We are sad to announce that our senior alumna, Lexi, has passed on to the Rainbow Bridge. She came to rescue with her sister Mercedes who passed away in Dec. 2020.  Lexi and Mercedes came to rescue in 2019 at the ages of 12 and 11 and were bonded. We were so lucky to find not only a foster home that would take both of them (thank you Sydney and Cole) but also find a wonderful forever home for them with David and Cindy.  Davis said, “Lexi, about a month before she passed, was still flying around. She never walked anywhere, and she was a great doggie.”

Run free Lexi - we'll see you at the Rainbow Bridge.
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Truly great friends are hard to find, difficult to leave, and impossible to forget.  G. Randolf

​We lost sweet 2021 Alumnus Sunny on August 31st from a ruptured internal mass. 
 
Sunny was adopted by our former Florida Volunteer Coordinator Amanda and her husband Frank, and they are completely heartbroken.  The following is from Amanda…
 
"Sunny the Bunny."  When I was helping with volunteers in Florida, my job afforded me the opportunity to travel, and I had the pleasure of meeting Sunny's Foster Family (Erica) and Sunny.  From the moment I set eyes on him, I knew he was meant to be ours. I put in an application and couldn't have been happier when we were selected to be his forever family.  
 
Sunny couldn't have been named more appropriately.  I don't think there was ever a day that he wasn't happy and wagging his tail.  He was truly an ambassador for the breed and rescue.  Everyone that met him fell in love with him.  We even have friends that now volunteer for SEGSP because of him!  The day I brought him home, he ran into the house, jumped on the bed, rolled over for a belly rub, and simply announced he was HOME.  He proceeded to let us know his needs immediately - If he wanted to be petted, he would gently put his paw on you.  If that didn't work, he would try again.  If that didn't work, he was in your lap making SURE you knew he needed love.  His two favorite things were belly rubs and neck massages.  He would hop in your lap, roll over on his back and stare at you until you caved.  His former family told us his absolute favorite thing was a neck massage at night with his collar off.  Just this past Saturday, our family friend obliged his wishes.  This will forever be one of my favorite memories of him.  We are beyond thankful for the time we got to spend with him and for SEGSP Rescue for allowing us to adopt him.”
 
We are positive that Sunny is racing around the Rainbow Bridge making new friends and waiting for his earthly friends to eventually arrive.  
 
“We didn’t realize we were making memories.  We were just having fun.” Unknown

Another SEGSP Alumnus has passed away… in 2014, Duke was found in Georgia by a sweet college girl who could not take care of him. He was heartworm positive and wasn’t neutered when entering rescue.  He was super lucky to be fostered by Kristin and her family, who nursed him back to health, then found the perfect forever home for him.
In 2018 we received an update from his parents Tammy and Allen which said, ““Thank you so much for all you do for these sweet babies! We couldn’t imagine our life without our Duke Man!!!”  
On Monday, Tammy sent the following to Kristin, “I just wanted you to know that today we said goodbye to Duke.  Our sweet old man tried so hard to fight and be strong but he was just tired.  On Tuesday of last week, he had his spleen removed due to a large mass.  He was also suffering from autoimmune disorder and just so many things all at once.  We thought on Friday he was going to beat it all.  But yesterday, he turned south and by this morning, I knew he was ready.  Allen, Gavin, and I loved-on him until his last breath.  He did not suffer and was so very peaceful.  Thank you so much for giving our family the best of all best friends.  I can promise you he would never have had a family that would ever love him more than we do!!!”
We couldn’t agree more, Tammy!  Thank you for giving Duke the love he deserved in his forever home. 
 
“Grief is the last act of love we can give to those we loved.  Where there is deep grief, there was great love.” Annette Dunlea

It’s a sad day in rescue… Peaches, our 2022 senior Alumna, has passed away from cancer.
 
Peaches came to rescue in early 2022 at 11 years old.  She was somewhat deaf and blind and had been living on a farm in TN until her owner died and no one would take her in.  Our TN State Coordinator, Mandy immediately started searching for a foster home that was experienced with seniors with challenges, and our FL State Coordinator, Dorothy, volunteered.  That’s a long distance for a senior to travel by car, so we contacted Pilots n Paws and they jumped in to help.  Peaches, with the help of several volunteers, flew to Orlando to start her new life in rescue.  She eventually moved to a second foster home with Lisa who lovingly took the time to find the perfect forever home with Pat and Jerry.
 
Pat and Jerry, in their last update on Peaches said, “She has gained a little weight but so have we. She loves the doggie park. She has enriched our lives and Rylee and Morgan's too. Peaches has blossomed and come out of her shell. Her eyes tell you everything.”  
 
