Golden Ribbon Rescue
June 2017



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Newsletter Editor:
Dawn Marie Rae

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Gold Ribbon Rescue
PO Box 956
Austin, TX 78767
512 659-4653
www.grr-tx.com

A Message from Our President...
Margo Biba

Dear Friends,

The annual survey results for 2016 arrived, for the Golden Retriever Club of America, GRCA.
This is how GRR compared to the 84 Golden Retriever rescues in the USA who responded:

  • Total purebred Goldens rescued in 2016: 4,474 (GRR 108)
  • Total mixes and other breeds: 2,431 (GRR 22)
  • $5,866,000 spent on veterinary care (GRR $122,500)
  • Average cost of veterinary care per dog $865 (GRR $940)

Seeing those numbers brings home the point that it is expensive to rescue dogs. We owe a debt of gratitude to our loyal teams of GRR veterinarians and their staffs. Think about it – their discounts save us ~$45,000 per year!

Please show your support by giving them your business.

Enjoy the newsletter!

As Ever,


In this issue:
  • Meet Mr. Scooby-Do!
  • Managing confrontation with an off-leash dog
  • The special needs of a rescued Golden
  • The Circle of Life...a story about healing
  • A very special Service Dog rescue...



Miss Daisy



This month's contributing writers:
Jill F.
Carey Gunthert
Jen Micyk
Jeroen Naus
Benjamin Romano
Lonni Swanson
Sheila Thomas
Thanks to all of you - Dawn Marie

 

Upcoming Events


Mr. Duke


  • Mark your calendars for our Golden Gala 2017 October 29th!


  • The GRR 2018 Calendar Auction starts mid-June!! Watch your email for bidding dates and details.


 

GRR Monthly Status Report: April 29 through May 30 2017



Came into care: 17-051 Copeland, 17-052 Jacob, 17-053 Kika

Adopted: 17-017 Amber, 17-015 Mariana, 17-002 Dallas, 17-045 Shiloh, 17-028 Thor, 17-039 Lucy, 16-123 Violet, 17-041 Hattie, 11-002 Spicer/Lill Miss, 16-049 Harvey, 17-080 Cooper, 17-033 Asher

Currently in Foster Care: 36 dogs – 12 Available/Available Soon, 14 Foster-Pend-Adopt/Matched, 10 Permanent Fosters




The Weiner Pack

 

The Circle of Life... Three Tales of Healing
Name withheld per request



Jenni


It’s been a year now, since my husband, Dan, passed away from ALS/Lou Gehrig’s disease, a fatal disease that left him paralyzed from the neck down, a five-year battle of extraordinary courage. This then is my journey with my beloved Goldens, who brought comfort to Dan and continue to care for me in ways no human can. Their bright spirits and freely offered love continue to journey with me and help me experience a new kind of joy.

Since 1983, my husband and I had always had pairs of Goldens. In 2006 we adopted 2 Goldens: Amber and Jenni. Jenni was our first GRR Golden. I knew Jenni was special but little did I know how extraordinary she would become!

Each day our Goldens would sit by Dan in his lift chair and keep him company. They knew he was not well. In 2015 Amber passed away and Jenni felt the loss keenly. It was the first time in 9 years that she was by herself.

Dan’s health deteriorated quickly and I had to move into the guest room because of his hospital bed and equipment. Dan could not move his arms at all and we came up with the idea of whistling when he needed help at night. Jenni slept in my room. She knew she was needed. If she heard any noise or his whistling, she would wake me up immediately so that I could go and check on him. She never missed a sound! Jenni had taken on a new role as caregiver.


Dan and Curtis


When Dan had to be transferred to a nursing home, Jenni would go with me to visit. She would lay by his hospital bed for hours. Her loyalty and love meant so much to Dan and Jenni knew he was not coming home. He was dying.

