​More sad news…  Roddy was adopted in 2021 at 12 years old and tragically has passed away after only 2 years with his loving family.
 
His mom Melissa said, “After a 6-month bout with congestive heart failure and a degenerative disk in his back, Roddy passed over the rainbow bridge on Thursday April 20th. His original family and I are absolutely heartbroken. I have loved every second of my 2 years with Roddy. He was 14 when he passed, and he made the most of every day of his life. He was such a fun loving, puppy-like, friendly, goofy and cuddly dog. He was my shadow and the perfect dog to join Bella and me. I feel fortunate to have been chosen by his parents to be the one that got to see him through his twilight years. 
 
He came into my life shortly after we lost Livie, and he filled that ache and then some!  He frequently woke me up early because he had serious FOMO about life and the day itself. He loved fresh oatmeal, sweet potatoes, chasing his ball, carrying his treasured toys on his walks, chasing lizards and frogs and just being by my side. Always. He had the greatest personality and somehow won over my very stubborn GSP rescue, Bella. In the end, they were buds and she’s as lost as I am without him. I’ve never known a better dog and I wish everyone had gotten the chance to spend even just one minute with Roddy. 
 
My heart is broken but I’m not sorry because I will always treasure the time I got to spend as Roddy Bud’s mom. I envision him chasing balls, squirrels, and lizards in heaven with his former siblings, Britt, and Livie. 
 
The life of a senior foster fail mom is so rewarding but so so tough when we are finally forced to say goodbye. Fly high Roddy. You were so incredibly special to me. Thank you for bringing me everything I didn’t know I needed.” 
 
 
“Life is full of surprises, and one of them is finding the one for you in the most unexpected manner.”   Unknown

Dixie, one of our 2011 alumni, has passed away.   She came to rescue as a stray from a shelter in Georgia. She was fostered by our volunteers Adam and Robyn who said, “She was such a sweet girl!!! The only reason I let her go is because she was going to an amazing home where she would be even more spoiled than she was with us!!” 
 
Dixie’s mom Holly, said, “Sadly, we had to put Dixie to rest last weekend. We got her from SEGSP while living in Georgia ~12 years ago!  Truly the greatest and we will miss her.”
 
Dixie will live on in the hearts of everyone she met and loved.  Run free sweet Dixie. 
 
"The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched—they must be felt with the heart."—Helen Keller

​We’ve recently learned that our 2018 alumnus Harley has left this world.  When Harley came to rescue, he was desperately in need of food and love. However, he left this world having had more love in 5 years than many dogs receive in a lifetime.
 
His dad Matt sent us this heartbreaking announcement, “It is with great sadness to announce that Harley (Fox's Snake Eyed Harley - 2018 alumni) received his angel wings this week. He was a true fighter that hung on as long as possible and will be greatly missed.
 
Harley entered the rescue like many dogs - underweight, heartworm positive, and intact. Of course, my plan was to foster and rehab him to the point of adoption and thankfully, that failed miserably. I knew Harley was 'my dog' and he knew I was 'his human'. Once he was healthy, I made sure he was mine.
 
Harley was dumped at the shelter and labeled 'too old to hunt', but he was very active with me. And trust me, he still had a nose for birds. I am an avid bird hunter with my younger GSP and Harley would often taste the spoils of the hunt. So many times, did I catch him eating a downed dove or woodcock after the hunt! Let's just say he had a unique and funny way of chomping down his food.
 
But Harley's favorite activity was snuggling with me. He would certainly let you know if I was not around (bark bark, whine whine!). He just needed to be with me, in the same room, at all times. And that is why this is so difficult; because while I know he is in a better place now, he is without me. 
 
I'll always admire Harley's will and determination. It wasn't until his stroke one year ago that I knew the end was nearing. But again, he rebounded from that and had 12 more wonderful months here. Ultimately it was a seizure this week that was too much to handle and I had to say goodbye. I find some resolve in the fact that I was with him through the ordeal and until the end.
 
I'm sure I could write pages about our adventures and what he meant to me, but in the end, he was a great big brother to his 'sister' Maple and just generally a good boy. I'll miss you Harley. Love, Matt
 
“From now on you will never be alone.  Even when we are separated, and even when death itself parts us, I shall remain with you.”  Ladislouse Boros

Early Sunday, we had to say goodbye to our sweet Kota – it came quickly and unexpectedly, and we were most definitely not ready.  The vet determined a brain tumor, and we are thankful his suffering was not long.
 
At almost 14 years young, Kota had woven himself into every aspect of our lives.  From the moment my SEGSP peer Beth recommended him to us as a foster until his last moments – he was a dedicated family member.  Kota came from an illegal puppy mill operation; after the court case was settled in 2010.  He immediately became best buddies with Lola, following her every move.  He experienced his first trip to the ocean with us Christmas of 2010 and I can vividly remember how quickly he pulled his paw up once the ocean water hit it.
 
