Wendy – ‘My heart sank when I saw his name in the title and instantly thought “No, please don’t tell me…” What a loss for us here on Earth, but what an angel Heaven has gained. I’m so very thankful to all of you for taking McGee where he would be loved and cherished. And how wonderful it is that he passed over with love in his heart. I appreciated you letting us know, Gwen. I hope Heidi’s boy, Dozer, gets along ok without his spotted buddy. Thank you all again for loving this boy. Rest in Peace, McGee…..

Jill – ‘Gwen, Thank you so very much for the kind email. I am so sad about McGee, and my heart aches for Heidi and her husband. Please thank them for everything they’ve done for McGee and giving him so much love.

Gwen: Thanks for everything you did as well, because without your help, he would have never had a chance at all.
Blessings to you both…”

Merrilee – ‘Hi Gwen: I was very very sorry to read this morning about McGee’s passing away on May 3. It shocked me, and I never even lived with him. I’m sorry that you deal with such devastation from time to time. I was used to seeing his pictures on your site, and reading about him. Hardly seems real. Good night, sweet prince. Best regards and deepest sympathy,

Simone – ‘I was on the website and was saddened to read about McGee. “His story” was touching and I could almost feel the great love you had for him.’

Cathy, Rob, Tristyn, Bastin & Dukey – ‘Dear Gwen, I was so upset when I saw the news about McGee. Having had the honour of meeting him quite a few times, I was able to see what a wonderful special boy he was and how very loved he was by you, Sean, Heidi & Michael. He was one of the luckiest dogs in the world to have been able to live out his last couple of years with such amazing people! I made a donation to BHRR in memory of both McGee and Domino. Thank you for being the wonderful person you are and taking care of these animals to ensure they have the best life has to offer!

McGee is now home and has been laid to rest. Heidi brought me his X-Ray and I will be bringing it to my own vets when I work tonight to get their thought processes. When Heidi, DozeR and Michael came on the 3rd to bring me his body, we spent a few hours together talking about many things including McGee and it was a bittersweet time. I asked one of the vets at my Hospital to take a look at his X-Ray and he along with one techs who also saw the X-Ray were in agreement with me that his stomach was unbelievably huge, lots of gas and that it is hard to tell what may have been happening around his spleen as it looked completely pushed over. The vet’s words were that this was the worse case of bloat he has ever seen. It made me feel a bit better in that we made the best decision possible in ending what had to have been unimaginable suffering for McGee. I have a little better closure now in respect to the toughest words I feel I ever have to give regarding a loved animal. McGee’s light will burn brightly in our memories and a candle has been lit in his honour.

Just before 11 PM on May 2nd, 2006; McGee’s Perma-Foster family(Heidi) called me to say that McGee was bloating.

Advised to get him to their Vet Hospital as it is much closer than where I live ASAP and to keep me posted. I was called after he was assessed (around that time he did vomit up bile and his supper) and then again after his X-Rays were done.

He was twisted in at least three spots that they could see and Heidi’s vet also thought she might have seen something else near his spleen in the X-Ray. Hard to tell she said. His pulse and heart beat were high and irregular and with his DCM condition; his chances were stated as being ‘0-none’ for survival in trying to do surgery.

He has been a large member of our program, our home and then Heidi’s as a perma -foster since his arrival to us in 2004. He was just days shy of celebrating his 9th birthday.

All medical objectivity and rescue professionalism just gets lost when you have to make the most difficult decision ever regarding one of your beloved animals.

Just after midnight the morning of May 3rd, McGee was allowed to cross over. Before letting Heidi go on the phone, I asked her to give him a hug for me and to say good-bye to him. McGee was to come to Pet Expo 2006 in June as an ambassador for Great Danes and BHRR. He is going to be very much deeply missed.

Heidi and Michael will be bringing me his body this evening(May 3rd, 2006) so that he can be laid to rest amongst all of our other cherished animals overlooking the springfed pond and our house.

McGee was truly adored and had the best that life could offer.