Major
GSRNE #378
1/28/2012 – 4/12/2020   

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We’re heartbroken to report that Major passed away on Easter after battling with cancer. Rest in peace, dear Major, we’ll see you on the Bridge.

Biography:

Major is a gorgeous, large, young, neutered, male GSD.  He came into our program from a shelter asking for our help.

He is very active, strong, and energetic, but settles down after physical and mental exercise.  He is very smart and takes direction well, but he will test you.  In his foster home, he goes on walks, jogs next to a bike, plays fetch and is learning to release the ball, and is trained daily to learn obedience commands with a professional trainer.  He is a true Shepherd, he loves to work—put through obedience commands and learn.

He is still a puppy and is learning how to be calm and obedient and not to always be so excitable.  He is a very confident dog and doesn’t seem to be afraid of anything.  He greets people with caution, but once greeted properly he is friendly. He is crate trained, potty trained and great on leash.  Because he is still a puppy, his attention span is limited at times.  This is typical of such a young pup that is still learning. He is learning in his new home to bond, trust and respect his new family.

Major loves his tennis balls, Jolly Balls, Kong, and Nylabone. Although he enjoys playing fetch, he is still learning that he needs to give up the ball so someone can throw it for him.  He has learned the trade game—gives up his tennis ball for the one you have in your hand.

Adopted on 9/3/2013

Eire

Eire
GSRNE #149
? – 1/14/2006  

Eire came into my life in the summer of 03. Jenna, my former GSD, had passed away in the spring of liver cancer. We had 10 years together. It hurt bad to lose her. Eire was left tied to the fence of a GSD breeder, with a note asking for someone to take care of her. She was well cared for, so you have to wonder why someone would do that.

Janice Ritter brought her to me for foster care. Within a week, we both knew it was for keeps. Eire fit in like an old pair of Levis, and made fast friends with Taz the orange tiger cat.

There is a steep hill in my backyard. Eire would walk up to the top and roll over on her back and slide down all summer and fall. Winter came with snow and ice. The weekend after the first storm Eire climbed the hill, rolled over and shot down like a train! The look on her face was worth a million bucks! She did wait until spring to do any more hill sliding.

In the winter of 2005, Eire began having trouble walking. A trip to the vet and 6 x-rays later, we found arthritis and severe Spondylitis in the spine. She was put on Rimadyl and Glyco-flex III. The drugs helped for a while, but she became less mobile as time passed. Saturday 1-14-06, she could no longer walk. Another trip to the vet and I knew it would be for good.

As I held her head and looked in her eyes the last words she heard was “I love you, I love you,” and she was gone.

Arrangements were made for cremation. I had a private viewing and said a final goodbye and watched her being placed in the crematory. Two and a half years is not a lot of time: I wish we had more. The hurt is no less for a shorter time together. This summer I buried her remains in the yard next to Jenna.

Birthday-unknown to passing 1-14-06 Foster sister to Rommel and Rocky. Buddy to Taz (Eire would groom and wash him like a puppy). Best Friend to me.

Blue Skies
To Eire

Danny Thompson 1-20-2006

Eva

Eva
GSRNE #131
1992? – 6/01/2006  

When I first saw Eva’s picture on the GSRNE website, it was love at first sight. There was something in her eyes that said we were meant to be together. That was in the summer of 2002 when she was about 9 or 10. As I got to know her, I began to understand more of her past; her agility when tethered and her heavily callused elbows told me that she had spent most of her life tied up outside with asphalt for a yard. It was such a delight to watch her run freely and enjoy the freedom of her yard and roll around in the grass. She protected the neighborhood from noisy motorcycles was always on guard looking for them – and successfully chased them all away by running back and forth along her fence.

She adored kitties, took care of her 3 kitty siblings and helped me with fosters for Siamese Rescue of Virginia. I always wondered if she had had puppies; she enjoyed collecting squeak toy-babies and keeping them safe – several times a day she would check on them to make sure they were all safely tucked in their bed. She stole an old blanket from the laundry and dragged it to where her babies were – and that was their bed thereafter. Her goal was to give them each nibble-kisses without making them squeak, if one squeaked she was upset that she hurt it and licked it to make it better. I think this was the first time she had toys, as she valued each and every thing that was hers, and ‘knew’ each time I came home with a new toy for her, waiting with expectant eyes like a child on Christmas morning.

She enriched my life in so many ways with her smiles and antics; she was a great friend. I am so glad that I decided to rescue a senior girl, and am thankful that we had such special time together.

Olivia

Olivia
GSRNE #084
1998? – 8/16/2006  

GSRNE is sad to announce that Olivia, GSRNE #84 has passed on. She was diagnosed with lymphoma cancer and within just a few weeks she was gone. Fortunately, she was sick only a short time, but everything happened so fast that her owners, Lisa and Bob, can’t believe she is gone. They were at her side and held her until the end.

