GRR Newsletter

Questions or comments for the Board of Directors?
We value your input as members and volunteers. Please send a note to goldens@grr-tx.com and include Questions For The Board in the subject line. We hope to hear from you!

Letter From the Editor
Dori Olsen

Rusty Olsen

Hello to you all!

In the unlikely (hopefully) event of a fire or natural disaster, the iHeartdogs.com website has an offer for free stickers that you can put on your windows or door to alert first responders that you have pets in the house. Go here to order a two pack. There is a shipping charge of $3.99 that pays for shipping, handling and one meal donation to a shelter.

I would love to hear from you about medical or training topics that would be of interest. Please send your ideas to newsletter editor and we'll publish articles on suggested topics in future issues of the newsletter.

I recently learned the origin of the phrase the "Dog Days of Summer!" I thought it had to do with summer heat when, in reality, it has to do with the dog star Sirius. Sirius is nicknamed the "Dog Star" because it is part of the constellation Canis Major – Latin for "the greater dog." The expression "dog days" refers to the period from July 3rd through August 11th when Sirius rises in conjunction with the sun. Now you're all set for your next trivia competition.

Dori

This Month's Contributors:
Arlen Zander
Lynne Wisby
Judy Sebesta
Dawn Marie Rae
Jeroen Naus
Emily Lawson
Chrissy Hammond
Rick Gilpin
Paula Ellis

Fun in the Golden Sun

Fun In The Golden Sun 2018!

When the heat hits Texas, our Goldens hit the water. Our inaugural campaign to benefit the stars of our show, our beautiful Goldens, ran from July 14th through July 31st and what a success it was! We not only met our goal; we exceeded it by a significant amount at $8,252!

All funds donated are earmarked for the GRR Extraordinary Golden Fund, which was established to pay for expensive medical treatment and/or surgeries for our rescued Goldens. Thank you from the bottom of our heart for your generous donations!

Upcoming Events

Tomlinson's Adoption and Fostering Events

8/11/18 - North Hills - Shannon Bennett and Carey Gunthert are representing GRR.
8/25/18 - West Lake - Shannon Bennett and Carey Gunthert are representing GRR.
9/01/18 - Leander - This is an event for recruiting fosters. We need a few foster families to represent GRR. Please contact Louisa Chandler for more information.

9/15/2018 - 3rd Annual Pet Adoption Extravaganza

Date: Saturday, September 15, 2018
Time: 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Location: Bell County Expo Center, 301 W Loop 121, Belton, TX 76513
Phone: (254) 213-3690
Price: Adults $6; Kids 12 and under free

This is a family fun event that will have 32 animal shelters/rescues with over 350 animals up for adoption. This year also includes an affordable shot clinic sponsored by the Salado Veterinary Hospital. There will be a petting zoo, pony rides, barrel train rides, bounce house, face painting, working dog demos, fire and rescue house, along with a reptile exhibit, and a lot of other fun activities for you and your whole family. There will also be vendors for you, your family, and your 4-legged family.

GRR will be participating in this event and we need volunteers. If you would like to volunteer, please contact Christina Gonzalez.

10/6/2018 - Dogtoberfest - Waco

Time: 12 p.m. - 5 p.m.
Location: Hippodrome’s Austin Avenue

The Hippodrome’s Austin Avenue block will be shut down for this unique street party. The menu will include brats and sides, beer (domestic and German import). Dogs and humans will enjoy outdoor games, photo booth, a dog/owner caricature artist, splash pools and more. Proceeds help cats, dogs, and families stay together, out of the shelter and off the streets. Affordable spay/neuter and preventive care makes animals happier and healthier which benefits families, neighborhoods and our entire community.

Contact Shannon Bennett if you would like to volunteer and help represent GRR.

10/6/2018 - The Hearts of Gold Gala - Celebrating Gold Ribbon Rescue’s 20th Anniversary

Our fabulous Hearts of Gold Gala has several getaways and live auction items including trips to Seattle, Asheville and an amazing country ranch/home outside Brenham with a pool for you and your Goldens. There are non-travel items as well.

Date: Saturday, October 6, 2018
Time: 6:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.
Location: Lakeway Center, 105 Cross Creek, Lakeway, TX 78734

Schedule of Events:
6:00 p.m. -7:30 p.m. - Cocktails and appetizers on the patio
7:30 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. - Dinner, program and auction in the ballroom
9:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m. - Music and conversation on the patio

Be sure and save the date and watch for more details. You won't want to miss it!

