February 2016
Golden GRRRowl
“A Golden Retriever Can Change Your Life!”™
A registered
non-profit 501(c)(3)
charitable
organization
ROWAN
Golden Retrievers Enrich our Lives
by Karen Delicate
We have been owned by Golden Retrievers for over 36 years, and bought our last dog from a ‘breeder’ in 1998. We started
volunteering with Golden Retriever Rescue in 1999, joining GRRR in 2007, and we have never looked back.
Copper was our first foster dog, a beautiful dark golden boy, only 7 months old, who had been terribly abused. He was terrified of us,
almost catatonic, but he adored our three male Golden Retrievers; Ben, Cody and Gus, and through them Copper learned that
people can be kind and gentle. We spent the better part of the first two weeks that Copper was with us, sitting on and moving about
the floor. If we stood up, he would flatten to the ground as if hoping the floor would open and he could disappear. Slowly, we were
able to move without him bolting from the room – and although he startled easily, he grew more brave and trusting. It broke our
hearts to place him, but we knew that his adoptive mom was able to provide him an amazing home, and that she did for over 13
years. Copper’s mom, Judy, became a very good and trusted friend to us, and the benchmark for the amazing friendships we’ve
forged with people over the years... all thanks to our mutual love of Golden Retrievers.
Karen & Mike
with KASEY,
SADIE, RUDY,
DUSTY, DOOGAN,
FoXY & SANDI
I could never begin to do justice to the stories, in just a few paragraphs, of all the amazing dogs that crossed our threshold over the
years; either as overnight guests just awaiting transport, or as full-fledged fosters, entrusted to us to help find that forever home
and family, deserving of their devotion. Dogs have come to us ill, abandoned and abused – some with broken bones, and many with
broken spirits. Broken bones eventually heal; but broken spirits require so much more. Some dogs needed surgery, and a quiet safe
place to recover, and some came to us with behavior issues that challenged even our most stoic resolve. There have also been
countless “awesome” dogs that came to us healthy and beautiful with excellent manners. Some people would refer to those dogs as
“perfect”, but the truth is they are all “perfect”… perfect for someone.
Continued on page 2
“... Broken bones eventually heal;
but broken spirits require so much more.”
I’ve been fortunate to partner with Mary Kenton and GRRR for the last eight years,
helping the unwanted, abandoned and surrendered Goldens from Western South
Dakota. To call the work we’ve done with Mary and GRRR “rewarding” is an
understatement. Mary has allowed me to advocate for Golden Retrievers here in Rapid
City and the entire Black Hills area, by agreeing to take them into GRRR. Because of Mary
and GRRR, we work with area Humane Societies and other rescues to help unwanted
and abandoned Golden s find the homes and families they so desperately need. We
support owners who have to surrender their dogs, regardless of the reason. I lost count
years ago, but would estimate that Mary has opened her arms to more than 75 Golden
Retrievers, as well as a few mixes over the years.
Several people in our area also volunteer with us for GRRR. Chuck and Carolyn Ellington, and Jeff and
Cindy Bailie are the most active, helping with intake, temporary foster care and transport. I met both
couples when they adopted from GRRR, and while doing their home visits, they not only wanted to
adopt, but to volunteer too. Chuck has earned the title of Road Warrior, handling 95% of the
transports to meet volunteers in Orin Junction, Cheyenne and even Ft. Collins. He has even done his
share of full transports from Rapid City all the way to Phoebe’s Place, when other volunteers couldn’t
meet him. Chuck and Carolyn currently have two Goldens, a beautiful Golden boy named Elliott and
darling petite Golden mix girl named Daisy. Jeff and Cindy are my heros, handling intake and
transport, and they open their door to welcome a temporary foster dog every time they are asked.
They are two time “foster failures”, most recently adopting a young yellow Lab they took in as a
temporary foster for GRRR. Jake is a darling pup and a striking complement to his big brother Lincoln, a
GRRR Golden Retriever. I couldn’t imagine ever having a more dedicated and committed group of
Golden loving friends to share in this journey.
KASEY & SANDI
When I started this article we had seven resident dogs, all rescues, or as my husband calls them “used
dogs” - four Golden Retrievers, two former GRRR dogs; one a Golden / Corgi mix, and somehow a
Deerhound mix and a Jack Russell Terrier managed to enter our home and hearts as fosters, and never
left. We had a family photo taken in September for our Christmas card, and two weeks later, we lost
our Golden Angel, Kasey. We knew when GRRR let us bring him home that his heart condition was
severe, and his prognosis was poor, but we were blessed that Kasey outlived his prognosis and we saw
his 2nd birthday. Four weeks to the day after Kasey passed we lost our 10 year old Golden girl, Sandi –
unexpectedly. She gave us no indication that she was sick, yet the cancer was everywhere and we had
no choice but to let her go. We adopted Sandi when she was two years old, and she blessed us with
eight amazing years. We miss them terribly, but are forever grateful they spent their lives with us.
Yes, our dogs require a ton of time, attention and expense. Whether feeding or playing, grooming or playing, walking or playing, training or
playing, vetting or playing…… did I say they like to play? Yes, they are high maintenance and yes, they tie us down and yes, one day they will break
our hearts. We go into these relationships with our dogs, knowing they are only loaned to us for a short time, but we are committed to making the
most of our short walk together on this earth.
Some people may think we are crazy, but what other people think doesn’t matter, what does matter is that our dogs enrich our lives. Because of
them, we strive to be better people; to appreciate the simple things in life, to forgive and to love unconditionally. They have taught us more about
patience, perseverance, resiliency and trust than any book, scholar or job could. Because of them, and all the dogs that came before them, we will
pay it forward – and continue to help dogs in need.
So, here we are, entering our 17th year with Golden Retriever Rescue, and God willing, here’s to
the next 17 years. p
RUDY & DUSTY
Recent Rescues
Dear GRRR:
A special thank you to Deb Kneale and Bob Jorgensen for bringing Suzeigh into our lives.
For those of you who don’t know Deb and Bob, they have been long-time GRRR
members, wonderful doggie foster parents and good friends. I first met Suzeigh at our
Gala this past summer. Deb spoke to me about this Golden Angel, whom they felt so
strongly about, and how she needed to go to a home where she could run, see wildlife,
and get as much love as she could all day long...hmm...possibly two retired people ? There
was just something very special about this little love bug.
Little did I know that Deb and Bob already had plans for this little girl to become part of
our family; they were just waiting for the right time, as we had lost Brandi, our
14-year-old Golden girl a few months earlier. And, to think, my plans were for a puppy!
That time will come, too, but not right now. So, it is funny how your best laid plans can
change so quickly!
Suzeigh is just a blessing, and at 10 years old, a wonderful big sister to our other Golden
rescue, Cooper, who is 9 years old. It’s like they were made for each other and play
together like puppies! And, talk about sweet and loving and just wanting to be petted
24/7. Suzeigh has a tail that almost appears battery operated...it never stops wagging!
SUZEIGH
We could not be happier with the current scenario of our Goldens.
So, with all this love and affection Suzeigh constantly has to give, she is now “ giving back” and has just become a therapy dog volunteer at Littleton
Hospital. In addition to being such a love, Suzeigh is also very special in the fact that she is a two-time cancer survivor. As she does for us, she brings
such joy to so many patients and staff. We are visiting the oncology and infusion centers where Suzeigh is bringing these cancer patients a bit of
comfort and a smile for a moment. It’s almost as if she knows what these people are battling; some of them have commented that she speaks
through her beautiful eyes. It is such a welcoming and warm environment , not to mention how rewarding this is for both of us. It is so true how pets
are needed in the medical field for the psychological healing and well being of people. We feel very lucky to be a part of this.
