Goldie Hawn Doesn’t Have to Fight Anymore

Collie Pup, Goldie Hawn Travels to the Rainbow Bridge:

It is with deep regret and sorrow that I inform you that Goldie Hawn lost her life-long battle today at 12:20.

The entire morning is a blur to me, but around 2:00 AM I received a phone call advising me that fluid was being removed from the chest cavity, followed by a 3:00 AM phone call indicating that her lungs had collapsed, and I gave permission to insert a breathing tube. At 4:30 AM her heart stopped, and they successfully resituated her, however, permanent brain damage was suspected.

I held her in my arms, and talked to her, until she died, but I’m not sure if she was fully aware that I was there. She was slipping into a coma.

They have requested that I allow an autopsy to identify why. Two teams of doctors, six weeks of unanswered questions, and still no one knows why. The lungs were suspected, then ruled out, and the trachea was suspected, and ruled out, the esophagus was suspected, and ruled out.

When I spoke to Holly Ryerson this afternoon, she comforted me by saying that Goldie experienced a wonderful life here with us during her last six weeks on this earth. She slept in my bed every night (until the pneumonia prevented that), she had a few days of wonderful puppy play, and was happy to greet everyone. Her two favorite things was sleeping with her head on my tummy, and lying on the grass in the full sun. Without people who can foster and rescue, Goldie may have passed away on a cold cement floor, never having the chance to experience joy.

I miss her terribly, and her loss has greatly reduced my enthusiasm for rescue. Hopefully, this will pass.

I named her Goldie Hawn before her transport with Pilots N Paws, because I thought she would be a mischievous and comical pup. This was not the case. Instead, she was quiet and weak. No matter what we did, it was always 2 steps forward and 3 steps back.

Last night we were preparing to take her to the teaching hospital in Gainesville. We were excited.

I have received donations, and I want to thank you. We are still in the process of totaling all of the bills and I will post this information on this blog when it’s available.

I don’t regret the expenses incurred for giving Goldie a chance. She deserved to be supported by a group of loving people who cared enough about her to give her a chance. Considering how horrible her first few months of life were, she sure had a great team behind her during the last few months.

Again, thank you.

Gisele Veilleux

To donate to Goldie’s medical expenses please use my paypal button or send a check directly to Dr. Susan Wayne, Murphy Vet Clinic, 2620 Orlando Dr., Sanford, FL 32773

Read about Goldie’s Flight by Pilots and Paws

Read about the Canine influenza, or H3N8 in the L.A. Times