"If there are no dogs in Heaven, then when I die I want to go where they went." - Will Rogers
They will not go quietly,
the dogs who've shared our lives.
In subtle ways they let us know
their spirit still survives.
Old habits still make us think
we hear a barking at the door.
Or step back when we drop
a tasty morsel on the floor.
Our feet still go around the place
the food dish used to be,
And, sometimes, coming home at night,
we miss them terribly. And although time may bring new friends
and a new food dish to fill,
That one place in our hearts
belongs to them...
and always will.
"Sometimes it helps just to know someone cares...and I do."
Author Unknown
Send us your Golden tribute or memory and we will publish it here. You may attach a photo in .jpg format (maximum width 500 pixels). Click the email link below to send your memory or tribute:
Rosie
We just wanted to thank you and everyone involved with LCGRR for allowing us to adopt Rosie. It was an absolute joy to have Rosie as part of our family. We miss her very much and will never forget the things she did that made her so special.
Rosie was clearly the alpha dog in our house. We called her “pole-position Rosie” because she was always first in line to go out the door for walks as well as for dinner. She was always the first one up in the morning and would wake Mom with a few nose nudges or paw pats. She loved to walk in the surf and chase crabs. Rosie was also the self-appointed guardian of the family. While out for a walk with all four dogs, we encountered what had to be one of the largest gators on the island strolling between two of the lagoons. The other dogs just froze, but not Rosie; she barked and made it clear that she was ready to take on that behemoth to protect her family.
Rosie was bright-eyed and ready to go during the day, but liked to sit on the couch with Mom and Dad in the evenings. When it was bedtime, she ate her treat, fell asleep, and began snoring all in about 30 seconds. Sometimes she liked to sleep on the bed, but most nights she just curled up on the floor next to her buddy Champ.
Rosie certainly made our lives brighter during the two years she was a member of our family. Rosie was the first of three seniors we have adopted. It was difficult to see her go so soon, but we have many wonderful memories of our time together. Senior goldens are great!
Mary and Pat
Camden
My husband and I were chosen to be Camden’s Mom and Dad 9 years ago. He came to us having fought off heartworms and possible abuse from one of his six homes before he was fostered by Sara.
Today, after a very long hard fight with kidney failure, we held his hands while he crossed over the rainbow bridge to meet his brother who passed last August and his people grandfather who passed in September. Camden was a true golden to the very end and although these last days were uncomfortable for him, our vets assured us he was not in any pain. She told us that the time we chose would be the right time to let him go. He stopped eating about two days ago, had to be coaxed into eating some chicken on whole wheat bread, but refused any other treats.
It was clear that his discomfort was rising and so was our concern for him. We knew the signs to pay attention to and unfortunately those signs manifested today.. At 3:20 this afternoon, he became healthy once again and while we lost him, his family was waiting for him on the other side with grilled steaks and treats. We were by his side as he passed, assuring him he was loved more than any dog in the world. He went peacefully.
It has been a pleasure to have owned and lived and played and loved this magnificant dog. And we are extremely grateful for the chance to have had him as long as we did. Our hearts are broken right now and its going to be a dark few days for us until we receive his ashes and bring him back to the home he loved and felt safe in.
Thank you for letting us have this beautiful dog. We will truly miss his golden spirit and his golden smile and his constantly wagging tail. We will miss his special greeting – the “old nose in the crotch hello”. We will miss his southern bark, which sounded like no other dog we’ve ever had. But mostly, we will miss our Camden horribly.
Good bye our love boy. We will see you again.
Love, Mommy, Daddy, Hanna and Giz and your people sisters Amy &Lauren and everyone who loved you like their own. But Mommy and Daddy will miss you most.
Teddy
My family and I adopted Teddy from you 4 years ago. He was an older boy and a saint. We had to let him go to a better place on Thursday last week. He had a massive tumor, and his arthritis was so bad, it put him over the edge. It never gets any easier to lose one of these angels. Teddy was such a wonderful part of our family, always so good , naturally, with all kids. His favorite activity was a Girl Scout meeting! He would move from scout to scout soaking up all the love. When we would gather at the end of the meetings in a circle to sing and do the friendship squeeze, he would always nudge his way into the center of the circle and lie down.
