Another heartbreaking post… our 2019 alumnus Bo passed away last September.  We received this moving tribute to him from his mom Julie…
 
“As soon as I laid eyes on my Bo on the SEGSP Rescue site, it was like his very soul came off the screen and into my heart. I actually started crying, it was so powerful – and I said to my husband, come look at this boy! He teared up too. It wasn’t that he had a sad story – it was that he was meant to be ours and we were meant to be his. He was 7.  

We met his foster parents halfway as he was a Florida boy and he was so shy and unsure. He had a leg issue and so we thought when our other dog, Jabu a Rhodesian Ridgeback went upstairs to our bedroom to sleep, those first days, Bo preferred the pillow we got him in the living room. He would not follow us up the stairs no matter how much we encouraged him. Then about 4 days later, Jabu, my husband and I were upstairs and all of a sudden there was Bo! From then on, he slept with us.

It's hard to explain the connection I had with Bo. We only had him for 4 years and it seemed like lifetimes. Our ritual was to sit on the couch and just cuddle – every morning he waited for me to sit down so he could join me. We were bonded on a level that is very hard to describe. My husband Paul felt the same way and he took Bo to the dog park every day where Bo would go up to each person there and say hi. He made his rounds. Or he would just sit and look at the trees so peaceful and contemplative. 

He brought so much light and love into our life, was the most gentle Soul and of all the GSPs we’ve had. He and Jabu got along and when we lost Jabu to old age, Bo filled our hearts with such love and joy. About 6 months later we adopted Peppers from SEGSP Rescue who adored Bo. Bo by then was not so interested and was getting less and less active, but he tolerated his little brother and they loved to hunt squirrels together at the dog park and in our backyard.

On September 3rd last year Bo had a stroke on the way to the dog park –we were still home and I had hours with him before the vet came.  I held him so close as he took his last breath and I laid on the floor hugging him.

These pictures tell the story of our shared bond, so incredibly deep and real. It makes me think how could anyone not believe in a Creator, when we are given these angels in our life who give so much unconditional love. Four years. This sweet boy will never be forgotten. I love you Bobo.”

 “He might only be here for a part of your life, but for him you are his whole life.” Unknown ​

We have another heartbreaking announcement… Our 2012 alumna Harley has crossed the Rainbow Bridge. Harley Jean (originally named Dixie, then Maple) came from a breeder who bred her 3 times before she was even 2 years old and in very bad outdoor living conditions, then dumped at a shelter. Thankfully she was rescued and fostered by our longtime volunteer Lindsay who found the perfect home for Harley with the Smith family.
 
Her mom Susan said, “We had to say goodbye to Harley last week.  We are heartbroken.  She was the best girl and will be missed every day. We all thought Harley had pulled her ACL right before Thanksgiving because she was holding her leg up a little and limping.  We took her to the vet and she seemed to get a little better.   Our family ended up taking her on an adventure to TN and IL with us to visit all the grandparents.   Harley was so happy!   Then around Christmas we took her again on a road trip and she began limping again.  On New Years Eve she wasn't walking, and I took her to the ER.  Found out she had Bone Cancer and that it was very painful.  We took her home, surrounded her with LOVE, CHEESEBURGERS, FILET, and cuddles and said our goodbyes on January 2nd.
 
Harley came to the rescue in March of 2012.  She was in a terrible situation and had just had puppies and was very nervous. We had just lost our Lab and I really wanted a GSP that I could run with.  I saw her on the SEGSP website and HAD to meet her.  My family drove up to Sparta that weekend and it was love at first sight. We got her home, renamed her Harley and after she healed from her last litter, I started taking her running.  Harley was a natural and loved getting up early to run with me and my friends.  Harley and I ran everywhere, and she was known to a lot of the running community.   Our favorite run together was trails.... We could go up to 12 miles together.    Harley came to us when our kids were young and tolerated the craziness that came with that.  She NEVER complained about anything even at the end when she was hurting.  She was happiest either running or laying on the couch between her people. In March, the beginning of Covid, we found a lump on her leg and Harley was diagnosed with Lymphoma.  She fought for three years and won the battle being declared cancer free in November of 2022. 
 
Our home isn't the same without our girl, but we are doing the best we can.  We still have Duke (rescued from SEGSP, formerly named Drake) and are helping him cope with his loss of Harley as well.  
RUN Free my sweet girl...we miss you so much!”
​
“I can no longer see you with my eyes or touch you with my hands, but I will feel you in my heart forever.” Unknown

We are mourning another SEGSP Alumnus, Sampson, who crossed the rainbow bridge in November.  
 
His family said, “It's with a heavy heart that I reach out to you today.  Sampson, the incredible dog we adopted from your rescue in 2015, recently passed away on 11/14/2023. It breaks me to share this news. Sampson, at 9.5 years old, was diagnosed with Osteosarcoma last year on June 6th 2023. We embarked on a journey fighting alongside him - a surgery, chemotherapy, and unyielding hope. He amazed us with his resilience after becoming a tripod on June 23rd 2023, and showing us unwavering courage through three rounds of chemotherapy. His radiographs brought us hope until an unexpected turn led us to the toughest decision imaginable.
 
I cannot express how much Sampson meant to us. He was more than a pet; he was family, a source of joy, and an embodiment of unconditional love. His bond with our little Evelyn was beyond words - patient, loving, and truly irreplaceable.  The journey with Osteosarcoma gifted us five more months with Sampson, and for that, we're grateful. Yet, our hearts ache at the thought of the years we had hoped for but couldn't share. I wanted to share some cherished memories of Sampson with you. He lived a full, beautiful life, surrounded by love and happiness. He was, and will always be, our everything.

