Harley

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!”
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“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