Golden GRRRowl. Moose. A Golden Retriever Can Change Your Life! February Leslie Brown

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1 February 2013 Golden GRRRowl A Golden Retriever Can Change Your Life! A registered non-profit 501(c)(3) charitable organization Moose Leslie Brown In 2010, the addition of a new staff member at Arvada West Veterinary Hospital changed the clinic forever. Here s how it happened. Moose came to GRRR in He had been living in a pen in Wyoming with his friend Mitzi after his family put their home on the market and moved away, only to return to throw food into the pen. The realtor, who was a Golden lover, asked the family for permission to take Moose in to be groomed. It so happened that Moose was taken to a groomer who grooms the dogs belonging to Sandra Brausch who lives in Wyoming and is a long-time GRRR volunteer. The Mitzi & Moose groomer mentioned GRRR to the realtor who contacted Sandra to get information on surrendering Moose. Mitzi was one of the lucky dogs who was also accepted into GRRR as a companion dog to a surrendered Golden. Mary says Mitzi has many of Moose s lovable personality traits. She thinks Mitzi may be Moose s daughter. When the two arrived at GRRR, Moose s and Mitzi s first stop was Arvada West Veterinary Hospital to visit Dr. Carpenter. When they checked in, Moose tipped the scales at a whopping 152 pounds! Mitzi proved to be quite Rubenesque as well. After the standard exams, vaccinations, and heartworm tests, both dogs were ordered to be placed on diets. Neither was too happy about that, but they knew it was just Tough Love speaking and went home to Mary s with a big bag of prescription diet dog food. By this time Mary Kenton (GRRR's caretaker and former president) had succumbed completely to Moose s charms. He wanted love, and only love (well, maybe a few treats, too). Mitzi and Moose competed for Mary s attention, keeping each other in sight to make sure no one was getting more hugs than the other. I think as lovable as Mitzi is, Mary sneaked in few extra hugs for Moose. Moose wasn t with Mary long before he started limping. She worried he had a torn ACL. But how could that happen? He never ran, only waddled. How could a very sedentary dog sustain that kind of injury? So off to Dr. Carpenter s they went again. Moose didn t have a torn ACL. What Dr. Carpenter found was a severely infected hind paw not just in the tissue but in the bones of his foot as well. At some time in his life, Moose s toes on that foot had been severed. Of course no one knows for sure, but lawn edging is often the culprit and that s what Dr. Carpenter suspected. Moose began a long, arduous, and often uncomfortable course of treatments for the abscess and infection. He underwent months of antibiotics, cleaning, flushing, and medicating the wound, as well as countless bandage changes. Continued on page 2

2 "Moose gives me strength every time I have to let a special Golden go. He is always there with his paw on me, and seems to find a way to be with the Goldens to comfort them in their pain. He seems to sense how difficult this is for all of us, and tries to help us get through it." But there was a silver lining to all this. Moose had become a regular at Arvada West Veterinary Hospital (AWVH) and everyone there soon grew to love him. We all looked forward to his visits and fussed over him each time. Finally, we decided Moose needed to join our veterinarian family, and to make sure Moose would be a permanent fixture, Dr. Carpenter and Mary adopted him and he became the first official Hospital Greeter Dog. Because Moose isn t crazy about the chaos and bedlam of living at Phoebe s Place with Mary, and because the gravel there is uncomfortable for him to walk on, he spends his evenings, weekends, and days off with Dr. Carpenter, but always perks up and rushes to meet Mary when she walks through the hospital doors. There are times when visits to Phoebe s Place are required, one of them being bath day. Recently Moose and Mitzi enjoyed a fun reunion when their bath days fell on the same day. They clearly remembered each other. Mitzi now lives the life of luxury with one of GRRR s terrific adopters, where she spends many of her evenings sitting on the couch watching TV, her paw in her dad s hand seriously, true story! Now that Moose has lost his weight he s down to his goal of a svelte 85 pounds he can actually run. He enjoys visiting his buddy, Rumble the Lab, at technician Katie s house, where they race around, wrestle, and antagonize Rumble s senior sister, Mayhem. Mary Kenton and Moose Despite his success at losing the