During this time, I adopted Curtis, my second GRR golden. Curtis was 9 years old but acted like he was 9 months old!! He was just what we needed! He filled a void for Jenni and I. Jenni could take a break from her caregiver role and rest. I took Curtis to meet Dan at the nursing home and I carefully placed him on Dan’s bed. Curtis leaned in and gave Dan a big kiss. It is an achingly beautiful moment forever etched in my heart.

Curtis, like Jenni, has a special sensitivity to those who are ill or injured. When Jenni was recovering from cancer surgery earlier this year, Curtis was by her side every minute. If Jenni needed anything, he let me know. Jenni’s cancer turned out to be aggressive and has spread. Knowing that our time together was limited, I applied to GRR for an older Golden to adopt. I wanted this new dog to experience the “extraordinary gifts” that Jenni and Curtis have. I felt there was more than enough love to go around with 3 dogs!

May 11th 2017, enter Copeland 17-051, a big, giant, beautiful 9-year old Golden, paws the size of a puma, and a smile to die for. On May 30th, Copeland had a 3-hour surgery from top to bottom - neutering, tumors removed, teeth cleaned, and gum surgery. He’s going to be just fine and he'll soon be an official member of our family.

He brings such joy to our home. He has renewed our pack with his kind spirit and eased our collective grief. We need him as much as he needs us! Jenni, Curtis, and now Copeland - all 3 of these beautiful Goldens have, and are still, helping me to reclaim my life through their love, sensitivity, compassion, and joy. The ‘Golden’ blessing – the Circle of Life.


Yogi (Copeland 17-051)

 

Volunteer Spotlight: Benjamin Romano
With Jereon Naus

How and when did you learn about GRR and what made you become a volunteer?

A few years ago I lost my Sammy and instead of buying a dog, we decided to rescue one. A close friend told us about GRR. Our first GRR dog was Gigantor (Bear Bear). He was the wildest 95-lb ball of hair we've ever had. Sadly we lost him the following year but he left a great impression on us. We decided to foster and adopt from GRR again, and we found Alvin. He has been with us for almost 2 years now and he is a great dog, a bit neurotic, but lovable. All of our GRR Goldens have been amazing dogs. GRR has done a magnificent job rescuing these dogs that otherwise wouldn't have a chance.

What started the idea of bringing in dogs from Mexico?

I travel to Mexico City often. Stray dogs are a common sight on the streets of Mexico City. The last 3 years I started to notice more purebred dogs on the street; St. Bernards, Shiba Inus, Huskies, German Shepherds, and of course, Golden Retrievers. Many people buy purebred dogs and when they outgrow their puppy cuteness, they are just let loose on the streets. These dogs don't stand a chance on the streets of Mexico City. They are exposed to all kinds of danger and they struggle to find food and water.

I knew of GRR and since I am in Mexico at least once every two months, I figured I could pick up one Golden from a Mexican pound or rescue group and bring it back with me and GRR would find the dog a home.

Luckily, we've been finding more Goldens than expected and 3 seems to be the lucky number. It is, however, difficult to bring three dogs at the same time because it requires more volunteers to travel to Mexico.

When you arrive in Mexico what is the thing that strikes you most about the culture over there?

Mexico City is such an enormous city and culturally diverse. I think over the last decade Mexico City has become an international city. Which is good, but it also has a lot of problems. Stray animals being a big issue. I was reading an article a few days ago that stated that there are over 20 million stray dogs in Mexico City. Just Mexico City alone! There are 21 million people in the Metropolitan area of Mexico City. That's almost 1:1 ratio.

Thankfully a lot of rescue organizations have been popping up all over the city and they are working to get some of these dogs off the streets but it's not enough. Most rescue groups are overwhelmed and they struggle to feed the dogs on a daily basis. Vet care is not even an option for some of these dogs. There are rescue groups that have over two thousand dogs under their care.



Note: No dogs in Central Texas have been impacted by this program as GRR continues to accept all nonaggressive Goldens. The reality is that we have more families wanting to adopt than we have Goldens.


