Cody
GSRNE #411
2006? – 2/22/2015 

Eleven days ago we happily announced that ‘Cody’ had been adopted. Today with great sadness we’ve been told he has CROSSED THE BRIDGE…

Cody had recently been diagnosed with Lymphoma but was doing well. His Mom told us this morning that Cody had been panting heavily through the night, didn’t want to eat yesterday morning and just lay down in the snow when she took him out to relieve himself. She brought him to the hospital and the doctor told her Cody was suffering from fluid pressing on his lungs and it was starting to build up in his abdomen. The doctor informed her that she could drain the fluid, but it would build up again. Then she asked the question we all dread hearing; “How much do you want to put him through?” Of course none of us ever want our beloved pets to suffer and she made the difficult decision to free him from his pain…

Last summer Cody was picked up as a stray by an ACO and when she took him to be examined by a vet; he had severe infections in both ears, bare spots on his back, neck and tail and was walking with difficulty. The ACO said she doubted anyone would be looking for him and would probably have to euthanize him when the 10 days were up. Fortunately for Cody, the vet knew that one of her clients is an active member of GSRNE and asked her to find out if we could help him. One of our members offered to be his temporary foster home, if we didn’t have one available, and we were able to bring him into our rescue in June. This member fostered Cody for 7 months and adopted him 11 days ago to make him her own. No adopter could have loved Cody more than she did. Always happiest just laying by her side with one of his toys.

Take care, little buddy. We’ll see you on the other side.

Dixie
GSRNE #263
2008 – 1/20/2015  

“Dogs just know when their loved… even at the end, when their pain becomes too much to bear and we help them to find rest.”

It is with great sadness that we announce that ‘Dixie’ GSRNE #263 has crossed the bridge. Adopted in June 2009, Dixie was 11 months old when she came to GSRNE. She was a beautiful black and red, playful pup who had lots of energy. She was smart, full of life and had so many great qualities — she was truly a wonderful girl. Her life was happy, filled with many get-togethers in the warm summer months by her family’s pool and daily walks and errands in the car. Sadly at just six years of age, she was diagnosed with Hemangiosarcoma and passed over the rainbow bridge on January 20th.

Hearing a beloved dog has Hemangiosarcoma is about one of the worst things that can happen to any family/dog owner. The decision to end a life is never easy. It takes much courage. it’s a very hard and loving decision – letting go of a pet that has given so much love and companionship. We always hope our dogs, once adopted, will live a long happy life and pass of old age. Our sweet Dixie was not one of them but, we are grateful she had six happy years. We love you Dixie girl! Till we see you again… wait for us at the rainbow bridge.

Harmony
GSRNE #393
3/27/12 – 7/25/2019   

Click for more photos of Harmony
Password: Harmony

The GSRNE Family is heartbroken to announce that Harmony, GSRNE #393 crossed over the Rainbow Bridge this morning. All of us know only too well that the hardest part about owning a dog is having to say goodbye, and that goodbye often feels far too soon. Harmony’s passing was totally unexpected–nobody saw this coming for this sweet dog.

Update on 06/19/2015

Harmony had her annual check-up and vaccine update today, which prompted me to look back through her folder to when she first came into GSRNE  when she was one year old (DOB is 3/27/12).  At that time Harmony weighed only 50.2 pounds; her coat was dull, and she had diarrhea in the kennel where we had to board her until a foster home became available.  Even once she was in a foster home, she had diarrhea off and on and gained weight slowly.  We had blood work done on 8-17-13 to find out whether she might have EPI (although her stools were not typical of that) or some condition that caused malabsorbtion of food.   We changed her food to Science Diet ID and added Fortiflora and Tylan Powder and put her on Metronidazole.

She was slowly improving in foster care and was there for many months with no one asking to adopt her.  When her foster Mom could no longer keep her, we had to move Harmony to the boarding kennel again, and she began to lose ground.  Eventually, I moved her to my house, intending to foster her until the right adopter found her.  Months went by, and Ted and I could see that Killian (who we adopted in 2010) really liked her; and he had never played nicely with another dog as far as we had seen.  We realized that Harmony had been found by the right adopter and made it official  on June 5, 2014.  She’s still nervous around new people, but she’ll hang out quietly in her crate while getting used to a visitor.  When she comes out, she doesn’t want to be petted by the visitor but will go close enough to take a sniff and then move on.  Out in the fenced yard, she’ll try to get Killian to chase her; but he’s learned that she’ll be around the barn and back before he could get close.  Instead, he’ll pick up a Jolly Ball and wait for her to grab the other side for a game of tug.  In the house, she’s very affectionate and will put her front half onto my lap, or Ted’s, and push her head close for an ear rub.  I’m glad our rescue did whatever it took to save this sweet girl.

