sorry for your loss moiraine. i too had loss a black lab, named Sargent. he had an unknown illness and he had to go to sleep as well.

I used to cry every once in a while when i thought of him. i'm okay now. let's see now .... a name for a female golden retriever? How about
: Goldie, Honey, Moiraine, Myra, Medea, Sadie, Calisto, Zoe, Abby, etc. Hope that helps.