10/27/2018 Howloween Fest

Location: DogBoy's Dog Ranch, 2615 Crystal Bend Drive, Pflugerville, TX 78660
Time: 9:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Limit of 75 dogs / $15.00 per dog.
Stay tuned for more details!

Where are They Now? - Mowgli (18-022)
Emily Lawson

Mowgli, aka Buddy (GRR 18-022), came into Gold Ribbon Rescue as an owner turn-in at four months old. His elderly owner was too sick to really give him the attention and care that he needed, and brought him into GRR, knowing he would be matched with a family that could provide him with some TLC. That’s where we came in! My husband Josh and I adopted Mowgli when he was four months old, and he is a true wild boy (he really does live up to his name, except for the part about him being raised by wolves)! He has the true personality of a Goldendoodle; he is full of energy, intelligent and friendly.

Also typical of his breed, Mowgli loves being around Josh and I at all times, and he enjoys playing with our six year old retriever/spaniel mix (and puppy brother), Simba. It took a little time to get used to a new puppy, but realizing he wasn’t going anywhere, Simba has accepted Mowgli into the family!

Mowgli is super smart, but he still has that goofy side to him. He can also be very mischievous at times, as he has chewed up almost every rug in our house, despite the fact that he gets plenty of exercise and has a ton of toys to chew on. But, for some reason, he really likes rugs!

He absolutely loves being brushed! One of our favorite adventures is bringing him to the groomer because he will melt on the floor like butter when he is brushed. It’s a mini-spa day for him! He also loves his food and treats, long walks around the neighborhood, but dislikes car rides.

Mowgli is such a joyful and happy dog, he makes our lives so much more meaningful and interesting; we’re so excited to continue this adventure with him and Simba by our side!

Heimlich Maneuver
iheartdogs.com

Every Dog Owner Needs To Know The Doggy Heimlich Maneuver
By Amber King

Dogs will chew on just about anything they can sink their teeth into, and it often gets them into trouble. Yes, they occasionally destroy a favorite shoe, but that’s nothing compared to the risk of them choking. They can break bones into barely swallowable pieces and try to quickly gobble down the smelly sock they know you won’t like them having, and all of those things are potential choking hazards. Many dogs also accidentally swallow balls and other toys that are too small for their size.

When it happens, the first thing dog owners feel is overwhelming panic. They see their dog choking on a foreign object, and if they don’t act fast, the incident could turn fatal. It’s widely known that the Heimlich maneuver can save the life of a person who’s choking, but did you know there’s a doggy version that could end up saving your furry best friend? A dog owner recently took to Twitter to share how knowing the canine version of the Heimlich maneuver saved her dog’s life, and now pet owners are spreading the word to help even more animals. Here’s what you need to know.

Know The Signs

Continue reading

Hudson@Home
Judy Sebesta

Installment #2: Be it Ever So Humble…

Judy and Hudson (18-046)

This second column on my experience integrating Hudson (18-046) into my home and life begins with some bad news – but read to the end for the good news that all of us GRR folks experience!

First, the bad news: the second week after Hudson came to me as a FPA (foster-pending-adoption), my sweet boy was attacked by two dogs.

We were walking down my street (on leash) with my little spaniel, Dinah, just four houses down from mine, when I began to hear strange whining coming from a house across the street. I saw a dog starting to push through the screen of an open window. Scared, I began walking the dogs as fast as possible to my house. When I looked back, two dogs were climbing out the window and then hurling themselves towards us. Terrified, the only thing I could think to do was drop Hud’s leash (we were in my front yard by that point) and get my little one in the house. Afterward, I felt very guilty for literally leaving Hudson to the dogs, but it turns out that it was likely the right choice, as they could easily and quickly have killed Dinah.

When I came back out, having no idea what I was going to do, Hudson was just lying there, screaming (I will never forget that sound), while the two dogs attempted to maul him. One was trying to bite his neck, the other had him by the ear, blood dripping from it. At that moment, the dogs’ owner came running out of her house, and a wonderful neighbor who happened to be walking by helped her pull off the dogs. It took some time, though, to get Hud’s ear free. As soon as it was, I put Hudson in the car and rushed him to the vet.

Thankfully, the injuries weren’t serious, with just some bite marks on his ear and a superficial wound on his neck. His thick coat and completely submissive surrender (and the quick actions of the Good Samaritan) likely saved him. But I was extremely traumatized.