We know Peaches was loved and cherished – what every dog craves.   Our hearts ache for Pat and Jerry, but know that Peaches is at peace and has joined her former owner at the Rainbow Bridge.
 
 
“The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or touched, but just felt in the heart.”   Anne Sullivan

​Sadly, we've learned that our dear 2016 alumnus Tilt has passed to the Rainbow Bridge. Tilt came to rescue as an 8-month-old amputee (formerly named Buddy). He had healed from his surgery but was also recovering from an upper respiratory infection.  The poor guy was having a rough start to life.  It was a relatively short life, but absolutely packed with love and we are very thankful for that.

His mom Amanda sent us such a heartwarming message about Tilt that we asked if we could post the entire message. Tilt’s family also recently adopted Amos and you’ll see how they have helped each other heal.

Amanda’s message: “Oh our sweet, sweet Tilt. He passed away very suddenly and tragically back in early February. He was only 7 .   He had just had a great annual vet checkup, and a perfect full lab panel in December.  One night he was breathing very heavily in his bed. I got up to see if he was just dreaming, but no. He was struggling. We rushed to the ER vet to find that a small-ish (ping pong ball) sized tumor had grown near his heart and caused bleeding into the sac around the heart. He didn’t last 10 minutes at the ER vet before he was gone. Just in a very undetectable spot until the inevitable happens. Which it did in early February. That poor dog didn’t deserve anything that happened to him, other than finding us. Started his life off by getting shot, and ended with a very ill-placed tumor… But man, all the in-between was bliss. He was SO loved. And so spoiled (as should be!)
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Tilt was honestly the BEST dog I have ever had in my entire life. He was one of those dogs you might get once or twice in a lifetime. Just so in tune to you. So good natured and it’s like he just knew we were his people, his soul mates... and he wanted to be nowhere else in the world but with us... yet if we went out of town or were gone for the day, he knew we’d come back for him, and he didn’t stress… total and complete mutual and reciprocal trust and love. Everyday. Unfaltering. He was so at peace with us. So, one with us. He was my husband’s self-professed soul mate, and they were attached to each other. I’ve never seen my husband cry so much. 7 years old… you just feel robbed. It’s still hard to talk about losing Tilt. Worse, our daughter went to bed and all was perfect... woke up and asked… where’s Tilt? So hard. 
 
…But, in having Tilt, we are now definitely partial to 3-legged dogs! Amos still has all his legs (and good for him!) but we saw his injured leg and knew some special considerations would need to be recognized and accommodated by anyone who would adopt him. We felt especially equipped to deal with and watch a special orthopedic need. And we knew we could offer a pup a very loving and active home. Though losing Tilt hurt so much, and still does, we know it’s our calling to get in there and do it again. Provide again. Love another one.  Even though Tilt only had 3 legs, those are some BIG PAWS to fill for sweet Amos! And we know he’s not Tilt. That honor belongs to Tilt alone. But Amos is seriously loving, cuddly, and definitely willing to please, learn and play. He is settling into our family nicely and will become just as cherished a part of us as his predecessor once was.
 
Thank you for inquiring. I’m sure you got more than you bargained for in my response! So sorry for delivering sad news to your inbox. But we are all smiles and so grateful to be cuddling a very snuggly and snoring Amos as we speak.” :-)
“In the end it’s not the years in your life that count.  It’s the life in your years.”  Abraham Lincoln

We are so sad to announce the passing of our 2018 alumnus Briar who passed away suddenly last week.  Briar was surrendered to an Alabama shelter because of anxiety issues, and he had ring worms and other skin issues when he arrived in rescue.  Our longtime volunteers, the Parrish family, fostered (and loved) Briar and found his wonderful ‘forever’ with his dad Jeff.  He only had Briar for a little over 4 years, but they packed a lifetime of love and adventure into those few years.  Briar enjoyed many dog park visits and especially loved seeing his GSP girlfriend, Strudel.

Jeff said Briar had a fainting spell, so he took Briar to the vet for tests and found out he had an enlarged heart and was scheduled to get an ultrasound this week.  Briar’s behavior was ‘off,’ so Jeff drove him to ER, and tragically Briar passed on the way there. He said Briar was his best friend and since he had recently retired, the plan was to buy an RV and he and Briar would travel and grow old together. 

Our hearts are breaking for Jeff – we know Briar was his best friend.

​“Don’t remember me with sadness, don’t remember me with tears. Remember all the laughter we’ve shared throughout the years.  Now I am content that my life it was worthwhile, knowing that along the way I made somebody smile. When you are walking down the street and you’ve got me on your mind, I’m walking in your footsteps, only half a step behind.  So please don’t be unhappy just because I’m out of sight. Remember that I’m with you each morning, noon, and night.”  Unknown

We are so sad to announce the passing of our 2014 alumnus Hank (formerly Dan).  Hank came to rescue in December of 2014 after a life of living outside, alone, with very little human contact.  He went through heartworm treatment and was a true survivor. His foster mom Kristin found the perfect home for him, and Hank spent 8 wonderful years with the LaPorte family, filled with love and adventure. 
 
