Just this side of heaven is a place called Rainbow Bridge.
When an animal dies that has been especially close to someone here, that pet goes to Rainbow Bridge. There are meadows and hills for all of our special friends so they can run and play together. There is plenty of food, water and sunshine, and our friends are warm and comfortable.
All the animals who had been ill and old are restored to health and vigor. Those who were hurt or maimed are made whole and strong again, just as we remember them in our dreams of days and times gone by. The animals are happy and content, except for one small thing; they each miss someone very special to them, who had to be left behind.
They all run and play together, but the day comes when one suddenly stops and looks into the distance. His bright eyes are intent. His eager body quivers. Suddenly he begins to run from the group, flying over the green grass, his legs carrying him faster and faster.
You have been spotted, and when you and your special friend finally meet, you cling together in joyous reunion, never to be parted again. The happy kisses rain upon your face; your hands again caress the beloved head, and you look once more into the trusting eyes of your pet, so long gone from your life but never absent from your heart.
Then you cross Rainbow Bridge together....
Author ... Edna Clyne-Rekhy
FURR-EVER
FRIENDS
In Memory of Garth Gourlay, A Friend to All . . .
Posted by ESAA on Facebook – 2 Oct 2025 -
"Just received some very sad news from Jeannette Desruisseaux . The ENGLISH SETTER community sure has taken the hits this year . Deepest condolences to his family. What a loss. . ."
Posted by BJ Parsons & Kristen Apodaca on Facebook – 2 Oct 2025
​
“He took many wonderful photos but I think this was one of his best. We shared a birthday and he always sent me birthday wishes on our day. Such a great English setter man - he will be missed. Til we meet again, Garth Gourlay.”
​
“My favorite photo from Garth Gourlay as well! He was truly a gentleman of the dog show world and had a great talent for capturing the best moments! I will so miss his smile and his laughter and his genuine friendship. Rest easy Garth and prayers to his family and loved ones."
Posted by Brett Cain on Facebook - 2 Oct 2025 -
​
"Garth took this candid picture of Thatcher and me at the National. I didn't know it until he gave it to me. I will always treasure it. RIP Garth."
Remembering a dear friend, John Santa
From Kristen Apodaca's Facebook Post on July 20, 2025 and also information on memorial services for John Santa . . .
Oh John Santa. You were such a great 'accidental bluegrass musician' and a wonderful English setter dad. I will so cherish our time together and your great attempts to teach me how to play the guitar. 'The House of the rising sun', as I recall, was supposed to be the easiest...not for me! Anyways. I will always enjoy the book you wrote and the love that you provided my setters over the years. You were truly one of a kind. Thank you for playing the wonderful music at my wedding and thank you for being you! Love always
Info forwarded to Kristen: roughly this is the Memorial outline for John ST LUKE'S EPISCOPAL Durham Saturday August 16th 2 - 3 Memorial To the garden Pot Luck following in the reception hall Music Circle 4-7 So bring your strings I know it is a long way, but I wanted you to have the information.
In Loving Memory of Bob and Francie Stevens
FIELDPLAY ENGLISH SETTERS
Posted by ESAA Club on 26 May 2025 - Francie Stevens, Fieldplay English Setters
Francie Stevens passed away last Sunday after a prolonged illness. She and Bob bred many top winning and producing English Setters including National Specialty Winner Ch. Fieldplay’s Lotsa Dots. Colleen Bell is working on a Memorial Page to accompany Bob's page in this year's catalog.
Condolences can be sent to her son and daughter-in-law at:
The Stevens Family
737 Tiffany Drive
Gaithersburg, MD 20878
Funeral arrangements have not yet been made but she will be buried beside Bob at Arlington.
Another tremendous loss for our breed.
Posted by Spencer Mooney with Kristen Apodaca and BJ Parsons – 23 May 2025
Well today was our last day with Timber. He had a spectacular 10 year run, first in the show ring and then in the field. He was a sweetheart throughout life and will be missed. In the field he was 2nd place in the 2023 English Setter National Field Championship and 3rd in the 2024 English Setter National Walking Gun Dog Championship. He was fun but challenging to handle in the field and became my most reliable dog over the past 2 years. In the ring he was Winner’s Dog ands Best Bred By at the 2016 National, Winner’s Dog at the 2017 ES Club of New England, group placer, and was a Canadian Champion.
​
Timber was GCHB CH BJ’s Festivity Family Tree JH and will live on in our hearts.
Posted on May 15, 2025 by beloved Pet Owner, Bobby Higgins
​
We lost this little boy today. Levi lived 14 great years. He was an easy boy. Hardly ever got into trouble. Was always happy
Hope we get to see all our lost pets some day.
​
Central Carolina English Setter Club posted on March 4, 2025 – by Cynthia Hinckley
​
RIP Ch Huntwood Too Kool for School TD
​
It is with great sadness I write that our beloved Teach passed away last week. He went very peacefully with us at home by his side. His niece Fargo, too, watched him take his last breath. He had been dealing with several health issues over the past six months but was doing quite well up until four days before he passed and his condition rapidly deteriorated, succumbing to overwhelming liver failure. We all miss this sweet, gentle boy so very much. Teach and Fargo were like Velcro. They did everything together. It’s so sad to watch an animal mourn their best pal.
