Golden Ribbon Rescue
September 2018


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Newsletter Editor:
Dorian Olsen

Technical Editor:
Jeroen Naus

Send comments or
suggestions to:
newsletter@grr-tx.com


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




A Message From Our President...
Margo Biba




Margo, Ginny and Bijoux

Dear Friends,

After a month-long streak of bringing in mostly senior dogs, the tide has turned – a young, pretty and very pregnant Golden Retriever, #18-082 Avery has arrived. Per ultrasound, 9 -10 puppies should be born around Labor Day. Daddy was a mysterious traveler – we have no earthly idea who he was, or what the pups will look like. Watch for foster mom Candice’s photos on Facebook as the story unfolds.

I am so appreciative of the ongoing generosity of our GRR family. Examples of the medical care you provided in August:

  • #18-070 Annie’s difficult surgery to remove 3 masses, including a baseball sized growth in her vulva, a mass in her mammary area, and a mass near her tail. Per histopathology, all three growths were non-cancerous, thank goodness. Annie is recovering well and she is ready for her new life.
  • #18-036 Radio’s complex ear ablation surgery has been completed and he is recovering nicely. Full story below in the newsletter.
  • #18-042 Marley shows classic signs of Cushing’s Disease: drinking 4 gallons of water daily, extreme fur loss, and a pot belly. Cushing’s is a complicated and expensive disease to diagnose and treat. Honestly, my stomach was in knots, anticipating how much young Marley’s ongoing care might cost. Loyal GRR foster/adoptive dad, Cam Snyder stunned us by sponsoring the cost of Marley’s medical care. My hero.
  • #18-020 Athena is a marvelous senior (story below). She has had many health issues, and each time we think she is ready for adoption, a new issue appears. Tuesday’s x-rays found pneumonia and a sky high white blood cell count. We are awaiting results of additional diagnostics, in the hope of identifying and curing whatever infection is lurking in her body.

We couldn’t help these dogs without your ongoing support. I remember GRR’s lean days, 15 years ago when treatment like this would never have been an option. In particular, I remember heated board discussions about the advisability of turning away senior Goldens and very ill Goldens, as we were short on funds and foster homes. We somehow managed to continue accepting those Golden Retrievers who needed us most. Because of your devotion, we can save them.

Tomlinson’s pet store came through again in August, with a donation of 1,809 pounds of quality dog food for our foster families. Dave Lyons brought a big trailer, and we transported half of the food to Tim Tierney’s house in downtown Austin, stashing the rest in my front room in South Austin. (We sweated buckets, moving all those bags in 100+ degree heat.) Foster families, email me at margo@grr-tx.com to arrange for this dog food. It is for our foster dogs – let’s use it. If you are a distance from Tim or me, we’ll line up volunteers to help transport the food in your direction.

Happy news on the medical front – GRR volunteer Lynne Wisby has joined the GRR medical team. Lynne spent August getting up to speed, and she is now ready to take on the coordination of medical care for dogs in San Antonio and surrounding South areas. Lynne is a sharp cookie, and I am thrilled for her assistance. She’ll do a great job.

Get ready for our GRR Hearts Of Gold Gala on Saturday evening, October 6th in Lakeway. The Gala is loads of fun, and it is a significant fund raiser for GRR. It will be an extra special night, as we are celebrating GRR’s 20th Anniversary. The events committee is working feverishly on the preparations. I chatted with Pam Phillips yesterday; she has laid in a big supply of wine and champagne for the big event. It will be a true celebration. More information and tickets are available here.



As Ever,

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!

I don't know about you but I'm starting to crave pumpkins and apple spice candles... and cooler temps. We have a ways to go, but fall will be here before you know it. While we're waiting, check out the upcoming GRR September and October fall events - lots to do and lots to see! Be sure and mark your calendars!