Suzeigh is just a wonderful addition to our country living out here in Elizabeth. She never misses a beat to be with Dad while he is out doing chores.
And, every day at 4pm, they ride in the truck to get the mail at the end of our road. It is very comical, as Scott drives about 1 mile per hour so Suzeigh
can look out the window. She just loves her car rides - thank goodness we live on a dead end street!
A very special Golden Angel is with us now and we could not be happier. GRRR...thank you so much !
Pat & Scott Rogers
Hi GRRR:
Thank you so much for your generous support of Rookie. He is 12 days out from surgery and is getting better every day. He is walking
and can handle two stairs. Since this is his second total hip replacement, his recovery is a bit slower. He was six weeks out from surgery
number one, therefore he doesn’t seem as confident relying on that hip for primary support.
We set up “tent city” in our living room for nine days so we could sleep close to him until he was out of the woods and walking on his
own. My hubby took him up and down the stairs leading to the yard until that time as well. Some of my favorite photos are from the
water therapy flume during his rehab from surgery number one - he tried to lick his way out at one point.
Rookie is such a tough guy. The orthopedic surgeon said his hips were some of the worst he had ever seen. Considering Dr. Bauer does
more total hip replacements than any vet west of the Mississippi, it was quite a statement. He was 90% out of socket on one side and
had a bone spur the size of a lima bean on the other. He is so courageous that he never complained. We only discovered the issue with
an x-ray for an unrelated issue. Our awesome vet, Dr. Jamie Clevenger, discovered his hip issues, along with a small bullet from an air
gun lodged in his rib cage. He never presented as having hip issues, as he
never reacted during his physical exams. We are all guessing he was so
tough he learned to live with the terrible pain. Our deep thanks and
appreciation to Dr. Bauer who cares so very much about his patients. He
wanted to provide Rookie with a much better quality of life. We knew he was also under the
exceptional care of Janice Mann and team at the Colorado Canine Orthopedics & Rehab Center
in Colorado Springs.
GRRR, Mary and team - thank you so much for investing your love and resources in Rookie.
Gratefully, Wendy and Dan Kinney
ROOKIE
3
Recent Rescues
Hi GRRR:
Here are some pictures of Samson & Cisco whom we lost this
year. Samson was 16 and Cisco was diagnosed with lymphoma.
Also, here is wonder girl, LIBBY! I thank God & GRRR every day
that we are trusted to have her!
With love & many thanks,
Butch & Noel Ekin
LIBBY
SAMSON & CISCO
We at GRRR cannot tell you how gratifying it is to get notes from our adopters about
dogs who have found their forever homes with them. Below is such a note. What makes
this even better is knowing that our close relationship with Foothills Animal Shelter in
helping give one of our non-Golden dogs a wonderful happy home. -Kevin Shipley
Dear GRRR:
LILY
Lily has stolen my heart forever- we are
inseparable. Lilly doesn’t let me too far out of her sight. My kitty
and Lily are slowly getting acquainted - a few hisses from kitty
did the trick! Ha! Ha! Thank you for introducing me to this
beautiful, sweet and loving Golden Girl! Other than learning
some inside manners, Lily is all I could have ever hoped for and
more! The perfect Golden personality truly beams within her!
Bless you and all the volunteers at GRRR for the wonderful work
you do. You are angels to all the Goldens. I will keep in touch
with Lily updates.
Hello GRRR:
I was looking on your website because we just adopted Colbie, the 8- or 9-year-old
Chesapeake Bay Retriever, who was transferred from GRRR to Foothills Animal
Shelter. I noticed her profile was up under “Recently Adopted” and was delighted to
read a bit about her history because she is a TOTALLY amazing dog and we were
curious how she came to needing a new home. She was obviously well cared for
and loved immensely.
My prayers to find a good dog for our family have been answered, and now my
prayers are for the previous owner who is ill and probably shed a lot of tears
watching her go.
My husband and I have three children ages 13, 12 and 9. Our large fenced yard is
perfect for her, we love to walk her, she has perfect manners in the house, and she is
good with our friends and neighbors. My husband described her homecoming
similar to an old roommate moving back in. I just felt compelled to contact you and
let you know
Colbie has found
a family and a
home. We are all
very happy :)
Thank you and
blessings on all
your people and
pets.
Sincerely,
Elisa
Peace and blessings,
Kathy Salimeno
COLBIE
Newsletter Submissions
4
We all love reading about your Goldens and we’d like to hear from you! If you’d like to submit a letter AND photo of your GRRR
rescue, e-mail the letter and digital photo to [email protected], or mail to GRRR at 15350 W. 72nd Ave, Arvada CO
80007. Deadline for the May, 2016 issue is April 6. Thanks!
CHARLIE AND BAILEY
Hello GRRR:
I just wanted to send you new photos of Charlie. He’s doing so
well and we are happy to have him! He loves to wrestle and
play with Bailey and has become very attached to our son.
We adopted Charlie just before Labor Day and although we’ve
only had him for a few months, it feels like he has always been
with us. He has adjusted to life in our home better than we
could have possibly imagined. Charlie has such a gentle, sweet
CHARLIE
and happy personality. He loves our kids, his new dog brother
and pretty much everyone else he meets. Charlie’s house manners are great and his leash training is coming
along. He is very smart and has already learned to sit, lay down, shake and give high five. We feel so incredibly blessed to have Charlie in our lives!
As you can see from the photos, Charlie likes the dog park and it turns out he is a Bronco fan like his
brother, Bailey. Thank you again for this wonderful addition to our family!
Heather Angel
Hello GRRR:
Since I am approaching my two year adoption anniversary, I thought I’d drop a line to let you know
how Lester is doing. I don’t know the exact date, but I adopted Lester in February, 2014. He is a
Golden/Aussie mix that came to you from an El Paso animal shelter in December, 2013.
He has been a wonderful companion, and I’ve grown very attached to him. I bought a town home in
Westminster last year. I don’t have a fenced yard, but he is getting lots of exercise. I put a dog door in
my bedroom door that opens to my large balcony and he watches the rabbits and squirrels while I am
gone during the day. I have a neighbor who comes to take him out midday, and he frequently spends
the afternoon at her house with her and her dog Kacey. We go to the Westminster off leash open
space at least twice a week (lots more in the summer), and usually make a 4-5 mile hike out of it. He
accompanies me on all my hikes. We hiked Barr Trail to Barr Camp twice this summer. He is also
welcome at the homes of all my family members and usually comes to family gatherings. When I
registered his microchip, I found out he was chipped at Ft. Carson. I contacted the Army and
corresponded with their national veterinary department and found out that he did belong to a soldier
who gave him to a friend before he was deployed. That friend ended up taking him to the animal
shelter for reasons unknown. I asked the Army if they could somehow let the soldier know he had a
new home and was loved very much. I also found out his name was Lestát (a la Ann Rice’s vampire),
but his name was misspelled somewhere in his paperwork. He will always be Lester to me.
I just wanted to let you know how much I enjoy and love my dog. I am so glad you took him and
helped him get through the shock of being abandoned. He is a very special part of my life and I’m glad
you brought us together.