We are extremely grateful to John Higdon and Judi Hunter for entrusting this special boy with us. Not only did he bring joy to our lives, but he brought comfort to hundreds of people of all ages as a certified Bright Spot Therapy Dog. Before leaving Massachusetts to move to South Carolina, Teach visited young children in a preschool and folks in a nursing home. He loved helping college students relax during our Stress Relief Events on college campuses during mid-terms and finals, and once a week, he headed to the airport in Connecticut and calmed folks nervous about flying. Even during the pandemic, Teach reached out to residents at the nursing home by standing outside so they could look through the window and see him, and he connected with college students during exams via webinars. Once settled in South Carolina, he and Fargo together visited hospice patients every Tuesday afternoon. He continued his much-loved visits right up to five days of his passing.
Today was the first time we visited our hospice patients without Teach. just Al, Fargo, and me. I knew it would be sad for those we visited, the staff who loved seeing him every week, and for us. The folks become very attached to the therapy dogs who bring them so much enjoyment. Even the shortest of visits, just petting the dog’s soft fur, brings such happiness to an otherwise lonely day. Fargo sensed the sadness they felt today and did a wonderful job of carrying on. Al and I hold tight to the wonderful memories and great photos we have of the six years we spent with this sweet, gentle boy.
We mourn the passing of a great dog.
As a Therapy Dog, Teach (Ch Huntwood Too Kool for School TD) brought bottomless love to those who needed it most, and did it tirelessly with panache.
He was owned by former CCESC member, John Higdon, one of the most benevolent members we have ever had. After putting a championship on Teach, John recognized that Teach had a higher calling as a Therapy Dog and placed him where he could do the most good for humanity.
Thank-you, John and Thank-you, Teach.
- Martin Sondey, posted March 4, 2025
Honoring our friends Al & Tona Haywood in remembering their Forever Charlie . . .
​
Haywood SBS is the reason CCESC has such a beautiful website. When we started the process to revive it, I was daunted by the options. After initial research, I found the Wix platform and thankfully, was able to then find some of their partnering web developers. I email interviewed several and after one face to face Zoom interview with Al, selected to work with Haywood SBS. Al knew nothing about our breed but enthusiastically took ALL of my inputs and put together the dynamic, informational and endearing site we now enjoy. He has become a wonderful friend and lets me keep him in my back pocket to check our pages monthly and ensure I have not inadvertently, “blown up” anything! We have shared our pup stories and I grieve with both he and Tona in the loss of their beautiful boy. Charlie will be forever remembered, as our friend, on our Forever Setters Page. Hoping he has met up with our setters who have crossed the rainbow bridge and is having a blast with his new friends (Tia, Ellie, Jordy, Andy, Charley Sue). - CCESC Webmaster, Patty McBride
​
“With heavy hearts, we share that our beloved dog, Charlie (papillon-spaniel mix) of 16 years, has passed away today. We made the difficult decision to let him go peacefully at the New Berlin Animal Hospital surrounded by love, knowing that we gave him the best life possible. He brought so much joy and companionship to our family, and we will miss his playful spirit and loyal presence more than words can say. . . You know, my wife and I decided to stay in the room when they administered the medication. That was one of the toughest things to witness- to see our doggy pass away in front of us. I'm glad we did, though. We were able to hold him and tell him that we loved him to the very end.
​
Thank you for all your love and support during this time.” – alhaywood@haywoodsbs.com, February 17, 2025
Kristen and River Apodaca
The day we went to pick up Truman, we happily scooped him up and put him in a crate in the back seat of the car. We were not a mile up the road when he began to scream. I had no idea that an 9 week old animal could make a noise that dreadful or that loud. I stopped the car, put him in Helen’s lap, and all was good. He got his way and he didn’t forget that – he was a clever little dude.
Truman was indeed the smartest dog I’ve ever had. Mind you, he mastered the requisite skills of obedience quickly, but only so he could demand concessions in return. He was housebroken in a day and responded to commands with little need for repetition. In return, he would sniff where he wanted to sniff on our daily walks. He never barked for barking’s sake – he barked because he wanted something or wanted to go outside. He was a bird dog through and through.
In meeting people, he was always gracious, affable, and polite – he was always Mister Sincere and loving because he truly loved all people and all dogs. He had a wonderful personality. He stood 26" at the withers and weighed as much as 70 pounds, so he commanded a presence - but he was a softie (I say that, knowing that he never started any incident - but never backed down from one). He did have his favorites and you knew if you were a fave. He was the best companion anyone could possibly have. He just loved everybody.
In a bird field, he hunted with power and purpose and displayed his instinct with great aplomb. My most vivid memory is one morning outside of Chester, SC when he abruptly turned west as if he were heading for Spartanburg. I followed and then stopped to listen for him. Suddenly, from out of the west, came a covey of 4-5 Quail with Truman in hot pursuit. The Quail passed less than 10 yards in front of me and Truman came behind them bounding like a deer. As he elevated and accelerated in front of me, he was as high as my shoulders in order to get over the brush. It was the most spectacular display of athleticism I’ve ever seen in a dog.
In the end, it was old age which got him. But, at almost 14 he lived as good and as long a life that a dog could live. We started working from home when he came to live with us, so we were always around each other and I think that’s why he was as confident and self-assured as he was. He brought us so much love and happiness and we gave him as much as we could in return. Our hearts are broken as I write this, but I know we will see him again.
​
Lovingly remembered by J. Martin Sondey and Helen Porter
CH Festivity
BJ’s Dreaming of Sir Winston, CGC, RN
Loved by...
Cheryl and Jim Pfeiffer