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

We are so very sad to announce that our 2016 Alumnus Duke has moved to the Rainbow Bridge.  Duke, formerly Fred, came to rescue with his brother Jack (formerly Spartan) from a Florida shelter.  
 
His parents Jill and Steve said, “It is with a heavy heart we're letting you know we said goodbye to Duke today.  Duke was diagnosed a couple years ago with prostate cancer and last week he took a major turn.  After an intensive ultrasound, we found out the cancer had spread to a lymph node and his stomach.  He stopped eating two days ago and let us know it was time.  We're very sad but know he's pain free now.  We're hoping his brother, Jack, will do ok without his partner in crime.  He's a bit of a diva so we assume he'll enjoy ALL the love now.”   
 
Those of us in rescue recall Duke and his brother’s adoption (i.e., foster fail) as the fastest ever in rescue history.  Jill and Steve recall, “In 2016, when the clerks at our vet's office called to tell us there were two GSPs at the county shelter, we rushed to save them for SEGSP rescue!  It was definitely less than 24 hours before we realized we couldn't resist them and made them ours, even though we already had TWO at home!  I look back and can't believe we had four at the time.  Duke was always our "crazy" one, but he was OUR crazy.   He was very attached to Daddy and if he moved, so did Duke!  He loved going to our property in north Florida with Daddy and his brother, Jack.  Duke was always co-pilot in the front seat of the truck cab for the three+ hour drive each way.  So many smells!  Deer, hogs, raccoons, squirrels, turkeys and even a bear!  Riding around in the buggy was a favorite for him and he enjoyed laying on the barge while Daddy fished. Jack is sticking close.  We're keeping an eye on him... hoping he'll be ok.”
 
“He is your friend, your partner, your defender, your dog. You are his life, his love, his leader. He will be yours, faithful and true, to the last beat of his heart.”  Unknown

We are devastated.  Our hospice foster, Mr. Jones, took a turn for the worse and we had to say farewell.
 
Mr. Jones came to rescue in October of 2022 after a Good Samaritan found him curled up and trembling on the side of a dirt road in Georgia and reached out to SEGSP.  He was heartworm positive and suffering from a form of skin cancer and a leg injury.  He had two surgeries for his skin cancer, but sadly, it was determined the cancer was not curable and he would not do well with more surgeries.  So, Mr. Jones enjoyed the time he had left, safe and secure in rescue.

Mr. Jones was a cuddly, goofy boy and he found a safe haven with our foster volunteer Jamie who was helping him heal emotionally and physically.  Thank you to Jamie, as well as our NC/SC Volunteer Coordinator Kathy who was with Mr. Jones when he said farewell.
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Mr. Jones was estimated to be about 9 years old. We can only guess his life before rescue was not as wonderful as his life in rescue.  We are thankful he was able to experience love before he passed away.

“Love is a symbol of eternity. It wipes out all sense of time, destroying all memory of a beginning and all fear of an end.”  ~Author Unknown