He also felt the need to be a constant companion to our youngest who was an infant when Teddy came to us. Peter would gather his cars and trains and snuggle up to Ted while he played. Teddy was always with him in the yard, planting himself right in front of the swingset if Peter was on it.
The last year, his hips were getting worse, in spite of the medicines. My husband had to build him a ramp to get in and out ot the house. It did buy him a lot more time.
Thank you, for helping us to have Teddy in our lives. We would love to adopt again. I am not sure when. I have never had a home without a canine member in it. I can say, I don't like it one bit. Something is so off.
Traci Lennon
JACK
I called Linda yesterday. Our precious Jack (known as Dude when with LCGRR) was put down after suffering a stroke yesterday.
He was the light of my life through some tough times and the best Golden who owned me. He even trained my husband well when he came into our lives.
Here is the picture. Scott made a copy with the “I Love You,” and framed it for me today. He is such a wonderful husband!
Susan (Kelley) Lyon
LOLA
Hi Linda,
It has been a long while since we spoke. I just wanted you to know
we helped Lola to the "Rainbow Bridge" on Monday, December 28th.
(She was "Daisy" when we met her at Whole Foods August 2006).
It was love at first sight when we met her that day.
She had declining health and we did not let her suffer. She was a true and faithful companion to us from the minute we met. Our Dixie misses her as we do. Thanks for letting us adopt her from your rescue. There is a void now and hopefully one day we can fill the void with another Golden.
I hope all is well your way and I hope you can continue to find loving
homes for these wonderful creatures. Lola was so special to us in
so many ways.... With much appreciation at this sorrowful time,
Rhonda Yoder
SOPHIE
No one ever wants to say good by so I will just tell you I'll see you later. I want to thank the Rescue Center for all the great things you brought into my life, especially Mamme. Thru her I learned discipline and love. She is my best friend but now she will need a new one. It seems that I have more tumors than my body can handle so with my family by my side, I will be going into the sunset soon. I know I did not come from your home but I have met the best of the best. Linda, you have always been there for me and thank you. It is better to rejoice that one has lived rather than to morn that one has gone, so I say, " Carry on, I'll see you later."
Love to all, Sophie (Waters).....
by the way, my ashes will be at East Cooper Airport soon......
TUTTER
Hello
- My husband Steve Wood and I adopted Tutter from LCGRR back in April
of 2005. It is with a most heavy heart I am emailing to let you know that
we had to say goodbye to Tut on June 1st. We miss him something terrible
and he will always be in our hearts. Back in February of 08, due to another
medical situation, we learned that Tutter had cancer. In all this time
he had been wonderful, happy, active, and didn't seem to have any
problems. Within the past couple of months the initial condition that
came up nearly a year and a half ago returned and it was determined the
cancer had moved into Tutter's lungs. He was starting to have more
bad days then good and breathing for him was becoming more difficult and
labor intensive for him. We hated to say goodbye but knew it was the right
decision for our sweet boy. He will always be at home with us. His ashes
are in a beautiful urn and it sits on the piano in our living room Tutter
will always go wherever we go. We will always love him and know how blessed
we were that he found us and claimed us to be his.
Thank you for what you do and the love you give to so many amazing dogs.
Steve and Diana Wood
LEXIE
With all our love and memories,
Jack and Glenda
Hello;
I just wanted to let you know that Angel who I adopted 5 years ago had to be put down two weeks ago, 1 month before her 15 birthday. She had a non cancer tumor open on her side and at her age and bad health was not a candidate for surgery. she is missed by her two best friends Jimmy my 12.5 year old German Shepherd and myself.
Thank you,
George Schwartz
ROCKY
Rocky was a part of our lives for only 2 short years but he filled every day with love and joy. Even though he came from the coast, he became a mountain dog instantly. He may have been an old dog but he definitely learned new tricks. There was nothing he loved better than a romp in the snow or a cold windy day where he could sniff the wind. He hiked every morning with a group of friends and their dogs. It became his pack and he loved them all. He is terribly missed by his two legged and four legged friends. We are heartbroken but consider ourselves very fortunate to have shared our lives with him for that short time.
