport stops to help adopters meet their dogs safely, we stress leashing in un-fenced areas, we urge the use of slip leads, and we have never been complacent about the safety of dogs in our care. Yet we learned that accidents still happen in a split second.
We urge our volunteers, fosters, adopters, applicants, and anyone reading Max’s story to take a moment for self-examination, as are we. Please do all you can to keep your dog safe. That split second when a dog chases a critter, is frightened by a sudden noise, or runs to greet someone across a street can change the dog's life and yours forever. Slip leads are the safest, but a martingale-type collar, and a long 30’ lead in open areas or at the beach can save a dog’s life. Being off-leash and having blind trust that your dog loves you and will stay with you is too risky. Sunshine will be making any changes we find are needed to honor Max and we hope you who are reading this will hug your dogs and do the same.
One of our long-time Sunshine Family members, Peggy Knox, said it succinctly and best: If we ALL come away from this tragedy with our awareness of using proper leashing at all times strengthened, Max will have succeeded in teaching and reminding us of a critical life lesson as his last act on this earth.
Rest in peace, sweet Max. You were loved by many who never met you.
On October 26, 2017 SGRR took in Daisy, a senior purebred Golden who was being given away by her owner for free on Facebook. On October 27 we tearfully said goodbye as we helped her across the Bridge, our hearts broken. Cancer had taken its toll and the kindest thing we could do for Daisy was hold her and let her go. Daisy was a beautiful, sweet Golden who lived a life of neglect as an outside dog. She deserved so much more. If only she had come to us sooner. If only she could have learned that rescue makes a difference. If only she could have known love and human companionship with one of our kind families waiting for a dog, even for a few weeks or months.
Daisy’s sad story is a reminder of the value of rescue. Daisy was a Sunshine dog for just a day, but she knew love in that day. We envision her being welcomed in dog heaven by the many SGRR dogs who will show her friendship. Run free and happy, sweet Daisy. To those of you reading this who open your hearts to a dog in need, even for a short time, we thank you. It matters.
Daisy’s sad story is a reminder of the value of rescue. Daisy was a Sunshine dog for just a day, but she knew love in that day. We envision her being welcomed in dog heaven by the many SGRR dogs who will show her friendship. Run free and happy, sweet Daisy. To those of you reading this who open your hearts to a dog in need, even for a short time, we thank you. It matters.
Sam was found in August in a garage in Mississippi. Emaciated, flea infested, and so weak, he probably had only a few days left. But Sam found his way to Sunshine and to a loving foster home where he could begin a slow recovery, be treated for heart worms, and then find his forever home. It took weeks, but Sam’s sweet Golden/Lab personality began to emerge and his legs regained some strength. He liked Foster Lisa’s resident dogs and he was fascinated with the family cat. Sam loved being petted and shown love. His absolute favorite person was Foster Lisa’s 9 month-old granddaughter, whom he just adored! But Sam’s recovery slowed and it became apparent that his recovery was not going to reach a point where he could survive heartworm treatment. Sam, who was probably between 14 and 16 years old, let us know that he was tired. He was happy and knew he was loved, but he was ready to leave us. Earlier this week Foster Lisa was with Sam when he crossed the bridge. We will miss this sweetest of old souls who touched the heart of every person he met. He received a lifetime of love in his months with Sunshine. We are so grateful to Foster Lisa for loving him, and to Sam for reminding us all what love can do.
Tazz' Story
On August 11 & 12, 2016 historic rain and flooding was widespread, stretching from the northern parts of East Baton Rouge Parish to the Denham Springs area to Tangipahoa Parish in Louisiana. As much as a foot of rain was dumped in some places. Denham Springs Animal Shelter was completely engulfed in rising floodwaters, leaving just the roof of the building barely visible. The dedicated staff and volunteers fought to save as many animals as possible from the flood waters, though many did not survive. Eventually the workers had to unlatch the kennel doors and let the dogs swim out and climb onto the roof. Tazz was one of only 14 dogs who survived and came to our rescue by a twist of fate. He was not on the list of dogs that we were slated to take in but he was among the arrivals when the flood dogs were delivered to our rescue. How could we possibly send him back?!
Whatever happened in his previous life to cause him to be at the shelter, we will never know. But worse than that, this 3 year old boy never received heartworm preventative and his body was filled with heart worms. We needed to get him through heartworm treatment so that he could be adopted by a waiting forever family and receive the attention and love he deserved. But he never had that chance because he died due to complications during heartworm treatment.
On August 11 & 12, 2016 historic rain and flooding was widespread, stretching from the northern parts of East Baton Rouge Parish to the Denham Springs area to Tangipahoa Parish in Louisiana. As much as a foot of rain was dumped in some places. Denham Springs Animal Shelter was completely engulfed in rising floodwaters, leaving just the roof of the building barely visible. The dedicated staff and volunteers fought to save as many animals as possible from the flood waters, though many did not survive. Eventually the workers had to unlatch the kennel doors and let the dogs swim out and climb onto the roof. Tazz was one of only 14 dogs who survived and came to our rescue by a twist of fate. He was not on the list of dogs that we were slated to take in but he was among the arrivals when the flood dogs were delivered to our rescue. How could we possibly send him back?!
Whatever happened in his previous life to cause him to be at the shelter, we will never know. But worse than that, this 3 year old boy never received heartworm preventative and his body was filled with heart worms. We needed to get him through heartworm treatment so that he could be adopted by a waiting forever family and receive the attention and love he deserved. But he never had that chance because he died due to complications during heartworm treatment.
Tazz’s premature death should not have happened. Too many dogs die this way and it is very preventable.
Give your dog one monthly pill like Heartgard and you will save your dog from such a sad ending. If you cannot afford this monthly pill, speak to your vet about giving a monthly dose of Ivermectin, which is used to kill heartworms, and is a better choice than no preventative at all.
The importance of giving your dog monthly heartworm preventative is such a simple part of responsible pet care. In the South, it often means the difference between life and death. To learn more about heartworm disease, click here.
Give your dog one monthly pill like Heartgard and you will save your dog from such a sad ending. If you cannot afford this monthly pill, speak to your vet about giving a monthly dose of Ivermectin, which is used to kill heartworms, and is a better choice than no preventative at all.
The importance of giving your dog monthly heartworm preventative is such a simple part of responsible pet care. In the South, it often means the difference between life and death. To learn more about heartworm disease, click here.
Sunshine’s precious Forever Foster Callie let her foster mom, Mary, know it was time to go on May 19. Callie’s entire family was with her and she was surrounded by the love she had known with the Dempsey's for her final year. And what a year Callie had! She traveled along with her SGRR brother Jackson on trips to Maine, she helped with the pet-sitting of Doodles and a Bulldog puppy, and she had her kitties at home. She guarded her house from the front step and patrolled her yard, barking if there was danger! She slept in late with her foster Dad and she adored her foster Mom, along with her human brother and sister. Callie knew more love and happiness in the past year than many dogs know in a lifetime. Callie never let her ailments keep her down. Her courageous and loving spirit shined through her Lyme disease, thyroid issues, arthritis, mast cell cancer surgery, and even the lymphoma that eventually took her life.
Callie touched many, many hearts. Mary, Frank, Tracy, Brendon, and Jackson Dempsey welcomed Callie from her first day with them and loved her as their own. Callie knew she was “home,” and there are not enough words to express how fortunate we are to have the Dempsey's in our Sunshine family. Our thanks are sent to Driftway Animal Hospital vets and staff in Scituate, MA, for their amazing guidance and support while treating Callie. Finally, to our Sunshine supporters - thank you for the monetary donations that make it possible to give dogs like Callie the care they require for the remainder of their lives.
Here is Callie (center), with her brother Jackson and the "pet-sitter dogs” as they are delivered home, just a few days before she left us. Run free and happy, sweet girl!
Callie touched many, many hearts. Mary, Frank, Tracy, Brendon, and Jackson Dempsey welcomed Callie from her first day with them and loved her as their own. Callie knew she was “home,” and there are not enough words to express how fortunate we are to have the Dempsey's in our Sunshine family. Our thanks are sent to Driftway Animal Hospital vets and staff in Scituate, MA, for their amazing guidance and support while treating Callie. Finally, to our Sunshine supporters - thank you for the monetary donations that make it possible to give dogs like Callie the care they require for the remainder of their lives.
Here is Callie (center), with her brother Jackson and the "pet-sitter dogs” as they are delivered home, just a few days before she left us. Run free and happy, sweet girl!
Owen, our handsome, 9-year old “red” Golden has crossed The Bridge before his time. He had so much personality! Everyone who met this amazing dog loved him dearly, within minutes. He loved his toys, rolling on his back holding them up in his paws. He loved all creatures. He loved life.
Owen came to us through a Louisiana shelter, where he was brought by his former owner because he barked too much. Everyone who knows Goldens knows that leaving them alone outside without their people is torture to them, and so he barked. Worse than that, he never received heartworm preventative and he was filled with heart worms. We needed to get him through heartworm treatment so that he could be adopted by a waiting forever family and receive the attention and love he deserved. But he never had that chance. During the night of April 12 he died from affects of the heartworm treatment.
Owen’s premature death should not have happened. Too many dogs die this way, and it is preventable.
Give your dog one monthly pill like Heartgard and you will save your dog from such a sad end. If you cannot afford this monthly pill, speak to your vet about giving a monthly dose of Ivermectin, which is used to kill heartworms, and is a better choice than no preventative at all.
The importance of giving your dog monthly heartworm preventative is such a simple part of responsible pet care. In the South, it often means the difference between life and death. To learn more about heartworm disease, click here.
Owen came to us through a Louisiana shelter, where he was brought by his former owner because he barked too much. Everyone who knows Goldens knows that leaving them alone outside without their people is torture to them, and so he barked. Worse than that, he never received heartworm preventative and he was filled with heart worms. We needed to get him through heartworm treatment so that he could be adopted by a waiting forever family and receive the attention and love he deserved. But he never had that chance. During the night of April 12 he died from affects of the heartworm treatment.
Owen’s premature death should not have happened. Too many dogs die this way, and it is preventable.
Give your dog one monthly pill like Heartgard and you will save your dog from such a sad end. If you cannot afford this monthly pill, speak to your vet about giving a monthly dose of Ivermectin, which is used to kill heartworms, and is a better choice than no preventative at all.
The importance of giving your dog monthly heartworm preventative is such a simple part of responsible pet care. In the South, it often means the difference between life and death. To learn more about heartworm disease, click here.
Merlin
On 2/3/16, we received a group email from a shelter in AL with an urgent request to help a dog who had been hit by a car and was found lying on the side of a remote road. While this boy was not a Golden Retriever, his condition broke our hearts. If someone did not step forward and rescue Merlin, he would have been euthanized. By the time a Good Samaritan spotted this poor boy, it is estimated that two days had passed since his injury. Merlin suffered a compound fracture and the bone was protruding from his leg, and it was already severely infected. Merlin was rushed to our vet the following morning. She estimated Merlin to be about 6-7 years old. Merlin tested positive for heartworms, the result of a neglectful former owner. He was prepared for surgery and his right front leg was amputated. If we could get him through this, we knew one of our wonderful applicants would give him a great life.
But it was not to be. Merlin made it through the surgery and Dr Benefield was bandaging up his wound when his heart simply stopped beating. With the high level of heartworm infestation and the stress of what he had endured over the past few days, it was just too much for his already weakened heart. Many tears were shed as this angel gained his wings and crossed over The Rainbow Bridge.
It is so difficult to wrap one’s head around the events that transpired. We know that we did everything to help, but we lost him anyway. This surgery was immediately necessary to attempt to save Merlin’s life and could not have been postponed until after he completed heartworm treatment. Yet it angers us to think of the humans who failed Merlin in his past – from the previous owner who did not have him on heartworm preventative, to that same former owner who did not see to Merlin's safety, where he became a stray. And then was the callous nincompoop that hit Merlin and left him on the side of the deserted road. Like many good rescues, we at SGRR take in so many dogs who have been damaged by the humans in their former lives. We get to fix what has been broken. Most times we are successful. Nevertheless, it is the dogs we lose that just break our heart and weigh on our souls.
We share Merlin’s tale to honor his life, with the hope that his story may lead to saving the lives of other dogs. It is ironic that Merlin did not die from the injuries he sustained, but because of the lack of preventative care. The importance of giving your dog monthly heartworm preventative is such a simple, yet utterly crucial part of responsible pet care. It could mean the difference between life and death. If you know of someone who is negligent about monthly heartworm preventative care, or to learn more about heartworm disease, this link found on our website may be helpful: http://www.sunshinegoldenrescue.com/heartworm-information.html
On 2/3/16, we received a group email from a shelter in AL with an urgent request to help a dog who had been hit by a car and was found lying on the side of a remote road. While this boy was not a Golden Retriever, his condition broke our hearts. If someone did not step forward and rescue Merlin, he would have been euthanized. By the time a Good Samaritan spotted this poor boy, it is estimated that two days had passed since his injury. Merlin suffered a compound fracture and the bone was protruding from his leg, and it was already severely infected. Merlin was rushed to our vet the following morning. She estimated Merlin to be about 6-7 years old. Merlin tested positive for heartworms, the result of a neglectful former owner. He was prepared for surgery and his right front leg was amputated. If we could get him through this, we knew one of our wonderful applicants would give him a great life.
