A Message from Our President...
Margo Biba

There are eight dogs at our house and, although I have not mentioned it to Gary, number nine arrives shortly. Heaven on Earth.

Three parts of that Heaven on Earth are Gary's and my Permanent Foster dogs: Wheeler, Skeeter and Radio. Permanent foster care is a program started many years ago for special needs GRR foster dogs who are unadoptable due to extreme age, and/or severe health or behavior issues. For example:

• 11-094 Wheeler's separation anxiety and over the-top storm phobia result in destruction. When storms hit, Wheeler tears down window blinds and digs through couches and bed mattresses; she is in total panic. Alternatively, when the weather is calm, Wheeler is a relaxed, self-confident extrovert.


• 16-108 Skeeter is extremely shy, anxious and noise phobic. As a former breeding dog, we suspect Skeeter's previous life was barren, without positive exposure to humans or normal life experiences. To Skeeter, the world is terrifying, but she has found a safe haven with us. Be sure to read Arne Larson's memorial about Permanent Foster #10-121 Mikayla, as Skeeter is much like her.


• 18-036 Radio was unable to stand or walk when he came to GRR, so I brought him home for the weekend, thinking we would be forced to euthanize him by Monday. Per x-rays, his spine was almost totally fused. Amazingly, Radio is gaining mobility. He walks like an ancient, drunken sailor but, with quality care, Radio is building strength and stamina. My old pal follows me everywhere, radiating cheerful love.

GRR currently has a total of seven permanent foster dogs who are living out their lives in happiness and contentment. GRR provides their medical care, lifelong, thanks to our generous Golden Angel Sponsors and Co-sponsors. It is a really wonderful program - learn more about it in this newsletter.

Word to the Wise: Check your dog's mouth regularly for unusual lumps or growths because they can be cancer. Google "mouth cancer in dogs" so you'll know what to watch for. We've had two cases of mouth cancer recently: 18-047 April and 18-020 Athena. Poor April's tennis ball sized tumor had metastasized by the time she reached GRR; we couldn't save her. Thank goodness Athena fared better. Her melanoma cancer tumor was discovered early and was successfully removed. Whenever your dog is under anesthesia, specifically request a thorough mouth exam.

As Ever,

Letter From the Editor
Dori Olsen

Hello to you all!

GRR has a wonderful program for our permanent fosters. Don't know what that is? Check out Lynn Turner's articles on the Permanent Fosters and Golden Angels program. Our sponsorship drive for Golden Angels begins this month. Golden Angels are the wonderful sponsors who enable us to provide medical care for our permanent fosters for the rest of their lives.

Hemangiosarcoma is an awful cancer that is prevalent in Golden Retrievers. Be sure to read the article that describes the types of hemangiosarcoma, the symptoms, treatment modalities and prognoses.

The newsletter survey results are in and we will be making some changes that were suggested in the survey. The survey results are summarized in an article that follows. Many thanks to everyone who participated!

Have a great summer!

Dori

The Bidding Has Begun! GRR's 2019 Calendar Auction

Gold Ribbon Rescue invites you to join in the bidding to create our 2019 calendar. Bidding began on Memorial Day, May 28, 2018 at 8 p.m. What better way to spotlight your Golden(s) than in the GRR calendar.

• Monthly bidding lasts for 3 days unless someone elects to Buy Now.
• Open bidding only: January, March, May, July, September and November.
• Buy Now feature: February, April, June, August, October and December. If someone elects to use the Buy Now feature, the bidding stops.
• Special Days: For $10, you can honor your pet with a photo and message. Send your photos to Kathy Simmons by July 30th.
• Free thumbnails: We will use these FREE submissions to scatter throughout the calendar. If you have a favorite photo you'd like to have considered, please send your photo to Kathy Simmons by July 30th.
• NEW this year: The 2019 Calendar Cover is now available. We will auction it after the December bidding ends.

Are you ready? Go to GRR 2019 Calendar to bid. Good luck!

