Golden Bond Rescue of Oregon

Crossed the Rainbow Bridge September 27, 2010

After six happy years, on Monday, September 27, 2010 at the age of 13, our Golden Bond Rescue dog, Shadow (#1077) crossed the rainbow bridge. Our wonderful vet, Dr. Kelli Rosen of Mohawk Veterinary Hospital, came to our home to ease his crossing. He passed away gently, surrounded by his family and the pillows he loved to retrieve for anyone who came through the door. As much pain as he was in that last day, he still sat up straight with perky ears and a smile and tried to crawl to greet Dr. Rosen and her vet tech.

Over his years with our family, Shadow learned to accept his "girl" as an authority figure, as she grew from 2-1/2 to 8 years old. He was always patient with her (and all children) and dearly loved walking to the bus stop with her on school days. This final September he was heartbroken to be unable to walk far enough to follow. Shadow rarely barked, instead offering an occasional hound-like "Woo-woooo!" if he spotted another dog out the window. The only time we ever heard him snarl or growl was when a hapless meter reader peeped over the fence into the backyard where our daughter was playing. Shadow wanted to eat the meter man! We're glad our fence was sturdy. Years later we had the fence replaced, and Shadow proved it was not as sturdy. He'd been left in the backyard accidentally, and his requests to come inside were unheard. Undaunted, he pushed his way through the fence boards and proceeded to the front door, where he scratched again and this time was let in. He never left our yard on his own.

At bedtime he insisted on sleeping upstairs, even after he could no longer climb them. He had a pattern of three positions in the bedroom that he rotated through, always in the same order, before he could sleep for the night. Between each he would pant loudly, and we'd follow his audible progress around the room, laughing about the "choo-choo train." If he went to bed before us, we'd have to tread carefully in the dark to avoid stepping on him in the doorway (position 3).

Stream walking and hiking were his favorite activities, often in the Mary's Peak Wilderness. He enjoyed snow, bouncing like a pup and biting at snowballs. Though he was a "water dog" breed, he did not like to swim. He looked forward to Friday night visits at Granny's house with shelties Clyde and Leroy (rescue dogs in their own right). Milk Bones and rawhide chews and chicken jerky made the spaces between kibble meals bearable. One Christmas the annual gingerbread house leapt off the table and forced itself upon him — at least, that's the story he told. His adoption anniversary was Halloween, and one year he celebrated by snatching several fun-size candy bars when Dad wasn't looking. We learned not to give him bones after a barbecue ribs dinner that spoke back to him at 5:30 am. One Saturday, Shadow earned two baths in a row for repeatedly perfuming himself with Raccoon poo.

One early morning in October 2009, he stumbled on age-stiffened legs at the top of the stairs and tumbled the whole length of the staircase, damaging nerves in his left legs. Our Shadow was a fighter, and not only stood again, and walked again, but after several weeks developed his own way of climbing the stairs again. Always somewhat lumpy with fatty deposits here and there, he developed a soft-tissue sarcoma that took over his left hind leg by June 2010. We decided to have the 7-pound lump removed. The surgery was a success (Dr. Curt Daly was fantastic), allowing him full use of his leg once more. Unfortunately, two months after the surgery he developed nervous problems in his lower back and both hind legs which ended his stair-climbing days forever.

We loved our time as Shadow's forever-home. Though he remained petrified of thunderstorms and fireworks (imagine a 100-lb dog 2.5 ft tall at the shoulder trying to cram himself under a bed frame 8 inches off the floor), he eventually ceased his fear of abandonment — unless he saw us packing to go on a trip. A sleepover at Granny's usually made up for not going with us.

We love you, Shadow. You will always be in our hearts.

Kelly, Matt, and Katrina

Adopted October 31, 2004

Shadow (#1077) is doing just fine — he's one happy dog. He sleeps where and when he wants, goes outside to chase squirrels at any time of day, and puts up with our 3-year-old daughter like a saint. He likes going to the off-leash park, and recently discovered he is allowed up on the couch to sleep. His favorite haven is our bed, but he always asks first if we're on it. He likes his food, especially with olive oil drizzled on top. His coat is SOFT and getting shaggy again — he was shaved down last spring because of matted hair, we heard. He loves to be brushed but is not too fond of nail-clipping.

Shadow likes to greet everyone who comes to the door, but he reserves barking for people he doesn't know and the little Golden Doodle girl next-door. He is a big "attention sponge" and has a "crowbar nose" if you stop petting for a moment.

Shadow has quite a collection of throw pillows that are his to pick up — he gets into retriever mode when greeting anyone and MUST PICK UP something. We strategically place his pillows where he can find them before a shoe or one of our daughter's toys. He is soooo happy to present a toy or pillow! Yet he does not think much of the game of fetch.

New Year's Eve was no fun for him, with our neighbors shooting off illegal fireworks — he crashed through the baby gate at the top of the stairs and injured his nose. Mommy had to give him aspirin for three days and raise his food bowls. We'll be more prepared for 4th of July!

He has two cousins he gets to play with every Friday evening — Granny's two Shelties. They run circles around him and the three jump and play. He knows where the rawhide chewies are hidden at Granny's and has fun hunting them down.

We love our Shadow and have trouble believing anyone could give him up. We won't, even if money gets tight. He is a member of the family, period.

Kelly and Matt