Just this side of Heaven is a place called the Rainbow Bridge.

When an animal dies that has been especially close to someone here, that pet goes to Rainbow Bridge. There are meadows and hills for all of our special friends so they can run and play together. There is plenty of food and water and sunshine, and our friends are warm and comfortable. All the animals who had been ill and old are restored to health and vigor; those who were hurt or maimed are made whole and strong again, just as we remember them in our dreams of days and times gone by.

The animals are happy and content, except for one small thing: they miss someone very special to them who had to be left behind.

They all run and play together, but the day comes when one suddenly stops and looks into the distance. The bright eyes are intent; the eager body quivers. Suddenly he begins to break away from the group, flying over the green grass, his legs carrying him faster and faster. YOU have been spotted, and when you and your special friend finally meet, you cling together in joyous reunion, never to be parted again. The happy kisses rain upon your face; your hands again caress the beloved head, and you look once more into the trusting eyes of your pet, so long gone from your life but never absent from your heart.

Then you cross Rainbow Bridge together. . .

We know you are safe baby angel. It was a most wonderful dance.
Love,
Dad, Mom, Tara, Wyatt, Remy and Jade

I just want to let you all know that we had to put down one of the GRRMF alumni, Lacey (GRRMF Dog # 838 adopted in 3/2002). Thank you so much for the opportunity to adopt Lacey and let her bring so much joy and happiness into my life. I know that after I stop crying and get a little time behind me, I will be able to concentrate on all of the wonderful moments of her life and how loved she was. I think what they say about rescues being the best dogs is absolutely true. Thank you again ... and keep up the astounding jobs you all do.
 - Lynn Sharpe (Orth)

I adopted my Maddie Moo (Kelly #515) on April 4, 2003.  My birthday is April 5th and I thought what a perfect gift to give myself since I lost my 14 yr old golden two months prior. 

Maddie was approx. 6 years old when I got her.  We spent the next year just the two of us.  Then I added a golden puppy and she gladly took the role of ‘mom’.  Not only did she teach Quimby how to lizard hunt, Quimby showed her how to play, bark, kiss, etc.  They were inseparable and it was then that I saw Maddie truly flourish and gain the confidence and security she so deserved.

While we never have them long enough, five years definitely wasn’t enough.  However, it’s not the quantity of time, it’s the quality and she had a wonderful quality of life with me pretty much until the end…swimming, lizard hunting, enjoying her frozen yogurt and playing with her sister and me.

Sadly, Miss Moo passed away on June 12th.  She went on her own at home and I was by her side.  How she came into the world, I’ll never know, but being her fifth and final home, she left the world knowing she was truly loved.

Something to be learned and something I preach to others but at first didn’t take my own advice.  ‘When you start missing what isn’t gone, you lose what’s left.’  After I found out Maddie’s time would be limited due to several serious health issues, I cried for days and kept thinking about her being gone…then I remembered that quote.  From then on, I didn’t focus on losing her, I focused on enjoying every single day with her…and that we did.

Thank you GRRMF for changing my life with providing me with a wonderful golden girl who is sorely missed. 

Debbie & Quimby Breakstone

She was one of those bright stars that streak across your life, a once-in-a-lifetime kind of dog. With the shine in her eyes and the prance of a show dog, Haley always caught your eye. She was both beautiful and intelligent, and often I wondered who was smarter, her or me. I think the jury is still out on that one.

I adopted Tyler Jeremiah Jennings in April 2005, just two weeks after I lost my first rescue and the love of my life, Casey. Tyler helped take the sting out of that loss and quickly became my very special little “honey bunny”. I couldn’t imagine how anyone could have let this sweet boy go at the age of ten, but it was my good fortune that someone did. The day after Christmas he was suddenly in distress. The vets discovered masses on his liver and surgery would have given him only a few months at best. Tyler spent his final hours at home with me and his sister, Cashew. His transition was peaceful, but it broke my heart. I miss his “Tyler hugs,” holding him as he fell asleep at night, and hearing his soft moans as I rubbed his ears. He is now waiting at the bridge with Casey, Elsa, and Ninja, and surely rolling around in the grass (his favorite pastime) to his heart’s content. Our time together was far too short, but he brought me tremendous joy and I know we’ll be together again someday.

Proud and Loving Mom,
Jan Jennings

Dear Golden Retriever Friends,  My 12-year-old golden Cinnamon died last night. He had cancer in his heart, liver and kidneys. He had been sick for a week, and I sat up with him. He was a wonderful boy and the love of our lives. I still have Honey from you, and she is a joy to me. Bless all of you who take care of these wonderful dogs. - Barbara and Al Redman

Gracie came into GRRMF in 2002, 40 pounds overweight, shaven, skittish and trusting no one.  She was my first foster and ultimately my first foster failure.  She was not an easy dog to have around but I knew that somewhere in her bull-in-a-china-closet demeanor was a golden retriever spirit aching to come out.

Visits to specialists revealed that she had suffered neurological damage which caused trembling in her extremities.  In addition, she was losing her sight.  And thankfully, she recovered from a mild stroke that struck unexpectedly in 2004.

After Maggie & Trooper died within weeks of each other in 2005, she was inconsolable.  Three weeks later, Opie came to us and I watched my girl take on the role of mother hen to a dog who was terrified by the world.  As he healed, so did she.  She taught him to trust.  He taught her it was okay to let loose by teaching her to play, something she had never done before.  Her gentle spirit was finally blossoming.  Though she was, at that point, totally blind, she nevertheless allowed my senior cat to clean her face and groom her.  Six years ago, that would not have been possible.