Life is indeed unpredictable, and this loss has left an indelible void. We'll forever treasure the time we had with Sampson, his unwavering spirit, and the joy he brought into our lives. Thank you for bringing Sampson into our lives. Your dedication to these wonderful animals is truly commendable.  Warm regards, Ashley, Eric and Evelyn Godwin + Winston Godwin (our other GSP)”
 
Run free Sampson… 

“My love for you is a journey, starting at forever and ending at never.”  Unknown

We hate ending the year on a sad note, but we were just notified that our 2011 Alumnus Dash has passed away.  He was found as a stray in Perry, GA and was fostered by our volunteer Kerrie who found the most amazing home for him with Lorrin and her family.
 
Lorrin said, “His absence has been a huge adjustment here.  When we adopted him, it was estimated that he was born around July of 2010 because he was the size of a puppy, but he never grew anymore and was just a little 38 lb. boy. Our vet estimated that he was likely born in 2009ish. He spent most of his life sleeping in bed with our boys and was the best companion to them we could have ever dreamed of. He loved going on the trails with us on foot or mountain bikes. We’re heartbroken. He was our first GSP and our family dog for our boys’ childhoods.” 
 
We are so thankful that Dash had such an amazing life with his family – he was truly loved and cherished.
 
“Every boy should have two things: a dog, and parents willing to let him have one.” Anonymous

​We have such sad, devastating news to share… our Alabama foster, Bear, has passed away.  His foster mom Natalie said he simply went out into the yard, laid down, then never got back up.  It was incredibly tragic, but peaceful.

Bear came to rescue with two other hunting dogs in Alabama. He had heartworms and Osteoarthritis and we’re pretty sure he was older than 10.  He was a senior and had never experienced indoor life or being loved.  Well… he had SO MUCH love from his foster family and the night before he passed, Natalie said he was extra cuddly and couldn’t get enough of his humans.  He might have sensed his end was near and he was saying his farewell and thanking his family.

Natalie said, “It’s true what they say…you never know when it will be the last time you see someone and I’m just so thankful that my last time with him was filled with lots of hugs and rubs. He was so happy and content.  I asked for his paw print because I just loved his big ol paws and he was always standing on top of my feet with those paws.’

​“How very softly you tiptoed into our world, almost silently, only a moment you stayed.  But what an imprint your footsteps have left upon our hearts.”  Dorothy Ferguson

​Our dear 2018 Alumna Bella has passed away and her mom Melissa told Bella’s story so well:
 
“Bella was my first addition to my home from the SEGSP rescue.  She was a 9-year-old that apparently came from an abusive situation and needed a fresh start.  She was my 2nd GSP but presented a lot of challenges as it was my first time integrating a new alpha dog into my pack.  She was skittish, scared of people and felt the need to make her presence known.  Everyone at the rescue was great and taught me that structure, routine, and discipline are the finest form of love for a rescue...especially the ones that don't understand that humans are good.  
 
Bella went from being scared of all strangers, showing very little personality and having to be the center of attention, to being an incredible dog!  She always had this stoic face as if to say, "bet you'll never guess what I'm thinking!"  She loved her walks, chasing rabbits and our 2 albino squirrels in my neighborhood and our cuddles on the couch.  She also loved secretly hunting for food in my house while I was gone.  She was very possessive of me but in a good way.  I was her person.  She got to go a lot of places in her 5 years with me and she sure loved her car rides hanging her head out the window.  
 
She taught me so much in her time with me.  She taught me that great relationships take time to build and that you never know the situation someone came from.  But most importantly, she taught me to never quit on someone.  My friends were all desperate to win her over and some took longer to do it than others.  But as Bella got comfortable with me and in my home, my tribe pulled back her callused layers one at a time and we all got to see the sweet girl behind that mysterious face.  Seeing Bella confident, enjoying life, relaxed and excited about the small joys is one of my proudest moments as a dog owner. 
 
The ladies at the rescue told me that the hardest ones to break will be the ones that truly break your heart.  Saturday my heart broke.  She was diagnosed with 2 tumors on Friday and Saturday I had to say goodbye.  It all happened so fast I still can't believe it.  Someday I will see that the speed of her illness was a blessing to both of us, but I'm not there yet.  I still look for her when I walk in the door and as I move about my house.  The silence is deafening.  Making her eggs every morning, coming up with our next new weekly adventure and taking pride in the role I got to play in her life every day, was something I will cherish forever.  
 
Bella was complicated but we got each other.  And Livie and Roddy found a way to show Bella that being part of a pack is a good thing.  Roddy especially brought a side out of Bella I could only have hoped was there.  Roddy taught Bella that life is fun and that she didn't have to be so serious all the time.  It was so special to see the bond they formed in the last 2 years.  They were my pack, and I was their leader...now they are in heaven together along with my precious Livie and Britt.”
 
 
“And I'd choose you, in a hundred lifetimes, in a hundred worlds, in any version of reality, I'd find you and I'd choose you.” Kiersten White

​Another SEGSP alumnus has passed away.  Murphy, formerly Pie from AL, was brought into rescue in 2010 and found his loving forever home with the Saupp family.

His mom said, “I adopted my best friend from SEGSP over 13 years ago on August 2nd, 2010. His name was Pie and renamed Murphy.  He passed away unexpectedly on October 16, 2023.  What a wonderful puppy he was who lived an amazing life at almost 14 years old. He was the best decision of my life and brought me more joy than I could have ever imagined. He will be missed every day and our memories together I will cherish forever. Murphy, no matter how long I got to love you, it wasn’t long enough.”

“Through the darkness of grief, we can see the light of love which transcends death. And with the pain can come gratitude for the gift of time we had, the love that was shared and the power to become a better person because they loved us.”  Unknown