He was my most dedicated running partner; joining me for most daily runs from 2010 until he retired in November 2022.  He then looked forward to his daily walks, car rides and any other time he could spend with us.  Reflecting back now, I see the small ways we modified our lives to accommodate his aging – keeping his beds exactly where he knew they were, adding a ramp to help him get in/out of the car, our sweet neighbors and family checking on him if it stormed while we weren’t home, and I even relocated my work from the upstairs office to be with him on our main floor when stairs became too much.
 
If I’m being honest, a part of me is gone in some way. He was an extension of me in many ways – and anywhere I went, he was there.  That loneliness is hard.  On his last days, we spent time soaking up the sun at the beach, walking and letting him explore, and most importantly, lots of time with his people.  I’ll forever be indebted to my dad, who was with him when he first started struggling, my parents for helping us, and to the folks at the ER vet who guided Dan and me for the last bit.  Kota knew he was SO loved, and he loved back even more.
 
If you have ever considered getting involved with a rescue, I urge you to do so.  Even if it is to transport, ID a dog, or foster – the time, the love these dogs give and even the heartbreak is SO worth it.
 
Thank you, Kota, for letting us love you for so long.”
 
“Love is an invaluable bond that enriches every good thing in life. It gives each hug a tenderness, each heart a happiness, each spirit a steady lift. Love is an invisible connection that is exquisitely felt by those who know the joy, feel the warmth, share the sweetness, and celebrate the gift!”   Douglas Pagels

​Our 2010 alumnus Biz, formerly Biscuit, has left for the Rainbow Bridge.  His mom Kate is the very talented artist who donated our calendar contest prize sculpture. 
 
Biz’s foster mom Debbie fostered Biz for a long time before Biz found Kate and Stan, his forever family.  Of course, their pack, Druid, Dash and Jasmine, the Greyhounds and Devon, the Poodle approved of him first.  Biz had been abandoned as a young pup.  A rescue group took him in and he was taken in by a family who two years later gave him up. Sadly, he had not been well fed or ever loved.  
 
His mom Kate in a loving tribute said, Biz was an abundant, joyful personality. So darn cute to look at and so different in every way from any other breed that had been with us.  For most dogs it would take about 6 months before they are feeling safe in a new home.  At the end of two weeks, he had made the adjustment and adapted easily into our routine.  He demonstrated to us that his job was patrolling the fence and gate. For the next 9 years, every daybreak he would race through the dog door and happily announce to us (and the world) that we could relax, he was on duty.  He raced up the fence line reporting, through his barks, the imminent danger of cars, trucks, bikes, walkers, and horseback riders that came past our property.  His barks were never threatening - more like “hear ye, hear ye.”
 
In my experience, dogs generally arrive in my life for a reason.  I wasn’t certain of it when Biz came but barely 6 weeks later, Druid Prince, our Greyhound was badly injured and died.  Barely a month later, Dash, our black Greyhound, became ill and died.  As Biz nestled against us and rested his head on our laps, we realized he had come to ease the loss of our boys.
 
Biz suffered terribly from storm anxiety. When Covid hit everyone was staying home. The summers of 2020/2021 were quite different because during storms, I would go sit on the couch, wrap Biz in a towel and just let him shake until the storm passed. He was zoned out with storm terror, but I just loved him and the bond between us deepened.  Seldom is there a dog who enters my life without some lesson for me to learn.  I began to observe the great accuracy that Biz had in predicting storms. His tail would go down in stages until it was hugged tightly under his belly. We learned that within 20 minutes a storm would be here.  He was more accurate than the local forecasters.
 
Jake, our Great Pyrenees had come as a foster and of course I failed miserably, and he became another forever dog.  Jake and Biz had their own strange working relationship.  Jake took the floor by the window as his territory where he could do his “secret service” thing.  He would let out a woof at whatever he saw passing by and if Biz was napping, he would levitate off his bed with high pitched yippings - “I’m coming, I'm on it, whatever it is I’ve got it.” and out he’d race to the gate.  I think sometimes Jake just woofed to pull Biz’s chain, but I knew they were buddies because when we took walks, they’d walk shoulder to shoulder- touching a little.
 
Jake died a few days before Christmas 2022.  Biz went into deep mourning and refused to eat for 5 days. He had always been Jake's underling and now he realized HE WAS IN CHARGE! The transformation was impressive. He paid absolutely no attention to his tumor and was in and out of the house every few minutes, patrolling.  Never have we had a Top Dog who was as diligent in his protective role as this little “Pocket Pointer”.  He went at top speed until the 13th of April.  It seemed that almost overnight his tumor had become huge. Rimadyl was no longer keeping him out of pain.  He let us know it was time.  With aching hearts, we helped him go to the Rainbow Bridge the next day.  
 
Was it difficult?  To the max!  But it was JUST difficult.  What will be impossible is forgetting this magnificent soul.  It will be impossible to forget the cold nose reminding me it is time to make dinner; Impossible not to visualize the amazing spring he had in his walk even to the very end.  Impossible not to feel a tear when there is no white ticked body racing to welcome us home, then with a quick “Hi, glad your back” he’d race into the house kicking his heels high in that special way he had.  
 
Lesson learned, my beloved friend. Happy travels.