From his mom Stephanie, “Just wanted to let you know Hank just collapsed and died.  It was all so sudden – probably a cardiac event the vet said.  We had such a great day hiking and swimming. He even cuddled with me this am which he doesn’t always do. Maybe he knew or didn’t feel good. He was the best and sweetest boy. I guess some things I would describe him as is goofy- when he got the zoomies, he reminded me of a kangaroo jumping around. He loved his crate or Phil's closet.  He always wanted to go in the truck with us - didn't matter if he got out - just loved riding. He always would go right to the back of our suburban because we think he was afraid he'd get left.  I am still in shock – he was the best boy. I am heartbroken. We lost Dixie, Duke and now Hank since last fall (plus one of our cats last month).   We miss him so much but know Dixie was probably waiting for him at the rainbow bridge.”
 
Goodbye is not forever, and goodbyes are not the end.
They simply mean I’ll miss you until we meet again.
Unknown

Today is a sad day for rescue with yet another memorial post. Our 2022 Alumnus Drake has also left for the Rainbow Bridge. Drake came to rescue in May of 2022 after being surrendered to a shelter in NC. We don’t know why he was surrendered, but he was still full of energy at 8 and he quickly adjusted to rescue life thanks to his foster mom Brooke. He loved to play ball and go on car rides but his favorite thing to do was snuggle and he developed a taste for doggy ice cream at his foster home.

​We don’t know what his former life was like, but he lucked out with his true forever family, Jodi and Don. His mom Jodi said, “He collapsed early Friday afternoon out of the clear blue. He had a malignant and aggressive form of cancer called hemangiosarcoma. I was right there with him up until the very last moment he took a breath. I am utterly heartbroken; I thought I would have so much more time since he was only 9. Drake was such a blessing and I’m so grateful that I had one year with him. I have so much to say about him and I just can’t do it through these tears.”

Our hearts break for Jodi and Don and we can’t thank them enough for all the love they gave Drake during his final year on earth.

“I may never find words beautiful enough to describe all that you mean to me, but I will spend the rest of my life searching for them.” John Mark Green

Our sweet girl Harper, fostered in MS, has tragically passed away.   Harper was found by a Good Samaritan starving in Wetumpka, AL.  He had her vetted, then brought her to the Humane Society who contacted SEGSP.  The man’s daughter called her Baby Girl, and we could see why.  Harper sadly stayed at the shelter for a month while we searched for a foster home…and we eventually found a really, really good one with Art!

​Harper was being evaluated for some tumors and it was determined they were cancerous.  New tumors were found, blocking her nasal airway, and they grew very quickly.  As we all know, GSPs are very stoic in regard to pain, and there was no doubt she was in pain, so Art made sure her last days were filled with lots of love and tenderness.

Before she passed away, Art spent a lot of time with her and even brought her to the gym where everyone loved on her.   Harper found love, happiness, and lots of attention with Art, his friends, and her foster canine sibling Stella. 

We received this message from Art, saying, “Thanks to SEGSP for taking Harper in, and supporting her top-quality medical care.   She will be missed by all that knew or knew of her.  Fortunately, her decline was quick, with no apparent suffering until the very end.  Thank you for allowing me to be a part of Harper’s life.”

Thank you, Art, for all you did for Harper. Her fate was uncertain before rescue, and she/we were lucky to have found you. 

​“Love is a sacred garment, woven of a fabric so thin that it can’t be seen, yet so strong that even mighty death can’t tear it.”  D. Koont

We end the day with sad news... Our 2022 Alumnus Ralph has left for the Rainbow Bridge.  His mom Cacey said,
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“Our sweet Ralph passed peacefully this morning. He had kidney failure. He was surrounded by his family and his best buddy. I wish we were able to find him sooner, so we could've loved him longer. He was a special old guy!”

Ralph was found as a stray, emaciated, and pulled by our rescue before he was to be euthanized.  He had been through a lot in his 10 years before he found his forever home with Cacey and Joey.  We are so thankful that Ralph had a chance to be loved and cherished before he passed away.

Eyes fearful, 
paws worn
A sorrowful sight
So forlorn

Love they said 
would be the cure
For the suffering
You had endured

So our family 
grew that day
We brought you home
With us you'd stay

Slowly, gently 
the bond it grew
Faithful, loyal
Loving, true
Looking back 
it's so unclear
How we got by
Without you here

Trusted companion,
devoted friend
You give and give
It never ends

They said we 
were a gift to you
But now we know
Who rescued who
J.M.Berry