weight, Moose can still hear treat jars anywhere in the hospital and will come trotting to investigate. Sometimes we just can t resist indulging him. When he s on duty, Moose assists wherever he s needed. He greets our clients and patients. If he happens to be helping elsewhere, many clients will ask Where s Moose? often before even greeting us! He has a growing fan club and he finally decided to start writing his own blog to keep people in the know about his life and adventures. There are lots of pictures, including the one of Moose and Dr. Carpenter enjoying some bonding time on vacation, lots of personal thoughts, and words of wisdom. His blog can be found on Arvada West s website: He would love to hear from you (there s a comment section) and promises to answer each comment personally. Moose has a well-stocked toy box at the clinic and was happy to pose for a photo with his toys a few months ago. We decided to enter the photo in the All About Pets Hallmark photo contest last fall. No surprise to Moose, but thrilling to us, it won! So Moose now has a Hallmark greeting card and you can see it (and buy it) at: greeting-cards/a-lot-of-stuff-1pgc6824_dk/?searchterm=contest+winners Among his many stuffed and well-worn toys, are several elephants, which are Moose s favorite animal. He can often be seen trotting around Moose's greeting card photo the hospital with one in his mouth. If he s feeling ignored, he ll appear in the lobby carrying his favorite one, the biggest elephant, and immediately gets all the attention he wants from any client in the lobby. This boy knows how to work it! Of all his jobs here, the most important one is helping Mary. She says, For me, he is the light of my day every time I walk through the door and he hears my voice and comes to find me. He gives me strength every time I have to let a special Golden go. He is always there with his paw on me, and seems to find a way to be with the Goldens to comfort them in their pain. He seems to sense how difficult this is for all of us, and tries to help us get through it. For all the love he s receiving in his new life, from countless people and pets, he gives back more. But that s what Goldens do, right? p

3 Hi GRRR: I appreciate the attention you give to your dogs & adopters. Charlie's new name is Barkley and he's doing great! We're still working with Carole for training as she was so wonderful during the first 8 weeks that we decided to continue on. Honestly, he's the best dog I could ever hope for. He's gentle & playful, goofy, & fun. His skin and fur have been getting so much healthier thanks to the vitamin E oil you gave us and the eggs (cooked) I mix in with his food a few times a week. He's a lot more physically fit now too. We hike 3-4 times/ week together & he gets lots of love and attention here. I've already told a lot of people about your organization as they are always stopping to pet Barkley & commenting on how beautiful he is. Kelly Walter Barkley Luna We adopted Cheyenne on September 5th of last year and she has quickly pranced, bounced and wiggled her way into our hearts. After adoption, we renamed her (having a dog named Cheyenne in Cheyenne was too confusing) and she is now Luna. A groomer gave us the clue to Luna's decidedly un-golden Retriever attributes by exclaiming, "She's got to have Brittany Spaniel in her!" Once we researched that breed we totally agreed. Her body shape, delicate appetite (so unlike our previous Goldens) and amber eyes give it away, although the goofy Golden Retriever personality is definitely there. So Luna is a Golden Brittany Spantriever and we love her completely. Thanks, GRRR, for playing matchmaker! Mike and Lynn Carlson Cheyenne, Wyoming Recent Rescues Happy New Year GRRR! This is our Alice under the tree. We got her Sept. 15th after we lost our beloved Goldies, Lewis and Clark. She is now 50 pounds with a thick coat. We go to the dog park three times a week. She makes a lot of friends there. We love our little Alice. Thank you GRRR. Happy New Year, The Keeneys Alice Amber is a goof ball sweetheart girl. She taught us a new trick last night to shake hands/paws. We hadn't thought about asking her to shake then, lo and behold, Ebony held up her paw also. We learn new things all the time from our dogs. Amber loves to ride in the car and if I'm not in the car, she "rides shotgun." We also take them to the dog park and they both love that. Amber is a much better watchdog than Ebony, and will bark up a storm if someone comes to the door which we appreciate. She also does not like squirrels, nor do I, so when she chases them in the yard, I tell her she is a really good dog. She will go after a tennis ball and bring it back, but not more than once or twice, then she is ready to lay down and just chew on it. When we got her, she came with a soft toy soccer ball. This has been washed several times already and still is a favorite of hers, although Ebony sometimes takes it to pack around. Amber is a sweet, sweet dog. She has picked up on our routine so easily and is usually the first one at the door in the morning to head for the office. She and Ebony have their own special places they like to sleep at the office, which has a nice fenced back yard for their enjoyment also. We are loving her. Jerry and Don Rasmussen Ebony and Amber 3