Upcoming Events

Take Your Dog to Work Day - June 22nd
timeanddate.com

Studies have shown that bringing pets to work can increase productivity. So, on the third Sunday of June take your dog to work to celebrate Take Your Dog to Work Day. This unofficial holiday, celebrated annually since 1999 on the first Friday after Father’s Days, was created by Pet Sitters International as a way to encourage dog adoption and to celebrate the love and joy dogs bring to the lives of their pet parents.

The week preceding this unofficial holiday is Take Your Pets to Work Week, which this year is the week of June 18th through June 22nd.

How to Celebrate?

The Results are In!
Dori Olsen

The results are in! Thanks so much to everyone who took the time to complete the newsletter survey. It helps me to focus on topics that you, the readers, enjoy. A summary of the responses follows:

1. Length of Newsletter - The majority of responses indicated the newsletter is about the right length. There were a couple of suggestions to link the external articles to the external source and not put so much of the content in the newsletter.


2. Style - There were also a couple of comments that the newsletter is too folksy, too cutesy, too dry, not professional. I'm not clear on how to respond to these comments so I would appreciate more information.


3. Most Popular - The overwhelming winner was dog stories: already adopted dogs, available dogs, special needs dogs, anything about GRR dogs. Those stories will be continuing, I promise.


4. Also Popular - Runners up, tied for second place, were articles on Golden medical issues and articles on training and behavior. Definitely more to come!


5. Time to Read - If you don't have time to read the newsletter in one sitting, please be aware that the monthly newsletter is put onto the GRR website a few days after it is published to the membership. There are newsletters archived going back to 2013. Go to GRR Newsletters and pick your issue.


6. Format - I agree that the format could be friendlier and more exciting. We are limited by our newsletter vendor's capabilities, but we will be exploring what we can do to enhance the appearance of the newsletter.

I'm always open to feedback and suggestions, so feel free to contact me at newsletter editor. The survey was anonymous so if you responded that you would like to volunteer or have me contact you, please send me an email and I will get right back to you.

Our Golden Angel Sponsorship Program
Lynn Turner

We all know every single Golden Retriever is special in its own way. Sometimes, they just need some extra special care and love before that Golden personality shines through. That is where our Golden Angel sponsorship program for our permanent fosters enters the picture.

Goldens who have serious medical issues or behavioral issues will sometimes enter the Permanent Foster Program. These dogs are not adopted out because their issues are so severe and they need the continuous care of one special family. It can be anything from trust issues (fight or flight), separation anxiety (to the point of destruction), ongoing serious medical problems, to a vast number of other problems. Thanks to the time, love, training and especially patience that our foster families give these dogs, their Golden attitude will eventually shine through.

Enter our heroes, our Golden Angel sponsors. Without the huge hearts of our sponsors, GRR would never be able to care for and continue to bring in the permanent foster dogs.

Twice a year, in January and June, we have a sponsorship drive. During the sponsorship drive, letters are sent to current sponsors to see if they would be willing to continue to sponsor their chosen dog for another year. A full sponsorship is $500 a year and a half sponsorship is $250 a year. This sponsorship donation is tax deductible and helps to offset the annual medical costs associated with the PFs. You will receive updates and pictures throughout the year of your sponsored Golden.

Please visit the Permanent Foster Goldens section on our website and take a look at these wonderful dogs. Maybe one will touch your heart and you will want to join the group of current sponsors. It is a rewarding feeling to know that you are helping a Golden live the golden life of a dog previously considered less than perfect.

Meet Our Seven Permanent Fosters!
Lynn Turner

Learn about these beautiful souls that stay in GRR's care for life... If you are interested in sponsoring, please read more about the program here: Permanent Fosters. or contact Lynn Turner for further questions.

---

In Loving Memory - Mikayla (10-121)
Arne Larson

We said a final goodbye to Mikayla (10-121) today (5/25/18) after almost eight years of fostering this sweet girl. Over the last month, she had gone downhill quickly and was having a difficult time getting up and walking, going outside to go potty and was eating sparingly. We knew she was probably in pain and the time had come for her to journey over the Rainbow Bridge.

