To say, "Champ, "You will always have a part of my heart, took it with you"
"You bet, my best buddy."
I guess that's what Love really is all about.
Allowing your heart to be opened, loved unconditionally, then have a part of it taken, well it just means that if not, your heart will have remain closed.
Champ's smile, like the one in this picture won me over when I didn't even want another dog.
He had this way of smiling, a silly grin, gentleness. "I'm so happy!" "What can I do to make you love me more and make you be happy too?" Just always being really close? Yep, Can do!"
All I can say is.. make sure the one that you have, love, knows how much you can open your heart.
~Andrea

I’ll never forget the day I picked up 13 year old Chessie from her surrendering family, just a couple of weeks before Christmas. In typical golden fashion she pranced to my car and allowed me to lift her in, she curled up on her bed that she had conveniently brought with her and went to sleep. I took her immediately to the vet since Chessie had been diagnosed with spleen cancer several months prior and I wanted to know what her prognosis was from this point forward. Honestly she looked a bit worn down and I was fearful she would not last long. The vet said she could go any day but her tail was wagging and she was eating and drinking, peeing and pooping, everything required of a golden so I took her home and immediately hung a stocking so she would know she was expected to at least make it to Christmas.

Having fostered hospice dogs before I changed Chessie’s diet and started her on an herbal regime. Within a couple of weeks Chessie’s fur started to glisten and until the day she died she had the softest fur of any golden I’ve ever seen. Chessie obviously started to feel as good as she looked as the days went on. She loved riding in the truck, that is after she and her foster sister had one squabble over space. Chessie was a hit to say the least at the parks when she went for walks. She literally pranced her way around the soccer field introducing herself to every human and dog she met. Everyone commented on her beautiful white face and of course her bubbly personality. Several people greeted her every weekend “yay, Chessie is hanging in there”. Every once in awhile she would lose sight of me, her eyesight and hearing weren’t the best at her age. She would have a moment of panic, and foster papa would point her in the right direction and then she was fine, trotting along – no, make that prancing along, beside me for as long as we chose to walk. She never once slowed down.

Our family ended up adopting Chessie in late January, a joyous day. She seemed to know that she had a new last name when I removed her GRFR collar and placed her pretty new turquoise collar around her neck – complete with a name tag.

Chessie head butted her way (did I mention she was a bit needy?) into our hearts and she welcomed her foster brother Snickers into our family. In fact 13 year old Chessie is the one that most enjoyed playing with 1 ½ year old Snickers. Eventually her sister Ruby Roo and brother Charles decided Chessie was a keeper and the snuggling began in earnest. She also loved when Indy, her terrier cousin, used her as a bridge running back and forth under her while she stood and watched him, smiling.

Chessie loved the snow, running and tossing her head, eating a bit of snow with every step. The day before we had to let her cross the bridge she played and played in the fresh snow. We had Chessie in our lives for about 2 ½ months, formally adopting her almost 30 days before she passed. She was a happy girl during those months. Her ears were always perked up, always inquisitive – usually because she thought treats may appear. Her tail was always wagging and her love of food never dissipated

We’ll never regret opening our home to Chessie when she needed a place to lay her beautiful white face. Our family has been enriched by taking senior dogs into our home and our hearts so I’m sure we’ll welcome another dog like Chessie in the future, as I’ve said before, how can you not.

It's a week since I lost my friend Harley. He was rescued from GRFR around 7 years ago. He was around 6 when he came to live with me and my furry family.

He was such a sweet gentle soul, he knew kindness and compassion best. He lived with Molly and we endured her loss together. He lived with Ruby next and Ruby came from GRFR too. She was with him at the last by his side. I know I am speaking to folks who understand that loss of a furry family member.

Harley came to me named Charley, we changed it from an ex-husband name to Harley, he answered to that one. Here is to good memories of a good soul, I enjoyed his life with me and I believe he liked being here. He loved the grandchildren we shared, the nights they spent here were among his happiest times. Everybody loved Harley, I had quite a fan club to let know he had passed, just letting you all know, it was my honor to have Harley with me for those years, never doubt what you all are doing is a wonderful thing for furry folks and non furry folks. You let lifelong friends come together!

