The Rainbow Bridge
Just this side of heaven is a place called Rainbow Bridge. When an animal dies that has been especially close to someone here, that pet goes to Rainbow Bridge. There are meadows and hills for all of our special friends so they can run and play together. There is plenty of food, water and sunshine, and our friends are warm and comfortable. All the animals who had been ill and old are restored to health and vigor; those who were hurt or maimed are made whole and strong again, just as we remember them in our dreams of days and times gone by. The animals are happy and content, except for one small thing; they each miss someone very special to them, who had to be left behind. They all run and play together, but the day comes when one suddenly stops and looks into the distance. His bright eyes are intent; His eager body quivers. Suddenly he begins to run from the group, flying over the green grass, his legs carrying him faster and faster. You have been spotted, and when you and your special friend finally meet, you cling together in joyous reunion, never to be parted again. The happy kisses rain upon your face; your hands again caress the beloved head, and you look once more into the trusting eyes of your pet, so long gone from your life but never absent from your heart. Then you cross Rainbow Bridge together.... Author Unknown.

Jackie
Jackie came to us from a shelter in Salinas on Thanksgiving weekend, 2009. She was 11 years old and had a three-inch-long pendulous tumor under her tail. An 11-year-old dog with an unsightly tumor sounded right up our alley, so sure enough, she landed at our house. Before the tumor could be removed and much needed dental extractions could be performed, Jackie also needed to recover from pneumonia! Jackie was a lovely dog, very sweet and gentle, and with the softest coat ever! Anyone who ever petted her remarked on how soft she was. Jackie immediately got along perfectly with our other senior dogs, Kirby and Gus. In June, 2010, Jackie had to have one of her eyes removed because of painful glaucoma. She recovered from the surgery and did fine with just one eye. Jackie attended Spring Fling, 2010, the 2010 Fourth of July Waddle in Novato, where she stood in for Queen Alice, who was unable to be there, and went camping at Lake Del Valle the week after the Waddle with some of the other GGBR members and dogs. When Gus and Kirby died in June and August, 2010, respectively, Jackie easily accepted newcomers, 7-year-old Billy in August and 10-year-old Riley in October. Jackie underwent acupuncture and prolotherapy treatment in August and September to try to slow down the progression of lameness due to arthritis. Jackie died suddenly of bloat and torsion on March 27, 2011. Jackie was laid to rest with our other departed dogs in our little cemetery in Mt Aukum. We miss our soft, sweet girl. Mark and Fran Madden, Billy and Riley. March 27, 2011.

Vegas
Dear Friends, Vegas is gone. Our beloved 15 year-old Basset Hound has passed on to join his sisters, Sporaticus and Dancer, and all of his furry friends in the next life. As many of you know, Vegas' health had been irreversibly deteriorating over the past year. During the past 5 - 6 months, he developed pulmonary edema, arrhythmia, and severe kidney problems. When he passed today, he was 34 pounds - down from the robust 60 pound Basset that we rescued almost eight years ago from the Fremont Animal Shelter. Lately, in the past two months, his back legs were giving out on him and most times we had to carry him in and out of the house for bathroom visits. His front legs were also giving out on him and on several occasions in the last week, we had to hold him up so he could eat. Eating was also a problem, too. He would go for several days without eating anything. In spite of all these physical problems, Vegas' heart, even at the very end, was filled with so much love and kindness for all who were with him or who touched his life. Many of you might remember Vegas when he was a rambunctious and fun loving dog. In his early years with us, he loved to play catch with his yellow ball in the backyard. He savored his round-the-neighborhood walks. He even could sing "Mandy" when assisted by Darlene. He loved carrying around his toys in his mouth - especially his blue dinosaur and green snake. When we would come home from our trips, he'd get so excited and run throughout the house. When Darlene was stricken with breast cancer, he would lie down next to her bed and not move from her side. His tail was always in motion. He always had a greeting for the other dogs in the neighborhood. He was in love with his girlfriend - Sadie across the street - until and even after she passed on from cancer. He was a wonderfully loving and sensitive dog. He was loyal and protective. He was joyful and playful. He was a tremendously important part of our family. Vegas loved people and us in so many special ways. He will forever live in our hearts. We will miss him terribly and our home will be empty without him. To all of you who helped care for him, who asked about him, and who were there when Darlene and/or I needed support, we thank you from the bottom of our hearts. You helped make Vegas' life special and for that we are eternally grateful. Before he left this earthly existence, he wanted us to pass along some messages. He actually told us last night while he was laying in his special posteur-pedic bed. Here is Vegas' message: "To the wonderful folks at the Golden Gate Basset Rescue group... thank you so much for pointing my Mom and Dad to the Fremont Animal Shelter eight years ago so they could rescue me and bring me home. Also, thanks for the wonderful work you do for all of my brother and sister Basset Hounds. You are great!" " To Jamie, Kristi, Richelle, and Kegan - thank you for the hundreds of walks and for taking care of me every day. You shared so many secrets and terrific moments of your lives while we were out exploring the neighborhood. Thank you for the relaxing massages with the electric brush and for the hours you spent petting me while I was in my bed. Thanks for all of your love and tenderness." "To Clare - who made my final three months so peaceful and special every day, thank you so much for your love... your strength... your patience... and your kindness. You were so great and every visit with you was special. Thank you for helping me in and out of the house and for the hours you spent petting and stroking me. You have a huge heart." "To Joyce - my buddy and house sitter. I love you so much. Thank you for staying with me every time Mom and Dad went away. I will treasure the evenings and weekends we had together. You slept with me. You talked to me. You held my food bowl for me. You played with me (when I was younger). You loved me in so many different ways. You are such a warm and sensitive human being and I hope I brought some love into your life. I will miss you more than you know." "To Rudi - thanks so much for coming in and taking care of me when the regular folks couldn't make it. You are a very kind and loving person." "To Dr. Dave - thank you so much for taking such good care of me all these years. You are a fantastic vet and an even more fantastic person. Thank you for taking the growth off of my ear on Super Bowl Sunday two years ago and for wrapping my head up like a mummy. Thank you so much for making my life so special. Thank you for helping Mom and Dad through this very difficult time. And, thank you from the bottom of my heart for easing me into the next life with gentleness and kindness. You are one-of-a kind and I will always hold dear your kindness and compassion." "To Grandma and Grandpa in Cleveland - I am really sorry I didn't get to spend more time with you. Your visits to California were always special. Thank you for caring about me so much and for your love and tenderness. Grandma, thanks for washing my face whenever you visited - you are such a kind and beautiful person. And, most importantly, thank you for bringing my Mom into this world. She is and always shall be the love of my life and my soul mate." "To Abigail Adams Gardner - ok, you're in charge now. You need to make sure that Mom and Dad get plenty of sleep, great food, and lots of love. I'll be watching... "To all of the folks and associates at Mom's work - thank you for asking Mom every day about my health and my happiness. You have been there for Mom whenever she needed a shoulder to cry on or when she just needed someone to talk with. I am very grateful for the kindness and friendship you have given my Mom - she is too." "To all of Dad's friends and colleagues - thank you for your support... your empathy... and your wonderful friendship. He would tell me every time one of you would ask about me and then he would say how all of you are so special. Many thanks go out to Stewart - Dad needed help and support and you were there for him. Please know that I will be playing with Chipper this afternoon." "Last of all, my heart and my soul go out to Mom and Dad. You saved me eight years ago and you gave me so much love and kindness. You are the best parents a dog could ever ask for. My life has been so enriched by your love and tenderness. Mom, thank you so much for taking a nap with me every night... thank you for all the special meals... the walks... the talks... the love you gave me. I don't think a dog could ever ask for a more kind, gentle, sensitive, generous, and loving Mother. Dad, thank you for taking such good care of me, especially these last nine months. Thank you for carrying me in and out of the house... for holding the food bowl every night for me... for the eleven pills a day that you had to give me by hand... for our walks... our talks... our nights watching the West Wing and Sports Night. You are the best doggy Dad in the world." "To All of you... thank you for every ounce of love and kindness you've given me over the past eight years. I love you all and I will always be grateful you came into my life." Vegas wanted me to make sure that all of you know how important you were to him. He was the most loving and gentle dog in the world. We will miss him terribly, but we will carry his spirit and his love in our hearts forever. Both of us would like to thank you all for being a part of our lives and for giving Vegas so much love, tenderness, compassion, and gentleness over these past eight years. We are so grateful to you all. All the best, Ed & Darlene Gardner