Benjamin with Shakespeare in front of the Arch of the Revolution in Mexico City



Meet Mr. Woods (17-036) - formerly of Mexico City

You're fostering Woods, can you tell us a little bit about him, how is he doing?

Woods is a sweet dog. He was attacked by a pack of dogs and a good person took him to the vet but he was put back on the streets. A few days later this person notice acid burns on him. It took about 4 months for him to recover completely. Sadly, this is a daily occurrence. A lot of dogs are just left to die on the streets of Mexico City. Mexican pounds are not any better. Most dogs picked up and taken to dog pounds end up euthanized. Woods has been a great foster. He is a well-behaved boy and gets along well with my other two Golden Retrievers, Alvin ( a GRR rescue), and Orion. You can read more about him here.

Do you have any interesting stories / anecdotes?

Invariably, I always get asked if there are not any dogs in Texas that need to be rescued. My eyes don't roll back far enough to show my contempt for that question.

We live in this globalized world but sadly many people still think locally. Neediness and suffering is the same everywhere, and if we find ourselves in a position to help, we should. If we can make a small difference in someone's life, regardless of where they are from or how far they are, it is a good thing. These dogs deserve a happy life, just like our central Texas dogs, but it doesn't mean we don't try help them all.

 

The Special Needs Of A Rescued Golden
Gold Ribbon Rescue Training Team


Miss Nala Adams


It’s natural for foster and adoptive families to expect a happy go-lucky Golden Retriever to walk through the door ready to love everybody, because they are, after all, Golden Retrievers. However, it’s likely that the Golden you are welcoming into your family has gone through a very stressful time; perhaps leaving the only family they’ve ever known, being put in an institutional and frightening shelter environment, being handled by strangers, and then handed off and transported by other strangers, only to be plopped into another new environment.

The American Kennel Club says of the breed, “While Goldens can adapt to virtually any living situation; they need considerable daily exercise to maintain physical and mental fitness. Your Golden should never be allowed to run free. Time spent in the companionship of people indoors can and should be complemented with time spent on daily walks or playing in a secure fenced area. Without the companionship of people and adequate exercise, your Golden may display behavior atypical of the well-cared-for pet and family member. Basic obedience training is an essential part of responsible dog ownership. It will make your dog a better companion and will help establish a stronger bond between the two of you. Your Golden wants nothing more from life than to please you.”

If a well-bred Golden needs human companionship and adequate exercise to thrive, what can we expect of a rescue Golden whose life may have been a rollercoaster of stressors? Trainer Patricia McConnell says, “You may be prepared to enter into a close and emotional relationship with your new dog the day you bring her home, and you probably have expectations of who she should be, but your adopted dog has no such mind set. Your dog has no idea what to expect.”

Make the transition easier by letting the dog acclimate slowly. Take a tour of the house on leash and provide a quiet place for him to relax. Don’t let overzealous adults or children overwhelm. Give the dog space so he isn’t compelled to guard toys or food.

Dedicate time each day to light hearted training, going on short walks, and just hanging out. Many destructive or unwanted behaviors will diminish with a half hour a day of obedience routines and a couple of daily walks.

If you live in a multi-dog household, discard the assumption that everyone should get along immediately. Be prepared to keep the dogs separated for the first few days. Why? Because building a relationship with your new Golden is top priority and that means spending time one-to one. This also lets the resident dog know that you’re not letting the new dog take over. It’s especially important if you already have a high energy dog and are bringing in another high energy dog. All you might be doing is giving the dogs a chance to teach each other how much fun it is to dig up the flowerbed or play tug with your leather shoe. Often dogs with the same energy levels will bond to each other and leave you out, making doing things with them difficult. You want your dogs to think you’re the most wonderful thing in a room, and that only comes through spending the time to build the relationships.

Expect it to take several weeks for a rescue dog to settle into her new environment and for her I-want-to-please personality to come out. Taking it slowly will pay off with a well-adjusted, new member of your family.