Adopting an older friend is wonderful. There's something special about a more senior dog, just don't be afraid to take the leap.

Our dear sweet Lily crossed over the Rainbow Bridge on Sunday afternoon, Feb 17, 2013. We only had her 2 years, 3 months, but her sweetness and gentility touched our hearts deeply. Her last month was hard, for her and us, due to aggressive, bleeding cancers. She still has some moments of joy doing some short walks in natural areas, trying to chase geese, eat snow, sniff all the little critter burrows. We will miss her happy dance-prance she did for her walks. She loved going hiking and camping and became ever so much better of a hiker then we could have imagined given her prior life. Her last two years were happy for her and for that we are so glad she came into our lives. Rescue dogs are so appreciative and though we didn't have enough time with sweet Lily, she will live in our hearts as deeply as any other dog who has graced our lives.

We said goodbye to sweet Mack last month, April 22, on Earth Day. He was such a loving, jubilant creature, with a spirit that truly soared throughout his whole life.

I met Mack in February 2005. He was two years old, and somewhere in the transitin from Kansas to GRFR his name changed from Sammy, to Mack, which was fitting. Over the years he was Macko, MackAttack, EyeMack, MackAroni, and so forth. In those early days, and even beyond, he reminded me of a Mack truck the way he would barrel forward, with an endearing oblivion to how big he actually was.

Mack had crazy energy, with what I often suspected as more Setter than Golden. As his GRFR bio described it, when he arrived, he needed to learn some manners, but he just aimed to please, and he was so easy to delight. He loved everyone, and often showed his love for people with a big “high ten” on the chest, so he could greet face to face. Once, during that first summer, to be closer to my friend and I, he bashed right through one of my screens. Sweet Mack. As my dear friend Kate describes it, he held a “happy fury” that was such a presence—in the house, on a hike, and one of my favorites, a happy howling when things were going particularly good (like every meal). Sometimes before his morning walk he would be so excited that he would climb into my bathtub and twirl around while I brushed my teeth.

Mack’s first years with me were on a 500 acre ranch near Durango, originally with a Golden sister named Maize, and in 2007, a new sister, Misty, who just showed up one day, on the highway near our property. We lived in the guest house, and next-door in the main house, were ten dogs (yes ten, all who lived inside). The walks in those days were pack events, romping in meadows, and swimming swimming swimming in the river. An incredible swimmer. Boy did he dive!

In 2008, when Mack was five, we moved a bit west to Mancos. With my summers free from Fort Lewis College, these were the days Mack perfected his trail running all throughout our San Juan Mountains. He was so strong, and such a loyal leader (he always led, but stayed close, staking out the trail for me and Misty). His happy fury rang alongside his "bear bell" (and we did on occasion, see a bear or two -- he stared but never chased). Those summer high country runs, with Mack and Misty, were a highlight of my life, some of the best days ever. Last fall, we made it back to one of our favorites, Bear Creek south of Rico, in the height of fall splendor, unbenounced to us that it would be Mack’s last trip. Oh how he shined that day.

In 2010, Mack developed a sudden glaucoma in his right eye, blinding him with painful swelling. Upon removal, the lab diagnosed an iris melanoytoma, which was a benign mass, with no danger to his other eye. And what a trooper Mack was! ... and I might add, the only dog I have ever known to go through a double panel dog door with the cone. The aftercare was admittedly a little intense.

Mack did great with one eye. My boyfriend Randy called him "the Rogue" in his new pirate state. He was fine, with still so much happy fury. Along with his trail running triumphs, Mack continued to bound through snow. We did a lot of cross-country skiing, including snow kiting outings with Randy on Lizard Head Pass, where it was sometimes so deep. And with extra sensitive paws (due to deep pockets, I think), he was a booty guy. It wasn’t a perfect system; they still came off sometimes, and to his delight, he often found them in the springtime. Oh what proud fetcher he was!

