Shanahan

Our sweet Shanahan was adopted in 2005 at about 9 months old from GRRAND (Golden Retriever Rescue and Adoption of Needy Dogs) based in Louisville-Lexington-Cincinnati. He was found as a stray in Cincinnati and we were fortunate to be chosen as his family. We loved him from the very start, even all his quirks: thunderstorm and fireworks anxiety, afraid of the moon and camera flashes, hiccups and sneezes. He loved people. He had to say hello and get petted from passing people on every walk - he wouldn't budge until we took him over to see kids at the bus stop or people getting into their cars on their driveways. For all his fears, he was adventurous when on walks and in the park! There was no patch of ivy or bush that went unexplored. He loved to have his belly rubbed and he played with squeaky toys with reckless abandon and joy. In October 2014, Shanahan fell ill. They said it was a UTI and arthritis - I knew it was more. We insisted on an ultrasound that showed a mass on his spleen. We went forward with a splenectomy and chemo. He did great for 9.5 months; walking twice a day, running sometimes, playing with Sammy (our other golden) and we had an amazing week at the beach. Then the cancer came back with a vengeance. 4 tumors on his liver. There was nothing to do except keep him comfortable and love him up. We let him go on Monday Aug. 24th and it was as peaceful as it could be. He went home with a tail wag and a smile, knowing he was loved fully until the end.