Abbey 04-386

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RAGOM recently received the following sad email. It so touched the heart of the foster home that we broke every rule in the book, and have brought Keisha, Abbey AND Miss Kitty into foster care.

 

To whom it may concern,

I have an 8 year old female Golden Retriever, a 7 year old female Black Lab, and a 15 year old female cat. My husband recently passed away unexpectedly. I have since lost my residence, and am looking for a job and a place to live. Though I have found a place that accepts pets, they want $300 apiece as a deposit and $90 a month extra rent, which I cannot do.

My animals, who have been my loving companions for many years, are like my children. They are in a kennel until the end of November, but as that costs $500 a month, I cannot keep them there any longer. I have tried everything I can think of to save them. I have tried getting them into foster care, to no avail. I have contacted all the agencies in the area that offer pets for adoption that will not put them to sleep. No one will take them because of their advanced years. They say that they simply don't have a good chance for adoption at their age.

They are wonderful pets and would be wonderful companions to anyone who gives them a good and loving home. My Golden Retriever, Keisha, is mute and has never barked since I adopted her at 8 weeks old. She loves everyone, and if visitors come to the house, it is her habit of always offering them one of her toys as a gift. Abby, my Black Lab, also loves everyone. She will give a couple of woofs if someone comes to the door, but that's it. Abby wants to kiss everyone she meets. Both are well housebroken for many years now, walk well on a lead, and are far past the puppy chewing stage. They are not the least bit destructive and can be trusted to be home alone.

Though I don't have any children of my own, they also love children. I can honestly say that I have never heard either of them even growl. This includes times when my brother's poodles have been visiting, have been climbing over them, and taking their toys. Though they have long passed the energetic stage, they like to play fetch, but are very content to lay around like throw rugs and snooze. They are also very obedient and come when called. My cat is litter boxed trained. She is declawed and needs to be an indoor cat. Though she can be shy on first meeting a new person, once she gets to know you she is extremely affectionate and loves to cuddle.

Please help me. I didn't expect that my husband would die so suddenly. The pets have never known anything but a loving home. I don't want to put them through the horrible trauma of the Humane Society, and feel that they would end up being put down. They will be wonderful companions for anyone willing to give them the good home that they deserve.

Thank you.

Sincerely,

C H

 

At a Glance #04-386

Mixed Breed Born: July 1997
Female Weight not specified

Status: Deceased

Profile

RAGOM recently received the following sad email. It so touched the heart of the foster home that we broke every rule in the book, and have brought Keisha, Abbey AND Miss Kitty into foster care.

 

To whom it may concern,

I have an 8 year old female Golden Retriever, a 7 year old female Black Lab, and a 15 year old female cat. My husband recently passed away unexpectedly. I have since lost my residence, and am looking for a job and a place to live. Though I have found a place that accepts pets, they want $300 apiece as a deposit and $90 a month extra rent, which I cannot do.

My animals, who have been my loving companions for many years, are like my children. They are in a kennel until the end of November, but as that costs $500 a month, I cannot keep them there any longer. I have tried everything I can think of to save them. I have tried getting them into foster care, to no avail. I have contacted all the agencies in the area that offer pets for adoption that will not put them to sleep. No one will take them because of their advanced years. They say that they simply don't have a good chance for adoption at their age.

They are wonderful pets and would be wonderful companions to anyone who gives them a good and loving home. My Golden Retriever, Keisha, is mute and has never barked since I adopted her at 8 weeks old. She loves everyone, and if visitors come to the house, it is her habit of always offering them one of her toys as a gift. Abby, my Black Lab, also loves everyone. She will give a couple of woofs if someone comes to the door, but that's it. Abby wants to kiss everyone she meets. Both are well housebroken for many years now, walk well on a lead, and are far past the puppy chewing stage. They are not the least bit destructive and can be trusted to be home alone.

Though I don't have any children of my own, they also love children. I can honestly say that I have never heard either of them even growl. This includes times when my brother's poodles have been visiting, have been climbing over them, and taking their toys. Though they have long passed the energetic stage, they like to play fetch, but are very content to lay around like throw rugs and snooze. They are also very obedient and come when called. My cat is litter boxed trained. She is declawed and needs to be an indoor cat. Though she can be shy on first meeting a new person, once she gets to know you she is extremely affectionate and loves to cuddle.