The GRR Facebook group suggested compiling a list of dog-friendly stores (and restaurants) and publishing them in the newsletter. It's a great idea and the first lists appear in this issue of the newsletter. As you come across additional establishments, please send them to me at newsletter editor or make a comment on the GRR closed group Facebook page, and I will add them to the list. If a store or restaurant is not part of a chain, it would be helpful if you would also include the location. Going forward, the lists will appear in each issue of the newsletter.

My sister, who is involved in Persian cat rescue, told me about The Animal Rescue Site, a website that is dedicated to the rescue of all types of animals. The site has a program where they will contribute to the food and care of rescue/shelter animals when you click on the button on their home page. No purchase is required. If you click, you will receive a thank you response and an option to "Learn More". Click on "Learn More" and then scroll to the bottom to see the organizations by state that are benefiting. My sister has been clicking daily for years and I have started, so I thought I would share this with you. If you are interested, go to The Animal Rescue Site and check it out.

Dori

This Month's Contributors

Leslie Wayson
Dr. Ron Stried
Judy Sebesta
Jeroen Naus
Chrissy Hammond
Michelle Goldberg
Rick Gilpin
Paula Ellis

 


Upcoming Events

Paint Your Dog with Painting With A Twist (PWAT) - Austin!





Come out and paint your dog with us, and give back to GRR! PWAT gives back up to 50% of the proceeds based on attendance. Seating is limited and your reservation must be made at least 2 days prior to the event. You’ll receive instructions for submitting a photo of your dog.

Date: Sunday, September 16, 2018
Location: 6705 US-290 #501 Austin, Texas 78735
(Located on the corner of Hwy 290 West and William Cannon in the Oak Hill Center)
Time: 2:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m
Price: $55.00

Sign up here.
Paint Your Dog With Painting With a Twist (PWAT) - San Antonio




Come out and paint your dog with us and give back to GRR! PWAT gives back up to 50% of the proceeds based on attendance. Seating is limited and your reservation must be made at least 2 days prior to the event. You’ll receive instructions for submitting a photo of your dog, which is due by September 30th.

Date: Tuesday, October 2, 2018
Time:
7:00 to 10:00 p.m.
Location:
The Alley on Bitters, 555 W Bitters, San Antonio, TX 78216
Price: $55.00 per seat

Sign up here!


Dogtoberfest - Waco

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





Come and celebrate....mingle with other Golden lovers, share our successes, enjoy a scrumptious dinner, bid on fabulous auction items and support our Goldens as we focus on the next 20 years.

Our fabulous Hearts of Gold Gala has several getaways and live auction items available including trips to Seattle, Asheville and an amazing country ranch/home outside of Brenham, TX. There are non-travel items available to bid on as well.

We look forward to seeing each of you at this premier event.

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

Click here to get more information about our sponsors, to see the fabulous menu and to purchase your tickets!



Howloween Fest @ DogBoy's!





Let’s get festive!
Come out to loads of fun, a costume contest and much more at Dog Boys Ranch…!

Dogs must be well behaved and current on vaccines. If you’re interested in volunteering for this event please contact Michelle Goldberg.

Date: Saturday, October 27, 2018
Location: DogBoy's Dog Ranch, 2615 Crystal Bend Drive, Pflugerville, TX 78660
Time:
10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.

Limit of 2 dogs per family, $15.00 per dog
Click here to register on our home page under Events.

 


Meet Athena (18-020)
Leslie Wayson

When asked if I would be interested in writing a few words about my sweet foster girl, Athena (18-020) or, Cricket, as we have fondly named her. My immediate thought was, “I have so much more than just a few things to say about this wonderful girl!”

Initially, I was on the wait list for about six months to adopt a senior golden after losing my previous GRR golden, Goose. I received a call one evening asking if I would be interested in fostering a new intake, a senior girl who was about to undergo a lot of medical treatments. As I am a veterinary technician, I was offered the chance to care for her and I jumped at the opportunity.