I called my brother, Stephen who, with his wife Amy, has two GRR dogs. He notified GRR for me, setting off what became my first taste of the amazing support group that this organization is. From that moment to the next week, I was surrounded by a wonderful circle of complete support and assistance, from just listening to my story, to making sure Hud received both medical attention and psychological/behavioral assistance post-attack, to exploring options to deal with the attacking dogs moving forward. Unfortunately, nothing could be done about them. After the Good Samaritan reported the attack (fearful for the future safety of his infant daughter), the county merely issued a warning to the owner. The dogs still live four doors down, and I now avoid walking in front of that house and carry pepper spray. I am not sure I will ever feel completely safe again in my neighborhood.

But thankfully, there is a happy ending: Hudson seems just fine. He recovered quickly from his physical wounds, and GRR arranged for him to be evaluated by a trainer to see how he reacted to other dogs. As before, he couldn’t care less, still preferring people over dogs but not seeming to fear other canines. And I learned how lucky I am to have the support of the wonderful, knowledgeable folks of GRR.

And more good news: I officially adopted Hudson on June 15th! He recently was “green carded” at Dog Boy’s Dog Ranch in Pflugerville, and we also began working one-on-one with a trainer there to (hopefully) control his obsession with balls, which I discussed last month. Stay tuned for more on that next month! Meanwhile, Hudson continues to get settled in my home. It is not fancy, the yard is pretty small, the neighborhood may not be the best, but I like to think that Hud is learning that “be it ever so humble, there is no place like home.”

If Golden Retrievers Ruled the World
Contributed by Arlen Zander

*If Golden Retrievers Ruled the World:*

Ft. Knox would be filled with tennis balls………
ATMs would dispense Milk Bones………..
Blue Bell’s most popular flavor would be chicken and rice…….
Cats would not have the right to vote…………….
Squirrels would be an endangered species………
Fireworks would be outlawed……………
Hydrophobia counselors would be out of work……….
There would be year-round open season on stuffed animals………..
“Dead Armadillo” would be a popular variety of body deodorant……….
American Sleep Association recommended position would be upside down with
all four limbs pointing upward and tongue lolling outside the mouth……….
David Rosenfelt would have a Pulitzer Prize……………..
There would be an abundance of floppy ears, waggly tails and big brown eyes that look deep into your soul……...........
And the world would be full of love and kindness and Golden hair!

To Grain or Not to Grain...
Lynne Wisby

To feed your dog a diet containing grain or not to feed your dog a diet containing grain, that is the question. All of us want to provide the best nutrients for our dogs.

Dry dog food containing grain typically has taurine ( an amino sulfonic acid) as one of its ingredients. Most grain-free dog food does not. As Golden Retriever owners, we have heard grain- free diets help to prevent allergies. It is believed that protein components in dog food can lead to allergic reactions.

Taurine and the lack of it, has been shown to be responsible for the development of dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) in cats. In the 1950’s, when taurine was introduced into the diet of these cats, the disease was shown to be reversible. Therefore, the obvious question to dog owners was, could there be a link between taurine deficiency and heart disease in dogs? This question was thought to be particularly important in Golden Retrievers. Unfortunately, the answer to this question is not that cut and dried.

Taurine is primarily found in muscle meat and is completely absent in cereal grains. Lamb & rice, beef, venison and rabbit dog food have been shown to have a relatively low level of taurine compared to poultry.

Dogs can make their own taurine from other amino acids. Cavalier King Charles, Retrievers and particularly Newfoundlands that might not supply their own taurine were shown to develop the same form of heart disease that were affecting cats.

Given the above, what types of diets do veterinarians recommend? Veterinarians do not normally recommend “exotic foods” or “boutique diets” such as kangaroo meat with chickpeas.

Dr. Josh Stern, a veterinarian cardiologist, is presently conducting research on a potential genetic link between Golden Retrievers and DCM which is funded by the Morris Animal Foundation. The results of this study could be 10 years away. Dr. Stern states “I suspect that Golden Retrievers might have something in their genetic make-up that makes them less efficient at making taurine: couple that with certain diets and you’ve given them a double hit. If you feed them a diet that has fewer building blocks for taurine on a food component that inhibits this synthesis, they pop up with DCM”. At this point in time, there are many questions attempting to be answered by the Morris Animal Foundation study. We do not know the correct answer.

