This page is dedicated to the memory of beloved animal companions who have crossed the Rainbow Bridge.  If you would like to submit a photo and/or small tribute (100 words or less) to your greyhound or other pet, please send it to GREATinfo@great-greyhound.org.  Memorials will remain on this page for one month.  Out of respect for the bereaved family, no tributes will be posted without their express permission.

Ljs Holly

Holly

10/2/1996 – 3/31/2008

In the words of her wonderful foster mom, Laurel:

"Holly is home now.  No more pain.  No more being hungry, but not wanting to eat.  No more wanting to play, but not feeling like it. 

No more wanting to catch up to Abby, but not being able to do it.  No more being sad.  No more..."

Rest in Peace, sweet Holly.  You were loved & you will be missed, more than you could imagine.

GREAT, Inc.

Ollie

1996 – 3/30/2008

Bob and I inherited Ollie when my father passed away. She was his protector, caregiver and stayed by his side until it was no longer possible. A little silver Schnauzer that knew no fear, she enjoyed our adopted greyhound Kirk and the two Standard Poodles that share our home and love.

Suddenly on Sunday, March 30, 2008, she fell on the rug, kicking her legs, and then fell silent.  She was almost 12 years old.

Our two year old grandchild, Christopher, fell in love with Ollie during his stay with us a few weeks ago, and went running around

the house calling “Ollie!, Ollie!, Ollie!” constantly.   According to his mom and dad, Bob and Lynn, he has yet to stop.

We will all miss Ollie terribly.

Karen and Bob Lawrence

Andre

9/1996 – 3/14/2008

Bowden

3/13/1995 – 2/26/2008

It's so sad to once again write to tell you that another one of our seniors has made his trip to the Bridge.  Although not a greyhound, our black Lab, Bowden, welcomed every adopted grey, foster grey, hurricane evacuee grey, pekingese, foster dachshund, adopted dachshund, and newborn dachshund litter into our home, and always had the patience to accept all of their antics.  All of his housemates loved to share his pillow, but the puppies especially loved this giant mountain.  They climbed on him, tried to nurse from him, and slept in the safety of his chest and paws.  Bowden, like his greyhound brother, Bomber, never walked outside without a toy or golfball in his mouth.  Our backyard looked like a preschool playground, constantly littered with toys!

He collapsed last week and spent time in the hospital, enduring massive amounts of medication to try to reduce the swelling and allow him to resume normal activities.  We brought him home last Saturday, and although he was happy to be here, he never ate another bite.  The regimen was just too much for his massive 100 pounds of love.  So, Tuesday afternoon, surrounded by three of our loving vet techs, Dr. Carrier and me, Bowden (3/13/95 - 2/26/08) journeyed to the Bridge to join all of the other Hoffman pets who waited there for him, just two weeks shy of his 13th birthday.

Rest well, our dear friend, and thanks for watching out for our family all these years.  As Heather said, you were her last link to her and Brad's childhoods.  Our hearts are filled with many memories of you, and you are terribly missed.

Ni-night, Bowden.  Mommy loves you.

Greg & Kathy Hoffman

HP Grace

Grace

11/14/1994 – 2/9/2008

I remember the first time I saw you, Grace.  We had turned in the application at the Clearwater Meet & Greet.  You were there, very shy and nervous, but as everyone always said, "such a beautiful blue greyhound." We bonded right away and you taught me the "Greyhound Lean" that day.  I was really disappointed to learn that you had already been chosen for adoption by someone else.

We had our home visit the next week and were surprised to learn that the adoption wasn’t successful, most likely due to your shyness.  You recognized me right away when we came to meet you again.  I was sure but Tom was hesitant so we all went for a walk outside. Tom knelt down and looked in to those big "doe eyes" of yours and he melted like butter on a hot plate.  We took you home and that was the beginning of a 10 year love affair.

You were truly the sweetest girl we have had the privilege to have in our home.  You always carried yourself with such dignity and you were always a lady.  You were definitely independent but you were "mama's girl" and never gave us any trouble. You were patient with our foster dogs and our grandchildren.  Then came Dutch!!  The perfect opposite to you - the proverbial "bull in a China Shop" You calmed him down and he taught you to be more outgoing.  A match made in heaven!

It was difficult to watch you struggle to get up and the decision to let you go was one of the hardest decisions I have ever had to make.  But I wouldn't trade this hurt because we had 10 unforgettable years with you. As for me, Grace, I know we had to let you go, but you stole my heart the day we brought you home and you took a piece of it with you when you crossed the rainbow bridge.

Forever missed,

Cheryl & Tom Orr

Dappled Out

Rambler

9/1/1999 – 2/7/2008

Rest peacefully, sweet Rambler.  Thank you for the joy you brought us and those around us.  You will be in our hearts forever.

Mary Jo & Michael

Angie's Outlaw

Scooby

11/29/1994 – 2/11/2008

Foster dog Scooby left us today in the arms of his foster mom, BJ.  Newly diagnosed with osteosarcoma, we all agreed that we could not let him endure one more moment of pain.  Scooby and his sister Heather found a new wonderful life with their foster parents, BJ and Steve, and we'll always be grateful that Scooby's last year was filled with light, comfort and love.

Sir Guy de Guy

Sir Guy

4/19/1993 – 2/9/2008

My grand 'gentleman' greyhound, brindle Sir Guy, peacefully crossed the Rainbow Bridge this morning with Dr. Kevin Conrad, techs Amanda and Dawn, and me by his side.

Sir Guy was quite the old gracious and dignified gentleman.  In the last year his legs began to give out on him, so every 6-8 weeks he received without complaint a depo-medrol injection which pepped him right up.  Yesterday, though, while taking a walk, he fell down twice and could not get up.  I have vowed to all of my pets that when they can no longer get themselves around, or if they are in pain, that it would be time for me to make the hard decision, but the right decision, to help them peacefully leave this world.  This decision was further confirmed to be the right one to make when Dr. Conrad found that this morning,

Sir Guy’s heart was skipping beats, not nearly as strong as it was only a couple short months ago.  Before today, at every vet check Dr. Conrad would comment on how strong and regular his heartbeat was in spite of his advancing years.

Sir Guy was adopted in the fall of 1996 and came to live with me, my son Johnny, and our greyhound Jolie. Through the years he had greyhound companions Darling and Merlin who wait at the Bridge.  Sir Guy leaves behind grey sisters Angel (Skyway Angel), Bette (Black Day), and Camryn (Mohican Toyota).  He also hosted many greyhound foster dogs who moved on to their forever homes; they benefitted from his guidance in ways of living in the house and by his infrequent 'corrections'!

I feel very fortunate to have had Sir Guy in my life for such a long time, and in the lives of so many other humans and dogs within GREAT.  He lived to be the oldest of any of the pets I have ever had -- even since childhood.  Janet and Walter Wood (his owners and breeders) thought he would be the perfect greyhound to follow in the steps of my first greyhound, Bob's Popsycle, and indeed he was.

He was loved very much by me and my friends and is terribly missed.

Carol Chilton