Rainbow Bridge
Our Rainbow Bridge pages are tributes to the incredible animals we have loved and lost and who changed our lives.
The tributes on these pages are stories of loyalty and compassion and of the rescued goldens who conquered their past lives and came out the other side. Those dogs who have an icon are NRGRR dogs who crossed the Rainbow Bridge while in our program.
We would be honored to post your tribute and photo of your NRGRR alum, no matter what year they crossed the bridge. Email your picture, story and year they crossed the bridge to rainbowbridge@nrgrr.org.
Please consider a donation in memory of your loved one or one of our NRGRR dogs who never had the chance to find their forever homes. We will add the name of the person or pet to our memorials web page. If you would prefer that your donation not be listed, please choose the appropriate button at check-out. NRGRR will send a card to the family or friend of the individual/pet you have honored with your donation.
Bisbee
We had to let Bisbee cross over today. It was hard, sad and one of the most honorable things we have ever done. Bisbee came to us in 2017 at the age of 5, at an adoption event. She was the dog we weren’t looking for but somehow found us. They told us she had seizures and at one time had some cancer removed from her eye. Y’all took care of the surgery and we found out how to stop the seizures….a change of food. She traveled all over with us from the mountains, to the beach to Ohio and Tennessee. She made friends with Waylon (a chocolate lab) and Jason (police K9) and Opal (a goldendoodle). She loved us as hard as we loved her. She had an amazing personality and such a sweet demeanor. She never met a stranger and did everything on her terms.
It was a pleasure to have her in our lives. Thank you NRGRR for allowing us to be her guardian.
Daisy
My sweet, beautiful Daisy... My heart is sad and empty without you. Your passing has left a huge void in my life.
You came here all the way from Albania (Albania Roza 23) for a better life than the one you had on the streets. I was so happy to adopt you and have you in my life. You were the best dog anyone could ever ask for. Things were great. I took you everywhere with me. My friends and all the neighbors loved you. Then, last March, we hit a brick wall. You quit eating and drinking, so off to the vet we went. It didn't take long for them to determine that your liver was shutting down and you had 3 to 6 months to live. But, with meds, consulting with the vet school and lots of prayers, they gave us hope and gave you more time.
Life was good for us once again. You had energy and enjoyed walks on the greenway again.
Sadly, all of that was short lived. We went for a walk one Sunday morning and you collapsed on the street and couldn't walk. Your breathing became heavy and labored. We took you to an emergency vet and they discovered that you had an enlarged heart, surrounded by bloody fluid and pus. Nothing could be done for you, except to make you comfortable. I was faced with the horrible decision to end your sweet life that dreadful day.
I miss your snuggles, the way you asked to have your ears scratched with your paw, and watching you bark at squirrels that came to our front porch. I miss everything about you.
Rest in peace, my sweet girl. You touched my heart and enriched my life. I love you and miss you.
Bella
Bella was our love. She came to us 8 years ago at the age of 2years. The rescue named her “Della” but we changed it to Bella. I remember her foster had a hard time letting her go but we were praying he would and it was a fabulous match for us so we are grateful he did.
She brought us so much joy and love to us and our whole family here in Raleigh. Our grandchildren would love to sit next to her on the floor and pet her non stop and she absolutely loved it. Bella never met a stranger. She liked to greet every person we would meet on our walks. She loved her many stuffed animals and knew them by name. It goes without saying she loved a tennis ball and she would frequently find them on our walks, carrying them in her mouth until we got home.
As with most goldens she loved to eat. We have never had one that inhaled her food as fast as she could. Bella looked forward to toast crusts and fruit pieces each morning after her kibble.
Her favorite place to sleep, other than her bed and our feet, was squeezed in between the counter chairs and cabinet. I guess she thought we couldn’t see her!
Bella loved her daily walks and would let us know when we were late getting dressed. Running in the backyard after the ball and rolling on her back was a daily event at our house. If she saw a hawk flying about she would follow it in the sky and chase it out of the yard. She also loved the beach and did the same with sea birds.
Our hearts will be forever broken and we will miss her terribly. We expect her to be waiting for us in heaven where we will united forever. God Bless all the animals.
Thank you goes out to Neuse River.
