Sweet Shanti (aka Libby/Bella in SC) crossed the rainbow bridge over Christmas weekend. She came into rescue in mid-November battered, starved, broken and riddled with cancer but that didn’t stop her sweet spirit from shining. From the day our NC/SC State Coordinator Erin picked her up until her final moments with our longtime volunteer Marcy, she wagged that tail and wanted nothing more than to be beside you. She loved her sweaters, blankets and to curl up on her soft bed. Her foster mom Marcy knows she’s still with her when she hears the song Independence Day - Libby got her Independence Day and knew she was so loved. 
 
From Marcy, “She left this world with a full belly, wrapped in a warm blanket with her head resting on my heart. She was a very sweet little fighter of a girl and I’m sorry our time together was so short, but we did the best to enjoy the days we were given. My Lady Liberty, it is now time to let freedom ring.”
 
A special thank you to Erin, our NC/SC State Coordinator and Lisa for fostering Libby during her rescue journey, and to Marcy for giving her love until her last moment on this earth.  Although we wish she had entered rescue sooner, there is no doubt she left this world knowing the beauty of being loved and cherished.
 
“If love could have saved you, you would have lived forever.” Unknown

It’s been a rough month in rescue. We’ve just received word that we’ve lost another alumnus, sweet Blue.  We don’t know anything about Blue’s life prior to rescue, however he was fostered by our late founder, Beth Cochran and was heartworm positive. Beth helped him through his treatment then found an amazing home for Blue with the Parks family.

From Blue’s family, “It is with deepest sadness that we wish to let you know, we lost our beloved Blue three weeks ago. We adopted him from the SEGSP Rescue in September of 2011 and he truly became our faithful and best buddy ever. Blue was such an amazing dog, loving, trustworthy, well mannered, and (for a GSP!) calm and we regularly marveled to one another at how blessed we were with him in our lives. Needless to say, we are still quite devastated by the loss. To honor him, we will be planting a Blue Atlas Cedar tree on our property and will mix in some of his ashes. Blue loved trying to catch fish at the lake, he would wade in the shallows and point, then suddenly, swiftly dive his head under water (no he never did catch one!). He was so into this "sport" that we liked to say he was our fish dog (and a bird dog too). So, some of his ashes will also go around his favorite "fishing hole".  He lived a full life, to 14 years old, but the past two years saw him suffering from a number of overall declining health issues including kidney disease, and finally, painful and debilitating arthritis issues. When we adopted Blue he was being fostered by Beth Cochran so we had the pleasure and privilege of meeting and working with her during the process. We will always remain grateful to the Rescue for all of your hard work and devotion to this amazing breed. Thank you all.”
 
Blue’s memorial tribute will remain on our website's memorial page forever.  Like all of our alumni that have passed to the Rainbow Bridge, we honor Blue’s memory and thank his family for giving him a loving home.

Another SEGSP alum has left this world for the Rainbow Bridge.  Pete (formerly Longstreet Pistol) came to rescue originally in 2015 with his sister Annie and moved around a bit before he finally found his forever home with the Black family in 2018.
 
From Pete’s dad Wesley, “On the 19th of December, we had to take Longstreet (Pete - our nickname and Pistol - his name at the rescue) to be put to rest.  He suffered from epilepsy and since September of this year, lymphoma.  His epilepsy was under control but the lymphoma proved to be too much for him, even with the cancer treatment he was receiving.  We adopted him from the rescue in SEPTEMBER 2018 when he was about seven or eight.  He was a beloved member of our family and his loss was hard for all of us at Christmas but it was especially hard for our daughter.  They were best friends and Longstreet was the best with her.  She would not even let us take his stocking down.  Thank you for all of your hard work with GSP’s and for helping us find Pete.  The work you do is incredible.    We miss him but he will be remembered by the Christmas tree star our daughter picked out for him the day I returned from the vet.”

Pete will be forever loved in our hearts. Run pain-free sweet boy...

Another sad announcement... Our beautiful 2020 alumna Bella has completed her journey on earth.  From her parents Tiffany and Daryl, “It’s with a heavy heart I let you know that sweet Bella crossed the rainbow bridge. She had a very fast-growing tumor which made it difficult to walk, get up and to go to the bathroom. She was such a sweet dog and she enjoyed playing with her brother and sister, her time at the lake and going on boat rides.”
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Bella came to rescue in 2020 at age 10 after the only family she knew surrendered her.  What Bella didn’t realize at the time was that her foster family would fall in love with her, adopt her and give her the love, attention and adventure that she craved and deserved.  It was a blessing in disguise and her last two years were heaven on earth.
 
“Grieve not, nor speak of me with tears, but laugh and talk of me as if I were beside you.  I loved you so… Twas heaven here with you.”  Isla Paschal Richardson