Before giving your dog any supplements, veterinarians highly recommend dogs being tested to determine their actual taurine level. All dogs will have a different taurine level. University of California-Davis does offer taurine testing for dogs. Therefore, you can consult your personal veterinarian to schedule this testing. Pricing will depend on the veterinarian’s relationship with the laboratory.

In conclusion, there are many opinions attempting to answer the Shakespearian question posed in the first sentence of this article. Remember, opinions are not scientific fact. The thoughtful dog owner will wait for peer-reviewed scientific research before making any radical changes in his or her dogs diet.

For additional information on this topic, please see the UC Davis Taurine Research Update.

Teaching Your Dog Hand Signals

Excerpted from an article by Pat Miller in the ebook Canine Hearing Loss

Here is how I initially teach hand signals for Down, Sit, and Come. I encourage my students to start with big hand signals, like the ones most people use in obedience competition. No one wants to risk having their dog miss the signal from across the ring!

Down: Hold a treat in your right hand. With your dog sitting in front of you, stand with both arms relaxed at your sides. Raise your right arm straight up. A second after your arm reaches its full height, fingers pointed toward the ceiling, say your verbal "Down" cue. Pause for another second. If your dog does not lie down, lower your right hand to his nose and lure him down with the treat. Click! (or "Yes!") and treat. Repeat this exercise until he will lie down for the hand signal and verbal cue without the lure.

When he has done at least a half dozen downs without the lure, give the hand signal (arm raised) without the verbal cue. If he goes down, Click! and Jackpot! That is, feed him lots of treats, one at a time, in special recognition of his accomplishment. If he doesn't lie down, do another dozen repetitions with both cues, and then try again with just the hand signal. You will probably be surprised by how quickly he does it.

Sit: Hold a treat in your left hand this time. With your dog lying down in front of you, stand with both arms relaxed at your sides. Bring your left arm up in a circular motion in front of your chest with your elbow bent, then straighten it out to your left side, parallel to the ground, in a "ta-da!" sort of flourish.

A second after your arm straightens, say your verbal "Sit" cue. Pause for another second. If your dog does not sit, bring your arm down and lure him up with the treat in your hand. Click! (or "Yes!") and treat. Repeat until he will sit for just the hand signal and verbal cue without the lure.

When he has done at least a half dozen sits without the lure, give the hand signal (arm raised) without the verbal cue. If he sits, Click! and Jackpot! If he doesn't, do another dozen repetitions with both cues, and then try again with just the hand signal. Keep repeating until he gets it. Then practice this from the "Stand" position as well.

Come: If your dog is well trained, you can leave him on a sit- or down-stay and walk five feet away. If his stay is not rock-solid, have someone hold him on a leash while you walk away. Turn and face him, with your arms at your sides and a treat in your right hand. Fling your right arm up and out to your side, as if you wanted to smack someone standing behind you. A second after your arm is out and parallel to the ground, say your verbal "Come!" cue. If he does not come, hold your arm parallel to the ground for another second, then bend your elbow and sweep the treat past his nose, ending up with your hand in front of your chest. If necessary, take a step or two back to encourage your dog to get up and come to you. Repeat this exercise until he will come for the hand signal and verbal cue without the lure. When he has done at least six or so recalls without the lure, give the hand signal without the verbal cue. If he comes, Click! and Jackpot! If he doesn't, do another dozen repetitions with both cues, and then try again with just the hand signal. When he starts responding, begin practicing the hand-signal "Come" from increasingly greater distances.

For more advice on ways to live with a dog who is losing his hearing, purchase Canine Hearing Loss from Whole Dog Journal.

(Contributed by Rick Gilpin)

It's Hot!
GRR Website - Heatstroke

Triple digit temps. Humidity. Stage 2 water alerts. Level 2 heat advisories. Welcome to the joys of central Texas in the summer. You probably already know to stay out of the sun midday, drink lots of fluids, wear light colored, loose clothing and wear a hat. But what about our dogs? Read on to learn about preventing and treating heatstroke in dogs.

Heatstroke occurs when normal body mechanisms cannot keep the body's temperature in a safe range. Animals do not have efficient cooling systems (like humans who sweat) and get overheated easily. A dog with moderate heatstroke (body temperature from 104º to 106ºF) can recover within an hour if given prompt first aid and veterinary care (normal body temperature is 100-102.5°F). Severe heatstroke (body temperature over 106ºF) can be deadly and immediate veterinary assistance is needed.