Take care,
LESTER
Terry Buddingh
2016 Events
March 6 - Annual Meeting (Arvada Public Library)
April 17 - Volunteer Appreciation Party (TBD)
May 15 - Spring Fling (Phoebe’s Place)
June 11 - Gala (Tivoli Center)
July 1-4 - Cherry Creek Arts Festival (Cherry Creek)
July 7 - Calendar Photo Contest deadline ... start shooting!
(calendars will first be available at the annual Picnic this year)
July 30 - Buffalo Bill Days Parade (Downtown Golden)
Sept 10 - Annual Rescue Reunion (Boulder Reservoir)
Oct 23 - Halloween Party (Phoebe’s Place)
Nov 20 - Photos with Santa (Phoebe’s Place)
5
Recent Rescues
Hi GRRR:
We absolutely are in love with Decker! He and Maddie (also adopted from GRRR) get along great.
They share spots on the couch, the bed, and couldn’t be better friends. He has lost a total of about
20 pounds since he was first surrendered to GRRR. He is happy and healthy and a wonderful
addition to our family! When he was dropped off at GRRR I believe his reported age was 11. After a
few visits to our vet (and Dr. Carpenter too), he is believed to be on the younger side of 9.
Our adoption process could not have been better. We are so grateful to everyone at GRRR. Decker
had to make a couple visits to see Dr. Carpenter after we adopted him and those trips could not
have been easier. He had a tooth removed which he recovered from like a champ!
Thank you for all you do! We truly appreciate GRRR and all the wonderful volunteers that help to
find these deserving dogs their forever homes.
Laura and Steve Zlogar
DECKER
Dear GRRR,
I am pleased to report that Mr. Goose is living a charmed life with his sister
Jazzy. He goes to day care many days of the week and plays so hard that he is
quite tired when he comes home. He gets several walks at a Boulder dog park, a
fenced, off-leash facility built around a lake. He has taken over my bed and
believes that he is a 10 pound lap dog. His manners are improving every day.
Best
Bonnie Simmons
Goose & Jazzy
Dear GRRR:
Ollie is doing well. He quickly became a part of our family which
also includes our other Golden and a cat. He gets a lot of love.
The staff, the volunteers, and the commitment of GRRR are
tremendous.
We are grateful
that GRRR
exists, not so
much for us but
for the dogs
who find caring
homes and lots
of love.
Sandy Brooke
Dear GRRR:
Digger is a perfect companion for us and quite calm when around just the two of us.
He sleeps through the night, loves to be taken on walks (at least one long walk every
day) and be out in the sunshine checking for squirrels and rabbits. And we haven’t
seen him dig a single hole! The vet says his health is good for an older dog and he
has lost 10 pounds (I wish I could say the same!)
Although we immediately fell in love with him—and now love him more than ever—
he has required considerable work to, first, contain his excited aggressiveness
(jumping on us and especially, visitors or anyone who attempts to pet him and also
grabbing anything in their hands). Carol McMurry has been working with us and
Digger and he is much,
much better, but we still
have a ways to go to
calm his “greetings”.
I hope this catches you
up on Digger and lets
you know how much we
appreciate the work of
GRRR.
He is a sweet, beautiful
Golden who has cheered
and enlivened our lives.
Happy New Year,
Barbara Gigone
OLLIE
DIGGER
President’s Letter
by Judi Servoss
20th Anni v ersa r y
Dear Members,
2015 felt like a breath of fresh air. After the financial and organizational changes and struggles of 2014, GRRR seemed to take off anew last year.
Things began to come together with members, volunteers and staff hitting on all cylinders. We added new members and volunteers, people took
on new roles, and success followed. Our 2015 Gala was a huge success, and we capped off the year earning over $77,000 from 375 individual
donors on Colorado Gives Day, well above our $50,000 goal!
Most importantly, we were able to provide needed care to all the Goldens who came to GRRR, including many Golden Angels with serious medical
issues. One of our key 2015 goals was to work at restoring the sense of “community” we had as a smaller, simpler organization, all the while
running the larger, more complex business efficiently and effectively. From what many of you have told me, we’ve been moving in the right
direction.
We’ll continue that effort into 2016, our 20th Anniversary year. After reading newsletters from our early years, I am keenly aware that many of the
issues, the joyous moments and the sorrows we face today have been with us from the start. It’s the nature of Rescue. p
.p
BLAST FROM THE PAST
Since 2016 is GRRR’s 20th Anniversary year, we’re going to reprint excerpts from old issues of the Golden GRRRowl all year. The first is a
comment from President Laura Terroux in her “It Seems To Me” column April 1999, which could have been written today:
“It seems to me that I have been inundated lately with people saying, “I could never give up my dog!” There was a day when
I would have said that as well. After working in Rescue for a while, I’ve learned to broaden my perspective about the reasons
for giving up a dog…
It’s so easy to pour your heart out to these wonderful dogs, and so easy to condemn anyone who would ever give one up. But
life happens to all of us. Major changes can happen to anyone in the blink of an eye. Of course, there are owners who give up
their dogs for all sorts of outlandish reasons, or after the dog develops behavior problems. And it’s really hard not to want to
throttle those dog owners! But there are far more people who deserve our understanding and compassion. And what a
wonderful gift they give to the new family who is lucky enough to be the proud new owners of a Rescue Golden Retriever. “
2016 - A Look Ahead
7
by Kevin Shipley
After our wonderful 2015, as highlighted by Judi in her article, could 2016 get any better? Of course! As with anything in life, growth involves
exploration and change. Some of you have been with us since the early days so you have seen many changes already. And we continue to develop
and evolve. This year we have several projects at Phoebes Place we are working on. We’ll start by utilizing the grant monies GRRR received to cover
the outdoor runs attached to our day kennels. They will be covered with a transparent, high density plastic that will hold up to our hail storms.
These covers are important so our pups can stay dry in rain and snow as it will run off the covers. It will also give them some shade during hot
summer days as they gaze into the sky.
We are particularly proud and excited that we have taken a leadership role in joining a team of 17 rescues involved with rescuing abandoned
purebred Golden Retrievers from Istanbul, Turkey (see next page for more info). One thing you should know is that virtually all 98 Golden Retriever
rescues in the US have a waiting list to adopt dogs. So rest assured, we will continue to “never say no” to a Golden in
need in the state and in the region. That said, when an opportunity arises such as this when we can reach out to those
in need outside of our state and country, we willingly accept this task as it supports our ongoing mission to Rescue,
Rehab and Rehome Golden Retrievers and advocate for the breed.
Our Gala this summer on June 11th, will celebrate 20 years of GRRR as a formal rescue organization. We plan to
celebrate and honor how we started, who was there to start GRRR and how the foundation was laid for this wonderful
organization. Our theme this year is “The Golden Globes” so be prepared to walk the red carpet as you enter, have
your photograph taken with special guests and maybe even sign a few autographs for the “pawparazzi”. Great people,
great food and some international Golden stars!
It’s hard to imagine that 2016 could top the incredible generosity you have shown our dogs and those of us fortunate
enough to be around them. You have made possible countless medical procedures for our Golden Angels, leading to
Golden smiles as they transitioned to their new forever homes. You make it possible for us to take in and care for the
dogs as they both need and deserve. Please know we are always aware and grateful that these things are made
possible by you. Everyone here at GRRR will continue to do what we do, but there is so much that couldn’t happen
without your support. So stay tuned, lots more fun coming! Thanks to you all. p
DAKOTA
Operation Turkey Dog – Colorado
Purebred Golden Retrievers in Istanbul, Turkey have been abandoned and left to fend for
themselves. Once considered a status symbol by the wealthy in Turkey, Golden Retrievers have
become more common and less valued, and hundreds end up being released onto the streets.
