Remembered

March 31, 2004

Hi All,

We are sad to report that we put our girlie Brittany to sleep on Sunday. Brittany was 15 1/2 years old.

Bill Cozart of GRR found Brittany in August, 2002 standing alone in the street at Round Rock. She looked like a skeleton, because she only weighed 34#. We nursed Miss Brittany back to relative health, although we strongly suspect that she had Cancer or Atypical Addison's Disease since long before she was rescued. The 20 months she lived past her rescue date were a real gift, and we consider Brittany victorious.

Brittany was a delicate little lady. She showed motherly concern to our other Goldens, especially the new foster dogs, washing them with her warm tongue or resting her chin on their thigh. Brittany was fastidious about food, eating mostly baby food & homemade soup towards the end, preferably off of a spoon. ;-) She flashed unexpected youthfulness by casually catching airborne tennis balls, or by throwing stuffed animals above her head. Brittany delighted in (humiliating us by) barking at strange dogs out the Explorer window, during our nightly dog drive. Brittany liked wearing bandanas, barely tolerated having her hair brushed, and despised pedicures. Brittany was hard of hearing, gentle, kind hearted & empathetic. She was Special Agent Cooper's sweetheart and a special friend to all the rest of us. We sure do miss her.

Gary & Margo
 

Brittany's Story:

Brittany

Touching Brittany was overwhelming.  The feel of fur over skeleton, no padding, no cushion, was fragile beyond imagination.  Her hip bones jutted out and so did her spine.  Her ribs were clearly visible from across the yard.  How did concentration camp victims survive?  How did Brittany survive?  We struggled to find a place where we could pet her without fear of damage.  Sides, back, legs, rear were totally without padding.  All fat & most muscle were gone.  Brittany weighed 34#, but she should have weighed 55.

We use Brittany’s neck as her cuddle spot.  She loves it when we rub her and whisper in her ear.  We ask how she got lost, but she doesn’t say.  We surmise that the red haired matron has been on her own for a long time, and that she would surely have died if Bill hadn’t spotted her along the road.

Brittany gives clues to her past.  She is housetrained, so she must have once lived indoors.  She understands the difference between human possessions and dog toys.  Brittany knows how to eat bites of cereal off my spoon, so someone must have indulged her.  She enjoys car rides.  She is wonderful with other dogs, so she must have had canine friends.

Why didn’t Brittany’s owners value her enough to provide a collar & tags?  

Brittany is a prime example of why Gold Ribbon Rescue exists.  She absolutely needed us to survive.

As I type at the computer, I glance to my right.  Brittany is slightly behind me, asleep on the cool tile floor.  Her front legs cross as she lies on her side.  The pad of her foot twitches; she’s dreaming.  Brittany’s tummy is full, she’s clean, fleas & parasites are gone.  Rescue will protect this charming girlie.  We’ll keep her safe and we’ll fatten her up.  Brittany will heal and grow strong, and we’ll never let this horror happen again.

Who will be Brittany’s new family?  Who will love her and protect her, and hold her in their arms?  She is waiting…

View Pictures Here