Signs

A dog suffering from heatstroke will display several signs:

Rapid panting
Bright red tongue
Red or pale gums
Thick, sticky saliva
Depression
Weakness
Dizziness
Vomiting - sometimes with blood
Diarrhea
Shock
Coma

Continue reading

(Editor's Note: Check out the medical articles on the GRR website for information on other Golden medical issues.)

Dear Goldie
Dawn Marie Rae

Dear Goldie,

Ever since I was a teenager, I’ve been homeless, so I haven’t been around humans in a long, long time. Still, I’m happy to have a nice bed, good food and big toys now that I am with Mark. He’s a really nice guy, but he does some downright weird things and I need your help to understand him.

First off, every morning he takes his fur off. He willingly sits in the bathtub (seriously?) He cuts his face after his bath and that freaks me out! Then, he puts more fur on. He looks like a Shar-Pei without it, so I'm glad he does!

Another thing he does is that he sits down and eats out of four bowls. How come I don’t get four bowls? He sits down on a big white bowl to poop, too. What???!!! That’s where I drink out of sometimes - nooooooo! Then he gets in a big metal box and rolls on down the street to work.

While he’s gone, he leaves the Animal Planet channel on so that I have to bark and bark at those big cats. I’m just exhausted.

Pretty soon, Mark comes back in the big metal box and takes his fur off again and eats out of more bowls. This goes on every day. No dog I know does this. I’m so stressed out. What if he eats out of the big white bowl???

Signed – Stressed in San Antonio
Dear Stressed,

Let’s get one big thing out of the way. He is NOT a dog, and to be fair to him, here’s HIS view of YOU…

Does he spin around 10 times before he lies down? Does he eat grass? Does he lick his own genitals and in public? And then lick YOU?! Does he get into that big white bowl and eat his own poop? Or, does he chase squirrels in his sleep and look like he’s running a marathon? And, does he sniff another person’s butt when he meets someone new? And lastly, does he drag his butt around in the grass to get his poop off of his fur? Maybe you should change YOUR fur once in a while.

All said, everyone is different and no one should be judged by the way they eat and poop. If you care about each other, these things shouldn't matter. Oh, and by the way, learn how to use the remote and quit drinking out of the toilet.

Signed – Goldie

If I Didn't Have a Dog

In Loving Memory - Max (14-061)
Rick Gilpin

Two significant events occurred virtually simultaneously around Christmas of 2012: I retired from my full-time job of 38 years; and my 14 1/2 year old golden retriever, Hannibal, died of old age. I had raised him from puppyhood, along with my other Golden Alex, who were together for several years before Alex passed of cancer. The three of us even took three cross-country trips together before Alex became too ill to travel.

After a brief stint with trying to raise a puppy after a 15-year break (yikes, what was I thinking?), I contacted GRR. Paula Ellis understood my needs and assigned me to Bumper, a sweet 2 year old, who had sustained a severe right rear leg injury. As his foster, it was my responsibility to transport him to Dr. Winston, in the hopes of saving Bumper's leg. And, after a couple of months, we were able to! I then had a tough decision to make about whether to adopt. Bumper was a bolter. In a tight-knit community, friends often drop by without knocking, and the slightest door opening would send Bumper barreling down the street. After a few escapes and a lot of pondering, I decided that he would be safer with someone other than an arthritic 68 year-old, whose running days were long past. Fortunately, this story has a happy ending: Bumper was adopted by none other than Dr. Winston, and he served as the ring bearer the following year!

Paula knew how difficult the decision had been for me, and she suggested that I might be better off with an older dog. So, in late May 2014, I met Mac. Although he was 8 years old, I knew as soon as I met him that he was the one. I renamed him "Max” and he immediately answered to his new name.

Max was healthy, he loved to play and, most of all, he was the sweetest and friendliest of all the dogs I've had. He never met a stranger, and even made friends with a couple of very puzzled squirrels in my backyard. When Max saw a toad on the ground, he would carefully step around it. Max was a little overweight, and we struggled to get some of the weight off, finally managing to get him to around 87 pounds. His friendliness was infectious and he quickly became a favorite with my friends and in the neighborhood.

In 2016, the vet told me that Max was diabetic, and would require two subcutaneous shots per day for the rest of his life. That factor limited our car trips, but was otherwise not a problem. Max would jump on the sofa to get his injections, and he never flinched. Unfortunately, by the end of 2016, the diabetes had caused him to lose 80% vision in his right eye and 25% in his left.

