Fiona3

I am heartbroken to write that we have lost our beautiful Zeke. It's hard to believe that my big goofy boy is gone. Just a few days ago he was dashing in the snow & tossing his toys in the house. We have been blessed to have this joyful, loving, sweet boy with us for almost 9 years. It has truly been a shock to lose him so suddenly. Zeke has been a healthy happy greyhound with all his senior panels & tests clear. He was in great shape with his only ongoing problem a struggle with corns. At 11-1/2 we thought we had more time with him. However, over the weekend he suddenly developed Pancreatitis. In spite of immediate emergency treatment, after a few hours his heart stopped beating. It was swift and deadly. The e-vet believes the underlying cause was cancer that was affecting the pancreas and other organs. We are stunned at his loss. Zeke came to us in March of 2007 from Greyhound Adoption Service. He was a large greyhound (the biggest we've ever had) with gorgeous brindle coloring and a handsome face. On our walks, he was frequently compared to a big tiger. What I loved most about Zeke was his gentle, sweet and happy personality. There was an instant bond between us and I became his favorite person. Zeke's arrival was a seamless one due to his great personality. He blended well with the other dogs - they accepted him immediately as their new companion. On his first day home he spent time on the bed with Hobbes, who was our elder senior at the time, chased squirrels in the yard and tucked himself against me on the couch for the first time. This became one of my favorite quiet times with him over the years. He would climb up next to me, put his head against the back of the couch and look at me with his lovely soulful eyes. Slowly he would slide down and tuck himself against me with a big sigh. It would just make my heart sing when he did this. We've had so many wonderful times with Zeke over the years. Many memories of days in the yard with the other dogs enjoying the sun, watching him "gazelle" in the deep snow, spread out on the carpet to be rubbed, tucked in on the office bed with the sunbeam from the window shining on him. He was an easy dog to live with, not demanding, gentle, and very patient when he needed treatments on his feet. Whether it was an injury, cysts, or corns, the problems were always with his feet. Fortunately, we had a big, grassy backyard for him to walk on at home to keep him comfortable. When his corns starting developing, we waged the battle with topical treatments, Therapaw boots and booties. We tried everything. Eventually, with corns on all four feet, we took weekly outings to a park in Portsmouth where he could comfortably walk on the soft grass with no problems. It became a pleasant trip to look forward to on weekends and if it was raining we still took our long rides. He loved riding in the car with whichever companion dog came along for the trip. I will really miss having him along for those rides. He would settle down and nap in the car in such contentment. I just loved this guy so much. In the last 3 years we have lost Tasha, Fiona and Bailey. Zeke has always been there to comfort me in my grief, tucking his head up on my shoulder and staying close to me so he could to be sure I was alright. He was always a gentle, sweet presence that made me smile whenever I looked at him. His loss has been a hard one for me. After losing our yellow lab Bailey last January, we brought a new yellow lab puppy home in August 2015. We named him Finley (he deserves an introduction thread that I will do separately). To our surprise, Finn bonded with Zeke rather than the two girls, Brynn & Callie. Zeke was incredibly patient with this young ball of fluff that crawled over him, followed him around, and played with his tail. Zeke started sleeping at night in the room where Finn's crate was setup and over the past 5 months they became the best of friends. Finley was Zeke's favorite car buddy as well as a companion to tuck on the bed next to him. Every time Finn walked into a room where Zeke was resting, he would wag his tail in excitement and run up to lick his face (which Zeke always accepted patiently). I will miss those moments when I looked down at the dog bed to see Zeke watching me. I always went over to rub his soft fur and tell him how much he was loved. I will miss our moments on the couch where he would tuck himself against me for a nap. I will miss our rides and the everyday events that you take for granted. He would faithfully appear at 3:15 pm to remind me it was getting closer to feeding time. He would play bow, making woofing noises and be so silly. All these small and large moments that marked our life together. Zeke has been a true heart dog. He seemed to touch my soul. All of our dogs are loved but sometimes one just finds a place in your heart that stands alone. Being with him made me feel good, he brought sweetness and joy with him that just could not be denied. His gentle presence was something I will always be grateful for. Thank you my big boy for loving me and making our home such a happy place. Thank you for all the beautiful moments and your patience with a very pesky puppy. Finn has been very quiet and misses you too. I'm sorry we couldn't fix your illness. I knew someday you would leave us but thought we had more time. You are dearly missed by all of us. I know my heart will hurt for a very long time. Goodbye my friend, my couch buddy, my comfort, my joy. Rest well! You will always be in my heart!

It's hard to believe it has already been a year. Sweet brought her own special personality to Camp Greyhound. Her bonding to Seamie was meant to be. This "Sweet" girl will always hold a special place in your heart.

Mary, I too remember those early days when Pippin came into your life. He was such a special boy. Your remembrance is beautiful and very moving. My heart goes out to you. Rest well sweet Pippin.