The Shores Family
DRAKE
Patsy,
from the moment Drake bounded into our house he captured our hearts. A
few weeks ago, we were walking with Drake down King Street and a man stopped
to pet Drake and said "you guys are lucky" We already knew that
and now we can't believe he's gone. We buried his ashes out by
the lake, by the deck and I planted the beautiful golden mums by the site.
We loved him so much. Thank you for all LCGRR does for
these beautiful Goldens.
Leigh and Chris
SHELBY
DEAR
SHELBY,ONCE AGAIN IT HAS TAKEN ME A WHILE TO WRITE SUCH A SAD LETTER. THERE ARE VERY FEW EVENTS IN MY LIFE THAT I KNEW GOD HAD GIVEN ME THAT SPECIAL GIFT. AS I SAY "YOU WERE AND ALWAYS BE MY GUARDIAN ANGEL" YOU WATCHED YOUR DAUGHTER, SISTER AND BROTHER PASS AWAY AND YOU KEPT ON PUSHING ALONG JUST LIKE ANY OLE' GRANDMA WOULD DO. SHELBY, THANK YOU FOR SO MANY SWEET MEMORIES. PLEASE TAKE CARE OF BELLE, BRANDY AND DANTE UNTIL I GET THERE. YOU HAVE TRULY EARNED YOUR WINGS. LOVE DAD, GRANNY, GRANDPA, LINDSEY, AUNT DEB AND UNCLE DAVID, AMY, AUNT TERRI AND EVERYONE ELSE WHOS LIVES YOU TOUCHED.
LOKI
Hi
Glenda -
I am writing to let you know that my Golden, Loki (you knew him as "Danny"),
passed away last week. At just 7 years old, he had a cancerous tumor
in his spleen that spread quickly to his lungs. It was only a short
8 days from diagnosis until the end. While I am devastated
by the loss, I cannot express to you how thankful I am to have had Loki
with me for 4.5 years. He was truly a great dog, a shining example
and beneficiary of the wonderful work that LCGRR does. I will be
in touch before too long when it's time to bring another one home
with me.
Thanks, McLeod Williamson
SULLY
We
adopted Sully in February 2000. LCGRR brought him to our house in
Hampton, SC. We moved to Texas in January 2004. Sully got
very sick last week with pancreitis. The vet here in Rockport, Texas
did everything he could to save him, but Sully died on Saturday, June
14, 2008. My husband Mike and I are devastated-who knew a dog could
be so beloved? Thank you for your organization. We had more
than 8 years with the best dog we could ever have. Fortunately for our
sanity, we adopted a second golden-Bo-last October. He's not Sully,
but he's great in his own right.
Sincerely,
Caril and Mike Baker
ABBEY
It
is with a heavy heart that I inform you of the passing of Abbey, on May
12, 2008, our beloved Golden Girl who was adopted from LCGRR six
years ago. Abbey never met a stranger, including all of the foster
dogs that came to stay with us. We will never forget her, Tugger,
and Bailey wrestling together on the living room floor, for hours on end.
Every dog that we fostered, Abbey accepted and tried to become their friends,
even the ones that were not used to other dogs, she helped them become
socialized. Sadly, she was diagnosed with congestive heart failure,
three weeks before she went to the Rainbow Bridge. We know
that her and Tugger are again wrestling and entertaining anyone who will
watch. She will always be in our hearts and remembered as our 'Awesome
Golden Girl'.
Mary Wentland
Garry Wilson
JORDAN
May 5, 1996-April 14, 2008
I
never knew how much a dog could smile until I adopted my beloved Golden
Retriever, Jordan. I keep his wonderful memories close to my heart and
the wonderful stories I was able to share with him while he was here with
me.
He met plenty of friends (2 legged and 4) along the way and touched everyone's heart with his humble generosity of love he gave to everyone and never knew a stranger. From 'Grandma's Summer Camp' (spending days at times at my mom's) to riding on the jetski with me - his enthusiasm was contageous.
