ADOPTED

Red... When Red’s owner passed away, her daughter called GRR. “My mom just died last month and I am moving out of state… she left the sweetest Golden Retriever, but I can’t take her with me… can you help?” Sweet and gentle Red had been living with her owner for about 6 or 7 years, ever since she’d been found one morning just lying in the front yard. When the owner opened her door that day and headed out for the paper, she saw what she thought was a dead young stray on the lawn. But when she approached, the skinny young girl raised her head and cautiously wagged her tail. And the owner then recalled that, late the evening before, she’d heard a truck going by fast and the sound of screeching brakes. She figured that “Red,” as she named her, must have been struck a glancing blow and tossed up onto the grass. One of her legs was lame for a bit, but it healed up completely. And Red moved in to stay.

The owner loved her dearly, but didn’t have much money and never took the girl to the vet. So, while Red’s personality was wonderful from the start, we couldn’t say the same for her health. When she went for her initial vet visit, here’s what the doctor (her foster dad, as Red’s good luck would have it!) found: bad skin infections, to the point where much of her body was almost hairless; low thyroid; teeth worn down, probably from constant biting at her skin (that dog hair can act like industrial-strength sandpaper on doggie teeth!); a nasty ear infection; and heartworms.

Whew!

Now take a look at these pictures and you’ll see what a few months of great vet treatment, loving care, and good food and can do. The heartworms are gone, Red’s coat is going to be spectacular, her ears and skin are clear. The only thing that HASN’T changed is her lovely personality. Here’s what her foster mom has to say:

Red is a very happy dog. She wags her tail very strongly. Sometimes my kids have been “hurt” because they’ve been tapped by that fast-moving tail. It’s kind of funny to have to explain that Red didn't mean to hurt them, it was just her “happy tail”! She loves to be loved. We are constantly hugging her, talking to her, petting her and she just loves it. She is healthy and strong and growing a beautiful, amber coat of fur. Feathers are even coming in on her tail, which looked like a possum tail in July! She takes thyroid pills twice a day and a vitamin. I put the pills on top of her food and she eats them without a fuss and no mess. My 3-year-old likes to hold the bowl and I fill up the bowl, or we'll switch, and I'll hold the bowl and he'll put the two scoops of food in the bowl and the medicine. She is very patient to wait until we're done, then she happily eats.

As you can tell from the above, she’s wonderful with children. She’s just great with my 9-, 3-, and 4-year-olds. She’s gentle, patient, mellow, tolerant, calm—just about every perfect characteristic you'd like to see around small children. She has a very gentle way to her. She never pushes or jumps up or acts “bananas.” If the kids accidentally pull her tail or tug on her fur, or mess with her food, she just takes it in stride. I have total confidence in her. She is totally trustworthy. I do not hesitate to leave my kids alone with her.

She is great outdoors too. We play outside a lot with her in our fenced back yard and she’s great at coming when you call her. I think she has retrieving instincts in her, but our other dog Jenny always beats her to the ball and brings it back first! She likes to run and chase squirrels up the trees. :-)

She generally is a quiet dog. She isn't barky or yappy. The only time she really barks is if she sees another dog outside our windows. She will bark excitedly until we tell her to settle down, which she does. She likes her leash and has gone on a few walks. She doesn't lunge ahead but could use a little work on commands! She just has such a submissive spirit that she will respond to my firm commands to "sit" or "lay down", etc.

At night, she sleeps on a quilt that I put by my side of the bed. She never has jumped up on the bed or any of our furniture. She is very loyal and likes to sleep on the floor next to me.

Her one “odd” habit is smacking her lips! I'm not sure why she does this but every now and again she starts smacking, but when you tell her to stop she does. She also likes to chew toys. The new family will want to make sure they have chew toys/bones for her. She used to chew the kids’ wooden toys (like trains and train tracks) but that hasn't happened in a while—she seems to know her own toys now, and we are better at picking up too.

When we leave the house, we put her in our utility room with a baby gate. She totally accepts our routine when we're exiting the house and when we tell her “go lie down,” she
trots into the utility room and plops down on the rug. I think it is her nap time!

Well, I've said a lot! She is such a sweet dog. Her new family will really love and enjoy her!

View Pictures Here