Finnegan
Today is a day I will always remember. A great lovable boy named Finnegan took his final ride my truck, only to cross over the Rainbow Bridge. He was trying so hard to be strong and rally to the end. He was in respiratory distress through the night which worsened by morning. Dr. Brian Gilpin was gentle and comforting as we let him have a peaceful journey. My heart aches... no one to sit by pool and keep guard from the squirrel, no one to supervise my computer time, no one to greet me every time I come back into the room, no one to to decorate my truck windows, no one to synchronize his snoring with Steve each night, no one to remind how special my world was because of him. Thank you RORR for a wonderful addition to my life.

Frisco
Frisco was eager to leave the animal hospital where his third owner dumped him. Libby had answered a request to get him into our program and I was closest to him and I love German Shepherds. I was delighted to have him pull me to the only vehicle in the parking lot and have him get right in. He was with us a year and a half. I never could get his fur to grow right or his autoimmune issues right, but he was loved with his fur thin or full and whether his ears needed to be cleaned or not. He was part of a triangle here. He was the best buddy of cat, Sabre, who he is pictured with, and he was the best friend of my son, and along with the crazy cat Sabre, who hung upside down in my son's arms, Frisco would hold Sabre's head and lick it. He slept with the other two and only they could get him to do all the fun things like chase a ball and play football. He was noted among a few of the RORR folks who deal with fosters as a frequent requestor for yet another football. In his time here RORR sent him no less than a half dozen footballs and we bought him several as well. We knew he was having issues when this last football remained in one piece. That was not his way. He lived life to the fullest, ate with gusto, played hard even on terrible knees and with progressive arthritis and his other issues. He had found his human, my son, and a best four legged friend, Sabre. He enjoyed the other dogs, JJ, (also deceased) a black Yorkie mix who tried to boss him around, Sasha, our EPI GSD, and Spanky, who annoyed him frequently and who returned her stares with a grumble only he could make. I could easily see he was saying terrible things to her. Until Sunday he managed....his pain pills for his knees worked and his meds to keep him in check. He went out for a last round of football and came in panting and happy after five minutes. Then he had his last meal. Something gave out. He couldn't hang in any longer and on Monday food was sniffed at only briefly. He managed a couple bites that evening but Tuesday he only drank water. I made an appointment as he felt as if he had a fever. Weds he did have a fever and it took all he had to get to the car then into the vet, where he knew everyone and they loved him. He sank to the floor which was cool and just rested. He had a fever of 104 and it was clear he had given all he had to stay and was ready to go. It broke the hearts of everyone for such a fantastic pal to leave us but it was not in his interest to remain with us....after all on the other side of the Rainbow Bridge I'm sure there are tons of footballs waiting to be destroyed by a healthy 120 lb German Shepherd who finally found his home near the end of his life. We miss you Frisco. Destroy a football for me. Love Dee