Trixie
Foster #F-39
1997? – 1/16/2006  

We all learned so much from getting to know Trixie; the way she gradually came out of her depression (from living alone in her former owner’s house for months after he died); the way she allowed herself to trust and love her foster Mom after months of patient and gentle care; her dignity and poise in dealing with her health issues, pain, and loss of mobility.  We were privileged to have the time that we had with her.
Karen McCall, GSRNE Board

The Story of a True Princess by her foster mom, Laurie Keating

Once upon a time there was a beautiful princess German Shepherd named Trixie. She had a lovely face, black and silver hair and the sweetest temperament. She lived alone with an elderly man and took such good care of him for seven years.  She stayed close and learned to move gently and never get in his way.  She brought joy to his life and she thrived in his love for her.

But for reasons unknown, she did not receive her heartworm medication and an evil mosquito bit her and brought that harmful disease.  No one noticed and she never complained.  She lived each day, as a good German Shepherd should, loving her person and guarding his house.

One day, her person died and now she was alone.  His family loved the little princess but could not take her home, nor bear to place her in a shelter.

Because she had severe hip dysplasia, they knew she would be put to sleep. So for 9 months, the family left her in the house alone, coming to feed and let her outside. She grieved alone and gradually withdrew into herself.  The family called GSRNE and they agreed to help her.

The rescue person’s who went to get her had never seen such a sweet but sad little dog.  There was no life in those dark eyes, no joy,  no wagging tail.

Those wonderful ladies gave her love and comforted her.

Then she came to her foster home where an older lady with a cane and an older German Shepherd gentleman lived.  They were so sad when they saw her and worked to show her that the world could be a wonderful place again.  Gradually she started to eat and found a tennis ball.  It was fun to chase it in the house. 

She could even take toys away from her fur pal. Gradually the light came back into her eyes, the bounce in her step and she began to talk. She woofed, and barked and howled and yowled and her foster mom talked back.  Soon they were lip licking and yawning together (dog calming signals) Every morning when they got up, there would be a morning “talking” session to start the day and one before retiring at night, along with constant chats during the day.  When the 10 month old grandson came over each week, she tried her calming techniques on him when he cried to no avail. But wet kisses to the face always worked. Children in the neighborhood came over to visit her and pat her gentle head.

Trixie was sore getting around and they suspected it was her hips. GSRNE decided to help her with her hip problems and off they went to Angell Memorial Hospital to see the bone doctor.  Not such good news.  She would need an operation to replace one of those hips. But one night after climbing the stairs, our little princess fainted and fell to the ground.  More episodes followed.  So GSRNE took her to Tufts to see what was happening to her.  After many tests, Trixie was found to have heartworm, pulmonary hypertension and heart problems caused by the heartworm. The doctors treated her for the heartworm and kept telling us that she was one of the sweetest dogs that they had ever treated.

The day she had to go in for her second treatment, she started holding up her hind leg and whining in pain.  Back at the hospital, they found that she had clots in her lungs and maybe something wrong in her spine.

Her foster mom brought her home with pain medication but she wouldn’t eat, not even homemade soup or steak tips.  She had to be lifted up and helped to walk. She became a sad little dog again.  No fairy godmother, nor foster mom’s love could make her better.  Because we loved her so much, we let her cross the Rainbow Bridge. Now she runs with the Angels. Fly, Trixie, fly!

Please continue to page two to read more about Trixie’s history

Maverick

Maverick
GSRNE #117
? – 10/10/2005  

Mavy crossed the bridge.
Maverick gave his all to us for as long as he could and didn’t quit despite how tired he really was. We made a very difficult decision for us, that was the best thing we could have done for Mav, we gave him peace. A rest from his allergies and itchies and chronic ear infections. Our boy was never anything less than a PERFECT gentleman and always gave so much more than was ever expected of him. Loyal and loving to a fault, Mav was my very first male dog and he was a shining star. We miss you everyday and wish you peace as you join Cocoa and play with the doggie angels. Thank you, Mav, for everything.

King

King
GSRNE #161
2/19/1995 – 11/29/2005  

You had to endure a hard life until the angels from GSRNE eventually were able to rescue you. You were leashed outside to a tree, flies were biting your ears off and you were afraid of thunder and lightning. You had to wait seven months in a shelter until you found the way to us 02/27/04. And then we had to rush you to Tufts hospital and you barely survived Babesia Canis. It was a big expense for GSRNE but worth every penny of it. I don’t know how you managed to keep your gentle, calm, friendly and loving character. You were a fast learner and such a good boy so we returned the crates and you could roam freely in the house. I never saw you aggressive – yes, sometimes you growled a little at the kitty when she got too close to your piece of hard bread – your iron reserve. Otherwise you just enjoyed meeting all humans, especially kids and other animals. I remember the satisfaction you had when I let you run free in the backyard. We were almost afraid you would fall off the stone wall but you always managed to turn in time. Patiently you waited when we were working in the yard and you helped us take a nap after work. We enjoyed countless walks together in the surrounding parks. You loved to come with us on short and long trips. What an adventure is was to climb Mt. Watatuc and play with the other dogs from the Swiss society. Even the long ride to Florida did not bother you. You were with us and all was fine. End of October you were diagnosed with terminally ill lung cancer. We were afraid you would not make it to Florida to our new home. But you stayed with us and had a spoiled retirement. You went peacefully to the rainbow bridge on 11/29/05. Thank you for your time, patience and love. Edith and I miss you and will always remember you until we meet again at the bridge. Rony.