Snuffy
August24, affectionately renamed “Munchkin” and “Snuffy” came into our lives for such a short time, but as the saying goes, ‘left footprints on our hearts’ for darn sure! When I decided that I wanted to give back to NRGRR in honor of the many (5 previous) Goldens we adopted/rescued over the decades, I had fully intended to foster, rehab, and get adopted a needy Golden hearted dog. I saw the bio and photo of August24, a 12 year old, who reportedly had lived his entire life “outside” with elderly “pawents” both of whom were either ill and/or hospitalized, and August was in need of a foster urgently. I looked at the 2 photos of this munchkin (40lbs soaking wet) and told my husband, “we’re going to foster this one.” My husband expressed worries of August’s advanced age, his having lived outside and how he would adjust to being an indoor dog with us. Well, August turned out to be the easiest dog to love, best behaved, never ever had any potty accidents in our home (even the day he crossed the Bridge). Turns out this precious boy had multiple tumors in his abdomen, became very ill, shortly after coming to our home, and required several ER vet trips, a few medicines, and easily given TLC. Snuffy dog was a beautiful buff-colored pocket Golden who we found out in the 4 short months he resided with us, loved his “showers” in our walk in shower. He seemed to relish the gentle sudsing massage and he’d come out of the shower after towel dried, loping with his bunny hop (arthritis in those rear legs) and smiling toward “his man,” my husband. The 2 of them quickly became a bonded pair of “2 old guys” as my husband affectionately named themselves. My husband would buy and grill sirloin steaks medium rare, 93% fat Angus ground beef burgers, and I’d make many pots of chicken and beef stew (at least 3hours cooking for that special tenderness) with barley or rice. Our “Snuffy” made us feel like he had been with us always...he grew our hearts and I hope we grew his. I know Snuffy missed “his man,” his former pawrent, because every time Snuffy saw my husband mowing our front lawn, he’d softly but urgently whine (he never barked ever), wag his tail, and paw at the window blinds to get both my and my husband’s attention. I’d have to leash him up, and take him out front, where he’d pull and wag his tail in round circles to get to my husband. He just wanted to be close to him. This was how I affectionately renamed the husband “man.” Snuffy also had a “man junior” in my 41 year old son who came every Sunday and was greeted with the same furry fervor. Snuffy was also quite deaf, but was easily able to know a few essential hand signals and it never seemed to be an issue for him or us. We started calling him Snuffy due to the snuffling noises he’d make with his snout. Even though he couldn’t hear, we’d constantly be “talking to him.” Our 3 year old gray tabby, Ellie, had known our last Golden and absolutely loved her and she was just as loving and glad to have Snuffy dog in her house. She would reach up with her paws and “Hug” Snuffy, kiss him, pat his head, lie and stretch next to him just as he would. She’d wait at the door each morning diligently watching and meowing for him as he walked the yard or pottied, and gleefully run to him once he returned inside. There was no holding back any love with this beautiful soul, our Snuffy. There was nothing we wouldn’t do for this dear soul in our care. We helped our Snuffy cross the Rainbow Bridge on his last day with us, the only day that he ever showed any pain or suffering, right in our own home, surrounded by our loving touch and presence. There’s a missing piece of our hearts that went with Snuffy, as it was with each of our furbabies, but we couldn’t imagine not having him with us for these last 4 months. He gave a lifetime of love in his very short time here. Never hesitate to follow your heart and foster an old guy or gal. Never worry about what to do or where to take your foster, NRGRR will be there every step of the way with you, including helping “your” Snuffy cross the Bridge in your own home if you so choose. Soon enough, we will foster again and help another Golden hearted soul live their best life...Thank you NRGRR for allowing us to care for Snuffy till his end.
Forever NRGRR
Kosovo Bora
Kosovo Bora came to the US due to the efforts of Lulzemin and coordination from our international team, which includes Julie Rigby. Bora landed in Washington DC on February 1, 2024. She was immediately fostered by Allysa Petunia Irons and was greatly loved by her sweet family.
We were so fortunate to have adopted Bora on May 3, 2034. We immediately fell in love with her. Everyone in my neighborhood loved her, she was a favorite at our Veterinary clinic as well. She was the perfect dog. She loved her home, her family, her toys and most especially her teddy bear. She slept with her teddy bear and took it everywhere. She loved her walks in our neighborhood every evening.
Unbeknowest to us, without any symptoms, she had a malignant tumor growing in her lung. Suddenly after supper on Saturday, September 14th, 2024 she collapsed in the laundry room. Of course we immediately rushed her to Triangle Veterinary Referral Hospital in Holly Springs, NC where she died at 11:10pm that night. We were absolutely devastated.
Bora was the perfect dog. She had spent the majority of her life in Kosovo as a street dog. She was deaf and had even been hit by a car there. She loved her new life in the US and loved every creature she encountered. She will be forever missed by all of us who loved her.
Oscar
Oscar came to NRGRR in 2018 via Chatham County Animal Services. He was surrendered by an owner who was unable to address his multiple medical issues. Nearing eight years old, he was in rough shape, to put it mildly: Malnourished, multiple areas of bald and black skin, and eye problems. Over several months of fostering (many thanks to Jenna!), he had entropion surgery to fix both of his eyes, was nourished back to a healthy weight, and his fur returned on most of those bald spots. He was popular at meet and greets and loved by all the NRGRR volunteers. He had no problems being adopted. Unfortunately, it appears he would bond with the mother in the family but show aggression toward the father. As a result, he was adopted and returned five times. While fostering him after the fifth return, he showed no issues with me and my other rescue dog, Rocky. NRGRR decided to make Oscar a permanent foster with us where he spent the next five years. Sadly, Oscar passed on July 8, 2024 after multiple health issues including seizures. He brought so much joy to my life and was adored by friends and strangers alike. I often said he was part Golden, part Goofball, and part Mountain Lion (his paws were huge!). Oscar was the perfect example of how NRGRR loves and cares for their dogs. It takes a village and this village loved this golden boy! I miss him terribly. (Note: Oscar will be featured in the 2025 NRGRR calendar!)
Forever NRGRR