Cricket first came into our home on February 22nd after having major surgery. Being 11 years of age, and living a very neglectful and abusive past she didn’t have the basic care that any dog should have. She came to GRR un-spayed, underweight, covered in fleas, anemic, had intestinal parasites and several infections, tumors, and even mammary masses. This poor baby was in for a big day at Manchaca Vet Care when she was spayed, had her mammary tumors and other concerning masses removed. I met her the very next day.

Even though she endured major procedures, she greeted me with the sweetest face and warmest tail wag. She came right up to me, sat at my feet and patiently waited for me to bring her home. I immediately fell in love (I know, I’m such a sucker!) Over the next few weeks she gained weight, made friends with our four other pets and learned what indoor life was all about. She didn’t even know what toys were, but eventually learned that they are fun! She was blossoming before our very eyes. She even came to work with me every day to get lots of love from her Aunts (fellow techs and doctors) at Buttercup Veterinary Hospital. While she is improving every day, she still has given us a few scares over the last few months. However, with proper medication and diligence, she’s on the road to recovery!

In short, this little lady is a FIGHTER. With a wagging tail, joy for life, and always with a toy in her mouth, she tackles every day. Before her rescue, Cricket’s life was only a chain and a yard. Now she has had new life experiences and plenty of adventures! She even went paddle boarding and loved it! Cricket is celebrated in our office when she comes to visit for the day. Even the clinic cat, Scarlett, snuggles with her during her stay. A “Free Hugs” patch adorns her vest and people come flocking when she is running an errand with me or swinging by the local brewery.

Cricket has also become quite the hostess! When someone walks into our home, she will hop right up, find her favorite toy and bring it to the newcomer. She really knows how to melt hearts! Her favorite way to communicate that she is content is to talk to me with grunts. My little grunt-a-saurus can be heard when her name is said, when it’s playtime, when she gets hugged and even when we make eye contact. With her newfound love of toys, she will diligently select the perfect one to bring to bed every night and typically takes up a significant amount of room on our bed. From an outdoor-only life, to being a full on couch-potato, we are so lucky she came into our home to enrich our lives. We have all become attached; humans, dogs and cats alike.

In less than one hour of being with this sweet girl, I knew she could not go anywhere else. As we are awaiting a hopefully full recovery from her medical ups and downs, she is currently still a foster with GRR. While she is already my girl at heart, once she is medically cleared by GRR I hope to make her an official member of our family. Thank you GRR for sending me such an angel!

 


Obesity in Golden Retrievers
Dr. Ron Stried, GRR Medical Director





OBESITY is an accumulation of excess body fat. Extra body weight and excess body fat tend to go hand in hand, so most overweight dogs will have excess body fat. Body weight is easy to measure when assessing if a dog is overweight or obese-easier than trying to measure body fat. Using body weight as a guide, dogs considered to be overweight when they weigh 10-20% above their ideal body weight. They’re considered obese when they weigh 20% or more above their ideal body weight.

What are the risks with obesity?

Excess fat negatively impacts a dog’s health and longevity. It was always accepted that heavy dogs lived a shorter lifespan than lean dogs, usually by 6-12 months. A large lifetime study of Labrador retrievers has found that being even moderately overweight can reduce canine life expectancy by neatly two years compared to the leaner counterparts. It’s a sobering statistic.

Previously, fat was considered to be relatively inert tissue, simply storing excess energy calories and adding to body mass. Scientific evidence now reveals that fat tissue is biologically active. It secretes inflammatory hormones and creates oxidative stress on the body’s tissue, both of which contribute to many diseases.

Obese dogs develop an increased risk for:
  • Cancers of all types, diabetes mellitus, heart disease and hypertension
  • Osteoarthritis and a faster degeneration of affected joints
  • Urinary bladder stones
  • Anesthetic complications as they are less heat tolerant
On the other hand, obesity may be an indicator of disease, such as hypothyroidism or Cushing’s disease.