It was painful to watch him running into objects on his walks, so in April, 2017 I decided to have cataract surgery performed on both eyes. It was also necessary to give him two kinds of eye drops twice per day for the rest of his life. His sight was restored, but Max was becoming arthritic and our walks were gradually reduced from two miles to about eight blocks. The vet prescribed various kinds of pain medicine, which helped a lot at first, but then side-effects kicked in.

By early January 2018, it was becoming difficult for Max to walk more than about half a block. And it was very hard to watch him try to get to his feet, even though I fitted him with a Help- 'Em-Up harness and placed rubber mats on the hardwood floors. By the beginning of February, we were reduced to going outside only for him to do his business and then immediately going back in. Once he was on his feet, he could walk a bit: getting up was an ordeal for both of us, however. I could tell that he was suffering a great deal, but he never lost his disposition (or his appetite).

I came to the hard decision that I would have to let him go, and would do so right after his 12th birthday, which was on Valentine's Day. I arranged with Dr. Maggie MacDonald to perform the euthanasia on Saturday morning, February 17th. For the week prior, his many friends (both dog and human) came by to say goodbye. Dr. MacDonald handled the procedure with such empathy and professionalism that it took my breath away. Thank you, Paula, for bringing us together, and thanks to the folks at West Lynn Vet Clinic, whose employees wrote to me that Max was truly "beloved" and who treated him like family.

I have cared for Goldens virtually my entire adult life and have loved them all. My first, Huckleberry, was a brilliant animal and a prankster who made me laugh at his antics. But Max was closest to my heart. Even though I was able to care for him for less than four years, he made such a profound impression; so much so that, nearly five months after his death, I still cry every day. It is my sincere hope that everyone, before they die, gets to experience the kind of unconditional love that I gave to, and received from, my dear Max.

(Editor’s Note: Rick adopted Raven (18-035) on July 12th, after fostering her and taking her through her heartworm treatment. Congratulations to both Rick and Raven, whom he now calls Mattie!)

Swim!
Photo by Mollie Mitchell

When it's 85 degrees at 9:00 a.m. you go for a swim instead of a walk!

GRR Monthly Status Report: June 25 - July 24

Came into care: 18-065 Jaffa, 18-066 Riley, 18-067 Izzy, 18-068 Winston, 18-069 Benji, 18-070 Annie, 18-071 Bella, 18-072 Uncle Sherm, 18-073 Florence, 18-074 Juliette, 18-075 Christi, 18-076 Billie, 16-096 Shiner

Adopted: 18-005 Miranda, 18-014 Cash, 18-103 Harvey, 18-057 Boomer, 18-031 Shadow, 18-009 Buddy,

Currently in Foster Care: 30 Dogs - 11 available/available soon, 12 foster pending adoptions, 7 permanent fosters

Thoughts, Prayers and Remembrance

Our Rainbow Bridge: July 2018
Rest in peace, our friends and companions.

Cash
Cotton
Madeline
Matilda
Penelope
Duke (Bob Barker)
Harvey
Daisy Mae
Ginny (Genesis)
Lady

GRR 2019 Calendar

Our 2019 calendar is available for pre-order now for $24.95. You won't want to miss this edition because of all of our Goldens that will be spotlighted on their special days. It's a Golden Fest! Order your GRR 2019 Calendar here.

Help Wanted

Website Dog Story Authors:
Write upbeat, enticing stories about newly rescued dogs and obtain photos for the GRR website using foster reports and contact with the foster. Approximately 2-3 hours per assignment. Desired turnaround time is 3 to 4 days from date of assignment. This is a critical position that enhances the chances of each dog for adoption. Please contact Barbara Tankey for more information.

Advertising Coordinator: Crafting small adverts in newspapers advertising GRR. Some writing experience needed. Contact Dawn Marie Rae for more information.

GRR Online Store Coordinator: Help create and maintain an online store for GRR unique items. Some knowledge of the Shopify application needed. Please contact Dawn Marie Rae for more information.

Respite Volunteers needed:
We are in need of more respite families to help out with keeping foster dogs on a short-term basis while the fosters are traveling and/or are on vacation. This is a great way to provide socialization for your dog, try out fostering, enjoy playing with and caring for a short-term foster. Volunteers must have gone through the regular adoption/foster screening process, including a home visit. Please contact Robin Early if interested.

Meet Our Preferred Partners!

Gold Ribbon Rescue has several preferred partners that help us with our mission to save our beautiful Goldens. We are truly grateful for their relationships and support. We thank them for all they do for GRR everyday, all the time!

Training and Behavior: