Once upon a time, there was a little golden retriever puppy called Rusty because of the color of her fur, though when she was older she thought the name might have fit because she looked worn out.
She was very sad because her family was broken beyond all repair and frequently no one fed her or walked her.
It was hard being hungry and thirsty all the time, living in a dark basement, alone and uncared for, with nothing but a blood-sucking tick for company. And it was very upsetting that no one would let her out to go to the bathroom. And then, even the blood-sucking tick betrayed her, giving her Lyme
Disease. She was eleven years old and felt her end must be near.
Just when she'd given up, a kind woman named Karen, who had heard of her plight, came and took her away to a vet who shaved off all the fur that was matted with feces and burned with urine. Karen knew she couldn't afford to keep Rusty,
but she knew she couldn't let Rusty die in that miserable basement.
And so it came to pass that over Labor Day Weekend of 2003, a volunteer from Golden Re-Triever Rescue came to meet a newly healthy and soon-to-be-twelve-year-old golden.
Karen waved a fond and sad farewell to the little girl she had saved and Rusty went home with the volunteer, to stay with her until the right home for her could be found. She began to call her Rosie. Surely, that must be a good sign. After all, things that are rusty get thrown out, but roses blossom and bloom - maybe she would, too.
Within a few days the volunteer brought Rusty-now-Rosie to the home of a woman named Adele. It was love at first sight. Adele didn't care that Rosie was no longer young. She didn't care that Rosie would never win a beauty contest. Adele saw the love in Rosie's eyes, and that was ALL she cared about. Rosie could hardly believe how much Adele wanted her. And so Rosie fell in love, too, and started her new life with her new mom, filled with joy. They even started training together to do therapy work. In short order, and bursting with pride, Rosie earned her CGC and also became a Licensed Therapy Dog.
Adele calls her "my miracle red Rose." But Rosie thinks Karen and Adele are pretty miraculous. And since Rosie knows all too well what sorrow and suffering are all about, she is happy to be able to give her own love and sunshine to those who need it.
With sadness,
we note that Rosie has passed away.
