Simba
GSRNE #382
2003 – 12/27/2018   

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It is with tremendous sadness that we share that Simba peacefully crossed the Rainbow Bridge. This sweet boy had so many issues when we brought him into GSRNE, it is amazing to read that he lived to be 15 years old! What a gift it was for all of us to see such a wonderful dog live so long.

He was energetic up until the day before he died, when he became very weak and refused to eat. Given he was 15 and had many health issues, we felt it was in his best interest to pass peacefully. We had a licensed vet (who has also been his acupuncturist) send him over the Bridge.

Rest in peace sweet, sweet boy; your GSRNE family loves you.

Update on 12/13/2013:

Simba is doing great! His foster parents have switched him over to an allergy free kibble and canned food and he is itching much less. They have also been brushing him and applying conditioner (obtained from the vet) on his skin every day and the fur on his back is beginning to fill in. He has peach fuzz hair up and down his back now! The rest of his coat is much fuller and silkier as well and he has so much more of it that he’s beginning to shed!

His parents also started him on Adequan treatments right away as well as a daily walk schedule. He walks around the yard, which is fairly large, around 5-6 times a day. He has just begun to walk a steep incline once a day to get the mail. He actually pulls his parent up the hill now. He is limping much less and in much less need of tramadol for pain. He has also started glucosamine treatment. His mom tried adding fish oil to his diet but it gave him very loose stools. So they will put that on a back burner for now.

The vet checked his T4 right after we adopted him and increased his medication slightly. He checked his blood work again a week ago and was very happy with his levels.

And as for Simba’s temperament and personality? He is becoming more and more playful and goofy around the house, and he has begun to play with ALL of his toys and to engage me in trying to take them from him. He loves, loves, loves to roll on his back-on his dog bed, on the rugs, on the couch…you have to be careful of the flying legs when he gets going!  He is one happy boy. And he loves to visit my folks (why not, they spoil him rotten-I have to watch my mother with treats every minute), he loves our neighbors (everyone pets him and fusses over him), and he loves when David comes to stay every weekend. It’s a pretty good life 🙂

Adopted on 11/11/2013

Biography:

Simba is dog worthy of a second chance and in need of a caring and loving home! He is a love and has more energy than some of our 5 year olds! Simba came into our program with Ebony who has since been adopted. Their previous owner did not have the finances to care for them and eventually gave them up. Simba had a severe ear infection with extracting pus in both ears and a skin condition where he lost his fur on his back, neck, chest and inside of his legs. Despite his condition, he is a very sweet and loving dog with a great temperament.

Simba is currently in a one-person foster home with no other animals. He is doing great now that he is getting the proper care and treatment with medications and good nutrition. We are happy to report that his infections are clearing up and the areas of lost fur are filling in! He will be going back to the vet for some additional testing and a recheck to see how his condition is coming along and what he may need going forward.

He is a very happy dog with a sweet, sensitive, loving and playful personality. His energy level is medium to high, which is above what a dog would have at his age. His foster mom tries to keep him busy by playing fetch (one of his favorite things to do), giving him toys that he carries (a donated, stuffed, Hedgehog toy) around the house, and taking him on her ever-running errands in the car. His car behavior is great and he loves to go for the ride! He will either lie down in the back, or mostly ride on the seat and look out the window. He is a dog that wants to be with his family no matter what they are doing. One thing you need to watch for while Simba is in the home is that he steals Kleenex from the bathroom pail, but once told “uh, uh” he automatically brings it to you and releases it into your hand.

He is working on new commands like “wait” at the door before going out, or “wait” before getting out of the car, and learning to walk nicely on a leash. He knows sit, go lay down, come, off, quiet and leave it. Some of the commands need reinforcing as he doesn’t always want to listen, but knows the command. He also enjoys the attention working on learning them. He would greatly benefit by going to dog training classes with an adoptive home.

He is a very friendly dog to people, and with some dogs he can get overly excited. He will go on the alert when a dog walks by him and bark, but when called to come (when in the fenced yard), or told to stop he immediately responds. All in all, Simba is a very well-behaved dog.

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.