Welcome to GLWR!

In Remembrance of Kierie, a permanent foster at GLWR.

 

Kierie had been steadily declining in health over the last several months, but she has always been a fighter and seemed to bounce back. This weekend was a very difficult one for her. She appeared to have multiple mini-strokes and her motor functions were becoming difficult for her to execute. The sharply cold weather made it difficult for her to move with her arthritis and she was not eating well. Her central nervous system seemed to be misfiring causing her to become disoriented and lost. She was tired and when she could she rested much of the time. Michel and I took her for a long car ride yesterday and she let us know that it was time for her to move on and leave us behind. As much as I tried to tell her we were not ready to let her go, and with a look in her eye she told me we would be fine and it was her time to go.

She is now running without the pain and the encumbrances of the mortal world and I am sure she is heading for the Pearly Gates with her ears flying and tossing the dirt up as she runs thinking there is a car ride on the other side...because she knows that ALL car rides ultimately lead to McDonald's and those Golden Arches....lol! We always said to her, "car ride and zoom-zoom".. .and off she went like a streak of grey down the driveway! There was no catching her if she thought that she could come along for a ride! 

For those of you not fortunate enough to have met our Ms. Kierie, her story was an extra special one. She came to GLWR as a stray from an Ohio shelter about 3 years ago. She was found as a abandoned in a rural area and apparently had just been dumped out in the woods and left. Kierie was about 10 years old then. She was picked up by GLWR volunteers in Ohio who helped transport her to me so we could get her into GLWR. They gave Kierie her strong Irish name as she was such a spitfire even then. When I met the volunteers, I remember how badly Kierie looked. She was emaciated at 42 lbs. with every bone on her frail body showing, she looked tired and distraught yet even then there was an unmistakable glimmer in her eye that you just could not miss. When I arrived home with her, she was so weak that she could not walk and Michel had to carry her into the house. It was the first time I ever saw him cry. But Kierie was a fighter and she came back stronger and healthier than she had been for a long time. She found her place in the "pack" here and became a part of our permanent foster family at GLWR. We used to laugh at her when she would sit in front of Michel and give him "what for" for something she thought he did wrong. If he ignored her she would move closer, pick up her paw and give him a sound "thwack" on his leg as if to say "hey you...I am talking to you and you best listen to me!" And then there was her famous "Winnie the Pooh" sit. All she needed was a honey pot to look the part. And of course, when her "bum" itched she would sit on her tail and spin herself around like a "Tilt-A-Whirl" and SMILE the biggest smile you ever saw! She was always making us laugh with her crazy pup antics! Michel always said if Kierie was a lady she would be the crusty ole bar-fly sitting at the end of the bar with a cigarette dangling out of the corner of her mouth, a gruff and gravely voice, too much make up , her hair in a "doo", a whiskey in her hand and country tunes on the jukebox! She was a tough ole bird with one of the strongest spirits I have ever known...but had such a warm heart and so much love to give. 

We will miss you ole girl..more than you could possibly ever know...you have brought us so much joy, laughter and love and our lives have been the richer for knowing you and calling you "friend". You have taught us the meaning of tenacity and the value of having a strong will and spirit while yet having the grace to be humble and thankful for those who help us along on our journey...God' s Speed to you as you run down that final drive to your restful future...you earned it...God's sweet peace to you my dear friend, we have shed many tears today for we feel an empty space and a loss here without you...a candle is lit here to help you find your way....until we meet once again....all our love dear Kierie....Tonette & Michel