Although every Golden is special in the hearts of all of us who volunteer at Golden Retriever Rescue of Houston, the Goldens of our own families and those of our supporters have an extra-special place in our hearts. Honorary Memorials recognizes these lovely animals for the joy and happiness they brought into our lives.

Memorials

GRRH is committed to caring for each Golden Retriever, that comes into our program. We will go to whatever lengths we can to bring the Golden who needs medical care to good health. Even though we do all that we can to help a Golden, sometimes we cannot win the battle and we have to let our special friends go.

Each Golden gently finds a way into our lives and our hearts.  They will forever live in our hearts - and we want you to know about them also. Following will be a memorial to those special Goldens who have touched us deeply.
 

Rainbow Bridge Author unknown

Just this side of Heaven is a place called 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, never to be separated.

Ella March 19, 2004 - She was abandoned by her owners and left to die. Please light a candle for this girl.	Tessa March 30, 2004 - She was very sick and her doctors felt that with all of her problems it would be kinder to let her go. Sadly, she succumbed to cancer but at least her last days were good ones and she had loving people taking care of her. We will miss her.	Ollie July 2004	Boyd September 16, 2004	Nora December 12, 2004 - Nora was turned into a shelter by her owner who could no longer care for her. Nora was with GRRH for about 24 hours before we, on consultation with our veterinarian, made the decision that she would have a better life at the bridge. She was somewhere around 10 years old and had had chronic skin and ear problems, was full of hookworms and whipworms, was anemic, had a severe flea infestation, had several abscessed teeth, and was severely heartworm positive. However, her most severe problem was an autoimmune condition for which there is no cure. We commend any owner that will do the right thing for their dogs when they can not care for them. But, we do wish that more owners would do the right thing earlier in the dog's life, when the dog has a chance of being placed in a home that can care for them properly. Nora was a wonderful, old girl that deserved much better care than she apparently received during her life.
Josh February 24, 2005 - Little Josh went to the Bridge this afternoon. He had been treated since coming out of the shelter for diarrhea and vomiting. Although initially showing some improvement, he has been up and down for the last few days. His extremely low body weight, combined with not responding well to treatment, leads the vet to believe that he had cancer. In spite of being very ill, Josh would gently wag his tail and try to stand up and step outside of his kennel to be petted. Although no longer with us, Josh is in a better place where his Golden spirit will live on. Please say a prayer or light a candle in Josh's memory.	Hogan March 18, 2005	Banjo July 21, 2005 - Banjo was probably between 8 months and a year old. He was not 100% Golden but he was real cute and had made a special impression in the hearts of all of us at GRRH! Unfortunately, he was already infected with distemper and was unable to overcome it.	Miles August 2005	Deuce February 1, 2006 - Deuce ("Duke") was the sweetest boy, but sadly it turned out that he had been infected with distemper. In a very short time, he brought joy to us all with his kind face and bright eyes. Our only consolation is that we were able to give him some happy moments, too. His foster mom Lana loved him and nourished him; helping him to gain weight. His new family, the Ogdens, already saddened by the recent loss of their family dog, loved him like they'd had him forever. His new mom Suzanne, her son Rossin, and GRHH volunteers Tom and Kris, who picked him up and transported him were with him at the end. He left us knowing that he was loved and cared for.
Porter August 3, 2006	Raleigh August 10, 2006	Charlie August 29, 2006	Maggie November 11, 2006	Sulley November 24, 2006   Sulley passed away last night in the ER as a result of a massive tumor in his abdomen. Sulley was a handsome, gentleman of a dog who loved everyone, cats included, and saw himself as a lapdog.
Barron January 29, 2007	Fletcher May 30, 2007	Jamie June 12, 2007	Bowie September 19, 2007 - Another senseless death due to heartworms.	Lotto May 19, 2008
Melanie June 5, 2008

 

---

 

MEMORIALS

 

September 26, 2007

 

 

My big Bowie boy,

 

Today is a week since you’ve been gone.  I still can’t believe that I won’t get to come home to your little prancy-dance, your chomp, your lean, and your high-fives.  Who is going to eat all of our peanut butter now?  You were such a miracle for us, a light in really dark times.  You made getting out of bed exciting!  I’m so grateful for our trips to pick up the kids, to PetSmart, to Office Depot, and even getting kicked out of the grocery store.

 

I hope that we were able to make your last weeks with us deliriously happy ones, but I can’t imagine that we were able to give you more than you gave us.  I read a quote once that dogs don’t live as long as people, because people use their lives to learn to love each other and be good to each other, and dogs already know how.  You seemed to know all about how to love and be good.  You were so intuitive to what we needed, and were always there with a head in the lap at just the right times.  I wish so much that you were still here with me, but I wouldn’t have traded our short time together for anything.  The heartache of losing you is something I will gladly go through to have experienced the miracle of you.

 

You are truly missed, you are loved tremendously and thought of every day.  You are still our world.  You are still, and always will be, our precious big Bowie boy.

 

Stephanie Butler, Maddie and Kailee Birdsong

 

 

July 21, 2007

 

My parents adopted their Sammy from you guys on July 21, 2003. I think he was the second dog adopted from your rescue. I just saw the success story I wrote about him on your Happy Endings page for 2003. I am very sad to tell you that Sammy lost his battle with lymphoma on July 21, 2007. He fought valiantly for 8 months after his diagnosis. Sammy was such a sweet dog, and brought a lot of joy to my parents. We miss him very much. Zara, my parents Powderpuff Crestid shown with Sammy on the success stories page gave him a kiss goodbye before he left. Thank you again for blessing us with this wonderful boy.

