We start the day with sad news. On August 3rd, one of our oldest alumni, Christopher Robin, passed away. Krista and Charlie fostered him and became his forever family.  His story is told beautifully by Charlie…
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“It is with a heavy but also relieved heart that I wanted to let the group know about SEGSP All-Star Christopher Robin’s passing today. He went by several names; Robin, C. Robin, Robby, Bob.. the list goes on just as his memory will.  Robin entered SEGSP care on Oct 7, 2010 when my wife Krista went to pick him up down in Warner Robins after the group was alerted of his presence in animal control.  We used to try and incorporate where they came from in their name, he was such a sweet boy it just fit.  The intent was to get him into the “system” and adopted out because he was such an ideal example of what we do and hope to keep doing - finding these special beings and match them with their forever home.  We had 3 already and were not looking for another one.  But we failed, again.  Almost 14 years later, he let us know he was finished in this version of his self.  It was a peaceful trip across the bridge, he even yawned just as the last injection was given letting us know he was at peace.
He was super special, and I'll be looking for him to show back up in a way only these guys can.    The picture of the Rainbow was from the evening of the day we said goodbye...that was his favorite perch, standing vigil over the barn and keeping a weather eye on Krista.  I'm pretty sure we all believe in signs - otherwise we'd be cat people!!  We chose to believe this was from him telling us he's ok, and not to feel the pain we were.  That's the kind of selfless, "benevolent Alpha" he was.” Charlie and Krista
 
“You are near, even if I don’t see you.  You are with me, even if you’re far away. You are in my heart, in my thoughts, in my life, always…”  Unknown

We have sad news, our 2017 Alumnus, Buddy (previously Quick Draw), has passed away.  His dad Davis sent us a beautiful note:
 
“I am writing to you with sad news this morning.  When I came downstairs this morning, I found Buddy on the sofa in his favorite spot.  He passed away peacefully sometime in the night.  Our son told him goodnight and covered him up with a blanket and that is how I found him this morning.  The vet discovered a large mass in February and gave him 4-6 months.  He rallied twice over the last month and ultimately slipped away in his favorite spot. 
 
We know that his life before joining our family was not kind, but we gave him a second life that he couldn’t have imagined in the first.  His original owner wanted him euthanized but Greenville Animal Care did not and called SEGSP instead.  We are sad to have him leave us, but he is a success story of SEGSP.
 
I am attaching a photo we took yesterday afternoon with Buddy (all white on right), Hank (brown on left SEGSP ’22) and Maggie as they rode home from a visit with Grandma.”
 
We hate losing another alumnus, but Buddy truly had an amazing second chance at life and we love success stories. Thank you, David, Jamie and your entire family, for giving Buddy the love he deserved.


#buddyforever

We have very sad news… Our 2018 alumnus Remington, aka Remi, has left this world (but not our hearts).  His parents sent us this beautiful note:
 
“Remington (2018 Alumni), Remi, Mr. Remi, Rem dog, Bub, Little Bub, the King. We had to say goodbye to Remi this week. Remi was 11 years old and adopted us 6 years ago. He was pulled out of a shelter in Tennessee by Southeast GSP Rescue, fostered by Tausha and her family in AL, and chose us one fateful Fall afternoon in Atlanta. That day is engrained in our memory as we nervously waited to meet Remi and then watched the back of an SUV open and out jump Remi.
 
He was a big GSP, weighing between 70 and 80 pounds (depending on cheese and pup cup consumption). One of his SEGSP transporters dubbed him The Gentle Giant. And that is exactly what he was. Remi traveled the country with us, taking road trips to New Mexico, Colorado, and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. He camped and hiked with us all over the Southeast. He was a GSP on demand; he could go on a 10-mile hike, or he could sleep all day.
 
In his golden year, he loved his weekly walk through the Davidson River Campground where he would beg for a treat from the guard station on the way in and try again on the way out. Remi loved bananas. Most of all Remi was a momma’s boy. He always had a watchful eye on Sandy and would follow her from room to room; wherever Sandy went, so did Remi.
 