“Mikki" was a breeding female in a puppy mill in East Texas and along with another male and female, was rescued by GRR in September of 2010. Apparently, Mikki’s home for the first 5 years of her life was a 6’x8’ cinder-block cell, open to the weather, summer and winter. She obviously was never socialized and was extremely withdrawn and frightened of everything. Understandably, she was thunder-phobic for the rest of her life. After staying in a crate for the first couple of days at our house, we introduced her to our family room sofa to become familiar with what living is a real home is like. The couch became her safe place for the rest of her life, and she always felt comfortable in “her spot”. She eventually found a corner in the kitchen that became her second hideout, and a dog bed in our master bedroom that was her nighttime comfort spot.

In the beginning, Mikki was nocturnal. She would spend her days sleeping to avoid the family, and instead use the nighttime hours to rummage through the house and collect things like stuffed animals, shoes, clothes and even a brick! We would find a pile of treasures in her bed each morning, evidence of her hunting activities while we slept. Although she outgrew her upside-down circadian schedule, she never let go of collecting valuables, specializing in footwear and lingerie. If she walked past us into the closet, we knew that she would soon emerge with a shoe in her mouth.

After nine months, we decided to start taking Mikki on walks with the rest of our pack. The first few were scary, and we double-leashed her to make sure she didn’t get away. Gaining her trust and extending the walks a little more each time, she was eventually able to accompany us on the entire loop around our neighborhood. Over the years, she became a little braver with each outing, until in 2016 construction on a new HEB started just a couple of blocks from our house. The sound of the heavy equipment sent her back to darker days, and she never ventured out on walks again, choosing to spend that time with a peanut-butter Kong instead. Over time we also realized that she had been so deeply damaged that allowing her to go to another adoption home was out of the question, and we agreed to have her as a “permanent foster” in our house for the rest of her life.

With no exaggeration, it took three years before Mikki would allow us to approach her in the house without running, and an additional two more before we could go up to her in the back yard. However, over the next 3 years her personality blossomed and she would play bow to us when getting up in the morning and greet us at the door with a wagging tail. She also found a close friend in our tuxedo cat “Max” and they became inseparable, snuggling and sleeping together constantly. Although Mikki wasn’t playful with the other dogs, she would play with an imaginary friend when she was by herself, tossing stuffed animals around and barking.

Donna and I were blessed to have Mikki as part of our family, and believe that she was one of our most satisfying “foster” success stories. We feel grateful that we could turn Mikki’s life around and give her the homelife that every dog deserves, full of love and trust, kisses and treats. We will deeply miss her sugar-face and her gentle soul, but we know that she is no longer scared or in pain. Run free sweet Mikki. Wonderful memories of you will be in our hearts forever.

(Editor's Note: Mikayla was a Permanent Foster and was sponsored by Ann and Copper.)

Puppy Smart: A Guide to Responsible Breeders
Compiled by Homeward Bound Golden Retriever Rescue

FACT: The majority of dogs surrendered to shelters are between 7 months and 1 year of age.

In Loving Memory - Sophie
Dawn Marie Rae

May 30th - My pain is bright and loud and muscular. And. It. Is. Raw. So many of us know this feeling.

But for the loss of the goofiness and unconditional love that she abided me, Sophie is now free of pain. Godspeed my beloved. You gave me such joy.

The Horror of Hemangiosarcoma
caninecancer.com

Hemangiosarcoma in dogs is an aggressive, malignant tumor of blood vessel cells. With the exception of the skin form of hemangiosarcoma, a diagnosis of hemangiosarcoma is serious. Because these tumors start in blood vessels, they are frequently filled with blood and when a blood-filled tumor ruptures, it can cause problems with internal or external bleeding.