With few shelters available, dogs of this good-natured breed frequently starve or become prey to
the thousands of feral dog packs in the forests around the city. Life is hard for these mostly young
dogs as few live to be seniors and many are dying without the love and care they need.
The program originated in late 2014 with Adopt a Golden in Atlanta, GA (AGA). AGA created the process and infrastructure to bring these dogs to
the United States via humane, nonstop flights. GRRR has been invited to assist in the process of sponsoring and bringing 10 dogs to Phoebe’s
Place. Before leaving Turkey, all of the dogs will receive a spay/neuter, microchipping, medical exams and health certificates, and passports!
Upon arrival, all of the rescue groups bring them to their home locations. We are excited, because the dogs who have been brought over to date are
thriving! GRRR routinely has many more potential adopters than dogs ready for placement, so this program appears to be a win-win for the Denver
rescue community and we feel honored to be the organization that brings them west. Again, please know that all Golden rescues, including GRRR,
have a wait list for adoptable Golden Retrievers, so we will continue to “never say no” to a local Golden in need. These dogs from Turkey are simply
our way of fostering interstate relations with other organizations as well as an opportunity to rescue additional dogs whose lives depend on our
ability to assist them! p
Should GRRR Get Involved with Bringing
Over Dogs from Turkey?
by Kevin Shipley
Here are the questions that the GRRR Board considered before unanimously deciding to get involved:
• Are we staying true to our mission?
• Will it impact our current ability to take in dogs from Colorado and surrounding states?
• Will it be financially feasible?
• What will this endeavor do for GRRR as an organization?
All these are VERY important questions that we had to consider before we said yes to this effort. So here’s
why we decided to jump in. There is a shortage of purebred Goldens across the country. As mentioned, all 98
Golden rescues across the country, including GRRR, have a waiting list averaging 20 applications for each dog
under 6 years old that we get in. Some of this is because of people posting their dogs online, and partly
because many shelters now hold on to the Goldens they get in and use them to attract people to their shelter
in hopes they will adopt other dogs they have. With the shortage, bringing in the dogs from Turkey helps bring
additional purebred Goldens to our adoption applicants.
Boomerang, Rescued
Turkey dog in Atlanta,
before (top)
and after (Bottom)
Our mission is also to bring awareness and advocate for the breed and their loving nature. An increased profile
in the nationwide GR rescue community brings us a voice to educate people about rescues and surrendering
their Goldens to a reputable rescue organization.
With the following we have garnered from individuals, other dog organizations and the media, we believe we
can offset the expense involved with bringing these dogs to GRRR without impacting our ability to accept dogs
from surrounding areas and without any negative consequence to the wonderful medical support that our
Golden Angel’s currently receive.
Lastly, what this effort can do for GRRR and our long term goals is to increase our profile as one of the largest
rescues in the country, and it also increases our involvement in the nationwide rescue community. We can have a
greater voice which in turn, attracts media, members, volunteers, potential donors and potentially, future board
members.
Not to be under valued is that it also gives our members something out of the ordinary, a bigger cause to rally
around. It helps provide relief for a terrible situation and it can increase GRRR’s long term sustainability as an
organization.
8
It is important to us that you know we considered all the variables over several months before deciding to help
lead this rescue mission for the western US. If you have any questions, please check out the Turkey Dog link on our website or feel free to ask me:
[email protected]. p
Golden Angel - Wink
by Linda Hartman
Sometimes a Golden comes to GRRR needing our help so desperately that we can’t help but think, “Oh, if only we had found you sooner you wouldn’t have had
to suffer like this for so long.” That was our initial reaction when we first saw Wink, but then we immediately said, “Thank goodness you are with us now and we
can help you live a pain free, happy life with loads of TLC and friends to help you.” Wink is definitely one of those very special Goldens who brought out all kinds of
emotions— including love at first sight—and who instantly had so many wonderful volunteers and donors rallying around to help bring him relief and the chance to
live his best life ever. We will let Wink tell his story in his own woofs:
“Hi everybody, my new name is Wink. When I first arrived as an abandoned stray, no one knew my name, so they decided to name me Wink. More about that in a bit,
but first I can’t begin to tell you how happy I am to become a part of the GRRR family.
GRRR first heard about me from a local shelter where I had been brought in as a stray. I was a sad, neglected and very scared boy, that’s for sure. When the medical staff at
the shelter was examining me they kept shaking their heads and looking concerned. I heard one of them say, “With all his medical problems it’s going to be very hard to
find an appropriate home for him.” I couldn’t help but be scared wondering what was going to happen to me. Who was ever going to want a Golden in such bad shape?
Luckily for me the shelter contacted GRRR hoping they could help provide the medical care I needed to be adoptable. The very first day my stray hold was up, GRRR
volunteer Pete Lynch came for me and drove me to Phoebe’s Place. When we arrived, he gently helped me out of the car at this new, wonderful safe haven.
I must have been quite a sight to the folks at GRRR. Mary’s description of my arrival pretty much says it all. ‘Here was this very matted, obese, dirty Golden Retriever
with several broken teeth. It hurt to look at his eye, bulging with a tumor that had already taken over the entire eye. This sweet boy had obviously been very
neglected. He was about 50 lbs. overweight. Those mats must have hurt and surely his joints were sore from carrying all 120+ lbs. It was heartbreaking to see him
like this and know that he had been neglected for so long.’
Those first few days with GRRR were by far the best of my life. As soon as I arrived, I enjoyed
having Mary brush me and getting those nasty mats removed. It was such a new experience to feel
pampered. Then the next day I was treated to a full spa treatment with Dee Delay. She shampooed
me twice, and suddenly my coat turned into a shiny, beautiful platinum blonde. With all the kindness
and attention I was getting, I immediately perked up and started feeling like a new boy. I became
much more animated and less depressed. Although the folks at the shelter thought I was about 12
years old, my new doctors are guessing I’m only 6-7 years old. A bath, being groomed, eating some
healthy food and a lot of love revealed my true age. I quickly adjusted to my new home and settled
into life at Phoebe’s Place.
My first outing was to Arvada West Veterinary Hospital to see Dr. Holcomb. I had a complete exam and
loved all the attention I got from the staff. Dr. Holcomb felt that the tumor was going to require removal
of my eye and recommended a visit to Dr. Hammond, an eye specialist. Dr. Hammond arranged for me
to be seen right away. After a two hour appointment that included many diagnostic tests, he confirmed
my eye would need to be removed. He explained that the tumor was melanoma and that it had been
growing in my eye for at least 5 years. I have no vision left in that eye and it has hurt really bad for a very
long time. Dr. Hammond said I would feel much better once the tumor was removed. And, since I was
going to soon have a permanent wink, that was the day I got my new name...­­Wink!
My surgery was performed within a few days at Arvada West Veterinary Hospital. All went well and I
got to recover that night at Phoebe’s Place. I’m now staying in foster care with Nancy Grant and her
Golden, Bethany. Nancy is showering me with all kinds of love and attention and it is amazing! My
recovery is coming along nicely. I can’t ever remember living pain free until now.
Nancy calls me a dream dog! She reports that I get along beautifully with other dogs, love to ride in
WINK
the car and go for walks, I’m extremely affectionate, I love visitors, I gently play with stuffed toys, I let
Nancy know when I need to go outside and I love companionship. Now all I need is to find you—my
new loving family— and my life will be perfect. Would you like to go for lots of walks to help me lose more weight? We could play fetch, too. And then we could get
in some extra special snuggle time. I’m ready to become a real member of your family and know that I am truly loved.
