VGSR sends condolences to Tommie Lanasky, our Volunteer Coordinator, on the sudden loss of Smokey on April 12th, 2006. Smokey was a sweet, gentle, dignified, poised, loving soul that truly was an ambassador for the German Shepherd breed. She truly will be missed by all that took the opportunity to know her.

Tommie writes in memory of Smokey one year later: "It's been 1 year ago today that my best friend "Smokey" crossed over the Rainbow Bridge (sure doesn't seem that long ago). I think of her every day. I still bring her flowers to sit by her makeshift urn that holds her bowl, her collar and a favorite tennis ball. I cry as I write this for my girl, I still miss her so much. She went everywhere I wanted her to go and she tried her best to act like the lady she was. I pray I'll see her again."

VGSR sends deepest condolences to Mitch Vassar and his family on the loss of Summer on March 21, '09. Mitch writes, "It is with great sadness that I'm reporting that Summer lost her battle with cancer on Saturday, 3/21/2009. She became very ill over a matter of weeks and in her last two days, lost the strength to stand and walk unassisted. When it was clear she was not going to have another "good" day, we had her put to sleep. During Summer's illness we consulted with a concerned and caring veterinarian who made the procedure very peaceful. Our family is grateful for the three years we had Summer and VGSR's role in making her a member of our family. While she became my constant companion (I work from home), Summer always had a special place in her heart for my youngest child (Stanford). My wife's morning routine was to wake our oldest son while at the same time Summer went into my youngest son's room and gave him "kisses" until he got out of bed. Summer also provided me with an excuse/opportunity to get out of the house every day. Every day we made several trips around our neighborhood walking paths and over the years got to know many neighbors (I'm sure they quietly refer to me as the weird guy who is always walking the dog). I've attached one of our last pictures with Summer. It was during the recent snow and my youngest son is holding her leash (she was always especially gentle when he walked her). We loved her dearly and our hearts are broken."

Sincerely,

Mitch Vassar

VGSR sends condolences to Becky, Trey and Austin Rowe on the loss of Sunshine on October 12, 2008. Becky writes, "I'm Rebecca Rowe, and I found my beloved Sunshine on your web site 5 years ago and adopted her from the Cherpes Family of Warrenton VA. I have no way of contacting them to tell them and everyone else that Sunny crossed the Rainbow Bridge yesterday, October 12, 2008, after a sudden illness that rendered her unable to walk on her hind legs. She was fine on Friday, but by Saturday afternoon she wasn't, and by Sunday morning could no longer be the independent, loving, protective, Sunny she was. After much heart-ache and many tears (that still flow now), I decided what was best for her and was with her as she crossed Rainbow Bridge. My family had her for 5 years, she turned 10 on August 1, and she was the best of the best. I have a son, Austin, born with Mosaic Down Syndrome and Sunshine helped Austin to crawl on his first birthday without knowing what she was doing. She was laying in the hallway, and Austin saw her big, fluffy tail and found a way to get to it! Austin held on to her when he began walking and she stood patiently as he held on to her to stand for the first time. She protected my children whenever they were outside, never letting them out of her sight. When my ex-husband moved out when we divorced, she became the protector of the house always alerting me to when people came in our driveway, and other dogs that weren't allowed in her yard. She had a wonderful life with us, was well cared for, loved, and is hugely missed and always will be. She loved to catch Snowballs in the winter and water spraying from the hose in summer, although she really didn't like getting baths, she wouldn't hesitate to jump in the tub with the boys. Sunshine loved to bark and chase after birds, airplanes, and grass-hoppers. Her favorite spot in the house was at my bed-side. She also loved to play with her little "sister" Zoe, a Doxie-Chihuahua mix dog that I also rescued about 3 years ago. Zoe is missing her terribly and has been looking for her since Sunday. Sunny is now at peace and resting under a beautiful tree that gets the sunshine all day long and all we have to do is look out our back door and see her "spot" and know that she's still with us, if not physically, in spirit. Thank you for allowing me to share Sunshine's life on your site, it's helping me to talk about her. Sunny I love you, miss you even more, and thank you for all you did for our family."

Love,

Becky, Trey and Austin Rowe

In Remembrance of Miss Mousse

I'm very sad to let you know that my beloved Miss Mousse went to the Rainbow Bridge at 4:50 pm on August 13, 2008. The quality of her life had declined dramatically in the last couple of weeks due to her failing eyesight, but more importantly to her failing hindquarters. Her mobility had degraded such that she had a very difficult time making it up the three steps into the kitchen from outside. Uncarpeted floors had become a very tall obstacle that she increasingly and frequently was unable to negotiate without an undignified belly flop, recovery from which required my help to get her back on her feet. In recent years, she also suffered from laryngeal paralysis which made breathing an increasing struggle. Just this week she had begun to decline her food which was a certain indicator of her discomfort, and very much unlike the dog that had always devoured everything put down for her with great zeal. After consultation with Dr. Voell, I made the very painful decision to let her go, knowing that her wonderful, sweet soul would be free of her failing body. Although I choose to remember and joyfully celebrate her thirteen plus years of life with me and to remember her sweet brown face and eyes which contained so very much love, right now my heart is just totally, completely broken.