Our hearts hurt and we are immensely sad. We will miss the paw, the snoring, the talking, and the snout nudge. We are extremely thankful for SEGSP for rescuing Remi, for Tausha and her family for fostering Remi, and for the great care Remi received, especially in the end, from Blue Ridge Animal Hospital.


We will always love you Remi!  John and Sandy

​Another sweet alumna, Ivy, has passed away.   Ivy’s mom Robyn told us her story…
 
“Ivy came to us in 2019, she had been the breeding female at a local hunting farm. She lived the first part of her life in a kennel.
 
When she came to us, I knew immediately she was going to be a foster failure. All she wanted was to be loved on…. She was shy and timid at first but once you sat still, she would come and curl up next to you for some snuggles.
 
Over the next few years her confidence grew, and she became queen of the house. She loved to snuggle but she also loved her cozy cave. She was a master chipmunk hunter and taught her sister how to dig up the yard... we still have some holes to remind us.
 
Last fall Ivy started losing weight.  Within a few weeks she really started to slow down. She was diagnosed with liver cancer and in December she told us she was ready to run free from pain. Her decline was really quick, so she did not have a chance to suffer. She was the lost mellow GSP ever and we miss her greatly!”
 
Ivy was no doubt incredibly blessed to spend the last 5 years of her life with her true forever family.
 
“What we have once enjoyed deeply we can never lose. All that we love deeply becomes a part of us.” Helen Keller

​We have more sad news… Our 2018 Alumna, Dottie, has passed away.  We received this beautiful note from her family:
“This is so hard to write, because when I do, It becomes real. On April 8, 2024, we said Goodbye to Dottie Nottingham. It was very peaceful. We stayed with her awhile after she was gone. She almost looked like she was smiling. I think it was then she passed over the Rainbow Bridge!! Dottie had been sick on and off this past year. She was diagnosed with Addisons. She fought a good fight but finally succumbed. It was time to let her go. Dottie will be missed by her mom and dad, Karen and Bob, my sister Sherry, and nephew Chris.
 
Dottie, we loved you so much and still do. We love you forever sweet girl. We will meet you in heaven at the Rainbow Bridge, with Fauna (Doberman), Hannah Banana (former SEGSP alumni) and many dog friends!! A special thank you and love to Dorothy Thompson, the SEGSP FL State Coordinator.”
 
We know Dottie had the most amazing 6 years with her forever family and is smiling down in thanks to Karen and Bob for their unending love.
 
“While we are mourning the loss of our friend, others are rejoicing to meet her behind the veil.”  John Taylor

​We begin the weekend with devastating news.  Our 2017 Alumnus that is featured on our 2024 t-shirt, Scout, has left this world (but not our hearts).  His bucket list included raising money to help the GSPs in SEGSP foster care and he succeeded.  Thank you, Scout.  Below is a letter his mom Taylor wrote to Scout and read to him, along with singing his song, before he passed away.
“To my dearest Scout, You weren’t given a fair shake the first part of your life.  From an airport bomb-sniffing failure, to a cross-fit dog scared of people & noises; your first years were anxiety riddled and torture for you.  In 2017, we adopted you and began the slow process of earning your trust. Teaching you a safe environment is possible and that you deserved unconditional love.
 
You instantly gravitated to your lab sister, Zoey, and every possible toy you could fit in your mouth. You loved being tucked in tight to your humans at night, under a blanket of course. In turn, we were rewarded with “white noise” listening to you snore.
 
It took years for you to fully blossom into a social dog with family & friends. But you trusted us not to put you in harm's way and opened up to show your love & kindness to everyone. My heart was filled with joy when your “springer” of a tail would wag back and forth. Finally showing you happiness was my mission in life.
 
We’ve known for several months you were getting sicker, but you fought like a warrior. You fought to give us all the love in your heart.  Scout, my hope is that we returned that love so fiercely that it helped erase the memories of that first part of your life.
 
You were a gentleman, a toy hog, and the best friend I could have ever asked for. Thank you for choosing us all those years ago.
 