Last winter-- Mack was ten -- I noticed noisy breathing at night. He was fine during the day and performing with his usual enthusiasm and athleticism. I figured maybe he was just an older guy, snoring a little, and since he often slept upside down on his back (goofball), it seemed some scratchiness would occur. Around the same time, I noticed he would go outside early in the dark cold frigid winter morning, and sit on the porch by himself. It was so out of a character, this dog who always wanted his nose on my foot (or spoiled as he was, in my lap). Randy and I mused, that maybe he was just becoming a wise old man. Pensive.

In March, his neck lymph nodes swelled. It was indeed an aggressive lymphoma. My heart was broken. I wasn’t ready to lose this sweet special exuberant creature.

Prednisone bought him a little time, and he had some walks and swims even up to before week before we lost him. Thank you to GRFR for allowing such joy to enter our lives. Mack is missed, deeply; Misty and I will forever hear his happiness howls at mealtime, our forever friend.

My beloved darling Moe. He came to me from GRFR after I lost my Golden of 9 years – Harley. I am convinced Moe was sent by Harley to heal the heart of his 8 year companion, Buell, and mine. Buell and I were so lost without Harley. I decided to register with GRFR, and as I searched the site for a dog that would suit Buell and myself, I saw Moe's picture. He reminded me so much of Harley, but looked nothing like him! Our messenger and healer had arrived.

The day his foster mother brought him over to meet with us is a day I will never forget. We looked down at the parking lot from our apartment and saw them arrive. Buell and I decided to meet them at the elevator – it was a long walk from our apartment to the elevator. The doors opened and Buell saw Moe and it was love at first sight.! They sniffed each other, wagged tails and ran shoulder to shoulder down the long corridor back to the apartment. They would be that way until the very end.

Moe came to me at the age of 8 and a half. A small wiry guy with the cutest walk and a toothless smile. He had no teeth on his lower front and the smile was beyond precious. He needed very little training but a lot of love. He is my only Golden who knew how to kiss and I got plenty of those even when I did not ask for them! His favorite pastime was to sit on our second floor patio and bark at every dog that went by. He was very protective about Buell and as Buell aged Moe took on the role of protector with more rigor. The dogs and I moved to Grand Junction with my new job. This time I decided to rent a home in the heart of the historic district with a back yard just for them.

The boys loved it. Buell had aged a lot and his slow walks in the back yard were “monitored” closely by Moe. Once that was done Moe would run to the gate ready for his long walk around the park with me.

49 days after the move Buell's end to this life came to pass. I had no idea of the depth of the love that Buell and Moe had for each other. 8 days after that Moe decided to join his soul mate at Rainbow Bridge. My heart is broken as I write this. I know that they came into my life for a purpose – to teach me patience and forgiveness in all that I have been through in my personal life in the last 5 years; to understand what true love means and to cherish and embrace it when you have it; to get joy out of the simple moments in life and above all to marvel at the unique bond of two different species.

My darling boys – wherever you are may you find a lot of couches and pillows to sleep on, plenty to eat, snow to roll on, fire hydrants to bless, big parks where you can run free, other dogs to sniff and the wind in your face. Some time between all your fun take a moment to remember I love you and miss you terribly. May you always be together.

When Toby came into our lives he was a very shy and timid 6yr old. He was afraid to eat his food from the metal bowl, wouldn’t walk on wood or tile floors and would only come in or go out of the house if his sister Sandy “told him” to. His security blanket was his tennis ball. He LOVED his tennis ball and he LOVED to swim! :-) It took him a while, but he began to trust us and learned that he was in his forever home! He became quite the cuddler and loved being petted!

In the little more than 3yrs that we had him, he battled Heartworm (yes, we had given him preventative medicine monthly!) and bone cancer. He had his back leg amputated in May 2012 and was back to chasing after his tennis ball and enjoying life within a month. In November of 2012 his cancer returned and seeing the pain he was suffering, we had to let go of him and let him crossover the Rainbow Bridge.

Toby was such a sweet beautiful boy! It was such a blessing watching him blossom into the confident, loving Golden he was always meant to be! He has left a void in our hearts and we miss him everyday!