Hemangiosarcoma can theoretically arise from any tissue where there are blood vessels, which is essentially anywhere in the body, but usually appear in the skin, soft tissue, spleen or liver with the most common site being the spleen. They are highly metastatic and will frequently spread to the brain, but also to the lungs, spleen, heart, kidneys, skeletal muscle and bone. This type of cancer in dogs is typically classified as dermal, subcutaneous or hypodermal, and visceral.

Dermal Hemangiosarcoma
The skin form of hemangiosarcoma are the most easily removed surgically and have the greatest potential for complete cure. The skin form looks like a rosy red or even black growth on the skin. This form is associated with sun exposure and thus tends to form on non-haired or sparsely haired skin (such as on the abdomen) or on areas with white fur. Dogs with short white haired fur (such as Dalmatians and pit bull terriers) are predisposed to the development of this tumor. Approximately 1/3 of cases will spread internally in the malignant way usually associate with cancer so it is important to remove such growths promptly. This form of menagiosarcoma is covered more broadly in the Skin Cancer section of this website.

Subcutaneous (hypedermal) Hemangiosarcoma
The overlying skin of a subcutaneous hemangiosarcoma is often completely normal. However below the skin is a dark red blood growth. Up to 60% of hypodermal hemangiosarcomas spread internally.

Visceral Hemangiosarcoma – spleen
The spleen is a large abdominal organ which while not essential for life, serves an important role to the blood and lymph functions. Splenic growths have the unfortunate tendency to break open and bleed profusely regardless of whether they are benign or malignant. While a splenectomy (removal of the spleen) ends the prospect of this type of life-threatening sudden bleed, splenic hemangiosarcoma is still a rapidly spreading malignancy.

To continue reading, click on the link above.

Surfing

My Name is Banks and I am a Gold Ribbon Rescue Golden.
By Banks (17-104)

Even though I have loved as hard as I could, not everyone loved me back enough to keep me and understand who I am. My first family thought it best that I live outside always, but then they gave me to another family. They had kids and I loved those children, but I had to sleep outside at night. This second family realized that at night, something would happen to me, and my body would make funny movements and I couldn’t control myself and I would have accidents. It scared them and even though it made me so sad, they gave me away. I was 11 months old.

But, it turns out they loved me because they gave me to GRR. I got to come inside a house, my new family let me curl next to them on the couch, and they even helped me not have my funny night problems anymore. Also, they did not mind that I was big and sometimes acted silly. Guess what? They also realized that I do not see very well because I have something called a CAT-a-RACT that I have had since I was very little. Even though this family loved me, they always told me that there was someone else out there for me. And one day, I met another lady.

But here, there are other dogs. They liked me right away. Mary and Willow help me when I get too silly. And Clara and Bungus (who only has 3 legs and said he does not mind if I cannot see!) showed me places to dig, and pools in which I could splash about. In return, I showed them how to pull leaves off trees and drop them in the really big pool. Sometimes I sleep on the floor, and sometimes I sleep on the bed, next to my mom. In the morning, the first thing I do when I wake up is give everyone 34 kisses each. I think they like it, because it makes them smile. Can you believe that I even get to go places and play? At mealtimes, to show what a good boy I am, I sit nicely. Other times, when my mom calls my name and asks me to stop doing something, I listen. I think I must be doing okay, because she kisses me a lot, and hugs me and says, “I love you so much, Banksie!”

Banks – that’s me – and I am a Gold Ribbon Rescue Golden.

Where are They Now? - Bonnie (18-048)
Jerry and Nancy Seacrist

“Bonnie” - It comes from the Scottish word "bonnie" meaning "pretty, attractive", which was itself derived from Middle French bonne "good" as a way to describe a fair, good and beautiful girl. That is in turn derived from the Latin word "bonus" meaning good.

We truly believe that Bonnie is heaven sent! She is sweet, loving and greets everyone, including other dogs, with her tail wagging. She is perfect in the house and is free to roam when we leave, never disturbing a thing. She is the epitome of her name!

