08/27/2025
Our deepest condolences to Rachel and Gabby on their lose of Swale.
I'm posting this for friends who are not on Facebook. I knew Swale well, and I will share comments with his people.
In Memoriam
Rachel's words- It is with a deep and profound sadness that we have to share with you the passing of our beloved boy, Swale. We had to let him go after a valiant struggle with illness at thirteen-years-young. He has left a gaping hole in our broken hearts and our home, that feels so much smaller now, that we will feel for years to come.
How can you describe in mere words a dog that was larger than life? He had a personality that stole the show everywhere he went, and absolutely no one, canine or human, listened as well as he did when you had something to say. He was a little quirky, calm, kind, loyal, wicked smart, and absolutely perfect. And all the powers help you if you said the word “cookie”. If there was a word that dog knew all the way to his soul, it was “cookie”; could catch that cookie out of the air no matter how fast you thew it at him, and lordy could that boy roo. Swale was so very special, my sweet shoe goblin. He was truly beautiful inside and out; exceptionally conformed and exceptionally athletic. He was our first grey and he spoiled us. Swale changed our lives. What really makes him stand out, though, is that he picked us to be his human pack. We didn’t pick him. When we went to see him at his foster home, he made it quite clear that his choice had been made and as such made ours as well, and I think that makes his loss that much more painful because that bond was so much deeper.
What also makes him stand out is that through him, we met so many wonderful people. People that we have maintained friendships with to this day, some of which are very close, and all of which are treasured. We became active in Rescued Racers that later morphed into Everything Greyt, and we formed a meet’n’greet pack that took Columbia and Jefferson City by small storm. Like clockwork we would meet, humans and greys, and we would spread the word of how special these dogs are, while our doggos made countless new friends. Now, the meet’n’greets have stopped; the humans have all moved on, and the dogs have all passed away: Aspen, Nugget, Ooto, Deej, Red, Burley, Hawk, and so many others. Swale was the last of the old pack. So, my words for the doggos who have gone before is: “Have a Swale!”
And for my best boy: “Run free, sweetheart. Take our love for you; run fast and don’t look back, baby. Go catch your pack.” I can only hope that whatever greater power that is out there finds me worthy enough to be reunited with him when it’s my time to leave this earth. It’s the price we pay when we love them: Unimaginable pain for unimaginable joy. They leave a part of themselves in your heart, but it feels like they take so much more when they leave. So, for those few of you who knew our Swale McBones, please take a moment to remember him and how very special (and very loved) he was. Thank you all for welcoming us into the Greyt Grey Family and sharing so many wonderful memories with us.
~Rachel and Gabrielle
