Cutie (Aerobic Judy): 1998-2009.  The Audette family of Ayer, MA are filled with sadness at the loss of their adored Cutie.  Becky writes, "We adopted Cutie before we had kids, in spring 2001.  She was so easy and gentle, she impacted the lives of everyone she came in contact with.  At almost 12 years old, she began to show her age and had 2 major injuries within a few months of each other.  In her last days with us we went camping, and took her with us, for the first time.  She had a ball.  Enjoyed laying on her bed next to the camp fire, and sat in the back of the car with the trunk open and enjoyed watching the kids play with their friends, and going for walks with them through the campground.  The day after the camping trip, she broke her jaw and would require a tremendous amount of repair and surgery, and be muzzled for over 2 months to recover, in pain. With all of us by her side we said our goodbyes and sent her over the bridge to be with our Angel Nephew on his 10th birthday.  She had a great life with
us and we were so honored to have such a gentle loving pet in our presence each and every day.  We have wonderful memories of her, stealing bread off the counter, table surfing under my son's chair at dinner, sneaking into their bedrooms during the day to lay in the sunny windows, escaping from the house to run through the yard to visit the neighbor's pug.   Cutie was 3 when we adopted her, and nearly 12 when we let her go.  It was a wonderful 8 1/2 years, and our house is not the same without her."

Calvin Bleu (Colleen My Buddy): 1998-2009.  It is with great sadness that the Mitchell family of Ipswich, MA announce the loss of their handsome boy, Calvin Bleu.  Catherine writes, "Silly and goofy in youth, sweet and docile in old age, Calvin was a gentle soul, ever respectful of the children and a consummate diplomat with all creatures great and small.
His happy & joyful presence will reside in our hearts, always."

Peanut (Badger Tracy): 2000-2009. Sophie Rapaport of Worcester, MA is sadden by the loss of her beautiful Peanut. Sophie writes, " My beloved Peanut died of acute leukemia this month. I had only 7 years of her company. She was the gentlest, sweetest dog imaginable and  the  best friend to my elderly Vizsla  and to my cat . Just recently her picture showing her sharing the bowl of water with the cat was published in the NEADY Cats shelter bulletin. She was somewhat of the escape artist in her youth, but in her her mature years she just loved going for the walks, being petted and sleeping on my bed. I miss her terribly."

Wonder: 2002 - 2009.   Wendy, Treigh, and Bevan Worell of Gloucester, MA were devastated by the loss of their beloved Wonder.  They write, "We lost Wonder today and we really miss her alot already.  Our hearts and home are very sad.  She had a very tough life for such a young dog, and cancer ravaged her body at only 7 years old.  We treasure  the love  my two boys and I gave her, and the love that she gave us in the short year and a half that we had her.   We love you Wonder.."

Mikey (Okie Michael): 1997 - 2009.  Elaine Barriss of Saugus, MA is filled with great sadness at the loss of her beloved Mikey.  "Mikey aka Mikey Moo, My Moo, my fourth greyhound and my heart, I helped him cross  over the bridge with his head in my lap, my heart broken as I said goodbye to this beautiful, gentle giant of a greyhound. He was regal and warm and trusting, my companion through two hip replacement surgeries and months of home confinement.  He started with a swollen left right paw which we hoped was an infection and treated with antibiotics, then a stronger one.  Unfortunately a needle biopsy revealed a malignant tumor, and he quickly went downhill from there until it was clear the  time  had come to say goodbye; I miss him terribly."

Stella: 1997-2009.  Stella "adopted us" in 1999. We had come to the rescue kennel to look at specific greyhound, but the handlers suggested we go for a walk with (what was her original name) Sneaky. Well, that was all it took and she decided we were the people for her.
Her name was changed to Stella, though Sneaky was a good middle name! She was a brindle ex-racer. We had read up on challenges to overcome: stairs, potty training, etc. and Stella learned quickly. She was deemed "cat friendly" and bonded extremely closely with our white cat, ZuZu. They became best friends, known to play and sleep together. It wouldn't be unusual to find them spooning on Stella's bed! In early July, 2009, Stella slipped on the kitchen floor and broke her back leg. Unfortunately, other complications set in along what the vets thought was Alabama Rot. After a week in intensive care, and a valiant effort on Stella's part, we had to make the difficult decision to end her suffering. My husband and I continue to mourn.
The house is too quiet and we all miss Our Girl. She was a loving dog...mischievious at times, but a cuddler and a real favorite in the neighborhood. One little girl would call out, "Tall dog!" when she saw Stella. Despite our heartache at losing such a wonderful dog, we are comforted by thinking of all the fun and goofy times we had together. She was a one-of-a-kind. Stella was 12 years old.  (Anonymous.)

