Duke

Very sad news today… Duke, our 2015 Alumnus (formerly Drake) has passed away.  His mom Susan is heartbroken and sent us this message…
“This past weekend we suddenly lost Duke from a ruptured tumor on his liver.   I have no words to explain the sadness my family feels at losing our sweet boy.  It is heightened because we lost Harley just a few months ago.  Our house is so quiet and sad, and we are doing our best to make it every day.
 
Duke (Drake) came to us in 2015 when he was let go by his owner who couldn't care for him anymore.  He had been bitten by a poisonous snake and they couldn't afford to help him.  SEGSP Rescue stepped in, and we were going to "foster" him.  As soon as I met the transport to get him home and took one look at him, I knew I was going to be a foster fail.  He was in terrible shape but had the sweetest eyes...I fell in love instantly. Harley (our other GSP), the kids and my husband and I decided that he was part of the family, and he has been our goofy, fun, handsome, naughty in the best way, boy ever since. 
 
Duke loved to go running with me and Harley, sleep on top of at least one of the family members, chase tennis balls, counter surf, crawl into the strangest places, take car rides and constantly beg for our attention.  WE LOVED EVERY MINUTE OF IT.    Every morning, he drove with me to take the kids to school and to say HELLO to everyone in the carpool lines.  He loved seeing the guys at the car wash and was happiest when all of that was followed up with a good trail run.   
 
Duke was feeling fun and frisky until he wasn't.  I noticed on Thursday afternoon that he "cried" a little when jumping out of the car after taking the kids to school.  I had him at the vet the next morning.  I thought it was arthritis since he is so active and wanted to get it checked out.  We couldn't find anything particularly wrong with him, so we scheduled an ultrasound and headed home.  I felt like he was getting weaker and decided to head to the emergency vet Friday night.  We found out then that he had a tumor on his liver that had burst, and his belly was filling with blood.  We got an ultrasound, and they told us the devastating news that it had spread all over.   We laid with him for a couple hours telling him how much we loved him and said Goodbye Saturday morning.  He was so weak by then he just laid in my arms.  We feel like this isn't real and are still in total shock.
 
We know Harley was waiting for him at the Rainbow Bridge....  We miss you Sweet Duke and we want you to remember you were the Best and Most Handsome Boy In all THE LAND!  
 
Duke....aka... Bubby..aka.... Bo.... 2011-2024 RIP
 
““Unable are the loved to die. For love is immortality.” 
– Emily Dickinson