4 Recent Rescues Hi GRRR: I love Chelsea (Aspen) and so does Gracie. They have been playing on and off all day. It is so fun to watch them. She really wants to be with Grace or me at all times. I love her personality. I am going to start training next weekend. She is pretty smart so it shouldn't be hard at all. Thank you for your help. Cathy Sudac Chelsea Hello GRRR: Chloe & Dani Chloe is doing very well in our home, and has truly bonded with our Husky, Dani. We are very grateful for GRRR and the opportunity to bring Chloe into our loving home. We are starting to be able to take both of them on walks, which was very important to me as well. Donelle and Doug Zinn My name is EARL EMMITT TOD but you ll remember me as just Emmitt. I was introduced to my forever family on August 29th, which is now my birthday since no one really knows when I was born. I know it wasn t really the Todd s plan to take me home that night but I m forever grateful that they did. I ve been with the Todd s for two months now and things are going great. My Mom & Dad love me very much and even though my older brother, Hank, isn t completely sold on sharing them with me. I keep hoping we ll be the best of friends soon. Mom says that until Hank comes around I just need to keep on loving him, cuddling up next to him, and giving him kisses as often as I can. The Todd s take good care of me. I get good meals, fresh water, and a lot of love 4 every single day, and although this is new to me I REALLY like it! I wasn t too happy about the green things (peas) that they put in my dinner at first, but now I clean my bowl every meal! I get to play outside in their big back yard a lot. I wish you could have seen how impressed my Dad was when I showed him how good I am at playing fetch he about fell out of his chair the first time he threw the ball and I brought it back to him. So now we sit out back and play fetch a lot. I m trying to teach Hank how to fetch too, but so far he just chases me and tries to steal the ball. I know it will take time to truly forget my past,but I love my forever home and I just wanted to say THANKS for taking good care of me and helping me find them. Love, Earl (and Christian & Tara Todd) Earl & Hank Jessi Tara is now going by the name Jessi, named in memory of the little girl who was abducted and murdered recently. Jessi is an beautiful, awesome dog and has easily made a place for herself in our family in less than a week. She loves everyone and is so easy to get along with, so eager to please. Jessi already knows many commands and has had no accidents. She takes treats gently and just loves squeak toys. The cats were initially not sure about this new very energetic dog and ran when they saw her. And you know what a dog does when they see an animal run! Yep...she chased them. But after a couple days of telling her to "be nice" and "be gentle," she is trying very hard to remember, and the cats are getting used to her. Jessi just wants to be friends...with any human or animal! She was even patiently waiting when I caught one of the cats eating out of her bowl. We were concerned about crating her while we are at work, but she is doing good with that too, and is so happy to see us when we get home. All who see her pictures say, "She looks just like a Golden, but black." Thanks for saving this wonderful girl and for allowing us to adopt her into our family. Erin Toon

