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