 

A Service Dog Rescue...How Austin Came Together
Jennifer Kendall from Fox7Austin





May 27th: When people in a Northwest Austin community found out a homeless veteran's medical alert dog was missing, they jumped into action. Within an hour they had posted fliers and put together a reward.

Doug Ferguson and his 7-year-old Golden retriever Elvis have quite a following in the area of Loop 360 and 2222. Doug said a series of events led him into a life on the street.

Doug applied for a medical alert dog through a Navy program and has spent every day for the last six years with Elvis. Until he woke up from a nap on Wednesday and his pup was nowhere to be found.

Thanks to the community who cares so much about the duo, word quickly spread on social media and a young girl, whose brother thought he had brought home a stray, returned the dog.

“I give credit to the lord and neighbors that live in the adjacent area that have come to know Elvis and are reaching out to help us and they want to see us do good,” Ferguson said.

Doug said Elvis has saved his life several times already by alerting him before he has a seizure. The girl who returned Elvis was offered the reward, but she decided to give the money to Doug to have his car fixed instead.

See video footage from Fox7Austin here.

Editor's note: GRR's Facebook accounts were jumping that day as well!

 

Tails & Trails… discovering Austin’s outdoors with my Golden gal!
Jen Micyk

 


Goodwater Loop Trail - starting at Cedar Breaks Park
2100 Cedar Breaks Rd, Georgetown, TX 78633


For this month’s trail adventure we decided to head north to Georgetown to check out one of the trails listed in the Outbound article of the 25 Must-do Hikes in Texas and we were not disappointed! Lake Georgetown is home to an amazing 26-mile trail surrounding the lake that was created and is maintained by Austin Ridge Riders, a very active local mountain biking club.








There are numerous places to start your hike (and you can even camp along the way if you’re interested in an overnight hiking trip), but we chose to begin at Cedar Breaks Park which is where the mile markers start, and we headed west 3 miles to Crockett Gardens and Falls.

If you go just for the trail there is no fee since the trail is not maintained by the park, so be sure to let the staff at the gate know why you’re there. Parking was full when we arrived so we parked just outside the gates and walked in.

As with most trails in Austin, this one is dog-friendly but not officially off-leash. The trail is shaded for a majority of the route which is nice now that summer has arrived, and it’s gorgeous the entire way. Halfway through your hike the trail begins to hug the lake shore so you have nice views of the water and a few opportunities to swim if you’d like (this was a must for Kerbey- she loves to swim!).

Expect plenty of challenging sections with rocks and roots to navigate. Our destination was stunning- the falls are quite a site and best viewed from the opposite side of the cove. It was difficult to turn around and head back- I wanted to keep following the trail to find what else it has in store! On our way back we opted to head down to the water for a dip and the little beach was such a nice spot. It’s a beautiful trail and one Kerbey and I will definitely do again!

Here is a link to info on the entire trail: Goldwater Loop Trail

Send me an email and tell me about your favorite trail here.



 

Help Wanted

Backup - Website Dog Profile Lead
Time: 2-8 hours a week, depending on the number of dogs in the system.

  • Some experience working within a Content Management System (CMS) like Drupal - as a user not a developer. We would help you with the details.
  • Be able to crop, size and manipulate the photos so that they fit well on the dog's page.
  • Have good writing, grammar, spelling and punctuation skills.
  • Be able to tell an entertaining story that would make someone want to adopt that particular dog.
  • Have good organizational skills.
Writers - dog stories, newsletter articles, promotions
Time: 1 hour a week or as often as you prefer. Good writing, grammar, and spelling skills. Enthusiastic and creative writer.

Backup - External Facebook Content Lead
Creativity, grammatical skills, ability to use photo manipulation software. Some knowledge of fundraising principles. Most of all, passion for GRR and an interest in helping to tell the stories of its Goldens.

Video producer
Knowledgeable of at least one application to produce videos from existing dog profiles and photos.


Contact Dawn Marie Rae for more details.

