VGSR sends deepest sympathies to Susan and Fran Lynch on the loss of Roo on January 26, 2008. Susan writes, "It is with a tremendous sense of loss that we tell you that our dear sweet Roo finally succumbed to the devastating effects of degenerative myelopathy on January 26, 2008. Roo left this world and traveled to the Rainbow Bridge cradled in the arms of those who so deeply loved him. Roo came to us many years ago as a 3 legged, bald German Shepherd. Roo had been found as a stray in rural West Virginia with a right front leg that was so terribly infected that it needed to be amputated. Roo spent several weeks in the hospital to treat his systemic infections. Roo overcame such adversity and transformed from a gaunt, nervous Shepherd to a large beautiful full-bodied black German Shepherd that exuded love, dignity and devotion. Roo had the blackest, thickest shiniest fur imaginable. Roo had a strong beautiful German Shepherd head with warm, gentle brown eyes. Roo loved his family and in particular, he deeply loved Fran. Roo would follow Fran out to the barn to do chores and would insist on following Fran to the farthest field, hopping along on those three strong legs, never leaving Fran's side. Roo loved nothing more than to run to the highest point on the farm - the compost pile - and to sit atop - surveying and protecting his farm - the ultimate King of the Hill. Roo loved to go for hikes - he would run along for miles - through water and over logs - never once stopping to notice that he didn't have that fourth leg. Roo had an energy that was so very dignified. All people and dogs could sense it. You were drawn to Roo and his inner beauty. All dogs in our pack loved and respected Roo. Roo would yodel with pleasure when you scratched his ears and when you rubbed his belly - particularly the spot where his other front leg had once been. About two years ago, Roo's two back legs began to fail him. As the DM set in, he was left with just one good leg. But even with one leg - Roo retained his indomitable spirit. He shuffled around to be next to his humans - pulling his weight without a complaint. In the end, we were Roo's legs. He would yodel to us when it was time to move about. Roo was a truly special soul who lived every day with remarkable courage. On his very last day - Roo had kisses and yodels for us. Our lives are so much less rich now that he is gone. We miss you Roo and thank you for your lessons in courage."

Love, Susan and Fran

To VGSR:

I wanted to let you know that on February 27, 2010...Rookie crossed over the Rainbow Bridge.  I took him to

the vet for his rabies vaccinations, when they discovered "something" in has abdomen area.  A few days later

we returned to have an ultrasound done.  It was then the vet discovered he had a cantaloupe size mass, pressing

on most of his organs (spleen, kidneys, etc)...and it was inoperable.  This was such a shock, as we had no idea he

had a mass at all, let alone one so big.   The doctor feared that the mass could rupture while climbing the stairs,

or jumping up/down from the bed.  Even if it didn’t rupture, he only had a couple of weeks at most.  Fearing that

something bad could happen while I was at work, we decided to have him euthanized the following day.

We had just finished celebrating 6 years together (adopted from VGSR on February 21, 2004), and I was certain

that we had several more years in our future.  The picture that was posted on your website 6 years ago tugged at

my heart.  His eyes were so sweet.  I knew we were a perfect match for each other.  I will miss him dearly, and I

think about him all the time.

Thank you for rescuing him from his prior situation, and allowing me to bring him into my home.

Once I am ready, I will be back to find my next German Shepherd Dog.

Sincerely,
Susan Fanning

VGSR's very deepest sympathies go to Barbie Dodge on the loss of Roxanne on 02/10/06. Barbie writes, "Mike and I have made a horribly difficult decision that it's time to send our beautiful Roxanne to the Bridge and end her extremely valiant fight with degenerative myelopathy. If you don't know what that is, I hope you never have to find out. Roxanne is our first of four (yes, I said four) VGSR alumni that have found a permanent home with us. We adopted her in '03 at 7 years of age. She is definitely a poster-child for adopting older dogs. Our only regret in adopting her is that she spent the first 7 years of her life with someone who considered her to be a disposable pet, and she deserved better than that. She was foster #47. I guess that instead of failing fostering 101, we failed fostering 147. Our "Beautiful Girl" will be missed more than words can say. Rest in peace beautiful girl, mommy and daddy love you."