GRRR and the Golden Angel Fund made a wonderful new life possible for me. I never would have made it without all the dedicated volunteers and generous donors.
I went from a life of pain and terrible neglect to this pawsome new world. From now on I will live each day with a wagging tail and a spring in my step. It’s been a
long road to this point, but life is definitely looking up for me now.
Much love,
Wink ;-) p
Please Donate to GRRR's Golden Angel Fund!
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The Golden Angel Fund has been established to help Golden Retrievers in need of extra medical care. Some Goldens require special medications
or surgeries for conditions such as cancer, hip dysplasia, allergies, heartworm, knee surgeries, eye surgeries, infections, etc. Without medical help,
many of them will not be likely candidates for adoption; however, we can’t say no to these special Goldens who need extra care. Sometimes
extraordinary medical circumstances bring these Goldens to us, and with the Golden Angel Fund we can help more of them find a quality, pain-free
life in a new and loving home. Please send your tax deductible donations to: GRRR, 15350 W. 72nd Avenue, Golden, CO 80007 (make your check
payable to GRRR with “Golden Angel Fund” in the memo portion). Or donate on-line at http://goldenrescue.com/golden-angel-fund/ Thank you!
Golden Angel - Cowboy
by Mary Kenton and
Jeannie Miller
As fall comes to the Rocky Mountains, you can feel mother nature signaling that her ever-changing and renewing cycle is in full swing. October brings crisp, clear,
blue-sky days and a smell in the air of the harvest. An array of beautiful, warm colors appears in the trees, many of which remind us of the colors we see in the coats
of our beautiful Golden Retriever friends.
This is Cowboy’s story. We can only guess at all of the facts of his past, but feel it may go something like this…
Fall was underway in Northwestern Wyoming, and for a handsome ten-year-old Golden boy, it was indeed a time of change. He had a home, once upon a time,
where he was left outside all the time. He was fed with leftovers (nice word for garbage) and other less-than-healthy food. He was never brushed, bathed or walked.
To use up some of his Golden energy, he had entertained and soothed himself, over the years, by chewing on rocks, his fence, and almost anything else he could find.
After years of living this way, he was almost 30 pounds overweight. It was like he was carrying around another medium-sized dog!
His bad nutritional history and chewing of rocks had severely damaged his teeth, so much so that it now hurt to chew, he had lots of diarrhea, and he began to lose
weight rapidly. Walking was very difficult for him because he had quite a bit of arthritis and his fur was so filthy and matted on his stomach that it got in his way! As
the nights began to turn cold, with winter approaching, he found himself a stray out in the cold, fending for himself. His stomach hurt all the time from the years of
bad eating and the foraging he was now doing to survive.
It probably didn’t seem like it at the time, but when he was picked up by animal control and brought
to a local shelter, his life was about to change for the better. The people at the shelter took him in and
at least he was finally warm and fed. He was still having lots of problems with his stomach and so they
shaved all of his hair and feathers on his rear end. It was more comfortable not to be all messy back
there but didn’t make him look so good! Well, you can imagine that the outlook for this boy being
adopted was not too bright. With his age, his appearance and the likelihood of significant costs to get
him the care he needed, his chances weren’t great.
As he waited and wondered what was going to happen to him, a wonderful women named Lori
Carlson came to the shelter. She saw an older Golden Retriever, with matted, filthy fur and a shaved
rear end. But she also saw a boy with the softest eyes, who was actually smiling at her in that
‘Golden’ way. This guy, who had gone through very tough times, who looked unkempt and messy,
just looked at her and smiled. Lori knew the challenges ahead for this one, but she also knew that
he deserved a second chance to find a forever home. She called GRRR and Mary readily agreed to
help him. Lori agreed to adopt him for GRRR from the shelter and she fostered him until transport
could be arranged. Lori named him Cowboy. She couldn’t get him to a groomer in Wyoming so to
make it easier for him to move, Lori and a friend shaved all of the filthy matted fur from his belly
too. Cowboy was quite a sad sight and still confused but his life was definitely changing for the
better.
COWBOY
Transport was quickly arranged by our fantastic Wyoming volunteers Sandra Brausch, Sandy
Taylor, and Dean Hagood, along with Colorado volunteer, Pete Lynch. Cowboy arrived at GRRR the
day before the big Halloween party. He had never seen anything quite like this! He was welcomed so warmly by Mary and everyone else he saw at Phoebe’s Place.
He happily sniffed his new surroundings, met lots of other interesting dogs and was able to come into the house! That first day was full of new experiences like
navigating the tile floors, using the dog door and settling into a soft, warm dog bed for the night– inside! The next day, Cowboy joined the fun of the Halloween
party. It was truly a treat! He wandered through the groups of nice GRRR people seeking attention and maybe a biscuit or two, all the time very content with his new
life at Phoebe’s Place.
The following day he was treated to a spa day with Dee Delay. Cowboy was bathed and given a real grooming. All squeaky clean, it was time to see Dr. Carpenter, who
gave Cowboy a thorough exam, blood work, ultrasound, x-rays, etc. The exam revealed that Cowboy did have some arthritis, but the ultrasound revealed that the
suspicion of a tumor in his belly did not exist. Whew – more good news! But, poor Cowboy’s teeth were in such bad shape. He would need 20 of his 42 teeth removed
due to being abscessed or just cracked and broken to the pulp. Dr. Carpenter also felt that Cowboy had been a much larger boy before, he had a lot of ‘extra skin’ from
being so overweight in the past. Not that he was skinny by any means, but he had begun to lose weight. Cowboy was scheduled for his dentals. He would need two
appointments, at least, because of the amount of time it would take to remove the multiple teeth. Cowboy was placed on antibiotics for the infection, along with pain
meds for his teeth and arthritis. If you have ever had an abscessed tooth, I am sure you can appreciate the pain this boy had been going through. But you would have
never guessed he was in pain, he was happy, ate softened food like it could be his last meal and was always wagging his tail. Cowboy had his first dental surgery where he
was under anesthesia for quite some time and the worst of the 20 teeth were removed. After 3 weeks of recovery, the remaining broken and cracked teeth were removed
in a second surgery.
He never misses a meal these days, that is for sure! He has continued on a prescription Overweight Management diet to help him continue to lose his excess weight.
Cowboy is feeling better all the time. He is a happy boy and now plays with the young silly dogs, but for a very short time. Then he naps in his own warm, comfortable
bed. Cowboy is being given a second chance and he rewards everyone at GRRR with his sweet, warm and grateful smiles. He is one of the sweetest old boys that you could
ever meet.
Cowboy and all of us at GRRR are so grateful that we were able to rescue him and give him the medical care he needed and deserved. Cowboy thanks all of you who
volunteer and donate to the Golden Angel Fund so that he can now live a pain free life as a well loved and cared for Golden Retriever. p
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Golden Angel Updates
Chip
by Annie Coe
We have had The Chipster for almost exactly two months now and he is settling down nicely. He has sporadic, unpredictable seizures.
I am hoping that, with a clockwork regimen of pills (Keppra and Phenobarb), good food, lots of love and activity, those seizures will
disappear for good.