Thank you.

 

Alicia Ziman daughter of Allan and Carolyn Cease, Sammy's adoptive parents.

 

 

July 15, 2007

 

Betsy's intake picture.	Betsy and her big brother kissing.	Betsy and her big brother, Jake, playing.	Betsy on adoption day.	Betsy resting.

Hi everyone,

 

I just wanted to let everyone at GRRH know that Betsy finally lost her long battle with epilepsy on Friday.  Some puppies are just a little too good for this world. :(

 

Thank you so much for bringing Betsy into my life; she has truly been the greatest blessing I have ever known.  "Bets" was the sweetest little girl in the entire world and will always be my baby.    She loved life and lived each day with such a sense of radiant innocence that you couldn't help but smile when she was around.  Now she can run, swim, and play with all her new doggie friends, seizure-free forever. :)

 

P.S. - As you may be able to see in the last pic attached of Betsy napping, she put on some weight and finally got her glorious, golden coat.  She even grew a full plume of a tail!  She turned out to be quite a beauty, and the vet called her her "blonde supermodel." ;)

 

Sincerely,

 

Emily

 

Sweet Betsy was adopted in May 2006.  Betsy was a well loved part of the family and could not have found a better forever home.  We at GRRH are thankful that this very special little girl found a home with very special people.  Betsy touched many of us here at GRRH, and she will live on in our hearts.  

 

 

July 2, 2007

 

Hello,

 

This is the most difficult latter I have ever had to write. I adopted Maggie Rose "Lillie" one year ago 07/07/06 from you.

 

I wanted to let you all know that Maggie passed away last Thursday from liver cancer. Maggie was my family, my companion, and friend. She was the most loving, sweet, soul. My heart is broken, I miss her so terribly. Everyone who met Maggie fell in love with her.

 

The stillness and quiet in the house is heartbreaking. I still find it hard to believe she is gone, she passed so quickly.

 

I want you to know Maggie was happy the year we were together, she had a loving home and many people who loved her.

 

I am very thankful Maggie came into my life, she brought so much joy and happiness to me.

 

I know one day I will see my girl again.

 

Sincerely,

 

     ---  Kay Z 

 

February 14, 2007

 

  GRRH members and volunteers,

 

Craig and I would like to thank GRRH for bringing Bingo into our lives. After volunteering with GRRH for over a year my husband surprised me. For our wedding anniversary that year he decided we could become a foster family. That has been the best gift anyone could have given me.  Fostering is the best.  Over the past year we have been fortunate enough to have had eight wonderful furry four legged friends come and live with us. I have loved them all.  It can be trying at times but when you see your new friend go to their forever home.  All sleepless nights are forgotten. Even now with the pain of losing our precious Bingo to cancer we still feel fortunate to have had him in our lives and to be a part of GRRH.  

 

Thanks to everyone who has sent us their kind thoughts and support. We know Bingo was loved by all in GRRH and he will live on in our hearts forever. Special thanks to Patti for being there with us and helping us make the right decision.

 

GRRH is a wonderful organization and I thank everyone for what they do.  GRRH could not survive without each of you.  I love you all.

 

-- K Bishop

 

  January 29, 2007

From Barron's foster mom Kristin: Barron was a very energetic male about 4 years old.  Though he was not full golden, he was a sweet boy.  He passed away in the ER from complications with Heartworm treatment Dec 17, 2006.  Barron was spunky and really enjoyed people and other animals.  Who will ever forget those adorable ears!

From Charlie's foster mom

 

  Charlie was adopted August 17, 2005. Charlie passed to Rainbow Bridge August 29, 2006 

 

Charlie was 8 years old and was diagnosed with stomach cancer. His family loved him dearly and tried everything with the good doctors at Gulf Coast, but to no avail. We all loved him so deeply. He had many admirers. He loved every one. His family gave him a wonderful home for the last year of his life. Charlie had 3 cats, a collie, a boy, a teen girl and two loving parents who adored him.

He had a wonderful year! He loved his stuffed "babies" and carried them with him every where.

 

Charlie loved to swim!!! He was so smart! When he came to my house as a foster, he knew exactly where the stairs in the pool were and got in and swam like he had been there all his life.

The day Charlie passed, I was vacationing in upstate NY, on Lake Otisco. It had been cloudy all day. That night the clouds parted and one single star shone brightly over our lake house. I knew that star was Charlie shining over us, telling us he was in peace.

 

Of all the sweetie hearts, I have fostered, Charlie totally won my heart with his half tail, his crooked smile and his gentle nature. He was a dear, dear spirit who taught us all so much with his presence. We will hold on to the spirit Charlie was and how much he enriched our lives.

 

And, To Booney, From One of Our Volunteers

When I picked you up from the shelter, you were such a happy little guy! I could not believe that your family did not want you, as you were beautiful (OK..."handsome") and so sweet and gentle. You were so anxious to prove that you were worthy to be taken home. You snuggled-up to my feet, sitting so pretty and so proud and looking into my eyes, as if to say, "I will love you - please take me home". I named you Booney, since you were found in "the boonies". On the long drive home, you were restless until I turned the radio to a classical music station! You were soothed and calmed down completely. Who would have known that our little boy from the boonies was a classical kind of guy?! Booney spent most of his short time in our program with his foster Momma, Jen, being deeply loved and cared for. I will forever be grateful to you, Jen, for the compassion and love you generously gave to Booney.

Booney - We pledge to you that you will never be forgotten.
With much love forever, Joni and Bill