VGSR's very deepest sympathies go to Barbie Dodge on the loss of Roxanne on 02/10/06. Barbie writes, "Mike and I have made a horribly difficult decision that it's time to send our beautiful Roxanne to the Bridge and end her extremely valiant fight with degenerative myelopathy. If you don't know what that is, I hope you never have to find out. Roxanne is our first of four (yes, I said four) VGSR alumni that have found a permanent home with us. We adopted her in '03 at 7 years of age. She is definitely a poster-child for adopting older dogs. Our only regret in adopting her is that she spent the first 7 years of her life with someone who considered her to be a disposable pet, and she deserved better than that. She was foster #47. I guess that instead of failing fostering 101, we failed fostering 147. Our "Beautiful Girl" will be missed more than words can say. Rest in peace beautiful girl, mommy and daddy love you."

VGSR sends deepest condolences to the Veno family on the loss of Samantha on December 26, '08. Frank writes, "We are deeply saddened to tell you that our beloved Samantha was taken from us on December 26th, after battling cancer. We adopted Samantha 10 years ago, and we instantly fell in love with her. After being with us for only 3 weeks, Samantha injured her left rear leg while out walking late in the evening. We made an appointment with the vet for the following morning, and put her in her crate. We woke up in the morning to find that Samantha was lying right next to our bed! Our bond with Samantha was forever changed when the vet told us in the morning that Samantha's leg was fractured and she had climbed 3 flights of stairs to be with us. We all loved her dearly, and will miss her forever."

Frank Veno

VGSR extends sincere, heartfelt sympathies to Ric Fiore and his family on the loss of Sandy Fiore who went to the Rainbow Bridge on October 19th, 2002. Ric's daughter, Carolyn, writes, "We adopted Sandy from VGSR Nov. 25, 2001. Her name was then "Sunny", but she definitely wasn't. She was scared and nervous, always afraid that she had been bad. But gradually she got used to us. She even started barking at the doorbell (and even her tennis ball). She was a beautiful dog who loved to play and bark, and she tried her hardest to please. She always gave everything a 150% try, even if she didn't know what she was supposed to do (dinner and breakfast got 220%). Sandy was very sick. She had no stomach enzymes, and so she couldn't digest any of her food, and she was starving. She ate everything she could. We tried very hard to make her better, but her body just gave up. She died on October 19. I don't think another family would have tried as hard to be patient with her. We don't know how old she was, because she acted like a puppy sometimes, acted like an old dog at others, and generally young and mischevious once she opened up. But she also had fur in between her pads, and some white whiskers. She was an amazing dog who never gave up, and I know that she has earned a place on a silken pillow in Heaven. Even in the car on the way to the vet for euthanasia, she tried to get up, to stand, to look out of the window. I know that her soul lives on, and she knows that she made a difference in my family. We will never forget you, sweetheart."

It is with much sadness that we tell you that we let Schatzi go to her final Forever Home on Tuesday.  After a 4-month battle against a stage 3 mast cell tumor, she told us she was ready to be with her other friends who came before her.  Pfeffer is sad but coping (she likes the extra attention, though).  Schatzi was just over 10, but had the heart and spirit of a puppy. Unfortunately her body let her down.  We would like to thank the amazing team at The Hope Center for their unfailing dedication and professionalism, but mostly for their compassion.   We will miss Schatzi?s inquisitiveness, her gentleness and her love of life (but not a big fan of water).  She was a real trooper who put up with a hip replacement and a knee repair.  Even with all of the special treatments over the last 4 months, she seemed to sense that we all loved her and were trying to help, so she did whatever was asked of her, or let us do whatever we needed to, without complaint.  While we are not ready to bring a new dog into our home, but we know that when the time is right, we will be right back at an adoption day.  Thank you for bringing us together with Schatzi, if only for what seemed like such a short time.    

Fondly,

Patty, David and Pfeffer Tikkala

We just wanted to let you know that Sera (rescue tag 729) passed yesterday. We believe that she was 13 or 14

years old and although her mind and spirit were strong, her body was not. We adopted Sera and her son (we

believe) Moose (rescue tag 736) from VGSR in October of 2003. We lost Moose to hemangiosarcoma in

October 2005. Sera carried on, but it was not until we adopted her companion, Dewey, that she regained her

vibrancy. Sera was truly perfect in every way. Never once did her maladies prevent her from providing that

unrequited love that only a companion animal can give. She was stoic until the end. She was an angel. Thank

you for bringing Moose and Sera into our lives. They were great companions, friends and gifts.