He has good company here at my house—my 8-year-old Golden, Samantha, and tiny, 6-pound Maltese, Mr. Scruff. Sam accepted
this big new guy right away, but Mr. Scruff had to assert himself with Chip. This is mostly because Scruff has a tiny dinner bowl that
he carries around with him - and sometimes little dogs don’t finish all their food at one sitting. Mr. Scruff and Chip have had a couple
very serious ‘discussions’ about just exactly whose food and dish that is!
Chip was very clingy and a little anxious when he first came home with
me, understandably so. But over the weeks, he is really beginning to relax
and has learned that THIS is his home and WE are his family. One Sunday
afternoon, I was reading in the front room with Scruff in my lap and I
looked around. The house was so quiet. There’s Sam... sprawled out in
a patch of sun... but where’s Chip? I looked around and finally saw him,
stretched out on the big back deck, sound asleep in the sunshine. What
a good sign! He knows that this is his yard and his family is right nearby.
He’s comfortable and safe, and we are all very happy.
Chip is such a big sweet guy. He absolutely LOVES company and he likes
to know where I am ALL THE TIME. When I step into the bathroom, he
pops his head in the door and says, “Whatcha doin’?” so I tell him, and
sometimes he comes right in, lies down on the cool tile floor, and says
“well, Ah’ll just keep you comp’ny.”
MR. SCRUFF AND CHIP
What a funny, beautiful boy! p
JACK (formerly BARON)
Janet Townley-Luedtke
Jack is my gift from God. He came to me in the most difficult time in my life. Jack is the
9th Golden I have had and they all were special in their own right. But Jack is a Golden
of a lifetime, a dog that if one was dreaming of a perfect companion, he would be it! He
is loving, funny, playful (hiding the ball under the couch so I have to get it!), very goofy
and just has a happy soul. Every day is a joy for me with him in it!
On the health front, Jack is doing absolutely great! He has lost 24 lbs. since he was
rescued in South Dakota. He feels so much better playing like a jumping bunny and
loves his daily runs with his best fur friend, Rolle, my 3-year-old white lab. They are
getting along really well and kiss each other every day. Jack’s thyroid level is perfect
now at 3.5 (was 8.2). His recent blood panel was excellent except he is still somewhat
anemic so our vet put him on a multi-vitamin. Oh boy! I guess he’ll have even more
energy! I do call him Jumping Jack as he is so happy he jumps as he runs!
I want to thank my dear friend Mary Kenton for her longtime trust and friendship. She
could have adopted Jack to many deserving applicants, but I was the lucky one! Jack
and I have both been blessed. He needed me and I needed him. Thank you to all the
volunteers with GRRR for your continued work, passion and dedication to the
breed! p
JACK
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Donations in In Memory or in Honor
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Scott Asbury, in honor of Allison Kadans
Teresa Beck, in memory of Ellie
Calvin and Kathryn Bell, in memory of Toby
Boyd Bierbaum, in honor of Judi Tippetts
Robert Booty, in honor of James & Patricia Timmerwilke
Eugene Bourque, in honor of Glenn & Bott
Canine Fine LLC, in honor of Connor Boedecker
Roseanne Carpenter Estate in memory of Roseanne. “After her
family, the great loves of her life were her Golden Retrievers.”
Marc Champion and Patrick Powell, in memory of Michael Powell
Camille Colt, in memory of Leo Colt
Anne & Tom Connor, in honor of Brock Carver
Anne & Tom Connor, in honor of Danny McDonough
Anne & Tom Connor, in honor of Kelly McDonough
Sally Sue Davis, in memory of Q Davis
Greta Dietrich, in honor of Cody Dietrich
Lisa & John Doty, in memory of Ms. Haley
Michael Feigenbaum & Judi Tippetts, in honor of Captain Luis
Carlos Montalvan
Robert & Patricia Fredericks, in memory of Max and his wonderful
parents, Trisha & Jim Metlock
Dawn Garner, in honor of Muffy & Jessie
The Hlad family, “in memory of Keeley, a Golden Retriever that blessed
the Matthews family for seven years with her loving presence. Her
beautiful spirit will be dearly missed. Our wish is for our donation
to be added to the many others that support your important mission
of placing rescued Goldens in loving forever homes.”
Judith, Greg and Reggie Howard, in memory of Reg Howard
Judy Horner, in memory of Kitty Kat
Suzanne Hoest, DVM and James Grady, DVM, in honor of Andy &
Sherri Rosedahl
Marilyn & Robert House, in memory of Alice and and in honor of
Toby. Alice & Toby Musick are 2016 calendar dogs (Feb). Alice just
died from cancer in Nov. and Toby has cancer and is being treated.
The Musick’s are huge fans of Golden Rescue! Several years ago
Stephanie volunteered there.
Marilyn & Robert House, in honor of Lulu House
The Huss Family, in honor of Lynne & Jerry Baker
Judith & Edwin Hynsen, in honor of Deb Kneale and Bob Jorgensen,
and in Memory of Anita Kneale
Richard and Jeannie Koshak, in memory of Annie
Michael & Sue Jones, in memory of Noel
Brenda Leap, in memory of Cooper. “He was a beautiful boy and
filled everyone’s heart with love. He will be missed by all, especially
his sister, Amazing Gracie and his Mom & Dad, Bob and Sherry
MacDonald.”
Gayla Lindquist, in honor of Lollie
•Jim & Tricia Medlock, in memory of Max Medlock
•Vivian and Gregory Miller, in honor of Bill Urbanowski
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Stephanie Musick, in memory of Alice Musick
The Nelsons, in memory of Sandy Dandy
David Noble in memory of Allen Henney
Brent & Fran Norris, in memory of Zoe
Lucas Peck, in honor of Michael Feigenbaum
Bill and Judy Potter, in memory of Kasey Delicate
Bill and Judy Potter in memory of Sandy Delicate
Koelby Potter, in honor of Ryan Margoles
Lanny Profer, “in memory of Lexie who stole my heart and then
broke it when she died, and Max who does his best to keep me from
getting old. Thanks for all you do for those magical creatures.”
Allison Radcliffe, in honor of Cody Lionette
Sheila S Ray, in memory of Roosevelt (Rosey) Ray
Alissa Rausch, in honor of Phil Strain
Bob & Cheryl Scharp “in memory of Duke, our first Golden
Retriever; Cody our current Golden Retriever; and Mia, the current
Golden Retriever of Trent and Paula Engler. Thank you for caring
and finding homes for these wonderful dogs.”
The Schold Family, in memory of our Golden Marley
Valerie K. Schwolow, in honor of Deb Kneale and Bob Jorgensen
Kate Secor & Mike Hespen, in honor of Maryann & Dave Hespen
Mel and Sally Sundby, in honor of Mel & Sandy Sundby
David Swaim, in memory of Denise Davis
The Tanners, in memory of Sandy Brunts
Janelle Taalasen, in memory of Hannah Brown
Kathleen Taylor, in honor of Cynthia Oatman. Cynthia Oatman has
taken time from her busy schedule to help exercise my very active
Goldendoodle while I am recuperating from a broken arm and
unable to walk him. I know that she is devoted to GRRR and I feel
this is the perfect way to thank her.
Phyllis W Thomas in memory of Allen Henney
Matthew A Timm, in honor of Abby
Autumn Trottier, in memory of Maximo and Miss Annabelle
The Turners, in honor of Barbara Cook
Amy Wisniewski, in honor of Beth and Brent Flambures
Diana Witherspoon, in memory of Skye and for all our precious
Goldens
Peg & George Young, in memory of Abby, our 14 year-old Golden
from GRRR
TOBY & ALICE
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MAUI
Oh how I miss the barking. Everyone who knew Maui knew she barked at me.