I remember so vividly holding her as a tiny, two-week-old, blue-eyed puppy. She fit in the palm of my hand with her nose at my fingertips and her butt against my watch. As I stood there in the breeder's reception area holding her to my chest, I fell absolutely, uncontrollably in love with her. The sweet scent of a new-born Lab puppy always gets me in the heart, but her scent was unusually powerful to my senses. When she tried to stick her nose inside the front of my shirt, the hook was set for life. Five weeks later when I got the call to come and get her, I must have set a land speed record getting to the breeder's place. That evening we had “the viewing” for a select group of friends and neighbors that knew of her imminent arrival. Miss Mousse was so utterly exhausted that at one point she was lying on a slope by the deck on her back, head downhill, pink belly to the wind, ears out like an angel's wings, completely asleep. I recall picking her up and carrying her to a recliner chair on the deck, sitting back in the chair and holding her to my chest with her head on my shoulder as she slept so soundly. I was not sure how I could have been more unabashedly in love with her than I was at that moment, yet as the years went on, it happened. Over and over again, it happened.

And now, she's gone. My soul wails in agony as I grieve for her. I keep glancing down beside my favorite chair where she used to like to lie, but there's no sweet little brown and gray face looking back up at me right now. A hole has been seared into my existence where she used to reside. It felt so strange to be walking out of the vet's office with two leashes in my hand, but only one dog at the other end ... and an empty collar. She's gone. Although I know that her soul is free of her failing body, I just miss her so desperately.

Thank you, Miss Mousse, for coming into form to be with me. Thank you for the lessons that you brought to me. I pray that I've learned them well. Know that if you choose to come back to be with me again, there always will be a place of honor for you in my heart, my life and my abode. I cherish the memories I have of you, and always will. You were always Daddy's Little Girl. Goodbye for now, my sweet little one. Although I can't see your form or rub your ever-so-soft ears, I feel your loving energy nearby. One day I'll stop grieving and move on, but today my face is soaked with tears, yet they don't seem to quench the pain in my heart where you are and always will be, my love. Goodbye for now, Miss Mousse, goodbye.

Willy Williams

VGSR sends deepest sympathies to David Wu on the loss of Tiaco in December 28, 2007. David writes, "I deeply regret to advise you that my most beloved companion, Tiaco (VGSC #703), suffered from heart-base tumor, which caused pericardial effusion, presumably a hemanfiosarcoma. Her condition was diagnosed by Carol Dugan, DVM at Gayton Animal Hospital in Richmond, VA. In cosideration of her prolonged suffering, I decided to put her to sleep yesterday at 2:30 PM. She had been a good companion to me ever since I adopted her on December 6, 2003. I loved her dearly and will miss her around forever."

David

Toby

VGSR sends condolences to Krista Daniel and her family on the loss of Toby on May 14, 2007. Krista writes, "I have very sad news: Toby didn't hurt his leg a week ago like we thought, his spleen ruptured. It healed enough that he regained normal function and apparently reopened over the weekend. Tad took Toby to the vet this am and we went to the emergency vet clinic in Frederick. They found that he had malignant tumors in his liver and his spleen which caused the rupture. With surgery to remove his spleen he would only live 2-3 months with the cancer in his liver. There was no way to know, just a month ago he had a vet visit and all his bloodwork was good and he was healthy. Even today at the vet he was wagging his tail and if the condition was unknown you couldn't tell. His abdomen became swollen last night because his spleen was bleeding out. We had to put him to sleep tonight, and I'm nearly out of mind with grief. I wasn't ready to say goodbye, and I miss him so much my heart aches. Tad and I took our last pictures of Toby today before we had to take him. We brought him home so he could have time in his backyard and to see Wren. He was pure joy in my life and there are so few of those. These words come close to how I'm feeling......

Funeral Blues

by W. H. Auden (1907-1973)

Stop all the clocks, cut off the telephone,

Prevent the dog from barking with the juicy bone.

Silence the pianos and, with muffled drum,

Bring out the coffin. Let the mourners come.

Let aeroplanes circle moaning overhead

Scribbling in the sky the message: "He is dead!"

Put crepe bows around the white necks of the public doves.

Let the traffic policemen wear black cotton gloves.

He was my north, my south, my east and west,

My working week and Sunday rest,

My noon, my midnight, my talk, my song.

