A Story of Love and Hope....

First, you need to understand that Labradors and Gordons were not the first "love of my life" with dogs.  My parents bred and showed Irish Setters since the 1960's, before my birth, under the Karrelene prefix.  Irish Setters were the first love in my "dog life" and will always hold a very special place in my heart.  My babysitter, more tolerant than any two footed parent, my guardian, guarding my crib and later, my toddler years was my parents foundation Irish bitch, Can Ch. Lady Erin Of Whispering Pines, C.D.X., otherwise known to those who loved her and her antics as "Lady".  Lady was my constant companion and her son, Can Ch. Karrelene's Leapin' Leprechaun, Am/Can C.D., "Imp", my parents finest accomplishment in Irish Setters and, dare I say, my parents all time favorite dog.  I grew up loving and "torturing" (with child like love) these wonderfully tolerant and beautiful red dogs and they returned the love I gave, ten-fold.  My parents eventually got out of Irish Setters, the loss of Imp was just too much.  They had bought a Gordon Setter, Panda, a breed that they had fallen in love with a few years before....that is where my interest in the Gordon stems from....  Enough history, though, and on with the purpose for this page!

I pulled into our local animal shelter (county pound)....not somewhere I usually go, but I had won some dog food at a show and it was not something I would use, so I redeemed the coupons for puppy food for the shelter; unfortunately there is never a short supply of puppies and adults around.  As I pulled in, volunteers were walking three dogs....two I really didn't take notice of, but one grabbed not only my eye, but my heart strings.  He would come to be known as Trace....  He was totally gray in the face and obviously had been well cared for at one point in his life.  I asked at the front desk, "please tell me that the old Irish was picked up as a stray and not an owner turn in".  They confirmed that he was; I asked when he would be available....."next Wednesday, he'll be available for adoption".  I asked if they had contacted rescue, they hadn't, nor had they had any calls for anyone looking for an Irish....old or young.  I went back to see him....alone in this strange place, surrounded by barking dogs, he stood silently, obviously confused, perhaps a little scared.  When I spoke to him, at first he just stood there and listened, slowly his tail started....I was probably back there talking to and petting him for 15 minutes, assuring him that I would do all I could to get him out of this place.  I stopped at the front desk on my way out and told them that I would contact rescue and do all that I could to get this glorious old man out of here.  We all agreed that with the gray and obviously advanced age, he stood slim to no chance of being adopted.  He could loose his life, simply for being older...I cried all the way home, hoping that someone was looking for him and that they would find him.....no collar, microchip or tattoo; but obviously cared for....no burrs, no mats, heels on lead, takes commands.  I spent hours once I got home contacting rescues....begged they take him into rescue....even if he spent a deal of time in a kennel it was better than certain death.  My parents could take him after their Gordon male, Treever, healed from major surgery, but it would be several months.  If rescue absolutely would not take him, I would, although I knew that would throw the males here into a frenzy....this Irish male was intact.  Rescue said they would take him in and I got an email that he would be picked up on Wednesday, the very day he could be released.  I continued to read the paper, looking for a missing Irish Setter ad, but it never appeared.  I got another email that a family was looking for an older Irish for their parents, the parents had had Irish in the past, but were not wanting the hassle and work of a puppy......could this be?  Could this glorious old man have already found a home?  He, in my mind, fit what I was being told they were looking for.......  Next thing I know, I've got an email from Jake, telling me that her parents have adopted him and that his new name is "Trace" as in we wish we could trace his history.....  I was so relieved, it had worked out, the glorious oldster would live the rest of his golden years with love and security, he would be cared for and cherished for the remainder of his days....

Below is his photo and some thoughts written by his new "mommy"....

Thank you, Bonnie, Dick, Jake, John and family for taking Trace in....I'm sure that Lauren would approve!

Hugs,

Karie & the Karimar Crew