How do I know if my dog is obese?

The very first step in dealing with an overweight or obese dog is to recognize and acknowledge there is a problem. Your veterinarian and the veterinary health care team can assist with an assessment.

Rib coverage is not only an important measurement to help you identify if your dog is overweight, but it’s also easy for you to do at home, on your own. If you hold your hand palm down and feel your knuckles with the flats of the fingers on the opposite hand, this is how your dog’s ribs should feel just behind the shoulder blades. It’s also a good method for measuring weight loss progress between formal weigh-ins.

How do I adjust my dog’s meals to help him/her lose weight?

Once you’ve identified that your dog is overweight or obese, it is important to adjust feedings specifically for weight loss-using a specific nutritional product, a specific portion and specific meal frequency. There are scientifically formulated nutritional products to help with healthy and safe weight reduction in dogs. It is not appropriate to simply reduce the volume of their current food. This will cause malnourishment over time. It is appropriate and important to feed a nutritional product that has lower overall calorie density yet maintains and appropriate nutrient balance.

Once the new food has been selected and the new portions are determined, it is critical that you be consistent with feeding-portions and meal frequency-and to resist the temptation to provide inappropriate snacks. Fresh or frozen green beans, broccoli, cauliflower, and apples, as well as air-popped popcorn all make excellent snacks if approved by your veterinarian.

Regular weigh-ins, every 2 to-3 weeks, are an important component of successful canine weight loss and it keeps everyone accountable-Weight Watchers* has been using this principle for decades. It is important to verify weight loss, to ensure that weight loss is neither to rapid not excessive, and to determine when enough weight has been lost.

What happens when we reach our weight loss goal?

Once an ideal body weight and condition has been achieved, it is important to maintain. Once again, the veterinary health care team can help you find an appropriate food and portion for weight maintenance. Portion control is critical at this stage to prevent regaining weight. After so much hard work, a relapse in obesity would be unfortunate. Yo-yo weight loss and gain is no healthier for dogs than for humans. The benefits of normalizing body weight and condition make the effort well worth it!

 


Shiner and Billie

Shiner (16-096 and 18-077) was adopted in 2016 by a loving couple who, unfortunately, were unable to continue to care for Shiner (and his buddy Billie (18-076)). They contacted GRR to inquire about relinquishing Shiner back to GRR, hopefully with Billie, a non-Golden. The answer was, of course! One of the wonderful things about GRR is that once a dog is a GRR dog, they are always a GRR dog and we will take them back if circumstances require. Billie was brought into the GRR fold as a companion animal to Shiner.

Great news! They were both adopted together on August 17th by Brian and Amy Romick and are settling nicely into their new, loving family.

 


Hudson@Home
Judy Sebesta

Installment #3: Oh, the Places You’ll Go!

I love Dr. Seuss’s book about the journey of life and all its challenges. The title seems an appropriate one for this month’s column, which focuses on a few adventures that Hudson has been having away from home.

As mentioned in the past, I have engaged a trainer at DogBoy’s Dog Ranch to work on Hudson’s ball obsession. Certainly, most Goldens love balls, but Hud’s love is an all-consuming passion. If he sees a ball — particularly a large one, like a basketball, and one in motion — he loses all focus. In order for Hudson to fulfill his potential, and to be able to take him anywhere and do all the things I would like to do with him, I have felt that controlling this obsession should be a priority.

We have had several sessions with Jen at DogBoy’s; she outlined a training plan that included both desensitization and counter-conditioning. Our exercises include things like:

  • Letting Hud have as many balls, of varying sizes, as he wants at home (thank you, Goodwill, for providing relatively inexpensive basketballs and footballs, although a new problem has become that Hudson immediately pops any ball and/or tears it up, rendering it much less appealing to him).

  • Playing “two balls,” in which Hudson chases one ball while I throw another, repeating the cycle continuously.

  • Trading him something of “higher value” than a ball.

