Tracker 9/16/99—1/27/07

 

Saved from the metro Chicago railroad tracks in 2000, you were my first foster dog, who never left.  You were momma’s baby boy & sleeping  pal!  Thank you ‘Bigs’, for welcoming so many rescue dogs into your home in your lifetime.  Thank you for always being there for me, every day with you in it was a good day.  Thank you for your kind & gentle soul.  We had some fun didn’t we? Who would have ever thought cancer would take you away so quickly? Momma and Daddy loved you more then you will ever know. We felt so blessed to have you in our lives and for all the lives you touched along the way.  Your work here is done baby boy, we’ll see you on the other side Bigs;

There will be no other like you.

Sundance Kate

07/10/92-07/04/05

 

Mother to many rescues over the years, our Kate died of cancer suddenly on the fourth of July in her daddy’s arms. She was momma’s baby and daddy’s puppy.

Forever in our hearts.

 

Duke  

06/02/99-12/10/05

Duke; it all started innocently enough, but the baggage you carried made you unadoptable.  We had to get you outta the cold, see if we could find a way to save you, but it was all in vain.  We had to send you home, where there is no more fear or cold or pain. 

Forgive us, for we could not save you.

JenJen

10/21/95-11/25/05

We tried to save you Jen, we tried to control the demons you carried.  But they say a lady always knows when it

time to leave.  And you told me so. 

You’ll never be forgotten our baby girl.

Ruger

Unknown-2/17/06

 

We were your last hope, little boy.  We got to love you for a little while. But your body & mind were so broken, there was no fixing you. Rest in peace now

Ruger, we know you are

running with ease again!  

Greta

2002—March 2006

You were loved well by all, our little girl!  Your beginning was a mystery, your end was a tragedy in a swimming pool accident.  

Until we meet again,

rest in peace Greta.

Red

Unknown—11/17/06

We got you out of the cold, we gave you warmth & love & a place to lay your head. We know you were tired, and walking was hard for you now. It saddened us when you left that day. 

We hope you are running & hunting bird like the old days.

Until we see you again, farewell our old boy.

Buck, the Gentleman Shorthair, Gone

but Never

Forgotten...

Gunther Kiley

Lost his battle

with cancer  12/12/06

You were so

loved by all of us!

Mama Mae

Unknown—1/19/07 10:32 AM

The smiliest girl, with the sparkly personality, our toothless wonder; Mae came to us from Boat Mtn, AR, died suddenly of unknown causes.  Mae was the mother of  5+ (IL Maggie, Gilly, Hooligan, Maggie Mae, & Chelsey), and leaves behind foster families, Ingrid, Jodi

& Jake, her adoptive mom Kim, dad Mike & kids, fur sister Lucy, who gave Mae all

the best in her short life in WI. Mae was loved by all!  We will miss you girl.

You touched all who met you.  You were the most noble pointer that ever lived. Your momma loved you well; we’ll all miss you Wes. 

Spud

You gave your family such

joy for over 13 years. 

It was hard to let you go

in the end, but we KNOW

we will see you again. 

Until then,

REST IN PEACE SPUD. 

Your family loved you so.

Don’s Buster

 

We only got to hold you for a little while Buster boy.  After you were diagnosed with Cushings Disease, you went down hill fast.  We had to let you be free from the pain. 

Our hearts go with you big boy;

until we see you again, rest in peace. 

Sarah

Unknown-6/30/07

 

Everyone who ever wants to adopt a dog from WGSPR will always hear our “Sarah” story.  Sarah was a GSP mix taken in by GSP Rescue of WI many years ago. Sarah went to a forever home in New Hampshire, but a few weeks later bolted leash and all.  There were many sightings at first, but she eluded capture.  It seemed Sarah simply just disappeared!  Three years later, we got a call from Groton, Mass animal control, that they live trapped our girl!  She crossed state lines and survived three years on the lam.  Rescue flew her back to WI where she lived out the rest of her days with Patty and Kevin Melka.  Sarah’s life was never normal, but she was loved and cared for, and she never ran again.   Finally Sarah’s body gave out and she was helped to the Rainbow bridge.  It’s with the very saddest of hearts, we all say our good byes to Sarah.  She was “the” story of survival.  And she will remain in our hearts forever.  Now you are finally FREE Sarah!

