Sam Downie

DEVASTATING NEWS (28.6.2018)

Lynne was still in total shock and totally bereft when she told us she had suddenly lost her beloved Sam. He had literally dropped dead whilst out on a walk. He was on medication for a heart problem and got his tablets in chicken paste three times a day but he seemed to be doing well so this had come completely out of the blue. She told us “I know it was best for him ….. no pain, walking where he loved with the girls and us on a lovely day, but what a shock. The end was perfect for him but devastating for us. It was on the 28th of June, only 8 weeks after we had lost Libby our lovely Labrador”.

OUR LIBBY, SUCH A BRAVE, SPECIAL GIRL (1.5.2018)

Libby passed on 1st of May. She was such a fighter and, with a lot of tender, loving care, had survived against all the odds for almost four years since her first diagnosis of a really rare tumor under the armpit when she was only 6yrs old.

Her operation had come soon after the loss of her best friend Buddyso that had been another dreadful time for the family to cope with.

Lynne says “Sam became her best friend and had taken care of her from day one. I could write a book of words about them both.

The garden pics were taken just over a year ago. I had every contraption under the sun to help Libby’s leg. I even knit her leg warmers because her leg got really cold in Winter with it having a metal plate in it. Nothing was a bother for either of them.   It has been a terrible few weeks. Losing the two of them so close together has made things worse. We all miss them both so much”.

REMEMBERING SAM, OUR WONDERFUL BOY

Lynne remembers “What can I say about Sam? He was my shining star. He lit up my life after we lost Buddy. We loved everything about him. Sam was so special to me, my best friend. Sam, and Buddy before him, changed me into a boy dog owner.

Crystal and Kate miss Sam terribly. The pictures show how much they loved each other. Sam was always easy to spot when the four friends were together as he was the darker coloured so handsome Retriever. Handsome man was his nickname. 

He was a wonderful boy and it has been lovely to know how much other people thought of him too like Lyn, his lovely fosterer, who had a real soft spot for him. We were so lucky to have him for nearly four years but it was just nowhere near long enough.

The two IRR boys I have had have been incredible so thankyou to all at IRR”.

OUR HAPPY GANG

I worry that Crystal is eleven and a half and I don’t want young Kate to be left on her own. She needs someone to do nice long walks with. I thought that was still going to be with Sam and it was working great but it wasn’t meant to be.

The snow was here at the end of January through February 2018 and they all loved it running, rolling, chasing snowballs. Sam had been in snow before but Kate hadn’t. Libby, even with her bad leg, was out with them. Libby and I got stuck in a snowdrift on one occasion and Les had to haul us both out. We have great times to remember. They were so close to each other, a complete mixture that worked so well.

EARLY HISTORY

In 2014, Sam was 5 years old and had been surrendered to IRR with his Golden Retriever sister by their owner because of a change in family circumstances. Originally available for adoption with his sister Lucy, after a time in foster care together in Bristol, it was felt it would be beneficial to both of them to be rehomed separately.

SAM’S DREAM HOME  

Sam is a lovely, but very sensitive, boy and we can’t stress enough that he needs someone with him most of the time. Sam would also benefit greatly from being in a home with another dog or dogs.

He has good recall and knows several commands. He is good on the lead and settles well at night. He is untested with cats but is fine with children so he would make a fantastic addition to a very lucky family.

A FAMILIAR ADOPTER (September 2014)

Sam has gone to his Forever Home and is happily settled with Kate and her siblings.

UPDATE ON SAM (October 2014)

Lynne tells us Sam has really helped to fill the void which will always be there from losing their beloved Buddy . He is a very different dog but a really lovely boy and they feel, having him, their family is complete again. 

He is settling really well and is normally so well behaved its untrue ( a real credit to his original owner) although there was one episode where he ate a pack of Lynne’s lovely brown bread buns!!!!!

He showed no signs of missing Lucy at all and has seemed very happy from day one although, apparently, Sam was very worried when they all went to the caravan and they suspected it was because he thought he was going to have to move home again so he was absolutely thrilled to bits when they arrived back home, so much so he ran round and round the garden in absolute delight.

Sam adores his girls especially Kate, who is now 6 months and also an IRR rescue. She started out as a very nervous young lady with men, so much so it took Lynne’s husband six weeks for her to come to him but she is a great little girl now.

Sam is very gentle with  Libby who has a bad leg. She had a really rare tumor under the armpit which showed no obvious signs except for her developing a limp. It was a very bad operation and there was a possiblilty she could lose her leg but, with T L C and a tens machine, everyone is hoping they are now getting there.  Libby is only six and, after the recent loss of Buddy, her illness was devastating.  Lynne says “Our dogs are our loves and they repay things ten fold”.  We think Sam is certainly a very lucky boy and he has definitely fallen on his feet.