Last November, Bailey, our yellow lab, developed an illness that was hard to diagnose. In addition to loss of appetite & weakness, he had spasms that looked exactly like Jeff's video. It turned out that he was having a reaction to the combination of gabapentin, tramadol & Proin. When we deleted some of the meds, his appetite returned and the ill effects we saw went away. It took a couple of weeks for the spasms to disappear. They gradually got smaller and less noticeable each day until they eventually disappeared. Hope this is helpful to you. Jeff has been taking a lot of medicine and it could be a reaction to one or a combination of the meds.

Mary, that is a big improvement in the numbers. I am sure the medication is finally kicking in. Cyclosporine can be tough on the stomach so hopefully you can get something that will coat his stomach in addition to the Famotidine. Jeff may be feeling nausea causing the vomiting. I've been reading all your updates and this is such a promising change for him. My fingers are crossed and all my good wishes with you that Jeff can come home.

Jan, your tribute to Andy is beautiful and moving. In bringing Andy home, you gave him the gift of continuing a happy and loving home that started with his original family. He was really special, a sweet and gentle guy who clearly loved being at Camp Greyhound. Although he couldn't stay longer, what a joyful life he had during his time with you. Watching him bond with Sweet, then Bea was wonderful to see. Rest well Andy! All the Campers who have gone before you are waiting for you to join them.

What a handsome boy! I love his happy face. Ken sounds like a real charmer. There will be many wonderful days ahead for the both of you. Congratulations and Welcome Home Ken!

Seamie, seeing your beautiful, sweet face always make my heart beat! You were and always will be one of the gentlest souls I have met. Missed everyday but always in our hearts!

Brie, I am so sorry for your loss of both Mira and Kodie. Your beautiful photos captured their personalities and spirit. Mira had an elegance about her - a very sweet girl. It's always so hard to say goodbye, especially when its sudden.

I'm so sorry to see you had to say goodbye to Doc. What a beautiful picture of your handsome boy. The lovely poem is moving and very special. Rest well sweet boy.

Oh Seamie. You will always be missed. Such a gentle, beautiful soul who gave all his love to the very special person who understood he was special too. CG was just the right place for Seamie to blossom. We all love you too Seamie, we just do!

Piper (love the name) is gorgeous. Her coloring is stunning. She looks like she's a real sweetheart!

This is a long overdue introduction to Brynn, our beautiful and very special girl. When we lost Fiona last May, our emotions shifted from "not ready to adopt again" to "maybe someday in the future" with lots of ups and down days in-between. We were still hesitant about moving forward when "Lola's" beautiful face appeared on the Greyhound Adoption Service website. There was something about her photo that we kept going back to. Perhaps she was the one we were waiting to find. After consulting with Marilyn at GAS (who is always so helpful) and explaining our situation, we made an appointment to meet Lola. She was adorable, happy, affectionate, easy to walk - the perfect addition to our pack. After spending time with her, all doubts disappeared and we knew she was coming home with us. On the way home! With her name officially changed, Brynn's transition was seamless. She seemed at home and very happy to be part of her new family. Callie was thrilled to have a walking partner closer to her age and someone to run with her in the yard. They became best friends. Callie & Brynn Zeke had a new buddy to walk with him in the park in Portsmouth (with corns on all four feet, he needs a grassy spot for nice walks). They love to take car rides together. Bailey enjoyed playing the official greeter and spent time following her around and sleeping on the carpet near her. Brynn has been a very sweet girl and seemed to be my cheerleader during the days and nights that Bailey was ill. She is always there to comfort and lean against me, always ready to play and smile and show her joy at being with us. Sometimes a greyhound enters your life at just the right moment when they are needed most. Brynn has been that sweet surprise and has brought joy and fun into our life. That's our Brynn!

It sounds like Zander's recovery is going smoothly. You'll be relieved and happy to have him home with you again. I've always loved seeing photos of your pack. They are gorgeous pups. This is a beautiful photo of them. Good for Chloe - "remission" is a lovely word to see.

Robin, I will be thinking of you and Zander today as he undergoes the surgery. All my good wishes for your beautiful boy to have a speedy and uncomplicated recovery.

So glad to see that Niles is doing better. What a relief to see him eating heartily again and taking walks. It certainly sounds like Niles is on the path to recovery.

I am so sorry that you had to say goodbye to Morty. Together you fought a brave battle. Through it all he knew how much you loved him. Because of that love you were able to set him free from the pain. I know the heartache you are feeling at the loss of your best friend. May all those memories of your wonderful days together bring you comfort. Rest well sweet boy!

Happy Birthday Sweet. I am sure you are celebrating with Seamie as you both are basking in some warm sunshine at the Bridge.

Diane, I am so sorry to see that you had to say goodbye to Huston. He was absolutely a one-of-a-kind pup, a real treasure that was meant to be with you. I know the heartache you are feeling. Please know my thoughts are with you. Rest well sweet Huston!

What a beautiful and moving comment about our Bailey. From the moment we saw him, there was a special bond between us. We truly felt blessed, just as your siggy says, that we shared our life with this extraordinary, loving dog. Bailey truly was one of those special souls.

Thank you for all your kind words about Bailey. He was a truly unique and special pup. We could not have asked for a more loving and sweet dog. My husband has said it feels like we are missing two dogs rather than one at his passing. Bailey's presence was that large in our household. I am trying to think of Bailey resting now in one of his favorite spots. Snoozing was one of his specialties. Snoozing in a sun spot Or a quick snooze outside in the snow Rest well my beautiful boy.