Sierra (JNB’s Poinsettia): 1997-2009.  Charlotte Brahm of Melbourne Beach grieves the loss of her beloved Sierra who was euthanized on June 8, 2009.  Charlotte writes, "Sierra suffered a stroke during the night and although she could stand she couldn’t walk.  Sierra went peacefully with me at her side.  Putting Sierra down was the hardest thing I have ever done.  She was a warm, loving, perfect companion since I adopted her July 8, 2000.  Sierra died in Melbourne Beach, Florida, where she lived the past 2 years.  I didn’t drive north this summer since I recognized that she was aging and I thought the trip would have been too much for her.  Apparently I was right.  Thank you to GAS for the service you perform to help these kindly animals find homes.  It’s difficult work but you persist.  I wish you well."

Matty (Daring Grandlass): 1999 - 2009.  Carol Yurgalevitch and Ryan Moore of Roseville, CA (formerly of MA) had to say goodbye to their beautiful brindle girl, Matty, who was diagnosed with osteosarcoma in April.  Carol writes, "Matty never slowed down until the end, and that's how we knew it was time.  Ryan and I will forever miss her bunny soft fur, her happy Matty dance when the leashes would come out for walks and when she would meet her many fans on those walks, and her "all bark no bite" attitude around the other hounds.  We'll miss her determined whining each morning to wake us up and force us to face each day with the energy she faced each of her days.  We'll miss her love of life and play and of us. I thought I'd have so many years with her, we ended up with less than 7, and I miss her every day."

Maggie Mac: 1997-2009.   Gina Rogers of Vernon, CT mourns the loss of her beautiful Maggie who died on April 8. Gina writes, "Maggie loved to run, even running in her sleep, and anything furry was fair game, even that last day she ran in the morning, we think that was the final straw, her back simply couldn't withstand it and broke. We never realized how much our lives revolved around her till she was no longer here, even her cat sisters look around for her. She was a beautiful and gentle soul who is greatly missed. Our begining was a bumpy one, it took her a couple of years to train her human, but she truely was a life saver, a friend and a comfort. She gained attention wherever we went with her beautiful fawn brindle coat, curiousity and gentle nature. Small dogs especially liked her. People always stopped to ask about her history and how they could rescue one as well. Rest peacefully Maggie Bones, you'll always be a piece of our hearts."

Ernie (Twilight Omar): 1998-2009.   It is with a heavy heart that Judi and Bob Rocheleau of Bradford, MA grieve the loss of their beloved Ernie.  Judi writes, "For the 10 years we had him,  he was, without a doubt, the most loving and gentle dog we have known.  He was the greatest ambassador for greyhounds always friendly and gentle with everyone.  Wherever he went, he represented the breed well and with class.  Every walk we went on with him, he always carried a stick/plastic bottles/log/branches dragging on the ground to our home.  He was quite well known in the Salem Street area of Bradford.  He adored our grandchildren and loved eating cheese puffs with them.   He loved to smell the flowers and always threw a body block into you so you could pat him. He had a regenerative spine issue and arthritis mostly in his hind quarter - he had gotten to the point that his back legs were quite weak and he was on daily medication for the arthritis.  He ended up getting a neurological disorder that would take several weeks in the hospital to possibly get over.  So knowing that - we decided that it was better for him to end it.   He went peacefully with Bob and I patting him and  telling him want a wonderful boy he was.   Rosie (Reiki) our other greyhound misses him - still searching for him, but seems so be getting better.  Ernie will always be forever in our hearts."