5 Jasper Here's a picture of Jasper (formerly Jersey) having a ball in Winter Park a month ago. He's so adorable! We love him so much! He's sweet (and mischievous) and really smart, and he makes us laugh every day. Since our first golden (Frisco) died four years ago, I'd been pining for another and now that my husband, Tom, and I are both retired, it seemed the perfect time. And it is. We play and walk every day, and go to the meadow up the hill where Jasper can run like the wind and play with his buddies, including his "girlfriend" Lucy (a yellow Lab) and an Irish wolfhound who's twice his size! Jasper loves sticks and his stuffed dog ("Soggy Baby") but is scared of a long, squeaky stuffed snake I got him for Christmas! Sherry Walker Recent Rescues We wanted to let you know how much we are enjoying the addition of Barkley to our family. He continually amazes and amuses us. He has already started agility and except for the tunnel, he did very well. Tomorrow night will be his first time to go to a jazz band rehearsal. He keeps trying to get our 11-year-old Rat Terrier, Max, to play Max & Barkley with him, but Max thinks he is too sophisticated for puppy play. Barkley came to us with excellent obedience skills and has continued to learn even more. He is so loving and trusting. He follows me all around the house. He allows me to step over him without him moving a muscle. He loves to play ball and will bring it back and spit it out at my feet. We are so happy we adopted him. Linda and Rich McDaniel Dear GRRR, We adopted Holly (a.k.a. Poppy ) in July We were looking for a buddy for our Lab/mix Wilbur (also a rescue), as our first Golden and his best friend died in February at the age of 12. We appreciated that GRRR invited Wilbur to come with us to Arvada to meet some of the Goldens who might be a good match for our family. Holly went right up to Wilbur during our visit and came home with us that day. In a very short time Holly made herself at home in our hearts. She and Wilbur are inseparable. When we adopted her she was underweight and her hair coat was so thin, we worried about how she would do in the winter at 9,000 feet. We were warned that she had food allergies and chronic diarrhea. I m happy to report the food allergies and diarrhea have disappeared. She has put on weight and muscle from eating a good diet and Holly running in the forest almost every day. Her coat is getting thicker and healthier by the day. She is a happy and energetic 6-year-old who loves squeaky toys and chasing tennis balls, especially on the beach in Oregon where she spent her summer vacation. Thank you, GRRR (and especially Darla and Mary), for introducing us to this special Golden. Holly is a treasure! Linda, Rob, and Wilbur Gittens Hi GRRR, My name is Nyx (formerly Pete), but my mommy and daddy call me Nyxie. One day I was sitting on the couch in the adoption center and a lady came and sat next to me. She gave me lots of pets and then took me outside to play with her and a really nice man. I was really sad, and they said I looked like a hound dog because my ears and eyes were so droopy. I guess my sad face worked because they took me home that night! The lady is called mommy and the nice Nyx man is called daddy and they can t seem to get enough of me. I found out I have a kitty sister called Buddha who is taking a while to realize I m a super cool addition to the family, but she s letting me sniff her sometimes now. I hope once she realizes I just want to be friends she ll spend more time with me. The first night with my new mommy, she took me to a store where all the other ladies were petting me and trying to give me treats, and telling me how cute I was. The ladies love my deep red coat. Then we went to a doggie bakery store where the owner kept bringing me homemade yummy treats. I was starting to get the hang of what a happy puppy was supposed to feel like. For New Year's we went in a big camper to a park in Utah where there was lots of snow and space for me to run, run, run. I m smiling all the time now, my ears are perked up, and my eyes are open wide just like the happy puppy I am. I ve also been getting some training with Carole and am happy to report I m getting an A, at least in effort. My mommy and daddy are always playing with me and telling me what a good boy I am. Life is great in my forever home. 5 Nyx (and the Hooge family)

6 Recent Rescues Jack Hi GRRR: Last September we lost Buddy, our 14-year-old rescue Golden, to cancer. We adopted him at the age of 10 and he fit right in with us as if he had always been our pup. He was given 3-6 months after being diagnosed and we decided to make the best of the time we had left. Buddy lost his fight 13 days later, and to say we were devastated would be an understatement. Buddy was such a special dog and we were so crushed we couldn t even think about another one. After a few weeks, we decided a Golden-less house was just too quiet and having lost 2 senior Goldens in the past 6 years, we wanted a younger rescue Golden. We poured over the GRRR website daily hoping for one that would be a good match for us and started to worry that we may not have a dog