Our theme song became "On the Road Again" by Willie Nelson because he loved to travel so much!
His eyebrows always showed that he eagerly questioned, "Where are we going now, Mom?" with every time I grabbed my keys – and always beating me to the door! Car rides were his absolute favorite, and I swear he knew where he was the closer we would get to our destinations. The beach was a must in the summer - making sure he managed to roll in the sand atleast once before getting back in the car. He loved to run like a crazy dog and once he tired himself out - would fall asleep next to me in the sand. It was our bond that no one else could provide.
I will miss his long drawn out yawns in the morning, the beat of his tail as I spoke to him, the way he closed his eyes in the sun smelling the fresh air, his smiles for every picture taken, the way he hid in the tub during a thunderstorm, barking at me when he knew i had a Frosty Paw for him, cuddling on the couch, listening to him snore, his excited barks when he wanted playtime, the way he looked at me like i was crazy every time we moved, and his winks when i stared at him.
I know in my heart, that my dog loved me - because I loved him just as much. He will always be in my heart and I look forward to seeing him again. I do believe that he is in a better place and will run freely with others he so loved. I only hope that I can find the strength to get past the pain - and learn to smile for the precious gifts of companionship and love that he gave me everyday. He was my best friend.
HUNTER
Hi
Linda,I just wanted to let you know that Hunter went to heaven on April 1. We adopted him from you all back in 2001, and he was around 5 years old then, so he was approximately 12 when he passed away. He was a good and patient dog, and a dedicated momma's boy. I have attached a pic of Hunter (aka Mr. Greyface) from about six months ago. He loved that duck, and fancied himself quite the brave "Hunter" and adventurer, but in reality, he was just a tad chicken-hearted. That is about the limit of the wild game he could handle! He adored his mommy, loved his daddy, and tolerated the cats with the proper amount of deference they required. He was golden through and through, and we will miss him terribly.
Thanks, Sheri
KATIE
With
great regret, I'd like for you to know that Katie, adopted December
2001 in Charleston, recently passed away. She was a remarkable dog and
had such an impact on our family. We miss her dearly. I'm proud to
have offered her our home and am grateful to your rescue.
My regards,
Francois Cady
MAGGIE
We just wanted to let everyone know that yesterday we lost our Maggie. Although she is gone, she will be in our hearts forever. We have such wonderful memories of all the times the 3 of us have spent together and we realize how lucky we truly were.
MILLIE
Family
and Friends,
As she touched so many of your lives I thought you would want to know that on Wednesday morning we said goodbye to our precious Millie. Our little angel was like a bolt of lightening that struck us with an enormous amount of joy and happiness in such a short time. I will never forget the first time we took her to the beach, one big giant sandbox....a diggers dream! Not such a big fan of the water; those waves were bigger than she was. Next came her trip to Colorado. It was jam packed as she got to meet the rest of her family and was introduced to the miracle of snow. After she figured out not to eat the yellow stuff, she was good to go. She would run across the snow, hit a soft spot and fall a few inches into the powder....you could almost hear her laughing she was having so much fun. I will have to say, I think her all time favorite was the boat. Millie spent hours on the bow of the boat standing up over the water as if she were Queen of the Ocean. My personal favorite memory of Millie was how she started out our mornings. I would roll over, open my eyes to look at her and she would be sprawled out on her back with that tail wagging so hard her entire back end would shake. Her tongue was soon to follow as she would start licking the air in anticipation of the hugs and kisses that were headed her way. She brought a love into our lives that we had never known before and will cherish forever. As my heart breaks that she is no longer with us I am thankful that she is in a better. I don't know what heaven is like but for Millie, I picture her running on the beach, flying across the ocean and snuggling with loved ones for eternity. We will never forget Millie's incredible spirit that beamed through her beautiful brown puppy dog eyes each time she looked at you.
Thank you all for your love and support. Alison and Will
GRANDPA AND AMBER
March 2003-February 2007
Sue was on a mission to relieve some of their
strife.