Please help me. I didn't expect that my husband would die so suddenly. The pets have never known anything but a loving home. I don't want to put them through the horrible trauma of the Humane Society, and feel that they would end up being put down. They will be wonderful companions for anyone willing to give them the good home that they deserve.

Thank you.

Sincerely,

C H

 

Updates

Tuesday, June 7, 2011

 

On 1/1/2005 we received Abbey (7 yo) and Keisha (8 yo) from RAGOM. The "girls," as we affectionately called them, had been raised together since they were puppies, and the hope was that they could be adopted as a pair. We concurred, and our lives were soon changed forever as we fell in love with the two of them. They were perfect in every sense of the word. Being seniors, they invariably found time for more than an occasional siesta, but when awake they enthusiastically shared their lives with us. They loved family "get togethers," and greeted everyone at the door with the generous offer of one of their prized rubber balls.

We were devastated when we lost Keisha in early July, 2009, to a metastatic breast tumor. Abbey, our diminutive black lab, was now alone for the first time in her life. We did not know how she would deal with the loss of her lifelong friend. After a short interval of quiet depression, our Abbey "picked herself up by the bootstraps" and took on the responsibilities of the household's only dog. She was, of course, rewarded by us with the adoption of another RAGOM senior lab, Bella, in May of 2010. Abbey was pleasantly surprised and welcomed Bella into our home without a problem.

Sadly, we lost our Abbey after 6.5 years together to a brain tumor last week. She was almost 14 when she died, and we believe we provided her with a happy and fulfilled life during her time with us. Abbey was a kind, loving, and obedient dog who tried so hard to please us on all occasions. Her loyalty was beyond reproach. On one occasion, while on her nightly walk in our residential neighborhood, she stood side by side with me and "stared down" two coyotes who suddenly appeared. I had decided that Abbey was not going to be theirs and she was equally determined that I would not be that night's entree on their menu. Abbey was diminutive in size but with the heart of a lion. We loved her deeply and her loss diminishes all who knew her.

Abbey spent her life with goldens and was a RAGOM adoptee. In our minds, Abbey earned the title of honorary golden retriever. The chapter in our lives entitled "The Girls" is now over, but the saga will live with us forever. We will always remember our girls for their unconditional love of family, their loyalty and their appreciation of life.

Thanks, girls, for all you gave to us. Take care and we will see you both again someday!

Rick and Ilene

 

Wednesday, December 8, 2004

Keisha, Abby and the Kitty have a sad story, but hopefully one that will end with a Holiday of happiness. One of the owners of these three girls passed away and the other lost everything because of that tragedy. She lost many of her belongings, but more importantly for these guys, she lost her home. She looked and looked for a place that would allow her to keep them, but after being a family for 8 years, she had to give them up.

Keisha, the Golden, is the sweetest girl anybody could ever want. All she wants to do is snuggle and be loved. Abby is exactly the same way and even talks occasionally. Abby suffers from a skin allergy, but it seems to be clearing up. It doesn't seem to affect her at all and in fact, she completely ignores it. Both girls are well housebroken and aside from wanting to sleep with you occasionally, don't get into any trouble. If they could snuggle all the time, that would make them happy.

They get along well with cats and that brings us to the other part of the story. Part of the family was the Kitty! We couldn't very well take the girls and split up the family, so we have a kitty that wants a new home, too! She's extremely docile and wants to curl up on your lap whenever you sit down. This is new for RAGOM, but who could say no to this story?

Hopefully, somebody that has a home filled with love will add to it this holiday season. With these three girls, you won't be sorry!

Monday, November 29, 2004

These are very good girls and very loving. The first place they found was my bed and made themselves right at home. They've been together their whole lives and they are obviously very attached to one another. Abbey, the Black Lab is a talker. She almost seems like she's trying to form words and it's extremly comical. Keisha, the Golden, is very timid and shy and is the most loving dog anybody could ever want. They walk on the leash extremely well and are super well behaved. They stay around in the yard and get attached to you immediately. When I took them to my family's Thanksgiving, they were the hit of the household. Everybody loved them, but when I got up to move into another room, they were on me like velcro. Whoever gets these two dogs will have lots of love to give and receive. They're good around kids, since there were lots at Thanksgiving and of course they're great with cats, because I also have their sister, the cat... :-)

I would really like to find a forever home that will take all three, in order to keep the family intact.

Keisha and Abbey have been to the vet, and both are on meds for ear infections. Keisha will go in for her spay this week.

Stay tuned for a picture of the whole family!