Gus 06-212
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GRREAT's Forever Friends
Bailey Palais-Stevens
October 2, 1999-December 17, 2012. Bailey was not a GRREAT dog but she was a great dog, and she shared her entire life once she arrived in the States from New Zealand with one GRREAT dog or another (including several foster dogs some of whom became residents of the Palais-Stevens household). Bailey volunteered for over 10 years as a therapy dog (registered first with TDI and then with Delta Society (Pet Partners). She was also a certified crisis dog with National Animal Assisted Crisis Response (NAACR) and helped on several local events where crisis dogs were needed. When she was not volunteering at the Capital Caring Halquist Inpatient Center in Arlington, she was enjoying swimming in the pond at Golden Meadows Farm in Louisa, VA. Bailey’s first GRREAT sibling was Sundance (95-085), followed by Sassy (02-042) and then Buddy (06-177) who is in the 2013 GRREAT calendar. Bailey was dearly loved by her family and by the many people who met her. Bailey was also featured on a Dogs Purpose web site several years ago in a write-up about her work as a therapy dog.
Nick and Emma
In memory of our beautiful girl, Emma, and our sweet boy, Nick. These two loved the beach and we’re so happy they were able to enjoy their last year actually living at the beach. Emma loved to swim and, in her younger days, it was amazing to watch her time it just right and jump the waves to retrieve her favorite stick. Nick, our Butter Bean, preferred to wait for the hard retrieval work to be done and then “help” Emma carry the stick to shore. After 13 1/2 years, Emma decided she was done and we gently helped her to the Rainbow Bridge on April 17, 2012. Nick grieved Emma’s loss and then gradually learned to relish the role of “only” dog – accepting all the love, all the hugs and all the treats for himself. We enjoyed a great summer with our boy and on September 14, 2012, Nick very unexpectedly passed over to the Rainbow Bridge. He was only 6 years old. We miss our guys so much but loved every moment with them. As we try to find our peace, we know they are now at peace, carefree and happy with all their friends, new and old, at the Rainbow Bridge. Barb Hals & Sharon Dyke (1301212)
Murray
Murray joined our family on June 10, 2008, after having been rescued and lovingly cared for by his “foster mother,” Connie Trivits, a volunteer for GRREAT. He came to our family and filled a void in our hearts and home. He quickly became the gentle giant for our neighborhood kids and was even welcomed into our childrens’ elementary school to participate in a unit on volunteerism and animal rescue. He was so gentle that our rabbit and guinea pig, as you can see from the picture, found comfort nestling in Murray’s coat. We lost our wonderful companion of four years on October 27, 2012.
Nick Cannon
You were a good friend Nick, Love, Greta
Barkley Boykin
Golden Retrievers will teach you that sometimes it’s more important to roll in the snow than shovel it. When you’re traveling, sometimes it’s more important to stop and sniff things than hurry to your destination. When you start to get frustrated, or lose your temper, sometimes everything comes into focus when you get a wet nose pushed into your palm. When somebody yells at you, most times you need to just go pout for awhile, then come back and be friends again. And always, always, always, it’s better to wag more, and bark less.
Barkley (GRREAT #00-080) went to the bridge in November of 2012. She was the greatest airport dog ever. For her, hanging out at the airport meant making new friends, and getting in the airplane meant new adventures at the other end. If you could pin wings on a dog, she’d be wearing ’em right now.
Bailey Edmonson
Bailey joined the Edmonson family when he was ten months old. He was our first Golden Retriever. Our family fell in love with both Bailey and the Golden breed. Bailey came to work with his “Dad” every day for several years; he was the official office greeter. When Bailey was 3 years old we adopted his sister Lulu through GRREAT. Bailey and Lulu were seldom more than a few feet apart. Our family began fostering for GRREAT in 2011. Bailey accepted each foster dog as his best friend. Bailey especially loved making snow angels and chasing his glow-in-the-dark ball. When it was time for Bailey to to the Rainbow Bridge due to cancer, he said goodbye with his tail wagging and lay down in his Mother’s lap and crossed peacefully to the other side.
Goldie
In loving memory of Goldie.
Sweet Olivia Streett
Donation made from Allyson Hope on behalf of Bud and Diane Streett. From Diane: We were abundantly blessed to be able to share our life with Olivia. She was the most gentle and calm dog we had the pleasure to live with. She was pure joy and is deeply missed by her human parents and Golden pack.
Baxter
Baxter was such a GRREAT dog. Baxter, known as Dusty (GRREAT #01-125), went to Rainbow Bridge on August 30, 2012. He was a high energy, tail wagging, people person dog who would have turned 13 on October 8. He was 20 months old when we adopted him in June 2001. Actually, I think he adopted us. Baxter loved swimming, going for walks, motorcycle sidecar rides around the neighborhood, and greeting the Halloween trick-or-treaters. Baxter was never ashamed to let it be known that he was an “attention junkie,” yet he would curl up next to you to let you know he was here for you. Baxter was an eager and avid participant in life and didn’t like being on the sidelines watching everyone else having all the fun. Baxter enriched and enhanced our lives more than he will ever know.
Sally
In memory of our beloved Golden Girl Sally who we were lucky to have for over 13 years. Sally was an intelligent and athletic girl and loved her walks, time swimming and early days of agility training. In her later years her loving sweet disposition made her a natural for therapy work, something she loved to do at the local hospital with her mom. She was a special girl and will always be in our hearts.