Adopted on 06/07/2014

Biography

When Harmony’s owner surrendered her to a shelter, she was pretty fearful but would warm up slowly as she got to know her caretakers.  She enjoyed playing in a group of dogs and had lots of energy; but it became evident that her elbows would hurt afterwards.  An examination revealed the need for elbow surgery so that would not continue to happen.  Once GSRNE had a foster home available and agreed to take in Harmony, the surgery was performed and she was moved into a real home after four months at the shelter.

There were two other dogs in the foster home, and they helped Harmony to fit in and feel at ease.  She was on restricted activity while her elbows healed, and she grew to enjoy being handled and cuddled by her foster Mom and Dad.  Gradually, she was able to become more active and eventually was allowed to run and play the way she had been itching to do.  She loves to fetch a tennis ball and will run right back to you so you can throw it for her again.  Once she’s comfortable with a new person, she’ll show you her silly side and will wriggle and turn in circles during a good back rub.

Harmony needed gradual socialization around other people as she continued to learn that only good things will happen.  Attending a group obedience class helped her with that; she’s quickly learnt new things and already knows basic commands plus how to touch your hand with her paw on request.  She does enjoy getting treats, and they help her focus on the task at hand.  She is ready to meet the adopter who will show her patience and love and help her become the happy, silly, fun-loving girl she was meant to be.

UPDATE 11/01/13:  We decided to do a DNA test on Harmony to see what she may be mixed with and found that she is 3/4 GSD and 1/4 Finnish Spitz.  An interesting combination for her, and this girl is very sweet, goofy, and always happy!

Simba
GSRNE #302
3/1/2002 – 9/2/2014 

Simba and Tomas

You came into our lives and we have never been the same. It took ten months before we became friends but we continued to build mutual trust and respect for each other in every passing year. Our relationship became strong and loving and we miss you every day. You taught us so much for which we will forever be grateful.  We love you. 

Chris and Tomas

Simba

Nitro
GSRNE #376
4/29/2003 – 4/5/2014 

It is with great sadness, heavy hearts and many tears that we said good-bye to our beautiful boy, Nitro, who touched so many lives. He was very special. Our boy Nitro retired from the U.S. Military. He was a DETECTION EXPLOSIVES K9 and served three Tours of Duty for our country. His first two tours were in Iraq and the third was in Afghanistan. We really don’t know how many lives he saved but we would like to believe it was many. Nitro was retired in the Spring of 2012 from the U.S. Military when he was just a few weeks short of his 9th birthday. As soon as GSRNE heard about him, we quickly took him into our program wanting to find a “happy every after” life for him. It wasn’t long before we found that our boy had cancer – Tonsillar Squamous Cell Carcinoma, common for K9 dogs working in detection explosives. Carcinoma of the tonsils is particularly aggressive and the Vet told us he probably only had about three months. The GSRNE Family decided it would be the best three months of Nitro’s life. We would all spoil and celebrate this handsome boy we all grew to love! The Board Members made the decision he would stay with his foster dad, Danny, and canine brother, Rocky, whose motorcycle club, the New England Vikings, fell in love with Nitro. The club members are mostly retired US veterans who also served our country. On September 1, 2012, Nitro was honorarily adopted by the New England Vikings Motorcycle Club. We are so grateful to have had Nitro in our lives.

Lady
GSRNE #313
2007 – 8/21/14

   It is with very heavy hearts that Patty and I must inform you and the GSRNE family that Lady, GSRNE #313, passed away peacefully Thursday 8/21/14. She crossed the Rainbow Bridge after a far to short 4.5 years with us, but she filled those years with joy. Her transformation from a timid and shy girl to a confident, social “unofficial” ambassador for all the great work the GSRNE volunteers do for our beloved dogs was remarkable. Lady’s gentleness and “Old Soul” presence gave great joy to us, family, neighbors and numerous elderly residents at a local nursing home on “unofficial” service visits.

