(R.I.P. July 4, 2016)
To: Marie | As a gift from: Justis Bolding
“I have left you now but please don’t be sad you gave me all the love you had. You did so much for me in my time here and I’ll always hold those precious times near. I know someday you’ll find love again and into your life will come a new friend. Your heart will heal, though you’ll never forget memories like the first time we met. Memories are wonderful, so keep them close and remember all the good times most. Up in the Heaven for animals is where I’ll be and someday in the future, each other we will see. I am at PEACE now, so please don’t be sad. You gave me all the love you had.” – Tracy M. Johnson

To: Sue Pinto | As a gift from: Kimberly Pinto
“Penny was a sweet little girl who was in such bad shape when Sue rescued her! Sue gave her all the medical attention and love that she needed and gave her the second chance in life that she deserved. Sadly, her time has come, and she has passed. We are making this donation in memory of Sue’s sweet little Penny. She is already missed by all.”

Sadly in rescue, no matter how hard we try, we cannot save them all. Sometimes the universe has other plans. Every loss takes a piece of our hearts with them and reminds us how fragile life truly is. Bull was one such life. At only one year old, he was abandoned at a high kill shelter and within only a few days found himself on the euthanasia list.

We don’t know what it was that caught the attention of so many but, the outpouring of support for this young soul was palpable. The power of social media was proven that day as it connected people from all over the country by the hundreds, all advocating for his reprieve. By stroke of fate, the voices of unity were heard and he was offered a place of safety…his forever home. But it was not meant to be.

Within 24 hours of our confirmed pull, Bull was gone. Mere hours away from his transport from the shelter to his adoptive home, Bull was found lifeless in his kennel; a young and vibrant life taken much too soon for reasons we still don’t understand.

While there is much we don’t know, there is one thing we do know: Bull got into this situation because his owner failed him, setting him up to be exposed to the fear, illness and ultimately fatal ingestion of/or reaction to something perhaps more sinister (albeit accidental) from within the very (shelter) walls where he was supposed to be safe. But we will not let his loss be in vain.

His body may be gone but his memory will live on forever as a representation of LGAR’s commitment to its dogs in life and their remembrance in death. We may not have ever met you Bull, but you will always remain in our hearts. In your name we will continue to fight the good fight, to save your “brothers and sisters” from being silenced before their time. And for those we cannot save, we hope that you will be the light that guides them to their new life over the Bridge. We know we will see you again…someday… but not any time soon. We still have a lot of work to do. {Bull – March 16, 2016}