VGSR sends deepest condolences to Kathy Regan and Sherry Cupac on the loss of Shadow #8. Kathy writes, "Sherry and I are experiencing a deep loss. Shadow was our boy and was great with all he came in contact with. Our neighbors, whom we may have known casually are all experiencing sorrow because he would greet everyone, including other dogs with respect. I remember when he first came home, we had 2 cats and it would have been a deal breaker if he did not get along with them. Of course he was such a sweet boy, he gave them space and time to adjust to him. In fact he was in love with one of my cats and would take care of her. He was such a great dog, gentle and majestic. The 4 years we had with Shadow were the best and he will forever be in our hearts. Thank you so much for rescuing him and bringing him into our lives."

Kathy & Sherry

Shakya              

VGSR extends condolences to Lisa Sylvia and her family on the loss of Shakya. Lisa writes, "It is with great sadness we pass on that our “puppy” Shakya traveled to the Rainbow Bridge on February 26th, 2009. She was diagnosed with lymphoma on February 4th, and gave us a couple of weeks to spoil her more and say good bye. We were lucky enough for VGSR to rescue her via her mom Double Dutch. She was born at Miss Pia’s house on February 7th, 2002. We took her home at 8 weeks old and spent the next seven years trying to pet all of the fur off of her. She loved to play, wrestle, and snuggle. She even helped me sort laundry. Ok, she thought it was catch but she never mixed up the lights and the darks. She was one of the sweetest and gentlest dogs I have ever known. However, all bets were off if you were a squirrel or a fly. I don’t think she would have hurt them, it just bugged her she couldn’t catch them. She was always well-behaved; she only had a couple of mishaps with red frosting and a wedding cake, but who could blame her they tasted good. She will be missed. I know she is waiting for us with those who came before; Tubbs, Dutchess and Boogie (a four-legged cousin). They are our Guardian Angels, and we humans need all the help we can get."

Lisa, Glenn and Bizzy Sylvia

VGSR sends deepest condolences to Susan Lynch and Fran Swift, longtime VGSR Volunteers, on the loss of their foster, Sheila, on January 31, 2008. Susan writes, "We are very sad to tell you that our sweet foster Sheila passed away yesterday afternoon from a ruptured tumor on her spleen. When Sheila came to VGSR she was thin, had a spotty coat that was ravaged by a yeast infection and had been picked up as a stray roaming in Howard County, Maryland. Sheila was a senior girl of 8 years who had clearly had too many litters. After a few days in our home, we decided that Sheila was the most people-oriented dog we had ever seen. Sheila loved people and would look up to you always for affection and direction. Sheila lived for her pats and cuddles and belly rubs. I doubt that she ever gave a fraction of the love that she had stored up all these years to give. Sheila loved the snow. She would run around and frolic and eat the snow - and fail to go potty outside because it was just too much fun to romp in the snow and not soil it! Sheila came to us "bad with cats" but after a few weeks she was "good with savvy cats" and by the time she departed this world she was a true friend of the cats and I am sure that they will greatly miss her. In the past month, Sheila had blossomed. Her coat a rich sable, her eyes clear and alive and her weight perfect. We love and miss you Sheila. You were a beautiful soul so long unappreciated.

Love, Susan and Fran

December 03, 2007. Last night there was a new voyager on the road to the Rainbow Bridge. The pets waiting there were queueing up to meet and welcome Sheila Grimes and escort her across the Bridge in a long parade of honor. Lea writes, "It is with a heavy heart that I let you know that yesterday one of VGSRs finest volunteers, Sheila Grimes, left this world to start watching over all of the dogs in heaven. I can only imagination the collection of dogs and other pets that were waiting to meet Sheila when she got to the Rainbow Bridge. No doubt there was a huge crowd waiting for her. If anyone ever deserved the red carpet treatment at the Rainbow Bridge, it was Sheila Grimes. Sheila would always, willingly, take in the dogs that no one else wanted. She took in old dogs, sick dogs, pregnant dogs and even puppies. VGSR owes this woman a huge debt of gratitude. True to Sheila's generous spirit and never-ending pursuit to help the dogs of VGSR, she has requested that in lieu of flowers, she would appreciate donations being made to the brand new "Ginger's Fund" that has been established in her honor. This fund has been named after one of Sheila's favorite fosters and the money donated to this account will be used specifically to help out the dogs who need it the most - the old doggies, the sick doggies and the special needs doggies. If you should choose to honor Sheila by making a donation to this very worthy fund, please be sure to indicate "Ginger's Fund" somewhere on your donation. Please join me in keeping Sheila's family, especially Glenda, in your hearts, thoughts and prayers.