I will say goodnight the same as always. The chorus from “your” song that I’ve sung to you since the beginning, until today as you cross the rainbow bridge…
 
“Godspeed, little man.
Sweet dreams, little man.
Oh, my love will fly to you each night on angel’s wings.
Godspeed.
Sweet dreams.”
(Godspeed by The Chicks)
 
Final day photos include a chocolate frosty.

​We received this precious obituary for our Alumnus Buddy from his dad Garnett. Buddy, formerly Birdy, lived with his family for 12 years. Garnett said, “Our first GSP rescue, Buddy, has died. He was, and always will be, a member of our family.  Thank you for the wonderful opportunity to share this wonderful animal’s life.”
31 May 2024
Today at 2:15 PM, Buddy Kelsoe of Durham, North Carolina, died as a consequence of an aggressive lymphoma. He was 13 years and 9 months old.
 
A champion beach runner, he was first named Birdy by SEGSP Rescue, but known along the North Carolina coast by his professional name, Little Buddy Thumper.  Shortly before passing, he was surrounded by his family – both human and canine. He got to eat chocolate. 
 
Buddy was a friend to everyone he met. He loved squirrels and cats, played with birds along the beaches of Bald Head Island, and feared nothing save loud noises, electric leaf blowers, deep water, fireworks, and baths. His human friends cherished him, his animal friends often took advantage of his generosity. 
 
Buddy was a GSP or maybe an EP or maybe a little of both. His family never really cared. They loved the sound of this tail wagging – thumping - against walls, the floor, expensive art. That is how he earned his nickname, Thumper, and how he charmed everyone except a few idiots that kept expensive artwork at knee (or rather, tail) height. Buddy was as friendly as his adopted sister was not – unlike her, Buddy never bit a neighbor or even ate a cat. He never counter surfed but pound-for-pound could put
away more Thanksgiving leftovers than any dog in North Carolina. 
 
Buddy loved to ride in his dad’s truck, especially if he could let his ears flap in the breeze. And his tongue! His next most favorite thing was to roll in dead seabird, with 10-
day pelican at the top of his list. 
 
Little Buddy Thumper will be missed. He was a good dog.   Garnett

​Our hearts are heavy in sharing the passing of our precious Izzy. She came into our family as a rescue/ foster 6 yrs ago, tied up to a truck in 98 degrees NC heat, barely able to walk, and desperate for love. That life was over- we absolutely fell in love with her sweet soul. She was quite the character, playful in spirit, friendly to all humans and dogs, and happy to love freely. She loved her pack and anyone who would hold her paw and pet her! She loved her daily neighborhood walks and life as a couch hound. She went everywhere with us-hiking, boating, beaching, and snoozing wherever we were.

Unfortunately, tumors on her lungs, spleen and kidneys rapidly overtook her. We made the painful decision to allow her to pass peacefully. She will always live in our hearts. Her goofy spirit and happy heart are flying high in heaven. We’re so thankful to  Southeast GSP Rescue for helping to give this special breed a chance to live the lives they deserve. Tricia and Rich Fisher.

With heavy hearts we share that Able, who has been a SEGSP foster dog since 2022, has left us for the Rainbow Bridge. Abel, aka Able Baker, was 12 years old and found as a stray along with a Lab/GSP female in NC. He had heartworms and sadly, by the time he was found they were extensive and did damage to his heart. After some fainting spells, he was diagnosed with Congestive Heart Failure and was put on medication that was helping. Tragically, he was recently diagnosed with mast cell cancer that spread quickly. His foster mom Lynn said, “Our hearts are broken, but the Vet again assured us of Able’s terminal state and that we were doing the best for him. That gave us a bit more peace. Emotions are a bit raw. I was able to love on his sweet face … it was very peaceful and very quick. He is now safely in our back yard. Thank you for allowing us to join you in God’s work for the “least of these”— for an unexpected year with Able. He enjoyed countless walks and surveying his “domain” from the front porch. He was a great protector and let us know whenever a bear was in the area. I always felt more safe when we walked. I shall miss his company and comforting presence.” Thank you to Lynn and Tom for loving Able and being with him at the end of his journey. He is starting a new journey, and we know it is cancer-free. Thank you also to Evelyn who took care of Able through his heartworm treatment in early 2023. ​