Lucy
Lucy, better known around the office as "Granny Lucy" crossed over the Rainbow Bridge on Wednesday, August 10, 2016 at what is guessed to be 14-15 years of age. It was one of the best days when Lucy came to live with me on Nov. 15, 2008 from the German Shepherd Rescue and Adoptions. She was so tired from being a breeding dog for the first half of her life that all she wanted to do was crawl on the sofa and sleep PLUS she was scared of almost everyone, particularly men. But within a few months of going to the office everyday with mom, she became loving therapy for whoever walked in the door. She learned to run and play and was so goofy we all laughed as she exhibited her "cat-like" paw qualities. She loved the lake and farm, but still found that the sofa was her favorite place. She was the friend of all the children of Central UMC and tolerated everyone of them. The church staff is in mourning, but perhaps most of all mom is mourning deeply. But she is now without pain and can see and run free. She will be missed by everyone she touched. Thank you GSRA, because when you rescued granny Lucy, you rescued me.

Lukas
My Lukas. The hardest part of losing you is right now, sitting at the computer typing. I miss the warmth of your body on my feet.. you should be here, but all I have is a pocket of emptiness. I lost you in May to a twisted colon. It's so rare for that to happen, why did it have to be you? It wasn't time for you to go, 11 years wasn't enough. I'll never forget when I first laid eyes on you. I had gone to the Spartanburg Humane Society to find a puppy, except when I walked by the cement kennel you were in and made eye contact with you, I immediately new I was taking you home. It broke my heart to learn they had found you all alone on the side of a street. You were so frightened when we brought you home the first night, scared to walk up the steps, scared of cars and scared of tall men. But over the years you blossomed. You were with me though marriage and kids and 3 dominate cats. You were the most patient soul, silent ly supporting me through sleep deprived nights of newborns. And hair pulling craziness of toddler hood. As the kids got older, you patiently let them dress you up or would stand in as a pupil when the kids wanted to play teacher. But my all time favorite memory with you was our evening walks. Especially after downloading a star gazing app for my phone and we'd lie on the hill behind my house and we'd find all the constellations In the night sky. The highlight was finding the Canis Major Constellation together. I'm starting to find peace in knowing that you are running effortlessly amongst the stars. Jonathan is happy that you are in heaven with your mother. I hope you received the balloons all the kids in the neighborhood sent up to you. We thought you'd have fun playing with them. I miss you terribly. You left an aching wound in my heart. I wish I could give you one more hug or to just smell the top of your head between your ears once more. I LOVE YOU.

Lupa (GSRA class of 2015)

Utterly patient, unmistakably empathetic, super gentle and friendly, eager to please, and a bundle of joy to have around are some of the words that describe the Lupa we knew. She unselfishly gave us nine wonderful years (2015-2024) of happiness by sharing her joy with us and everyone around her, including total strangers she had never met. Her magical power of drawing people onto her was endless; that might be why hardly anyone passes by her, even from the other side of the road, without praising her beauty or wanting to pet her. We think it is not just her appearance, but also her trusting open heart. Lupa was everyone's friend.

Lupa was "expressive" in many ways. We wish we had a Google Translate for doggie talk to have known what she was saying exactly through her different barks, howls, yelps, even though we understood her underlying feelings. Her body expressions were unmistakable when she was happy and excited to go out of the house, to go for a walk, to meet her four legged friends and their two-legged parents, and to welcome people into her house.

Through the many precious and fond memories that she left us with, Lupa will live in our hearts forever.