I thought that love would last forever; I was wrong.

The stars are not wanted now; put out every one.

Pack up the moon and dismantle the sun.

Pour away the ocean and sweep up the wood.

For nothing now can come to any good."

VGSR sends condolences to Tom McGrath on the loss of Trevor on May 7, 2008. Tom writes, "Today my heart is heavy as Trevor crossed over "The Rainbow Bridge" today at 1:30 PM. He had his second heartworm treatment yesterday to kill the eggs. I picked him up from the Vet at 3:00 PM. I brought him home, took him for a walk and put him in his crate ay 3:30 PM. When I returned home at 8:30 PM, he seemed very lethargic. I felt it was a result of the treatment. At 9:00 PM, he did not want to go out for his nightly walk or take any food. At 10:30 he started breathing heavy and went into the bathroom and laid on the floor by the water bowl I keep upstairs. I stayed with him most of the night on the bathroom floor. He got sick twice and did a poop during that time. At 7:30 AM this morning he could hardly get down the stairs. When I got him outside he just laid in the grass. I called the Vet right away and I got him to the Vet about 8:30 AM. When I got there I had to carry him in. The Vet put him on fluids right away. She (Dr. Julie Cunningham) called me at 1:55 PM to give me the news that he had passed away at 1:30 PM. She believes that he had a stoke caused by a blood clot (dead worms) that moved to his brain which resulted in him losing his motor skills and getting sick. Apparently the treatment was more than his frail abused body could take. He was a wonderful GSD and would have made someone a great companion. He got along with all my other GSD's and people that he met. It was to bad that he was so severely abused (IE baseball bat to his teeth) prior to VGSR getting him. I'm hurting very much and now I'm going to finish my crying.

Tom Mc.

The membership of VGSR sends condolences to Lea and John on the loss of Trooper, on 03/04/05. Lea writes,

"It is with great sadness in my heart that I tell you that this evening our dear Trooper went to join her beloved sisters, Deja Vu and Josey at the Rainbow Bridge. We adopted Trooper from Washington Humane Society around Christmas of 1991. She was somewhere between six months and a year old when we adopted her. She was our very first "rescued" dog. She had been beaten, starved and burned with acid on her face and legs. They called her Lady, but we renamed her Trooper - it seemed much more fitting for such a brave little dog. We will miss Trooper, the troll who always kept vigil at the bottom of the steps, just daring any dog to try and get by her to get up the stairs. She was truly a character and we will miss her greatly. So, the "Wonder Dogs" as we always called them, are all back together again. I am sure that Jo and Deja were very glad to see her. With a heavy heart,

Lea"

Trooper

VGSR's very deepest sympathies go to Sheila Grimes and her family on the loss of Tyra. Tyra came to VGSR with three other sweet puppies, but she was infected by the parvo virus, and she and her sister, Tomi, had pneumonia. Sadly, sweet little Tyra lost her fight for life and went to the Rainbow Bridge on April 27, 2005. We are grateful to Sheila for having helped her through her last hours, knowing that she was loved and cared for.

VGSR sends condolences to Stephanie, Veteran's adoptive mom, who writes, "Veteran died Tuesday, January 21st, 2003, as a result of complications associated with heartworm treatment. Veteran was renamed Victor Von Poochie by his 2 loving and attentive human pups, Becky and Stevie; he was our guardian (excellent watch dog) from day 1; our friend and consort and our pride and joy to his untimely and quite unexpected demise. He loved to ride - he and I dropped off the kids and picked them up each day; he was out of his element should the kids not have school. He loved to take me for leisurely drags in the neighborhood...was verrrrry playful and had a super sense of humor. He preferred to leap onto the back porch vs. using the stairs (perhaps some deer DNA got in there somehow) and quickly developed a love for maple syrup and scrambled egg breakfast remnants. Krispy Kreme Donughts were a particular favorite; this of course was not part of his diet by OUR choice (he discovered counters can contain interesting items but was very selective and actually quite neat in his raids...uh, er, dining choices). He would also BE HEARD! He would not be shushed; he would not be shooed...if he wanted our attention; if we "failed" in anyway to give him enough attention or exercise...oh pa-lease. Once, he grabbed one of my prize boots and ran into the room like an Olympic torch bearer.....we just had to laugh and of course, give in. We will always love that sweet creature and believe we were honored by God to have one so special in our lives....he was one-of-a-kind and IS missed incredibly.