It's with great sadness that we have said goodbye to our beautiful yellow lab. We have been blessed to have this joyful, loving, sweet boy with us for almost 14 years. Bailey has truly been the heart of the pack, greeting every new greyhound with exuberance as if his best friend had just walked into our home. He was their playmate, walking stuffy toy for wrestling and a comfy pillow while sleeping on the couch together. Having spent his life with multiple greys, he never realized that he wasn't actually a greyhound. He never seemed to mind that he couldn't quite keep up with them while running in the yard. In his mind, he was just like them. Bailey came to us in 2001 after we lost our greyhound, Ms. Dylan, and our first yellow lab, Molly, exactly two months apart. We were devastated - the remaining dogs were very quiet and subdued. A month passed and we heard about a litter of 4-month-old labs that were available. Puppy Bailey at home We went to meet Bailey, not sure if we were ready to bring another dog home. On our arrival at the kennel we were greeted with 4 bouncing, running puppies with ears flapping as they ran to us. This adorable yellow pup climbed into my lap and started licking my face, his entire body wagging with his tail. Then he tucked his head on my shoulder and gave a big sigh. I felt some of the pieces of heartache I had been feeling drop away and knew he was the heart healer that I had not expected to find. It was a done deal! At home, our fawn greyhound, Lucy, decided to adopt Bailey as her puppy. She play-bowed to him, played chase & games with him and he followed her everywhere. Bailey adored Lucy and he slept on her bed tucked in next to her. When he became too large to sleep on the bed, he would just put his head on the corner of her bed to be near her. In watching them bond and play, he brought life and laughter back into our home. Lucy and Bailey in 2002 Lucy passed away unexpectedly in early 2003 from cancer. Bailey was lost without her but adjusted after a while. In Jan. 2004, we brought Fiona home and Bailey was overjoyed. He spent the first 5 minutes licking her face and ears. Their bond was incredibly strong and they were never very far apart. We have so many photos of Fiona standing over Bailey, sleeping near him or standing together in the yard. It seemed this sweet, shy fawn greyhound was meant to be with him. Fiona and Bailey - always together Bailey formed a special bond with each of our greyhounds. Each relationship was different but fun to watch and sometimes very touching. He loved to be outside in the snow and was equally happy tucked in on a comfy bed near the radiator. His favorite playtime was with Fiona & Callie where he would roll upside down on the floor and jump up again to do play bows. He loved to carry his favorite stuffy toys outside and usually had a pile that collected as he marched in and out of the house with a new one to add. Callie and Bailey When we lost Fiona last May, it was hard on Bailey as he searched for her expecting to see her in all the usual places. His health slowly declined over the summer as his age, arthritis and assorted aches began to catch up with him. Although we tried everything we could to help him through the aging process, his years simply caught up with him. When we learned he was in kidney failure, we knew it was time to let him rest. Bailey has been a joy, a beloved friend, a silly goof, the court jester, the official greeter of guests and so much more to our family. There are so many wonderful moments and memories he has brought to our life. In a household of beautiful greyhounds, everyone who visited always remembered and asked about Bailey. With his wagging tail that shook his whole body and expressive face, he made everyone feel that they had made his day just by being here. Bailey has been such a huge part of our life; it is hard to imagine our home without his happy presence. He brought out the best in us, was a source of comfort in difficult times and was forever ready to brighten our day. He was always happy, always ready to play or snuggle himself against us. I will miss those moments when I could stroke his soft fur as he sat by my side. I will miss his greeting at the door with his stuffy tiger. I will miss all the moments when he would appear in the room just so he could be near me. I will miss rolling the ball to him along the floor to chase and all the games we played over the years. So many memories that flood my mind as I sit here wishing he was still by my side. Thank you my special boy for bringing so much happiness to our home. It seemed for so long that you would be the eternal puppy, always playful, always loving & sweet. You are leaving us with a big hole in our hearts and will be missed beyond measure. Find Fiona & Lucy, the two fawn greyhounds who have been such a big part of your life. They have missed you too! Goodbye my friend, my Bailey Bug. Rest well! You will always be in my heart!

Jan, I am so sorry that it was Sweet's time to leave. Your remembrance for her is beautiful. The photos of Seamie & Sweet are so touching to see. It is clear that they had formed a bond of companionship. In her time with you, Sweet discovered a wonderful, loving home, a place where she found she was special, a quiet haven from her previous life. In so many ways the best part of her life was saved for the last 14 months. Rest well Sweet - the girl who truly lived up to her name!

Beryl, I am so sorry for your loss. Penske was always so happy in all the photos you've posted. He was a handsome, sweet pup that I know you will miss terribly. Please know my heart is going out to you at this very sad time.

Jan, this day is always so hard, especially with your double-loss. Pal was sweet, loving and your best friend. Mi Mi had never been happier than in her short time at CG. Whenever you think of Pal and his heart and Mi Mi and her chipmunk, remember the wonderful moments with them.