 

In Loving Memory - Luke 14-086
Carey Gunthert and Catherine Waltman





Luke was euthanized Saturday May 6th at the emergency vet due to complications from multiple tumors on his spleen and liver – the dreaded hemangiosarcoma.

Our friend Dawn Traylor in San Angelo alerted GRR about Luke – kept confined, emaciated, and covered in ticks and fleas. He was anemic and shut down at the shelter but perked up considerably under her loving ministrations.

He came to GRR about a week later, still intact as the vet assigned to the shelter determined he was too ill to neuter.

While in foster with us, we discovered so many of his silly quirks, like always having a ball nearby and after a good bath, the need to lie down and pull the towel over his tush and top it with a choice toy.

He was matched a few times, never quite finding the right fit. Then I talked to Catherine Waltman. After talking with her, I thought it would be a good idea for Luke to meet a potential family at their home versus ours as he was such a pill when he could hear the others. It was perfect. As I later told Catherine, Luke refused to get back in my car and pulled me repeatedly to her front door – he knew where he was meant to be.

At Luke’s adoptiversary, Catherine sent the attached picture and this note:
"It's been a year now that we have had Luke! He's the cutest thing...everyday my son Daniel says "he's so cute." This is him sprawled out on the couch. He relaxes with his legs hanging off the couch. He has this little green ball that he found soon after he got here and it's torn up but he carries it every where he goes! I have tried to get replacements but he wants that like it is his security blanket. He's a little character. We love him so much though and he loves it here. By the way he still loves towels and trying to put them on his rear!"

Catherine is devastated, and her son Daniel, just home from college is heartbroken. Thick as thieves, Daniel visited with Luke at the ER prior to the end. I asked her to take comfort knowing Luke would be waiting at the Bridge, and the last two years were absolutely the best of his life.

LUKE VICTORIOUS!

 

Meet Mr. Scooby-Do (17-031)
The GRR Profile Team





The Latest on Scooby Doo (May 10):
Update: With the details provided in the previous updates from his GRR fosters, Scooby-Doo’s bio truly reads like a Hollywood creation, making him worthy of his own feature length movie. It would be a smashing hit, based solely on his loving, playful starring role. As with many rescues, the insecure, scarred and scared individual blossoms as his wounds heal, the love received is unconditional and confidence explodes.  His personality is full bore “puppy”, firing on all cylinders. Each freshly minted second of every day is meant for him to discover something new in the oh-so-different world he now inhabits, share his discovery with you, and then to play with his new discovery! His “puppy” punch is spiked with boundless affection he dispenses to his two and four legged family members, with no exceptions granted.

From his current foster family:
"He LOVES other dogs.  The other dogs would say too much.  He wants to play!  He can play wildly with Bijou, running through the yard and wrestling and playing tug-of-war.  He will wiggle and kiss and cuddle with the sedate girls.” Following his rescue, he still finds emotional comfort in the company of others, and finds it hard to go it alone for long periods. He has quickly melded into two separate foster homes, becoming one of the family in both cases. Scooby has great manners, and loves getting groomed and taking baths. A few little patches of itchy skin are all that remain from the mange apparent when he was rescued, and medicated baths are finishing off those last few spots. No night owl, he is ready for bed by 9 at night, and snoozes all night long on a big blanket next to his foster sisters.

It appears his “Golden Retriever” gene expression is limited to a couple of throws at a time. Then Scooby gets distracted and follows a butterfly or picks up a toy or investigates what one of the other dogs is into. Like any young and energetic guy, Scooby is ready and willing for basic training, and wants to show you that he is more intelligent than the average pup. At only 61 pounds, he is strong, and currently in the process of leash training, since, as his foster reports, he can pull like a locomotive on walks.  His strength is well directed, though, and he easily releases toys from his mouth, and takes treats from your hand so gently. Car rides provide plenty of visual stimulation for Scooby, who rides incredibly well. His current foster believes he would make an excellent travelling companion. He is now at the perfect weight – nice and trim and athletic. His loving nature might attest to some Golden Retriever heritage, but his short fur, blocky head and long legs reveal other breeds contributing to form one very cool young man.

