Golden Bond Rescue of Oregon

Crossed the Rainbow Bridge September 24, 2004

Please take a moment this evening to light candle for my rescue gal Isabelle #0380. I adopted her a year and a half ago from Golden Bond and she was a beautiful senior golden treasure. To the best of my vet's guess she was about 14-15 at the time she was released to go on ahead over the bridge and run pain free. Isabelle had severe HD as well as Demylenation.. sort of like MS in doggies. It was a steady decline for her but she was loved and cherished for the past year and a half by me, my adult kids Nicola and Chase and by her golden brothers, Baxter and Bodhi.

Isabelle was definitely a strong gal and if her health had allowed, she would have been the alpha. She still reigned with that crown but Baxter has carried some of the responsibility on her behalf. She was strong and stubborn and a trooper to the end. She could no longer maneuver herself up or down the stairs and was losing bowel control in the house on a regular basis. She has gone over the Rainbow bridge and as Emily suggested, I am sure that Helen met her with the Limo like sign that said "Isabelle!! This way for senior goldens who were rescued and loved!" I cannot tell you how much it helped me to think of that as we sat curled up on the comforter on the floor of my vet's office, petting Bella and telling her what a good dog she was. I thanked her for making my life have more value and meaning and told her I would be there with her soon.

Our wonderful vet treated us both with respect and kindness (I cancelled the first two appts for this at the last minute as I could not bear to go through with it). She spoke warmly and lovingly to Isabelle as the shot was given and had a pile of dog cookies so Isabelle was happily enjoy her snacks right up to the end. She never met a food item she did not like.

It has been an hour and a half and I miss her like crazy. The boys are unaware at this point, or so it seems to me and it will be fine with me however they handle it. I am so grateful to have shared my life with Isabelle and hope she will visit me in spirit soon, and often.

Thank you for understanding and knowing that her life deserved acknowledgement, and a candle lit to help her find her way.

Tearfully,
Michelle
Baxter and Bodhi
Tigger the kitty

Update June 6, 2004

Isabelle is such a strong and stubborn gal. She walked all the way to the water. I was sure I would have to carry her back. It is not a short walk and I just forgot how tired she would be. But she made the walk down and back. It did tire her out but it was a good use of her muscles. I had prepped my daughter to stay with her if it came to that and I would go get the car and find a back road in to save her the walk. Fortunatley it did not come to that.

When she first got in the water, she walked about 2 feet in and sat down. People thought that was cute. I knew she felt unstable on her feet and just folded up. So I lifted her up and gently walked her out into the water. She would turn around and go back to the shore and lay down at the water's edge. So I let her do that for a bit while I threw the tennis ball for the boys. At some point I turned back and she had wobbled herself to a standing position and was trotting down the beach begging for pets. My daughter was trailing behind, making sure she did not go far. Sometimes she gets confused and joins another group, not realizing it isn't us ;-) Anyway, after the boys had had a GReat swim, I got her back up on her feet and walked her out into the water. I got her out to where her feet came off the bottom and let her feel herself float. Once she got the hang of it, she was a paddling princess ;-) Then I realized that I was going to have to get wet as she would paddle out after Baxter when I threw the ball and I wasn't sure she would always turn around... sometimes she just starts to go in another direction and her hearing is just not very good. Whew!!

Isabelle is sleeping it off right now... I think all the dogs are tuckered out in a great way.

Isabelle's Adoption Story

Isabelle, (380), has packed her bags and moved to Seattle! Michelle, and her two grown children, welcomed Belle into their home with loving arms. Michelle has wanted to add a senior golden to their family for quite some time. She was in no hurry, just waiting for the "right one" to come along. When Michelle heard about Belle, she felt this was meant to be, since "Belle" was the name of her special childhood dog . Belle has now joined Michelle's 5 year old golden boy, Baxter, and their 2 cats, Smudge and Tigger. Belle has deferred to the cats' alpha status, as any good dog in a house with cats knows to do! We know that Michelle will enjoy spoiling Belle just as much as she has spoiled Baxter! If Belle could talk, we're sure she'd tell us "I've been waiting for the royal treatment all my life!" This senior "Southern Belle" has finally found the GOOD LIFE!