Crossing the Rainbow bridge

Rest in Peace, Gracie, 2000-2011. 

A wonderful lady has left us, there is a hole that only time can fill.

Today should have been a happy post, but some days never go the way we want them to.   Thursday evening our four cousins came by to spend a long week end.    Bella and I were looking forward to five days to play and have fun.    What can be more fun that having Gracie, Emma, Molly and Piper come to our house to stay?   Play Time!   Watch out, squirrels, seven goldens on duty now!

Gracie had been experiencing a little stomach trouble, she had thrown up before she left home.   Friday morning and Friday night, Gracie did not want to eat.    Finally the tall ones put extra canned food in with her dry diet and she cleaned up some of her meal, but not without some urging and a lot of time.   She was locked in the bathroom so no one would bother her while she ate in peace, even that did not get her meal eaten.    Later that evening she took her place beside the big rocking chair, right where a hand could hang down and give her a rub from time to time.    But her breathing was heavy and a little labored.   At 10:00 when the evening potty time was announced, she went out with us and quickly came back inside, then settled down for a long evening nap.   Everything seemed normal, except for her labored breathing. 

Saturday morning at 6:00 everyone was told to go outside for a morning potty run, Gracie joined us as usual, but when she came back in she laid down in the middle of the family room and did not move, she just watched us.   While the rest of us were bouncing around, excited about our dishes being filled and breakfast prepared, Gracie just watched.   Nala is always fed first, it takes her a very long time to eat, so she goes to her corner where no one is allowed near her.   When Gracie's dish was set down in her corner, she did not budge.   The paw challenged one came over to her and tried to help her up, she could get up on her front feet, but her hind feet would not move.    He called the rescue to tell them he was bringing Gracie in to the vets office, now!    He called a neighbor to come help carry her out to the car and they were gone.

She was loaded in the car at the rear of the Expedition, somehow she managed to crawl, using her front feet only, forward until her head was between the seats where she could get petted all the way to the rescue vet office, 30 miles away.   Once there she was helped onto a stretcher and quickly wheeled into the exam room.    It took only a few minutes to determine that her abdomen was filled with blood.   Her spleen had ruptured and she was bleeding out internally.  Her gums were white.   By then she was so weak that she could only pant harder as she tried to breath, she was not in pain, but she was slipping away.    With Mary from rescue petting her, Gracie laid her head on the paw challenged one's lap, and Gracie was sent on her journey to the Rainbow Bridge.  

Gracie was still listed on the rescue's page of available dogs, but just like Nala, Gracie had already found her new forever home.   Gracie was already home when she went to live with Emma, Molly and Piper, she slipped into a new life with lots of friends and lots of attention.   The following was Gracie's post on the "home wanted" section of the rescue book.  As you can see, she was indeed a special lady. 

The answer is Wine, Scotch and Golden Retrievers! The question was, "Name three things that get better with age"? Eleven-year-old Gracie is proof that Golden's don't get older, they just get better. She is a very quiet lady, with the manners of a queen. She is a wonderful companion. She has no bad habits -- no chewing on shoes, no barking at neighbors, no chasing cats. She is cat friendly. Tell Gracie to "Go Potty, Gracie" and she runs to the nearest grass. She uses the dog door when she needs to.



Gracie is slightly overweight, but that is easy to correct with a leash and walking shoes or just some regular ball tossing (she loves tennis balls). She is very affectionate. If you don't like petting a Golden head when it lays on your lap, if you don't like to scratch a Golden tummy, then she is not for you. If you are looking for a loving lady with great manners and a very calm disposition, Gracie will make you a wonderful companion.

Gracie's family went from a house to an apartment. This sweet and very special Golden was a loved and well cared for girl and was surrendered reluctantly by her family who wanted the best life for her. Give Gracie a second chance at a happy home, and she will show you that she knows how to be your best friend. One look at her sweet face, and you're sure to fall in love.

 We are so sorry for her passing.   At the same time we are so happy that we could have her for a little while and happy that we could bring some love into her life and she could bring her love into ours. 

Below:  Nala, left and Gracie on a better day.

It is a very hard thing, it was unexpected and we were unprepared for it.    We had just finished having a discussion about Nala and how we should watch her closely so that when her life became more pain than joy, we would know it was time to let her go.    Nala is getting stronger everyday and has more energy.   Gracie always seemed to have so much energy and so much love.   She was an attention "hound", if there was a hand available, Gracie was under it. 

Gracie was her lovable, sweet self right up to the time she passed on, she had no pain, only love.    Gracie left us with dignity, getting her ears scratched, her chin rubbed, and stroking the bridge of her nose softly.   Four hands were helping her relax and cross the bridge in comfort.

Rest in Peace, we will miss you.  You brought a lot of joy into many lives.   

Mogley G. Retriever