  • Although the latter is key to controlling his obsession when we encounter a ball (or a ball-shaped object like, oh, I don’t know, a watermelon) out in the world, it has proven unsuccessful so far as a strategy. We have been unable to find anything (not hotdogs, or steak, or freeze-dried liver or cheese or anything) higher value than a ball, particularly if it is moving. The lure — of a bouncing ball, of a ball being thrown, of a tennis ball being volleyed — is just too great for my Hudson. But we will keep working on it, so stay tuned!

Meanwhile, I took Hudson to meet my parents, who live in the DFW area, twice this summer. Introducing Hudson to new people and environments is an important part of his training. The first day we visited, Hud reverted to some of his original problematic behaviors, like counter surfing and snatching inappropriate objects. But by the second day (and with lots of patience on my parents’ part) he settled in and became quite attached to my Dad, frequently happily sitting at his feet. Although my Dad is not an effusive or overly affectionate man, I could tell he was pleased by the attention and companionship.


Hudson and my dad

Hudson’s innate Golden charm is hard to resist!

We also participated in our first volunteer event at Tomlinsons' Braker and 183 location. With three other golden ambassadors, Hudson helped raise awareness of the great work that GRR does. Except for attempting to steal a stuffed pig, he was a near-perfect gentleman. I now have had him for over three months, and oh, the places he has gone already – and the places he has yet to go!


Me and Ambassador Hudson

 


 In Loving Memory - Durango (11-035)
Michelle Goldberg




We adopted Durango in June 2011. He was about 1 1/2 to 2 years old. He was tall and lanky, had huge paws, big floppy ears and gorgeous amber colored eyes. We always said he had feet like a lion. When we had our meet, it was love at first sight and there was no question that he was meant to be our dog. Durango was our second GRR dog.

We brought Durango home and he fit right in from day one. He was very nervous and needed lots of confidence building. Luckily we were just the perfect home to help him come out of his shell. We had two other dogs and a cat at that time, so Durango instantly had new best buddies.





Durango blossomed into such an incredible boy who stole the hearts of everyone he ever met. We used to call him the “greeter” because he always had to make sure he said hello to everyone and that they had a chance to pet him. He absolutely loved to get dirty all of the time. I’m convinced it was mostly because he knew we’d spend hours grooming him to get him clean again. He loved being rubbed, brushed and generally pampered. He was truly at his happiest when he was just being petted and loved on.

Durango was the best car rider, loved to travel and go on adventures. He truly was the easiest dog we’ve had; aside from his occasional digging in the yard, he was the perfect boy. He always ate everything and anything you fed him. He was never picky. He had the sweetest personality and just knew he was there to be your best friend. He loved to play with his canine siblings (four other GRR dogs; Sedona, Juneau, Kona and Sitka) and would have played with Frisco (the kitty) had Frisco engaged.

Durango was diagnosed with histiocytic sarcoma in November, 2017. He endured two different courses of chemo and radiation extremely well and continued to live a wonderful quality of life. Sadly though, the cancer was too aggressive and continued to spread. Our sweet boy lost the battle on August 8th and crossed the rainbow bridge. We were fortunate to be with him at home, holding him as he lay in his dog bed, outside in the fresh air. Exactly as he would have wanted if he could have chosen.

Durango’s memories will live in our hearts forever and we will always get choked up when we reminisce about all of the joy he brought into our lives. Durango, we love you.



 


Happy Fall Y'All

 


It Takes a Village
Margo Biba

Good news from surgeon Steve Kerpsack at CTVSH, regarding #18-036 Radio’s ear ablation surgery on August 21st. Radio had ear ablation surgery this afternoon, as he had an incurable MRSA ear infection deep inside the ear canal. The ear canal was swollen shut and there was zero chance of getting medication to the inside of the ears.