Keep reading to see how Scooby has been coming into his own and what kind of home would be ideal for him. See if you’re convinced he should be at the top of your short list of forever candidates. Scooby-Doo will gladly forego Hollywood for you. Check him out!

 

In Loving Memory - Betty (17-021)
Lonni Swanson

 

Like many aging females I think she lied about her age and was likely older than the 10+ years we credited her with. She was quite spunky and a little busybody (the photo below with her nose in the food was pretty typical). But, yes we were really blindsided; she went downhill so fast. We only had her for 3 months but she became immediately popular with the neighbors because of her cheerful disposition. She even won over Sam (GRR16-061), who gave in to her charm and nose kisses. We miss the little sweetie pie but are so glad we were able to shower her with attention, even though it was for only a short time.

 

Amazon Smile - Good For Wedding and Baby Showers, too!
Jeroen Naus




Silly Jilly!


Amazon, the biggest online retailer in the US offers a program where part of the money you spend goes to a charity of your choice. If you haven't done so already you can find GRR in the charity list by searching for 'gold ribbon rescue'

The only caveat to this program is that it only applies to orders placed using the https://smile.amazon.com url.

This means that if you click on an advertisement or google search result redirecting you to https://www.amazon.com and you place the order there the purchase doesn't qualify. To qualify your purchase you can add the item to your cart, then visit the smile URL and complete the checkout process. To simplify this you can create a book mark in your web browser.

Gift Registry Donations

At this time amazon doesn't allow you to specify a charity for wedding and baby registries. When setting up a registry you can suggest to change the charity to 'Gold Ribbon Rescue' in your invitation.

How much does Amazon contribute?

When you click on your charity and click the your impact link you will see an overview of the amount of money you donated.

As of May 2017 GRR has received 1690.30 dollars from Amazon Smile donations.

 

Managing Confrontation With an Off-Leash Dog
VetStreet


Piper and Rylie


It’s the scenario you fear the most: You’re on a walk with your pooch when an off-leash — and aggressive — dog approaches. Do you know what to do to prevent a confrontation and keep your dog (and yourself) safe?

An encounter with an off-leash dog can come about in a variety of ways: A dog dashes out an open front door or escapes from an otherwise-secure yard, for example. But trouble can also start when an off-leash dog darts away from a pet parent to greet another dog. The off-leash dog may not always act as friendly as his owner expects, and if an altercation starts, the owner is frequently too far away from her fast-moving canine to intervene. And it's not necessarily the off-leash dog who is the aggressor in this situation; the on-leash dog may react defensively, or even aggressively, even if the off-leash dog is friendly. Leash laws are in place to protect dogs and people, and off-leash freedom should be exercised only with reliable dogs in designated and protected areas.

With that said, most off-leash dog encounters will end well; a fight is unlikely to ensue and no damage will be done, although a dog’s anxiety about approaching dogs may increase after an incident.

How to (Hopefully) Prevent a Dogfight

Never get in the middle of a dogfight or attack; stepping or reaching between two overstimulated dogs can result in a serious bite. Instead, it is important to have the tools to prevent or break up an altercation without injury to yourself or your dog.

When an off-leash dog approaches your canine, odds are his interest is mainly in your dog, not you. If you can keep your dog calm, it increases the chance that the oncoming dog will also behave calmly. If your dog is barking, snarling or lunging, it is more likely that this behavior will increase the arousal level of the approaching dog, which also raises the likelihood of a fight.

If you see an off-leash dog approaching in a determined manner, stay calm and attempt to move your dog away. Hold a handful of treats in front of your dog’s nose; use the treats to keep his attention focused on you, rather than on the other dog. In this situation, you may be rewarding your dog every couple of steps. Move away from the other dog as quickly as possible, but avoid running or jogging, as this may cause the other dog to chase you. Cross the street, step behind a parked car or find any other method of creating distance or getting behind a barrier.

