Our 2012 Alumna Katie, formerly Sahara, has left our world for the Rainbow Bridge after a couple long years with failing hearing, eyes, hips and more. Katie came to rescue as a stray and was heartworm positive.  Her body was healed and then her heart was healed when she was adopted by her loving parents Deb and Bill.
Katie was fostered by our longtime volunteers Cindy and Jim in Florida.  They recalled that when they first saw Katie, she was weak and had seen so much sun exposure and elements that the brown portion of her coloring was very light.  They gradually brought her back to health and were surprised to see her new coloring of a rich dark brown.  They said Katie was probably the sweetest dog they ever worked with and they smiled when recalling their warning to her new family to beware of her wagging tail (which was her natural long tail). She would walk around the room wagging it in her usual happy fashion and things would fall off tables.  They considered foster failing but are thankful they found Deb and Bill who gave her extraordinary kindness and love.

From her parents Deb and Bill, “Today we said goodbye to our sweet Katie.  In her 10 years with us, she never again knew hunger, only love and ice cream every day. Today was hard, but not nearly as hard as what she must have experienced in the five years before she found us. We hope we made her forget. She was the best girl, and no words can convey all she means to us or the gap she leaves behind. She was a remarkable and loving companion. Our friends who got to know her agreed that she really did ‘win the doggy lottery’. Run free, Sahara Kate. Thanks to @Southeast GSP Rescue for bringing her into our life.  We will always be supporters of SE GSP rescue and forever grateful for the work that brought her to us.  8-8-Kate-Always ”

2010 Alumnus Hank said farewell to his family over the weekend.  He was adopted in early 2010 and was 13 years old.  Tragically, he was recently diagnosed with lymphoma, and diagnosis to goodbye happened painfully fast. 

Hank was found with his litter mate, Jasper, at an abandoned house in NC.  Hank was an amazing dog and through his mom, SEGSP was able to apply to the Wake Forest Law School community clinic to guide us through obtaining our 501c3 and we are lucky to have an attorney from her law firm that helps us when needed.

Hank’s family is understandably heartbroken, but were able to have a vet come to them and have a peaceful farewell in Hank’s home with his family by his side.

Callie, our precious hospice foster girl, crossed the Rainbow Bridge over the weekend.

Callie came to rescue in January of 2018 after being hit by a car and left in the rain. Her Guardian Angel was watching over her and two Good Samaritans, Laura and Eric, found her in a ditch and brought her to Critter Fixer Animal Hospital in Byron, GA.  She had an open tibial fracture, dislocated elbow, dislocated hips, infections and over time endured four surgeries.  Her road to recovery was long and hard, but she was a tough gal with incredible GSP spirit and with the love of all her forever foster family and fans, she lived another 4 ½ years.

Upon entering rescue, she was scheduled to have her leg amputated but her Surgeon changed course last minute.  With the help of a brace, sling and the support of her forever foster family, she was able to move around as needed.  Callie continued to have challenges like an abscessed tooth, skin not growing back over her wound, pancreatic challenges and other health issues and a year after coming to rescue it was determined she would not be adoptable.  However, she continued to smile and love everyone she met despite her obstacles.  She loved her life at her “forever foster home” with the DeRocher family and they returned that love ten-fold.

A few months ago, Callie was diagnosed with an ulcerated oral melanoma.  The tumor was clearly growing; however, she was too old and fragile for surgery so her family enjoyed every minute they had with her.  From her forever foster mom, Megan, “Callie’s life was filled with trauma but we were so thankful she chose us to be her people in her last years (and to SEGSP Rescue for even giving her the chance). I’ve never met a dog who wanted to be alive as much as she did. She absolutely loved us and being with us. How we earned that love I have no idea. Her life was so bad before, I don’t know how she trusted again. We found out at some point she had been shot as she had bullet fragments in her chest on an X-ray. I can’t imagine what she must have gone through before coming to us.  I’m not sure what I did to earn her loyalty but it was clear she was mine from the first day home. Callie passed away on her porch in the sun listening to the birds on a stunning fall day. It was absolutely beautiful and peaceful. I take so much comfort in knowing her last day was as beautiful as her spirit. Thanks for the adventure sweet girl!” 
 
We are so thankful to the Good Samaritans who found Callie and didn’t keep driving.  And thank you to Critter Fixer Veterinary Hospital in Byron, GA - the doctors and staff for Callie’s initial care and who set up a GoFundMe account to pay for her surgery expenses.  And thank you also to Dr. Wayne Waguespack and his staff at Southeastern Veterinary Surgery Center in Columbus, GA and Dr. Crouch and all who handled her continued care at the Western Carolina Vet Surgery Clinic. Finally, a very special thank you to all that were involved in getting Callie the help she needed, including her supporters who donated to save Callie’s life.  But most of all, we are forever grateful to Callie’s foster family, the DeRochers, who loved and cared for Callie through all her challenges.

Callie will be missed by so many, but her spirit and love will forever be an inspiration to all of us.

Milo, our 2021 Alumnus has passed away.  Milo came to rescue as a stray and had obviously never been inside a house. He was very shy and was a “leaner” and although we sensed he had been abused, he enjoyed his new human companions very much.  When his foster mom Jessica brought him to his forever family, she said, “He’s made friends with his new canine siblings (even cuddly).  Brings tears to my eyes knowing how comfortable and sweet he’s being with them.”
 
Milo’s last moments were protecting his family from two stray dogs.  There are so many emotions involved with his death and we can’t imagine what his family is going through right now. 
 
Please keep the Hopkins family in your thoughts and prayers.  Milo is now their guardian angel.

Very sad news… Our 2019 Alumna Bella has left this world for the Rainbow Bridge. 

Bella came to rescue in 2019 at 11 years old and had been moved between several owners before she found her “forever-forever” family with Katrina and Matt.  In January of 2021 Bella developed a mass on her spleen. She was able to continue her regular activities for most part, but sadly recently ended her journey by her family’s side.  From her mom Katrina, “She loved being outside and grilling with her dad and being part of our family for the 3 years we had her. She was 14 when she passed. She is missed.”
 
This has been a very sad week for rescue and we know for Bella’s family her loss was devastating.  We hope the knowledge that she was happy and loved at the end of her journey is a comfort to her family.

Java, our 2010 alumna, has crossed the Rainbow Bridge.   

Java came from a shelter in NC where she was not doing well and she was going to be euthanized.  Our longtime volunteer Kathy said she would foster her and from day one it was a beautiful match and she became a Glielmi family member.

Java had just experienced the loss of her sister Kimmie prior to her leaving this world.  The loss of Kimmie was just too much for her sweet soul.  From Her mom Kathy, “Java was my first foster fail, the great and almighty Woo, my chocolate shadow who followed me 24/7. They have left a huge hole in my heart.”

Losing both Java and Kimmie in less than 2 weeks was awful for Kathy and her family.  Our hearts ache for them, but we know both Java and Kimmie had amazing lives and now have each other to love while they wait at the Rainbow Bridge.

2012 alumna Kimmie has left this world and is patiently waiting for her pack at the Rainbow Bridge. 

From Kimmie’s mom Kathy, “Kimmie was my 2nd foster fail and the Princess Queen Empress of the Glielmi pack. I named her Kimmie which means unequaled and she was amazing.”

Kimmie was found in Raleigh as a stray and she walked up to a house and they called SEGSP Rescue. She was about a year old and looked like she had had a litter.  Her family, including her canine siblings, are all devastated. 

Sweet Kimmie had an amazing life with the Glielmi family, helping them foster 6 more dogs for SEGSP (they have fostered 12 dogs going back to 2009).  Kimmie was a sweet, very loved girl and we’re positive she’s watching over her family.

Thank you Kathy and Bob for loving Kimmie.


“I love you every day. And now I will miss you every day.” ― Mitch Albom 

Alum Belle has crossed the Rainbow Bridge. 

From her family, “We adopted Belle from SEGSP rescue in 2011-2012 in Orlando FL and although her human dad and I went separate ways in 2014, Belle stayed with her dad and helped him heal through some PTSD from his overseas deployment. They were best buddies and I always knew he would let me know when she passed. Sadly, that call came last week. Belle lived to be 14 years old. She was a firecracker and a love bug. She had heartworms at age 3 when we first got her but we loved her through it. She  lived a long and happy life and we are still so appreciative of SEGSP rescue for bringing her into our lives. RIP Belle - you will be missed but we know you are chasing all the lizards possible over the rainbow bridge.”