Our families’ dogs have all sent her “welcome packages.” She went to our granddaughter’s 9th birthday party on May 20th in Houston, where she met everyone including Bertie, their English Bulldog. Our granddaughter said she wouldn’t have her family party unless Bonnie came!

Bonnie has only been with us for a short while, but we can’t imagine life without her! What a beautiful blessing she is to us!

Come!
iheardogs.com

How To Correct a Dog that Doesn't Come When Called
- Amber King

We’ve all been there; you’re the crazy person in the neighborhood with the dog that refuses to come when called. Whether it was a training session gone awry or an accident that let them slip out the door, you’re now left with a dog to catch and a neighborly reputation to redeem. You know your four-legged fugitive hears you calling their name while they trespass into the neighbor’s garage and sniff-walk their way down the street, but they’re ignoring you.

Coming when called is one of the most important lessons to teach your dog, but it’s also one of the most difficult for them to grasp. Doing it right requires your time, dedication, consistency, and the right strategy.

First, Recover Your Dog!

If you’re training in a safe area and your dog isn’t doing anything besides sniffing the ground (while ignoring you), recovering them shouldn’t be too hard. The issue comes in when your dog is actively evading you or in danger of running into trouble.

A Game You Can’t Win

If that’s the case, first learn what not to do. Your instinct will be to chase your dog while yelling in your no-nonsense-get-back-here-right-now voice. In this scenario, your instinct is wrong. Some dogs love to play keep-away, and they’ll see you chasing after them as the start of a fun game. And because four legs are almost always faster than two, you’ll lose. Even if they don’t think you’re playing, they still won’t want to be caught.

Act a Little Crazy (or a lot)

A better strategy is to get them to come to you. We already established calling their name isn’t going to work, but there are other ways to get their attention. Screech like a maniac, stomp your feet, jump up and down, do the worm dance—do anything out of the ordinary that will make your dog look at you. The second you have their eyes, turn around and run in the other direction. That’s right, run away from your dog. Most dogs will be so intrigued by your strange behavior that they’ll stop what they’re doing to chase you down.

Get Low

If your dog isn’t into chasing, try testing their curiosity. Once you have their attention, sit or lay down on the ground. Flap your arms and make wailing noises for added affect. Your dog will probably think you’re either hurt or playing a fun game, and they’ll want to come over to investigate.

Last Resort
If neither of those strategies work, your only option is to go and get your dog. Whatever you do, however, don’t run. Walk calmly toward them and talk using a soft, normal voice. You don’t want to spook them, and you really don’t want them to think they’re in trouble.

Now, Make Sure It Doesn’t Happen Again...More

Where are They Now? - Duke (18-037)
Judy Gros

 

It had been more than a year and a half since our beloved GRR Golden died. We had been looking for another one for a few months. The call came from GRR that there was an owner surrender Golden coming in and would we like to foster him? Of course! Duke was taken to MVVC for his intake exam and a bath and we picked him up from there. It took less than 24 hours for us to decide “this is our dog.” Our kids and grandkids all came to meet Duke and everyone agreed that he is the perfect dog for us. As an added bonus, he also gets along great with our cat, Freddie.

We were leaving for a two week vacation a week after getting him, so off he went to stay with Margo and Gary Biba for the duration. We signed the adoption papers when we went to pick him up from Margo. This boy was not getting away!

Duke was an owner surrender. His family had had him since he was eight weeks old; he s eight years old now. Duke was taken to a shelter by his prior family and someone at the shelter convinced the owner to contact GRR instead. We are so thankful that they did.

Duke is well-mannered, well-trained and very sweet. He walks well on a leash and knows some commands. He leans on you to invite attention and ear scratches. He even fetches. He rarely barks, but sometimes his excitement at seeing deer in the front yard gets the best of him.

He usually has a toy in his mouth or nearby. His current favorite toy is actually a cat toy that our cat didn't like. It looks like a flattened dead squirrel. He sleeps on the floor of our bedroom, usually between us and the bathroom door. The very nice memory foam bed we got him needs a new home, because he has no use for it, preferring the rug or tile floor.