If the other dog follows you, or if there is not enough time to react and move away, control your dog’s movements and get ready to respond to the other dog. Keep your pet as still as possible; direct him into a stationary, calm position, like a sit or down stay, at your side or just behind you. Practice stay training to prepare your dog for situations like this. Reward your dog intermittently for staying.

Next, step in front of your dog and put yourself between him and the approaching off-leash dog. Using a loud, powerful voice, give the other dog a command he is likely to recognize, such as “down,” “sit” or “go home.” Put your hand out in a “stop” signal to further your message. The dog may not do as you ask, but the real goal is to take his focus off of your dog. If he stops even for a moment, distract him by tossing a handful of treats on the ground in front of him. If possible, make your escape with your dog while the other dog is focused on the treats.

Read the second page of this article here…

Read about your rights under city and state law for aggressive animals and the process to report them.

Austin Animal Center/City of Austin

Animal Care Services / City of San Antonio



Miss Jiya

 

Austin Pets Alive! Debuts New Thrift Store
Fox7Austin





There is a new thrift store in Austin and by shopping there you do more than just save money.

"This is the first and only thrift store benefiting animals in Austin," explained Mary Heerwarld with Austin Pets Alive! From clothes to shoes and small household items there is a little bit of everything on the racks of the shop on Burnet. The creative idea is something other shelters in other cities have put into place and it seems to work.

"It came out of wanting to innovate on behalf of the most vulnerable pets in Austin and the community is a huge part of why we have become the largest no kill city in the country," said Heerwald.

APA! put the call out for donations and the community answered the call. Heerwald describes it like the Goodwill for pets. One store manager along with volunteers will run the shop keeping overhead low.

"We are so grateful for the fact we have over 2,000 active volunteers and a number of them have been instrumental in making this place come to fruition," explained Heerwald.

Shoppers are of course encouraged to bring their four-legged friends. The Austin Pets Alive! Thrift is located at 5801 Burnet Road and is open from 10 - 6 p.m. each day

 

In Loving Memory: Sheriff (Scooby 09-205)
Christie Webb Miller





May 26th: Our sweet boy Sheriff lost his battle with hemangiosarcoma yesterday and we allowed him to pass over the rainbow bridge with dignity, courage and honor. We adopted him from Gold Ribbon Rescue in Feb 2010. Originally named Scooby, we affectionately made him our "law dog", renaming him Sheriff. He was the sweetest most loving Golden we have ever had and it was a privilege to be his parents for 7 amazing years. He is the one who rescued us and we are changed forever by him.



 

Thoughts, Prayers and Remembrance

Our Rainbow Bridge: (since May 1 2017)

Rest in peace, our friends and companions...


Dayzee
Abby
Fletcher
Shadow
Molli 07-036
Luke 14-086
Sam 15-009
Betty 17-021
Tucker 05-094
Sheriff
Rachel
Goose
Buddy 13-087
Brooklyn
Boomer
Nala (17-058)
Gus


If you would like to submit a memorial of your dog, click here.





Rest in peace sweet Dayzee.

 

Don't Wait Til He's Gone And Run Away!

A Few Suggestions

  • Once you have officially adopted your dog and transferred the ownership of the microchip to your name and address/phone number, put the actual microchip number and brand into the notes section of your smart phone. The time to try to look for the contract to get to the microchip brand and number is not when your girl or guy has slipped away. Also, take frequent photos of your dog so that should he/she go missing, you have an up to date photo to send to FB/etc. This is especially true if you have a puppy.


  • Also, AVID has a lost dog form that pulls your dog profile (and photo) so that you can make a flyer very quickly.


  • To all of our wonderful adoptive homes, please please do remember to keep a collar with ID tags, including the GRR tag. If you've lost your GRR tag, please ask for a new one from Emily and we will replace it at no cost. And remember, when you are not at home, your dog needs to be kept indoors (indoors while gone policy), as per the adoption contract, to ensure their safety. It breaks our hearts to post "lost" or "missing" dog stories.