Sugar
I got Sugar a year and a half ago from GGBR. I got the call that they needed a home for a dog with special needs and that I seemed to be a good fit. Turns out we complemented each other and her needs seemed like nothing to me or her. We had a good life. After 5 weeks of dealing with stage IV lymphoma I lost my pretty girl on Labor Day 2010, at only 4 years old. She fell ill just after the Waddle. We went with chemo to maybe give her some quality time and it initially showed promise, but I could always sense some discomfort and in the end she was not in remission. Still, she always rose to the occasion when it was walk time and would be just as energetic as ever, even up to her last day. That day she was in pain and I could not deny it. I sat on the floor for hours just rubbing her tummy, then brought her up on the bed and just held her for a long time. She yelped a couple of times from pain and then her eyes rolled back in her head. We left immediately for the vet. He talked with us and we all basically agreed there was nothing we could do. I spent an hour on the floor of the examining room just holding her and talking to her, making her as comfortable and loved as I could. When the time came I held her head and that moment where her pain ended and mine began happened. The very attributes that made my home a good fit for her, makes it that much harder for me to bear her loss. She had needs that required someone with a lot of free time, a quiet home with not much traffic and an understanding of how to deal with issues. Now that she's gone, my quiet home has turned silent and my constant companion, best friend and beautiful girl is gone I'm left looking around the corners for her. I'm all alone, except for the memories. Goodbye my pretty girl. I have your baby and I'll hold on to it for you. -- September 6, 2010

Kirby
Kirby was already an adult (estimated to be 3-5 years old) when he arrived at a Sacramento shelter as an emaciated stray in 1996. He was rescued by a Rio Linda couple who fostered him for two years before Mark and I adopted him in 1998. If you do the math, that made Kirby at least 16 years old when he left us in August, 2010. Kirby participated in parades and fun field trials, met people at rescue/information booths and home visits, and attended many parties and costume events. His debut at a Basset Club costume party in 1999 as a Tomato Hornworm is legendary! He reigned as King at the 2010 Waddle in Novato. His favorite activity was hunting and digging for gophers. For us, Kirby was "the start of it all"; he was our first basset hound and our first rescue, and he inspired us to help other lost or abandoned basset hounds to find loving homes. Over the years, Kirby shared his home with 6 other basset housemates, (outliving five of them), and with countless foster dogs. Kirby’s gone to join Gus, his wingman; Gus didn’t have to wait long for him. He’ll also rejoin his best girl, Lulu, as well as Bubba, Nancy and Ralph. It’s hard to imagine our home and our lives without him. Fran and Mark Madden, and Jackie, August 18, 2010.