Photo courtesy of GSP Rescue Of Wisconsin

It is with deep sadness that we announce the passing of our beloved Chase.  Chase was our trainer, Brian Hillshafer’s rescue GSP, who was also the model for our new logo!  Chase suddenly had some breathing problems, and when chest Xray was done, it was discovered he probably had cancer.  Chase died with his family present at home Sunday 9/2/07. 

We’ll miss you Chase!

Chase

Unknown ~ September 2, 2007

Marianna’s Roy

Unknown ~ October 5, 2007

Maggie Rose

Adopted 11/06/99— Left this world 06/13/08

 

You were my first adopted rescue girl, and the reason I began rescuing dogs!  You chose the high road, like any English girl would; with such character and enthusiasm for life!  There was no stopping you Maggiemum.  You charmed us all!  It was hard to watch your body grow old and fail, but you made the best of it and kept plugging away.  In the end the seizures became uncontrollable, and it was only right to help you to the other side where you can be young and free again.  Momma and daddy will miss you so much our girl.  We know where to find you Mum; in that field

of birds where so many others were there to meet you.

Rest now Maggiemum.

In Loving Memory of

Ace “Bud-Bud” Coubal

5/5/04—2/11/08

 

 

 

Lyme Disease in dogs

The most commonly-reported acute clinical signs of Lyme Disease in dogs include: fever recurring shifting leg lameness & stiff gait lethargy and depression enlarged lymph nodes general malaise and loss of appetite.   Several additional distinct clinical syndromes may be recognized in dogs, including: kidney disease nervous abnormalities, including behavioral changes and seizures heart problems, such as irregular heart rhythms and heart inflammation

 

It is with GREAT sadness we announced the passing of Ace, aka Bud-Bud, aka Aceman, on February 11^th, 2008 due to acute LYME DISEASE.

 

Ace was acquired by WGSPR from Green Lake Co Shelter in the fall of 2006; adopted to a wonderful family January 2007.  The next fall Ace developed a lump on his neck, his vet thought was a fatty tumor, then he started loosing weight; and lost zest for life.  So the vet visits began.  When he was finally diagnosed with Lymes, it was already in the acute stage, meaning Ace was in kidney failure.  He WAS put on antibiotics to hopefully fight the disease, but alas, the disease whittled Ace down to nothing; Kevin and Mary laid our ‘Bud-Bud’ to rest that quiet winter night. 

 

This message is two fold.  Firstly, Lymes disease IS prevalent in Wisconsin.  Education and prevention is key.  Secondly, WGSPR has just implemented a standard Lymes testing program for all out going dogs (unless otherwise stated in that dogs adoption folder).  It is adopter responsibility to have your dog on prevention, so there will never be another “Ace” loss in our future.  God speed our Bud-Bud.  We loved you well.

 

For more info on Lymes, click to this link!

Click on pic to learn more about canine OCD.

Click on pic to learn more about canine epilepsy

Clyde Varisco

Unknown—4/4/08

 

You came a long way baby, but something just wasn’t right.  You were loved until the very end by so many, but when you could not be trusted anymore, your family had to send you to the bridge.

Until we see you again, rest in peace Clyde.

Saying good bye

to Mya

Unknown—7/2/08

 

Gone too soon, so tragically, choked to death trying to

get off her own tie out.

 

PLEASE ADOPTERS: 

Be wise; never leave your dog unattended!

 

We loved you Mya!

Cheryl’s Petey

Unknown—7/8/08

In rescue, there are some you almost don’t take a chance on, and Petey was one… Petey came from a barn-like shelter up north; we knew he had some sort of leg deformity, but that never stopped Petey.  His wonderful foster mom kept Petey, and gave him every fun opportunity a GSP could ever want.  As it turned out Petey had a right side heart failure and was not doing well.  So his mom helped him to the other side, where he’s hunting rabbits now.  Thank you Cheryl for giving Petey the rest of his life.  If it weren’t for you, Petey may not have had that chance.

 

Rest in Peace Petey, we loved you.