For attention. All the time. And I miss that barking...and Maui. She was the most
energetic, feisty, unstoppable, sweet, smart, beautiful girl. And I was lucky to be
her mom.
Back in 2002, I went to a baby shower for a GRRR volunteer and came home
with Maui to foster, then a super cute four-month-old puppy. I wasn’t intending
on getting a puppy...it was peer pressure from the other volunteers, but of
course I adopted her! I had recently adopted Chaska and knew I wanted a sister
for him. They got along great from the start and had a lot of wrestling matches
in the living room.
We had lot of adventures, hiking in the summer and snowshoeing in the winter,
with local walks and play sessions every day. Chaska died 5 years ago and I then
adopted Rio. Maui went from being the little sister to the big sister. She loved
Rio from the start too...but told him that first day that the bed was her domain...
back off little brother!
I’ve been close to all of my dogs, but Maui was something even more special...
like a soul mate to me. I know she could read my mind.
I’m lucky to work at home and be able to spend all day with my pups. Always
having a big internal clock, Maui barked at me all day telling me what it was time
to do...feed her, take her for walks or car rides, have lunch, go for a car ride after
lunch, go to bed. But she was most demanding when it was time to quit work and get off the computer. Somewhere around 4pm she came in
to bug me...and bark. And bark. And BARK! She didn’t know we stupid humans change the clocks twice a year, so sometimes the barking started at
3pm. Friends at GRRR parties always knew when we arrived because they could hear Maui barking in the car. Oh how I miss those barking sessions.
MAUI
Maui loved attention from strangers and conveniently stopped in front of them as they came toward us on the trail, wagging her tail and saying
sweetly “won’t you pet me?” . They usually did stop to pet her, and the look on her face was pure bliss. I always said she gave everyone a piece of
“Maui Zen” too.
This girl was smart and a little devious too. One summer on vacation in Breckenridge, she was sitting on a love seat with me. For some reason I moved
over to the couch with Chaska. I could see Maui over on the love seat, wheels turning...how could she get Chaska off the couch so she could get up
there? She spied the open patio door to the upper deck, strolled out, Chaska followed, and Maui came in and jumped up on the couch with me before
Chaska knew what hit him!
She slept with me every night, getting cuddles and massages. That’s one of the hardest times now, and I miss those cuddle sessions. Every night I told
her I loved her and that I was blessed to have her for so long. Maui was just 2 months short of her 15th birthday before a tumor on her spleen became
too much for her. But she was walking and barking right up to the end, and I’m so lucky that she was healthy all of her life, even hiking last summer. I
had a session with an animal communicator at the end, and it helped me immensely (and I think Maui too) to gain clarity and peace, and to know
that the time was right to let her go to the Bridge.
I know she’s loving her time at the Rainbow Bridge. And I loved her time here with me. She’ll always be in my heart.
Debbie Stratton
Naming Tributes
ANNIE, by Robert and Bonnie Clark for their dog Annie.
DAKOTA, by Linda Rosenwinkle for her daughter Staci Smith’s beloved Golden. “Being able to be a part of
the special story of my grandbaby Dakota’s life was truly something wonderful. He and my daughter shared
such a bond that I swear they are one and the same. Dakota never met a stranger and he will be very missed
by all who loved him. With much love and appreciation for all you do for Goldens.
MAUI, by Debbie Stratton, in memory of her Golden. “GRRR’s motto is “A Golden Retriever Can Change Your
Life”, and Maui certainly changed mine...for the better. I hope the new Maui is as feisty as her namesake!”
With your donation of $100 you may request a Naming Tribute so that one of GRRR’s rescued Goldens will be
named after your dog or loved one. With your donation, you will honor the memory of your loved one, and your
donation will help us give a rescued dog a new start to a better life. More info on Naming Tributes
here: http://www.goldenrescue.com/news-golden-retriever-rescue/naming-tributes-dog/product/listing.
ANNIE
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In Memory
DAKOTA
Dakota...my best friend, my confidant, my heart, my soul mate...he came to me by way of accident actually.
It was March of ‘05 and I had just started volunteering for GRRR. I was at a shelter with the intention of
looking at a different Golden and then discussing the release of him to rescue. Turned out that Golden had
already been adopted, so my time spent there came to an abrupt end. In a bit of a huff, as I was making
my hurried exit, I almost missed Dakota lying so fore-longingly in a kennel. He was so sad, that he didn’t
even lift his head when I bent to take a closer look at his stunning beauty. He was the deepest of reds with
a darling white patch on his chest and he had such a big blocky head. He was 3 years old and he had just
been surrendered by his owner hours earlier. Knowing what I know about him, and just how sensitive he
really was, I can only imagine the sadness and confusion he must have felt at that moment.
I made my way back and informed the shelter staff that I wanted to meet with him, but they told me that
since he had just come in, he needed to be evaluated for some aggression issues. Um, ok?? I stood there
and thought, “Are we talking about the same dog?” “That big red Golden Retriever over there?” “The one
who won’t even lift his head?” But, not wanting to argue and risk him getting away, I accepted what they
were saying. They also informed me that there was already a waiting list for him, and I needed to put my
name down if I wanted to meet him the next day after he had been evaluated. You bet your sweet bippy I
wanted to put my name down! I know I didn’t sleep at all, as he was on my mind all night long, so I made sure I was at the shelter bright and early the DAKOTA
next morning waiting when they opened the doors. Our meeting went well, but again I was told that there were others that wanted to meet him, and
they would then need to determine the best home and situation for him. While I was sitting with a staff member going over pertinent information, Dakota literally
climbed up in my lap (all 90 lbs of him) and gave me a kiss from my chin to my forehead. The lady looked at me and said, “Well, I think he’s already made his choice.”
Yes, I think so too...and on our way we went! The intention was for him to be a foster dog and only stay with us for a weekend and then he would begin his journey
with GRRR and find his new forever home. Well, he never made it to GRRR.
From the very beginning, he was mine and I was his. He very quickly became a fixture amongst the GRRR crowd and it was always a guarantee that if I was at an
event, Dakota was never more that 6 inches from my side. He always preferred to be by my side, rather than enjoy the goings on of all the playful pups. If I happened
to be working the merchandise booth, it was certain that he could be found snoozing behind the table at my feet. He was an Ambassador Golden at many events,
including The Plum Creek Dog Show, The Denver Pet Expo, Golden Retriever Nationals, and Parker Days. He was even one of the Golden Greeters at the very first Gala
up at Cherokee Ranch. As time went on, his age began to catch up with him, and he no longer attended events with me, but he was always waiting at home with a
wagging tail and a big slurpy kiss! His age began to show more and more on him, and sadly, he was diagnosed with Degenerative Myelopathy in the late summer of
2013. True to his spirit, he remained able to get around pretty well, with only occasional help from us. But, as the disease continued to progress, I saw many changes
in him, and I knew I was watching my “sweet old man” deteriorate before my eyes. Inevitably, as is always the case with such an insidious disease, we had to make the
heartbreaking decision to release him, and he made his journey to The Rainbow Bridge on 9/26/15.
I have often recalled the reason his previous owner gave for surrendering him to the shelter. It was simply written down as, “Too big”. I want to stick my tongue out at
them and tell them if only they knew it was his heart they were talking about and not his body. When that body of his could no longer accept the debilitating results
of DM, that heart of his remained strong and full of love until his last breath. Ours was a true love story, and I will forever be grateful that out of the millions of people
on this planet, I was the lucky one that he chose to spend his life with. I will forever be blessed having had him in my life and I will miss him all the rest of my days.