Lady was well known around town while riding “Shotgun” in either the big Jeep or the little-Jeep Wrangler with the top down (She owned that car). She had to have a ride every day, often sitting in the Jeep awaiting her chauffeur. Although it took six months after her adoption for her to find her voice, once found she expressed herself and her joy and excitement in anticipation of car rides, going to the store or just getting the mail at the foot of the driveway. She could be heard barking her excitement while driving down the road were neighbors and local merchants would come out to wave to her. She became a true celebrity.

She bonded with Patty, and Lady was Patty’s baby. Where ever Patty was Lady was at her knee, attentive and inquisitive. Lady was always a lady but if she did not wish to do something she would just sit down as an immoveable 85 pound German Shepherd. She never objected, she just sat down.

In the heat of mid-July Lady was less interested in her morning walks so we awaited cooler weather. At the beginning of August she was not interested in her breakfast yet devoured her dinner and any treats. A pre-existing left knee injury with arthritis became more stiff. Two weeks later with labored breathing and tiredness we got her to her Vet. The knee had swollen, it was extremely aggressive bone cancer that spread to her lungs. We had to let her go.

Our tears and pain of mourning will pass with time and thoughts will turn to smiles of remembrance.

We loved Lady so much.

–Greg & Patty

Her story from happier times:

Greg & Patty, who are parents of Lady #313, tell us that Lady is very loved, has acclimated nicely, has free run of the house and does fine (she no longer uses her crate at all), loves rides in the car, bonded to Patty like glue and also does great with Greg. She is no longer hand-shy and welcomes strangers, does long walks every morning, and she does well with other dogs. She is very healthy, had allergy meds when they got her, but they have subsided and she no longer takes meds. Runs off lead on the beach with her mom and loves it. And she is a walking advertisement for GSRNE, as Patty & Greg tell everyone about GSRNE.

Angus
GSRNE #396
? – 8/6/2014  

The GSRNE family is heartbroken that our wonderful gentle boy has left us. We always work hard to find the right match between our dogs and adoptive families. When Angus came to GSRNE in the fall of 2010, we soon found out that staying with his foster mom, Peggy, would be the best place for him to be. She certainly did everything for him as much that any one of us would have done for one of our own dogs nursing him through many eye and ear infections. She loved him unconditionally and spoiled him with his favorite meal of chicken and potatoes! It would have been 4 years this October that Peggy has had her boy Angus–her permanent foster dog. We’re positive that Angus always felt like this was his ‘fur-ever’ home with her and we couldn’t have found a better place for him to spend these last years of his life. Peggy gave him everything in these past 4 years that he never experienced in his early life. She told us; “He was a very funny dog who loved chicken and potatoes. Angus was such a good, sweet boy… He was my Buddy!”

Thank you Peggy for taking such good care of our –your– boy!

Shadow
GSRNE #394
2008? – 12/2015  

“I have lived with you and loved you, and now you are gone. Gone where I cannot follow, until I have finished all of my days.” ~Victoria Hanley

Shadow was a 7-year-old Sable female GSD who had a loving family, including children. When the family lost their home, they moved in with relatives who had no room for Shadow. A friend tried taking her, but the dog in that home resented her and made her life miserable; so the owner contacted GSRNE. We were grateful that we had a foster home available for this sweet girl.

There are not a lot of people willing to step up for a dog who is no longer a youngster; but those who do, tell us that it’s one of the best things they’ve ever done. That’s certainly what we’re hearing from Shadow’s adopters! When they had applied to adopt a rescue GSD, they had a female Chocolate Lab who was 6 or 7 years old, and they were hoping to find a male who would enjoy being part of their family and not be too pushy with their girl. Sadly, their dog was diagnosed with cancer and died before we had the right male for them to adopt.

When we told them about Shadow, they wanted to meet her…and she seemed to choose them on the spot (she was adopted on 8/2/2014). She always loved having her neck rubbed and quickly let her new Dad know that a neck massage was very much appreciated; she would tap him with her paw when she wanted him to “do it again, please.” She always loved going for her walks, playing with all her toys and just being with her new family.
Today we heard that she had crossed the Bridge… Her family is devastated. They decided to have a necropsy done and found out she had a tumor on her heart that burst. We are grateful she had 18 months with them…
Rest easy, pretty girl, and wait for us at the Bridge…