Stephanie Mendenhall

VGSR's very deepest sympathies go to Beth and Hank Kilmer on their loss of Winston. Beth (VGSR Board Member) writes, "Winston Kilmer, the beloved dog and friend of Beth and Hank Kilmer, passed away on July 31, 2004. Winston joined our family in a Petsmart in late October, 2002. We were packing up from an adoption day when he came trotting into our hearts. His current and second owner was dumping him, returning him to the rescue for reasons that proved to be unfounded. We took his leash, agreed on the spot to foster him, and looked at each other knowing it was love at first sight. Winston was our first foster dog. Winston was known as "Skinny Winnie", as he was at first quite thin under his beautiful long coat. Later he became known to us as "Winnie WooWoo", after the way he talked to us, not in a bark, but in a wide vocabulary of woo-woos. Winston had a rough start in life, and had many hurdles to overcome. He did a magnificent job healing his spirit. Winnie was a huge presence in our lives. He forever marched to the beat of a different drummer, and our house will forever be too quiet without its sound. Thank you for the gifts and the lessons, WooWoo. It was an honor and a pleasure. You have our hearts."

VGSR sends deepest sympathies to Andrea Gyorgy and her family on the loss of Yoda in February, 2008. Andrea writes, "Yoda was one of those special dogs that catch you by surprise; when he came to us, I really wasn't looking for a senior. But there he was, looking so sweet and frail, just asking for a bit of time and love from someone. So we rushed to take him from that cage, where he stood waiting for us barking, surrounded by tennis balls. From the very first moment, he was like a marine, and we were his mission. He looked after us, herded us to dinner, guarded our home, made sure we get enough exercise, and chased away all squirrels bold enough to enter our yard. He never for a second let me out of his sight. Even when old age started to bother him, he took it with immense dignity; his love of life and sense of duty never let him bother with such unimportant things like his own comfort. Every day was a new adventure for him, always ready for a ride in the car, a walk in he park ... and if there was nothing else to do, he dropped his tennis balls on our laps and played endlessly. The house is very empty without him, we don't have to watch our steps any more for his furry little body always at our feet. Yoda was also an ambassador for all sheps looking for a second chance: we did many home visits together, were he always charmed everybody. I truly hope he will meet us again over the bridge, right by the door, his head flat on the floor, ears erect, forever waiting."

Andrea Gyorgy

Yogi began his daily work as a Mental Health Therapy Dog at the Shenandoah Women’s Center.

He comforted women, men and children that had experienced sexual assault, domestic violence,

incest, and childhood abuse and neglect. Yogi would act as “a living teddy bear,” helping each

person in their healing journey during individual counseling sessions and support groups. Children

who had lost their trust of adults often found it easy to tell their stories toYogi.

On his last working day at SWC, in spite of the effects from a very aggressive form of cancer,

he happily went to work and came home with a wet head from the tears of clients and staff that

said their goodbyes. Only a week after being diagnosed, even though groggy from painkillers, he

happily donned his SWC work vest on his last day. On January 28, 2008, cradled in the arms of

his caretaker John, surrounded by family, and comforted by his veterinarian, he was eased into

peacefulness. Yogi’s gift of unconditional love is carried on by his fund.

VGSR sends condolences to Michelle Grupe and her family on the passing of Zena on August 29, 2008. Michelle writes,

"To whom it may concern,

My family and I are the ones who adopted Zena back in the spring of 2002. I wanted to let you know she led a wonderful, playful life with my 3 children. But sadly I must inform you that August 29, 2008, we had to let Zena go to heaven. She passed away from cancer. We truly enjoyed her for the many years we had her. I would like you to add this to her adoption blog that I read from the adopted section of the website. When I find a picture that will do justice to her memory, I will send it to you. Thanks for reading this and may God bless you guys for the wonderful job you guys do for these stray dogs.

Sincerely,

Michelle Grupe"

VGSR sends condolences to Larisa and Sean Kirgan on the loss of Zena (#3). Larisa writes, "For two brief weeks we were blessed with the opportunity to foster Zena. She was a sweet, energetic one-year old. We constantly wondered how someone could have given up such a wonderful dog. Zena appeared to be strong and healthy, but unfortunately, she had complications during her spay and she just didn't pull through. She went to the Rainbow Bridge on June 25, 2003. We take comfort in knowing the last two weeks of her life were full of love and happiness. She made friends with our VGSR-adopted dog, Amelia. They played and played and played. We have never seen a dog with such intense ball drive as Zena which revved up the drive in Amelia. From morning to night, they constantly brought the ball to us and set it on our laps. It would have been more enjoyable for us if they hadn't dropped it in their water bowl first! We'd toss the ball and the race was on! They would slide across the hardwood floors trying to be the lucky dog to grab the ball first. Most of our evenings were spent taking turns playing ball with "the kids." When they had the opportunity to enjoy the backyard, they chased each other all over the place, rolling in the grass and wrestling. Such good friends! We miss you terribly, Zena! But you can play all the fetch you want where you are now!"

Larisa & Sean Kirgan, Zena's foster parents, Parents to Amelia (Adopted Nov. 2002).