Sadly,

Lea

VGSR extends condolences to VGSR volunteer Sharon McHale and her sister, long-time adopter Sheila McHale on the loss of Sasha on March 03, '09. Risa writes, "Sheila’s boy Sasha died very suddenly and unexpectedly at home this morning (Tuesday, March 3), apparently from a heart attack. She had been treating him for a sinus infection, and he had a cortisone shot yesterday. I'm attaching a picture of Sasha from this past summer, swimming with his best buddy Lex the greyhound. What a wonderful, gentle soul he was! It just doesn't seem possible that he is gone. Sasha had an absolutely wonderful 10 years filled with love, play and lots of great dog and human friends who adored him. "

- Risa Lapidow

VGSR sends belated condolences to Dee and Don McGibbon on the loss of Schulz on June 3, 2006. Don writes: "It is with heavy heart and a river of tears that have flowed here over the weekend. On Friday night, about 1-2 am our beloved little adopted working dog Schulz passed after a long bout with illness and rear leg paralysis that was getting worse daily. Dear Schulz would bounce back and just amaze us almost daily. He wanted to keep on going-such determination in a dog. You remember when we got him that July weekend in 2002 when we first met you and became volunteers and this lady who owned a ranch in Waterford came in and said she had other dogs and horses in the family and couldn't keep him--he was a lost little guy because his person had died and he was pining in a big way. We never expected to go home with him but he changed our lives forever as our first german shepherd. Remember we never had a mature GSD before. We did own a GSD puppy that we had to give up for other good reasons. Schulz became my best companion and he was a social misfit among our fosters. Being a working dog he was never a pet and even toys were a new thing to him. And reward biscuits were all new too. We loved spoiling him and he was unlike any other GSD-His coat was so plush he was like an animated Gundt toy. He was calm in all situations with both people and all animals. He gave lots of love and bonded in a huge way with our other VGSR dogs and he was kind to all the fosters too but he remained a little bit of unsociable to the rest of the pack. Just a couple of months ago Dr. John Lonam did a senior workup on him and we discovered he had had surgery of the intestines -he still had staples there and he had three very bad discs of his spine (from his work over the years) - a natural degeneration. We figured he was 12 this year. John said to enjoy every day and he was right again-in the past 3 months his legs started to give out on him. At the end we were carrying him out to the yard with towel slings and he didn't like that one bit. He hated to be helped- such pride in an animal! He also had something else wrong with him-we believe it was cancer - he kept getting skin tags and he had an ear hematoma - a lot of little surgeries for a little guy. But he always bounced back. There is a very big void here right now. We are having him cremated. The other 2 shepherds here, Deli and Rommel, miss him-you can tell-but it will take awhile to get back to normal. Deli is really slowing down now too and her mobility is failing but we are enjoying every day. I am so glad I am retired and with them all the majority of the time. Regarding Schulzie, looking back he was the best of the best to us. I'm sorry the group didn't reaally know him but he was so glad he made it to the last 2 Bark Balls and met all those other GSDs - he was prancing around saying hi to everyone. We LOVED spoiling him. It is so nice to believe in Rainbow Bridge."

Love, Don and Dee

VGSR sends condolences to Brent Jacques on the sudden loss of Shyla on August 12th, '03. Brent writes, "I'm sorry to inform you that we lost Shyla today. I took her to the vet this morning because she had not eaten since the spay surgery last Thursday. She had no interest in any kind of food and she was wasting away fast. The biopsy that had been taken during the spay surgery showed that she had a severe case of inflamatory bowel disease. It may have been caused by food allergens, but it had progressed to the point that she had significant scar tissue in the intestines, which made it impossible for her to absorb nutrients from her food. The result was chronic wasting syndrome and diarrhea that she had been experiencing. With the disease making it impossible to absorb nutrients, and her inability to eat, the only option was to put her to sleep to stop the inevitable decline. I held her the entire time so the last thing she felt was a human embrace. After the life she had led, I hope she knew there were at least a few human beings who cared for her and wanted to help. I'm sorry we didn't do better by her as a species, and I wish I could have done more for her personally. Since she was a one person dog, I hope she will find one lonely person who needs a shepherd so they can cross that Rainbow Bridge together."