Heather &Don’s

Charlie Brown

Unknown—8/11/08

Charlie Brown came to us from an IL shelter in the spring of 2007.  Charlie was a CELEBRITY (movie star, magazine cover boy) and a blood donor in his lifetime.  Lucky Charlie Brown always battled ‘stranger danger’ demons, and he pushed his luck one too many times.  He was an awesome dog, but he was simply wired into protection-over-drive, and when he could no longer be trusted, his adopters did the right thing to set Charlie free from those demons.  It was not an easy road for them all, however, Heather and Don gave Charlie the BEST part of his life. The above picture was during Charlie’s one year anniversary at home, a fantastic adventure hiking!  We will miss our boy, but we know he’s in a safe and better place now, where there are no fears... hunting birds and chasing rabbits, and one day we’ll see him again. Rest in Peace Charlie. 

You were loved well.

Barb’s Edward

Unknown—8/24/08

Edward was a black/white English pointer we pulled from a WI shelter back in 2005 and ironically enough our volunteer Barb kept Edward.  Edward was a rising star in the hunt test business.  He already received his Junior AKC title last fall, and was preparing for his Senior test at a hunt trainer; he was fine at noon, and found dead in his kennel at 4PM.  According to Edward’s vet, he died of canine bloat.  This is VERY important all you folks with deep-chested pointers.  Please study up on bloat and take precaution.  Edward was one of my favorite foster boys for a brief time.  He became our hunt trainer’s protégé.  Edward had such personality and a very regal nature about himself.  Edward surprised his mom with his hunt talents, and the occasional critter smuggled into the house.  The last of which was a baby possum, Barb found laying alive on her couch!  We’ll never forget Edward and will always mourn

that we could not hold him a lot longer. 

 

We loved you well Edward!  Rest in peace now.

Missy came into our lives at the age of 12.  Her owner could not care for Missy anymore due to health issues and old age.  Missy was always a one person sorta girl, not very well socialized with other dogs. When Missy’s family contacted us, we had no clue what we could do for Missy.  Then Connie stepped forward.  Connie adopted Arkansas Trooper from us back in 2005, and has English pointer, Maise too.  Connie has a quieter sort of life, and much love for dogs.  So Connie took a chance on Missy, and while it was not all a bed of roses, Connie took Missy the rest of the way home.  Missy’s body was failing her in that last year. Connie tried everything to help Missy thru this.  But eventually it was Missy that told Connie she was done. When Missy could no longer get up with out pain, Connie did the right thing and helped Missy to the other side, where she is young and free again.  We are thankful Connie had it in her heart to take Missy in and give her the rest of her life.  Rest in peace Missy.  We are glad we got to know you, if only for a short while.

Connie’s Missy

9/1/95—9/15/08

Outhouse Hannah

Unknown—11/05/08

 

We got to know you for a year Hannah. When you ended up abandon and tied up in an IL outhouse, left to die, we could not leave you there in the cold of winter to starve.  We trusted your adopters to care for you, but alas, we don’t think they really did.  Not that any of that mattered, because your life was over even then.  At least you got a warm home to lounge around in your last year and your belly had food in it.  You WERE loved by all of us, even if you didn’t know it.  When your adopters could no longer afford to properly care for you, we were there for you Hannah.  We took you in and assessed your condition and watched you try to get around, with no eye sight, no hearing, a bad hind quarters, and we knew what your fate held Hannah.  We stayed with you till the end, and we know where you are now, there is no pain, no hunger, no more nasty outhouses to be abandon in.  You are finally home again our Hannah Banana. Until we see you again, rest in peace.

Gunner

Unknown—11/07/08

 

Just like that, you never know what’s gonna happen...and that was Gunner’s fate.  He was tragically struck and killed by a car close to his house. 

Gunner was an awesome boy, so loved by all of us, and mostly his family. 

Rest in peace our boy.  We’ll see you again, on the other side.