Radio’s condition deteriorated over the past week; he experienced vertigo and anorexia, and had difficulty standing or walking. It hurt when Radio moved his jaw or tried to eat. He cried when the ear was touched. Dr. Kerpsack examined Radio this morning and we agreed that, in spite of the risks for an older and heartworm positive dog, the surgery was imperative, as Radio would require euthanasia without it.

Ear ablation surgery is where the surgeon removes the entire ear canal and damaged tissue and then sews shut the ear. I watched a couple online videos of ear ablation surgery. That sure will turn your stomach, the first time you watch the procedure.

The surgery went well, with no problems. There was a big abscess inside the ear, as Dr. Kerpsack had suspected. The abscess explains the painful jaw and vertigo. The loss of appetite was likely due to pain. There is an important facial nerve right in the area where ear ablation surgery is done and Radio’s nerve was trapped inside new bone, which had developed due to the long-time infection. Dr. Kerpsack was able to release the nerve from the newly formed bone and surrounding tissue, without damaging the nerve. Radio is still able to blink his eye.

The ear canal had swollen to 3 to 4 times its normal size, due to the severe infection. The tissue in the area was quite angry looking. Radio stayed at CTVSH for 3 nights to recover from surgery and returned to his home with us on August 24th.

Thanks to all those who helped with Radio’s surgery:

  • Surgeon Steve Kerpsack and his stellar team at CTVSH.
  • CTVSH dermatologist, Mitzi Clark, DVM, who pushed hard to proceed with the ear ablation surgery.
  • GRR’s medical director, Ron Stried, DVM, who did Radio’s pre-surgical bloodwork and provided medical care when Radio’s health declined over the weekend.
  • Animal Communicator, Kay Anderson, who did an emergency reading of Radio and identified that the sudden onset anorexia and difficulty standing were related to the ear infection.
  • GRR’s grant writer, Amy Sebasta. Amy contacted Golden Rescue in Naples, Florida.
  • Golden Rescue in Naples, Florida donated $1,000 toward Radio’s surgery.
  • The many people who donated toward Radio’s ear surgery and GRR’s EGF fund.
  • GRR’s foster home finder, Susan Perry. Susan came to the house and did a Reiki healing session for Radio, which helped lots. Then Susan continued providing remote Reiki healing sessions.
Finally, please help support Radio’s recovery. This technique works well; I have used it before with good success. Please take a moment to read these positive healing statements out loud, sending positive statements to the Universe:
  • Radio heals easily and effortlessly.
  • Radio recovers quickly and fully.
  • Radio is pain-free.
  • Radio has a long and happy life.

UPDATE on 8/27:The good news keeps coming on #18-036 Radio, after his ear ablation surgery last week. (Ear ablation is when the surgeon removed the entire ear canal, due to severe ear infections which cannot be cured with medication.) Radio is eating better -- at first he would only eat hotdogs. He is brighter and more alert and smiley. The incision continues to drain -- good, as we want the remaining fluid and infection to drain out of the canal. The most exciting news -- he is walking straighter and more quickly, now that the chronic vertigo is resolving. Very happy at Radio's progress!

 


Shop!
GRR Facebook Group

At the request of the GRR Facebook Group, we're beginning a list of dog-friendly stores, so if you have an establishment to add to the list, please send an email to the newsletter editor.

It would be a good idea to call ahead to the store that you're interested in, just to be sure that dogs are allowed at their location. Some establishments may be subject to mall requirements that do not allow animals.

Stores

  • Macy's
  • Home Depot
  • Lowe's
  • Tuesday Morning
  • Home Goods
  • TJ Maxx
  • Petco
  • Petsmart
  • Tomlinsons
  • Tractor Supply Co.

We will keep an ongoing list at the end of the newsletter. FYI: The BringFido website gives you more information for hotels and restaurants in your specified area.

Thanks to Shannon Bennett and the Facebook group for this great suggestion!