When Gracie stopped eating in late January, I knew something was terribly wrong.  Tests revealed that a rare form of cancer had invaded her body…and within a week of her diagnosis, she let me know she was ready to join her sister and brothers at the Rainbow Bridge.

Thank you, Gracie, for being my teacher.  You taught me to not judge a book by it’s cover.  You taught me to not always go on first impressions.  You taught me that love and patience can work miracles.  You were and always will be my miracle girl.

Godspeed, my Amazing Gracie.  Until we meet again….

Pam, Carson & Freeman Strickland

Nugget

Dear GRRMF,

It is with a sad but grateful heart that I send this email. On Friday 2/22/08 our beloved Nugget succumbed to lymphosarcoma. The blessing is that he did not suffer a long drawn out illness. The disease was aggressive and swift.

September 24, 2000 we went to Betty Wyatt's house to 'check out' prospective adoptees. The first and only dog that greeted us was Nugget. He came romping out of her back door and into our hearts. It took a mere second for our lives to change forever. I can not express to you the love that he brought to our home, family and hearts. Every single day.

Thank you to every single person that supports GRRMF. GRRMF made his life and ours much richer by bringing us together.

Sincerely,
Adelia and Doug Acker

Mandy

Dear Family and Friends, We had to let go of Mandy yesterday.  After becoming ill last weekend, she seemed to rebound thru the week (at least thru the day, nights were not so good), but early Saturday I recognized some of the same signs that Bailey (1990-1999) had exhibited when her body failed her.   Our vet is the most wonderful, caring person and he gently helped her pass.  Best guess is it was cancer of the liver or spleen.  Her belly was full of blood, possibly a rupture of a tumor, and the pressure was causing her great pain.  Of course, Jim and I are wrecks, but we just have to be glad for the time we had with her. If only they could talk.

She was my best friend, the apple of my eye, from the day we adopted Dog #137 from GRRMF in 1994 at just 9 months old.

Some of you may remember her from past rescue reunions, or from her time as a poster child in last year's GRRMF calendar. Others remember her as the quintessential boat dog, the gal who loved to float on the raft with mom, or kiss your ears and make you giggle. The happy prancer girl with the brightest smile on the block. The sweetheart who never left my side.

But to us, she was our perfect angel, our Abbey.

On Dec. 24, we had to let her go. She turned 14 earlier this month and we were blessed that her life was, for the most part, a picture of health and happiness. A few weeks back, she stopped eating, and we learned that her kidneys were failing. She has been a real trooper through these last weeks, as her body began to give out and shut down.

These goldens get into your soul, and it is so tough letting them go. But when we think of all Abbey brought us these 13+ years, we know that we are the lucky ones.

Rest in peace, sweet Abbey. We miss you so much.

Mike & Carol McKee
Haley, Magen, Logan & Loki

Just a few days before Thanksgiving, the Smith family lost the joy of our household to the ravages of cancer. Luna , as Betty Wyatt stated, “a rather large untrained female,” came into our lives. We’re not really too sure of the details of the two years before we found each other. We do know it took Luna days to stop quivering. The poor dog was so scared her teeth were actually chattering. Soon, however, she decided that THIS home was going to be her forever home and she quickly started showing off her great and loving personality.
Our big beautiful girl shared nearly 11 years of companionship, loyalty and love with Barbara and me. She beat cancer almost five years ago, but this time her advanced age was working against her. Her last year was one of us giving back to her for all the joy and happiness she had brought into our lives. She loved to swim and walk, we tried to accommodate her every time we could. Sometimes she needed a little help coming up the few little stairs at the house, but she never complained when we’d boost her up. She never complained about anything. She just wagged that beautiful tail and let us know she loved us right to the very end.

We both miss Luna terribly. The house is so quiet and at times feels so empty.  This Christmas was the first in 10 years that Luna wasn’t jumping with joy in front of the tree because Santa brought her a new sleeve of tennis balls and a Nylabone. This is the first Christmas that her stocking isn’t next to ours.

Barb and I are believers in the “Rainbow Bridge” and one day will toss a tennis ball to Sam, the St. Bernard, Bluey, the Australian Terrier, Mindy and Mandy, Basset Hound litter mates and to Luna, our beautiful and much loved Golden Rescue.  
-- Boyce “Smitty” & Barbara Smith

We adopted Kaycee from you in 1998. She was called "Camille" and came from Texas, she was a neglected little 2-year-old. Kaycee was willful and delightful. We helped her cross the Rainbow Bridge after 13 years of life. Kaycee succumbed to mast cell cancer that could not be stopped. She will forever be in our hearts and our hearts hurt for her. Thank you for the opportunity to have her in our lives.
-- Susan and Ed Gray

Fargo passed on to the Rainbow Bridge on Dec. 17. It was time. His body mobility shut down completely. He was so strong mentally and for years pressed on and battled on a daily basis his physical limitations. He did not seem like he was in pain, thankfully. I had gone twice to the vet within the past several months thinking it was time to let him go.  But in the end, he did tell me when it was time. He was always so sweet and loving! He was very happy having a mommy. I think that is all he ever wanted. Somebody that would hold him and kiss him. Someone that was all his. I can tell you that he became everything that he was supposed to be! When I was at Betty's house to pick up Angie, I met Fargo. He claimed me and told me that I was his mommy. I was blessed to have both Angie and Fargo as my children. 

-- Melissa Knowles