Ryan’s Darrell

7/2/99—12/11/08

Maggie

9/1/04 — 01/17/09

 

This is one of the hardest things I have to do today…  We got Maggie from a shelter in 7/08. Turned out an owner was searching for her, also turned out he didn’t so much take care of her when he had her; so I laid MY life on the line to keep him from getting her back, and could have gone to jail to save Maggie’s life then.  Finally, after 8+ weeks of WGSPR “Relocation Program”, we got legal custody of Maggie, and found her a new home.  Maggie & Frank were best buds for the couple months they were together.  She had life by the tail with Frank.  And here is where I choke…Maggie fell thru ice on a lake that cold winter day, and met her untimely end.  She was a girl who held such total zest for life & the outdoors.  Maggie loved to run, & she could cuddle with the best.  My heart goes with Maggie today.  And, I hope everyone takes stock for safety reasons.  I did not save this dog to loose her like this!  I hope she’s waiting for me when it’s my end, because we all loved that girl very much.  She deserved so much more.  But alas, God doesn’t always let us have a say in this.  We hope Maggie enjoyed her free life, & that we will see her again to pick up where we left off.  And that’s all I have to say about this.

Merkel

Unknown—03/26/09

 

When your owner retired you, the Hillshafer family took you in.  They were your only hope for the rest of your life.  You got to lounge around, and hunt once in a while, and have a real family life for a while. You were such a good boy, an EZ boy to keep, so tolerant.   But as your body began to fade, it was only right to let you go, where all is good again. We’ll miss you old buddy.

Barb’s Peter

Adopted in 2000—Died 7/29/09

 

Our volunteer Barb (like me) has a love affair with English pointers, and Peter was a foster boy who ended up staying.  Peter was bird shy, and he never did hunt, other then critters in the backyard.  Peter was foster brother to MANY rescue dogs in his lifetime.  Peter’s mom even bought him a set of new knees there one year!  We are not sure how old Peter was, but his end was still untimely.  Thank you Barb for giving Peter such a wonderful life.   Thank you for sharing him with the rest of us.  Gonna take some time to get over yet another loss, but we know Peter joined Baxter & Edward, and so many others; where the fields are endless & birds are no longer scary. 

Rest in Peace Peter, we loved you.

In Loving Memory of

Max Henderleiter

5/6/96—11/12/07

Washington Co’s Tucker

1995 - 10/8/2009

In the beginning, Tucker's life intertwined with mine, and I never knew, until he needed my help.  It all started with friend I had who had a seasonal campsite.  He told me that one of his camper buddies and her boyfriend split up and the guy's male GSP needed a new home.  He gave me the phone number for the girlfriend, and I left her a couple messages about Tucker, but no response.  I gave up.  Then I gotta call from Washington County Humane Society, that they had an older GSP, named Tucker there, owner surrender to shelter.  YA THINK?  I sure did.  What are the odds? So I shuffled dogs around to make room for Tucker.  He was 10 years old!  Where on earth could I ever find a home for an old dog?  Their life span is generally 10-14.  Tucker is on the downhill side.  But he was a nice boy, so I grabbed him anyway.  I drove in a snow storm to get Tucker.  Tucker had character, he could tell you the longest story in the world!  So I put the word out about Tucker, still thinking, who would want an old dog?  And the answer was dropped in my lap.  I have a wonderful friend and fellow GSP owner way up in MN, near the Canadian border, who offered to take Tucker, and give him the rest of his life.  So the plans began to transport Tucker to MN.  When I tell you GOD watches out for these dogs, Tucker is proof!  First I found him that forever place to hang his hat, and then a guy heading to MN offered to give Tucker a ride!  Thru my contacts at shorthairs.net forum, I found a guy in MN who offered to give Tucker a couch to hang out on for a couple days, till Alice and Ron could pick him up.  And that is how Tucker got home!  Tucker had a glorious life with Alice, Ron, Ruger & even crazy Gunner!  He was a celebrity in his lifetime; he hated wearing hats & getting his feet wet!  I finally got to meet Alice and see Tuck one last time, at our doggie reunion Oct, 2009.  Tucker was moving very slowly, but he got around that day with 30 dogs there to knock him over.  Tuck left us the week after that, for good.  God rest your weary body Tucker, until we can see each other again.  You were loved by all! We’ll miss you silly boy, you rest now.  

 

 

Our love for one, old boy, has no bounds...