 


5 Ways Loving a Senior Dog Will Transform Your Life
iheartdogs.com

By Adriana Sandovalon - August 01, 2018

Some people may not understand the appeal of loving a senior dog. But we know that nothing compares to getting to share a good friend’s golden years with them. You’ll definitely notice changes in your dog as he turns grey, but have you seen any changes in yourself? The following may not apply to everyone, but these are some of the ways your life might change as you spend time with a senior dog.

1. Rules Go Out the Window

All those carefully taught rules that were once etched in stone around your house are quickly forgotten. You may have spent years teaching your dog not to eat “people food” or scolding him when he climbs into your clean laundry. Then as he gets older you find yourself bending or outright breaking your own rules for your senior dog. And after all the loyal companionship they’ve offered you, what’s a little chicken off your plate now that they’re older? You tell your puppy not to beg at dinner, but when he gets older you may find yourself making him an identical meal!

2. You Become More Patient

Whereas our puppies always seem to be in a rush to do everything, our senior dogs take their time. Age slows our dogs down in more ways than one. We learn that loving a senior dog means adjusting to their new pace rather than asking them to keep up with ours. Walks become shorter and slower. Accidents in the house are more likely, but you’d hardly think to complain. Though these aren’t our favorite moments, they’re tiny inconveniences when we get to spend more time with our best friends.

3. You Miss Them Even When They Are In the Room

Remember waking up in the middle of the night to a wet nose nudging your face? Or wishing your dog would take a nap so you could have one of your own? Those moments will become a memory. Your older dog will spend most of his golden years in Dreamland. You may be tempted to wake him up for snuggles or play, but it’s best to let him sleep. Senior dogs need between 15 and 18 hours of sleep a day! A good bed will become more important than ever.

Continue reading.

 


Handling "The Jollies"
Contributed by Rick Gilpin

You will make mistakes that scare your new dog. You will drop something that makes a loud noise, or perhaps even accidentally fall right on them. You will stumble over your dog. You will get caught in their leash. You will turn on the TV set without realizing that the volume is cranked all the way up. These loud noises and unexpected commotions frighten almost all dogs that are new to a home.

When you accidentally frighten your dog, it's best to laugh it off immediately and play a quick round of "The Jollies". Basically, you want to act as if you're having fun, in effect saying, "That is so cool that I tripped over you and dropped the groceries and now there's a broken glass jar that we all get to stay away from. Wow!" This is not unlike responding to a child who's taken a tumble. Children and dogs look to us to see if they should be upset or not. Have fun while you move your dog to safety, and continue doing "The Jollies" while you clean up the mess and give them a treat or two. If they're hiding just keep doing "The Jollies". Don't try to pet or lure them out, though you may leave a few treats nearby to take when they are ready. You're trying to teach your dog that the world is filled with unexpected and startling events, but we don't have to fear them.

 


GRR Monthly Status Report: July 25 - August 24


Came into care: 18-077 Brinkley, 18-078 Bentley, 18-079 Daisy, 17-115 Boomer, 18-080 Miles, 18-081 Maybree, 18-082 Avery

Adopted: 17-084 Leo, 18-067 Izzy, 18-068 Winston, 18-065 Jaffa, 18-058 Gracie, 18-077 Brinkley, 18-076 Billie, 16-096 Shiner, 18-052 Colonel, 18-060 Cooper

Currently in Foster Care: 25 Dogs - 13 available/available soon, 6 foster pending adoptions, 6 permanent fosters

 


Thoughts, Prayers and Remembrance



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

Lucky
Brinkley
Durango
Major
Willow
Hero
Shelly

 


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.

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.

GRR Website Content Coordinator:
Must have Drupal, HTML, CSS, JavaScript and FTP skills to manage timely updates to our website re: fundraisers, events and general content changes. Approximately 5 hours per week depending on current campaigns.
Please contact Dawn Marie Rae for more details.

 


Meet Our Preferred Partners!





Click here to view our 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!