By finding a dog that would once again bring some joy to her parent’s
life.
They looked at some, and a few came and went,
But for her parents, they just were not meant.
Meanwhile, a Golden Retriever in a shelter she lay.
Waiting for that special person to take her away.
Found by the Golden Retriever Rescue Society,
A foster home with no other dogs was the only place she could be.
So far, they could not find some place for her to go.
Until she was fortunate enough to meet a lady named Sue Barrineau.
So, onto Mt. Pleasant she was taken.
Where she was meant to live, there was no mistaken.
Apprehensive at first, not knowing if she would stay.
The Whitlocks knew this was their dog after only a few days.
She fit right in and to the name Amber she did respond.
And with Bubba the bird, she even did bond.
Always by Grandpa’s feet, waiting for a treat.
Unless she could get a ride in the convertible jag on the street.
Some years would pass by, and in a nursing home they now did reside,
But one thing was for sure, Amber remained by their side.
Amber made herself at home at Brighton Gardens of Greenville, there was
no doubt.
She would wait by the elevator to let herself in and out.
But other than that, with Grandpa she was always there.
Whether in his jazzy or relaxing in a chair.
You see they had a special bond that no one could break.
They shared a love for one another that was a special keepsake.
Faithful and loyal, his companion and friend.
Amber would be with Grandpa until the end.
And the day finally came that Grandpa’s health did fade.
And in a hospital bed is where he laid.
And Amber just sat and waited for his return,
But this would not happen, she soon would learn.
So, old and gray with a grieving heart,
A few days later Amber also did depart.
A time of sadness, a time of pain,
But inside our hearts, their memories will remain.
And although they are not here with us on this land.
I know they are together walking hand and hand.
Written by Julie Ann Barrineau March 14, 2007
This poem is dedicated to Norris Whitlock (November 9, 1918-February 19,
2007) & Amber His beloved companion
TAMMY
Tammy was rescued from a shelter and has been in our rescue family since May 2006. Everyone in the rescue loved this sweet gentle soul. She had major medical problems so we felt it was best that she was placed in a permanent foster home to live out her life. She was loved by her foster mom Susan and her foster brother Jack until the very end. It breaks our heart to say good bye to our sweet girl. She has joined some of our own goldens at the bridge to now run and play with no pain and suffering. A special thank you to Cindy, Andy and Susan for giving her the love she missed growing up.
BELLE
Dear
Belle,
I can't believe that its been 2 months since you made your trip over the rainbow bridge. How beautiful that trip must have been. I know that wherever you are your golden light is shining the brightest.
Sometimes I question the past but, then I see you standing at the front door wagging your tail saying "hurry up dad! " you were an inspiration to so many people and a true miracle. Most of all you were an angel to me and a lifelong soulmate to your mom Shelby. Everyday I see you in Shelby’s eyes and I know that you are looking down on us. I promise to take care of your mom until you are together again.. Most of all I promise that I will see you one day and I know that you will be waiting at the door. You will always be daddy’s girl.
We all miss you.
Love, Daddy Shelby, Dante and Brandy, Granny, Grandpa, Courtney and Lindsey, Aunt Debbie, David, Amy, Chandler and Justine Aunt Terri, Sarah and Andrew
I would like to thank everyone at LCGRR for the privilege of adopting Shelby and Belle. I am a better person for getting involved with such a wonderful cause. I hope more people will get the chance to get involved and help with LCGRR. Finally, I want to say thank you to Linda for everything she has done for me and the girls and know that you are a special person.
Sincerely
Kevin P. Taylor and the Basham family
SULLIVAN
Sullivan has joined Jessie and Ben at the Rainbow Bridge but not before he touched so many hearts. He has given love and laughs to many in the rescue and thanks to Mary H., Kevin, Patty and Mary W. and to Colleen who gave this spirited guy a great home. We will always remember his antics and wonder if he is getting into the garbage or counter surfing in Heaven. I'm sure he thanks all the wonderful volunteer that was nice enough to leave cakes and loaves of bread on the counter so he could have his tasty snacks. Sullivan will be missed and certainly not forgotten.