I still can't believe anyone would surrender such a great dog, but we are so happy they did. He is our forever dog.

Ainsley Chillin' With Mr. Peacock

Thoughts, Prayers and Remembrance

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

Rio
Ruger
Happy
Bailey Boo
Mikayla
Sophie

 In Loving Memory - Rio (Whittles 10-026)
Patti Mckinzie Schultz

Rio arrived around Valentine’s Day, 2010. He had been named Whittles (10-026). GRR had rescued him from the Texas Rio Grande Valley, so of course we had to name him Rio. He was a scrawny, but beautiful, 7 month-old Golden. We soon learned of his obsession for retrieving tennis balls and had to have his dewclaws repaired several times due to his enthusiasm retrieving. He loved to swim and no one could be in the pool without Rio joining them. He always ran into the kitchen when he heard veggies being sliced, but he never developed a taste for leafy greens. He loved his home, his backyard and his pack, Bonnie and Cooper. He earlier fought, and won, the battle with mast cell cancer, but yesterday (5/3/18) hemangiosarcoma was too much for him to fight. He curled up in a flower bed in his backyard and went to sleep. Thank you GRR for the wonderful work that you do and to Rio for being such a “good fellow” and sweet member of our family. We will miss you so much.

GRR Monthly Status Report: April 23 - May 22

Came into care:16-024 Rhonda (Molly), 18-050 Mr. Buddy, 18-051 Lola, 18-052 Colonel, 18-053 Hoppy, 18-054 Luna, 18-055 Angel, 18-056 Zeus

Adopted:18-029 Hondo, 18-033 Sully, 17-011 Brixie, 18-038 Gibbs, 18-048 Bonnie, 18-034 Celia, 18-049 Ollie, 18-002 Tippy, 18-016 Latte, 18-010 Holly Dolly, 17-046 Boyd

Currently in Foster Care: 41 Dogs - 8 available/available soon, 25 foster pending adoptions, 8 permanent fosters

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.

Foster Coordinator Lead:
Assign foster coordinators (FC) to new foster and FPA (foster pend adopt) families. Ensure FCs have the materials they need and track information. Time requirement is 3-5 hours per week. For more information, please contact Michelle Goldberg.

GRR Website Content Coordinator:
Must have Drupal, HTML, CSS 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

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.

Apaws! Apaws! - GRR's Volunteer Appreciation Party

Gail March was the gracious hostess for our annual Volunteer Appreciation Party at her home on May 6th. She absolutely outdid herself with live music from the Therapy Sisters, great food, prizes such as Goldenopoly, a beer stein adorned with Goldens and a book of poems written from the perspective of a dog. Barbara Tankey was the lucky recipient of the book of poems and has been kind enough to share a poem a day on the GRR Facebook page.

To share in the fun, click on the GRR Facebook page for photos of the event by Candice Gourley.

Meet Our Preferred Partners!

• The Canine Center for Training and Behavior Austin


• DogBoy's Dog Ranch Pflugerville


• Dog Joy Ranch Pflugerville


• Jumping Jack Dog Ranch Manchaca


• In Harmony With Dogs San Antonio


• LOMA Training and Behavior San Antonio

• Buttercup Veterinary Hospital Cedar Park


• Central Texas Specialty and Emergency Hospital North Austin, South Austin, Round Rock locations


• Forest Creek Animal Hospital Round Rock


• Manchaca Village Veterinary Care South Austin


• My Pets Vet Animal Hospital San Antonio


• Spicewood Springs Animal Hospital North Central Austin


• Village Veterinary Hospital Bee Cave


• Sunset Canyon Veterinary Clinic Dripping Springs


• Windsor Park Veterinary Clinic North Central Austin


• Converse Animal Hospital Northeast of San Antonio


• Castroville Veterinary Clinic Castroville


• Town & Country Animal Hospital Kerrville


• San Marcos Veterinary Clinic San Marcos


• Temple Veterinary Hospital Temple