Staci Smith
MIKEY
He had smiling eyes and an irresistible face. If you saw him, you
had to pet him and he would greet you with his famous rapid
fire “windshield wiper” tail wag. In our case, we adopted him (at
almost 8 years old) from GRRR as he just wanted to be part of a
family again.
When it came to life, Mikey was “all in” and he met every day with
unbridled enthusiasm and boundless loyalty. He went everywhere
he could with us including daily walks at Coot Lake, the Boulder
Reservoir and summer trips to Twin Lakes and Lake City. He
learned to swim shortly after we got him and he quickly realized
that it was yet another great way to get more attention. He was
light on his feet and with his white face and neediness, he earned
many nicknames including “Twinkle Toes”, “The Bald Eagle” and
“The Horner”. Mikey was never alone because Goldie (his younger
sister) was always at his side. He loved food, attention and the
companionship of everyday living. No one squeezed more out of
life than Mikey which is probably why we miss him so much. At
13, his body finally gave out but we remember him as part of our
family forever.
Sherrie & Jim Stille (and Goldie)
MIKEY
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AMBER
Thought we would share our loss with you and let you know what a joy Amber was
since around 2005. We fully expect to adopt from you again but right now we are
not ready to get so emotionally attached. I have included both a poem and picture
to give you insights into our wonderful friend.
Good Bye Amber
On December 19, 2015
Our golden was miserable, we must intervene
She could not see, nor could she hear
But her tail always wagged, when we were near
Her nose never failed, to find her food
Even our dinners, she was to include
But the stairs were a pain, which she could not climb
So we carried her up, most of the time
So on this day, we said good bye
And even though, it made us cry
Her tail still wagged, until the end
We very much miss, our beloved friend.
Thanks for all you do
Regards,
Kathy & Brian Schultz
AMBER
KAYLEE
My husband Dave and I are writing to thank you for matching us with Kaylee (formerly known as Daisy) back in Fall 2012. We regret to also inform you that Kaylee
passed away November 2nd, 2015.
We adopted two fur-babies in Fall 2012, Joanie (formerly known as Mocha) and Kaylee. Joanie was a great older sister to Kaylee… she taught Kalyee how to play and
wrestle, roll around on her back like crazy, and generally how to be a carefree dog for a while. When Joanie did something confidently, Kaylee would eventually ‘get
her toes wet’ too and seemingly decide that it wasn’t so bad…. like taking a dip in a small pond at a cabin a couple of months ago.
Kaylee was reportedly rescued from a situation where she had been used for breeding in a puppy mill. The puppy mill had advertised her on Craigslist, and indicated
that she was ‘still good for a few more litters.’ When we took Kaylee home she was not a big fan of getting up from the couch to go outside, walk to the food/water
bowl, or solicit affection from her new family. So we brought everything to her . . . except the outdoors, of course. Her tail didn’t wag, she didn’t make eye contact,
for a while she wouldn’t eat or drink on her own (she let me hand feed and water her), and she would not walk around in the house unless it was to go outside. She
never made a sound, unless she was whimpering in her sleep.
Eventually she didn’t need to be pulled by a leash to go outside, because it was fun out there! Joanie showed her how to forget her anxiety for a minute or two!
About six months passed and she began letting her guard down and allow her tail to twitch. It took a bit
longer than that before she would approach us voluntarily for affection outdoors. If we approached her she
would lay down immediately and seemingly try to disappear. She started eating and drinking if the bowl
was brought to her bed, but only if we weren’t looking at her!
Over the past three years we have celebrated each and every one of Kaylee’s victories! From the first time
she approached us outside, to the first time she walked across the room to get a drink of water. It was a
few years before she would chase a ball and sticks in the yard (a few times she even carried them across the
yard!). She would wrestle with both Dave and I! She started becoming more comfortable in more places
around the house than one specific corner. She looked out the window and got excited when she saw a
squirrel or rabbit.
In the last few months of her life she began doing something that still brings immense joy and tears to my
eyes when I think back to it. When I came out of the bedroom first thing in the morning, Kaylee started
to be the first one to the bottom of the stairs to greet me, looking up and wagging her tail like crazy! Two
times she was so excited she came halfway up the stairs and I heard her voice! It was the smallest and
sweetest little vocalization, and if you didn’t know her you would miss it altogether. She even had started
walking across the living room to drink some water, eat, and tell us she wanted to go outside.
I will never forget a trip we took last September to stay in a co-worker’s cabin. There were ground squirrels
congregating around a bird feeder, and Kaylee had such great fun chasing them away and trying to figure
out where they had disappeared to! It was the same trip where she got into a body of water all through her
own free will. Everyone in our little human/fur-baby family loved Kaylee-Bear. Our cats were always by her
side, and she looked after them as if they were her puppies. She was the most gentle spirit and we are so
much better for having had her in our lives. Thank you for the opportunity!
KAYLEE
Kindly,
Clancy & David Johnson
15
Golden Retriever Rescue of
the Rockies
15350 W. 72nd Avenue
Arvada, CO 80007
Catch the Glow Parade in Estes Park
We represented Golden Retriever Rescue of the Rockies!
People were so receptive and loved petting the Goldens and
asked lots of questions....it was amazing!
Golden Retriever, Emerald (shown left), age 3, was adopted
from GRRR by the Walker family in April 2015. Emerald is
proudly representing GRRR, and is all dressed up for the
occasion too! She wants her friends adopted too, so what
better way for Emerald to spread the word than to prance up
and down main street in Estes Park for an hour promoting
GRRR in the parade!
Thank you again for allowing us to represent your wonderful
organization.
Cordially, Audry
hotline: 303/279-2400
[email protected]
www.goldenrescue.com
Board Of Directors
Marci Auston
Dee Delay
Beth Flambures
Mary Kenton
Steve Morganfield
Pat Rogers
Roxanne Sabin
Judi Servoss
Bill Urbanowski
Officers
Judi Servoss – President
Marci Auston– Vice President
Pat Rogers – Secretary
Beth Flambures – Treasurer
Executive Director:
Kevin Shipley
[email protected]
Designed by Debbie Stratton Davis:
[email protected]
®
“A Golden Retriever Can Change Your Life­!”
OUR MISSION STATEMENT:
Golden Retriever Rescue of the Rockies is dedicated to rescue,
placement and public awareness, to ensure that Golden Retrievers
are adopted by people who are able to provide a safe, loving home.
Applications to adopt a Golden are available on our website www.goldenrescue.com
Please accept my Membership in GRRR (includes quarterly newsletter plus free attendance at all events and reunions)
I would like to receive my newsletter: ❒ via mail (black & white print) or ❒ via e-mail (color PDF...save GRRR postage and printing costs!) $50
year
$_______________
Please accept my additional tax deductible donation to help Goldens where needed most:
❒ $250+ Golden Champion
❒ $100 Golden Hero
❒ $50 Golden Star
$_______________
Interested in volunteering? Go to www.goldenrescue.com to fill out the volunteer application. Thanks!
NAME ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________
ADDRESS ________________________________________________________________________________________________________
CITY _______________________________________________ STATE _______________________ ZIP _____________________________
HOME PHONE ____________________ WORK PHONE _____________________ E-MAIL ____________________________________
Please mail to: Golden Retriever Rescue of the Rockies • 15350 W. 72nd Ave. • Arvada, CO 80007
Thank you for your support! goldenrescue.com