But it was not to be. Merlin made it through the surgery and Dr Benefield was bandaging up his wound when his heart simply stopped beating. With the high level of heartworm infestation and the stress of what he had endured over the past few days, it was just too much for his already weakened heart. Many tears were shed as this angel gained his wings and crossed over The Rainbow Bridge.
It is so difficult to wrap one’s head around the events that transpired. We know that we did everything to help, but we lost him anyway. This surgery was immediately necessary to attempt to save Merlin’s life and could not have been postponed until after he completed heartworm treatment. Yet it angers us to think of the humans who failed Merlin in his past – from the previous owner who did not have him on heartworm preventative, to that same former owner who did not see to Merlin's safety, where he became a stray. And then was the callous nincompoop that hit Merlin and left him on the side of the deserted road. Like many good rescues, we at SGRR take in so many dogs who have been damaged by the humans in their former lives. We get to fix what has been broken. Most times we are successful. Nevertheless, it is the dogs we lose that just break our heart and weigh on our souls.
We share Merlin’s tale to honor his life, with the hope that his story may lead to saving the lives of other dogs. It is ironic that Merlin did not die from the injuries he sustained, but because of the lack of preventative care. The importance of giving your dog monthly heartworm preventative is such a simple, yet utterly crucial part of responsible pet care. It could mean the difference between life and death. If you know of someone who is negligent about monthly heartworm preventative care, or to learn more about heartworm disease, this link found on our website may be helpful: http://www.sunshinegoldenrescue.com/heartworm-information.html
Josie
Josie, a sweet, gentle Golden mix and estimated to be 9 years old, came to Sunshine in early January in very sad, pitiful shape. She was a stray, discovered by a woman who tried to help her for several weeks before calling Sunshine. Josie must have been neglected or on her own a very long time. Her nails were so long they had curved back under into her paws and her fur was matted to her skin. She was very underweight at 45 lbs, had ear infections, a urinary tract infection, and was heartworm positive. With a long road ahead of her, Josie remained as sweet as she could be. She stood there soaking up all the petting she could get, even when the veterinarian was cutting those long nails to help her walk without pain.
Feeling better, getting lots of special attention at our vet clinic, and eating well, Josie started her recovery. But what had appeared to be a urinary tract infection did not respond to courses of antibiotics, and Josie had a habit of squatting as if in discomfort. She began losing weight rapidly even though she was eating well. Thus, X-rays were scheduled to check for kidney stones or something worse. Sadly, it was much worse, and we realized that helping Josie across the Bridge was the kindest thing we could do.
We never want to give up on a dog if there is any hope and it was difficult to let Josie go. In our minds, we know that we can’t always have happy endings, but that doesn’t help our hearts hurt any less. We take comfort in thinking of Josie running like the wind with the other Sunshine dogs who have crossed the Bridge before her.
Josie’s story is being posted to honor her as a loved Sunshine dog, and to let our Sunshine family know that in the background we are sometimes doing our best for dogs who don’t make it all the way to a forever home — but they do know love and good care in whatever time they are with us.
We would like to thank all of you who support Sunshine so that we can continue to do our best.
Josie, a sweet, gentle Golden mix and estimated to be 9 years old, came to Sunshine in early January in very sad, pitiful shape. She was a stray, discovered by a woman who tried to help her for several weeks before calling Sunshine. Josie must have been neglected or on her own a very long time. Her nails were so long they had curved back under into her paws and her fur was matted to her skin. She was very underweight at 45 lbs, had ear infections, a urinary tract infection, and was heartworm positive. With a long road ahead of her, Josie remained as sweet as she could be. She stood there soaking up all the petting she could get, even when the veterinarian was cutting those long nails to help her walk without pain.
Feeling better, getting lots of special attention at our vet clinic, and eating well, Josie started her recovery. But what had appeared to be a urinary tract infection did not respond to courses of antibiotics, and Josie had a habit of squatting as if in discomfort. She began losing weight rapidly even though she was eating well. Thus, X-rays were scheduled to check for kidney stones or something worse. Sadly, it was much worse, and we realized that helping Josie across the Bridge was the kindest thing we could do.
We never want to give up on a dog if there is any hope and it was difficult to let Josie go. In our minds, we know that we can’t always have happy endings, but that doesn’t help our hearts hurt any less. We take comfort in thinking of Josie running like the wind with the other Sunshine dogs who have crossed the Bridge before her.
Josie’s story is being posted to honor her as a loved Sunshine dog, and to let our Sunshine family know that in the background we are sometimes doing our best for dogs who don’t make it all the way to a forever home — but they do know love and good care in whatever time they are with us.
We would like to thank all of you who support Sunshine so that we can continue to do our best.