in the house by Christmas. Then we got the call from Darla, and we could hardly wait to meet the prospective 16-month-old pup. We knew the second we met Jack (formerly known as J.J.) that he was meant to be with us. He was a wiggling bundle of fur, so happy, handsome and lovable. In the 6 weeks we have had Jack, we have seen his personality come to life. He loves to go on walks, play with his new pals, go for car rides, snuggle during movies and is an excellent ball retriever. Jack is so friendly and loves everyone he meets. He is doing really well in Ted Terroux s training classes, where there are several other GRRR pups. While Jack s personality is very different from Buddy s, he has captured our hearts and we absolutely adore him. He is a perfect fit for us and it is so much fun to have a young pup again. He is a natural born comedian and we are looking forward to a long and happy life with Jack. He was the best holiday gift we could have received. We d like to thank Darla for all her help in finding us the perfect pup, and everyone at GRRR for all the great work that you do to save these wonderful Goldens. Annie & Chris Bement 6 Newsletter Submissions 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, the letter and digital photo to Debbie Davis at grrr.volunteer@ gmail.com, or mail to GRRR at W. 72nd Ave, Arvada CO Deadline for the May, 2013 issue is April 7. Thanks! Juno Happy New Year! I wanted to send you over a photo that captures how Juno is doing. FANTASTIC! She has found tennis ball heaven at our house with all the treats she loves, i.e., chicken/horse manure and 35 acres to wander. We absolutely love her, and she is very happy and eating once again with a voracious appetite. Thank you for allowing us to provide her a home. We love her dearly. I will reach out again for another senior when the time comes. This will be my life long dream, to provide a home to those seniors in need. Also, please express our thanks to everyone there at GRRR (Mary)! Paula Collis Zoey and Maci It has 5 years since we adopted Zoey and Maci from you, and not a day goes by that we don't count our blessings that we have the 2 greatest Goldens on earth! They go everywhere with us, and when they can't go with us, they get to stay with their Golden cousins at my sister's here in Conifer. This photo is from our trip to Yankee Boy Basin last summer when they are doing what they love best! We have a dog paw magnet on our car that reads " Who rescued Who?" and that really says it all. Thank you for the wonderful work that you do,and many thanks for the joy of these two girls. Kind regards, Penny Tracey and Bill Hollowell Conifer, CO

7 Hey GRRR Mango is doing great! She's a counter surfer and will shred things that are left laying around (oven mitts, clothing, pillows, anything packaged in hard plastic), but the more exercise she gets, the better she is, so I've been trying to get up in the mountains more often. She obviously hasn't been in lakes and streams before because she is super excited about them but doesn't quite know what to do about it. Dave Sietsema Mango THANK YOU for allowing us to adopt Sam. Sam is doing great. We all just love him, and with 7 of us around, he does not lack attention. He's put on some weight, and he and our other Golden, Sophie, love to play together. Sam Even the neighbor dog, another rescue dog, comes over to play sometimes. He loves to go for walks and rides, and loves to run and play especially with a tennis ball. Sam is full of life and lives it to the fullest. While he now knows our daily routine, he hasn't figured out that on the weekends we would like to sleep past 6 a.m. Thanks again for everything you did and all the time you spent to make this happen. Mark, Moriah, Tyler, Zach, Anna, Christy and Katie Hi GRRR: Jackson is doing great we renamed him Ripken after the hall of fame baseball player Cal Ripken (we name all of our dogs after baseball players.) He took right to the name change. After a rocky start, Ripken is really doing great. At the beginning, he had separation anxiety and would not eat anything for a week. We had an extensive physical exam done just to make sure that there was nothing medically wrong, and he checked out fine. He finally started eating small portions and now he eagerly eats his entire bowl of food twice a day. I have been making some homemade healthy dog snacks and he loves them as well. Ripken loves to hike, chase his ball and play with us and our grandsons. We are so thankful that we hooked up with GRRR and adopted Ripken. We could not have found a better dog. Ron & Jane Newman Ripken Recent Rescues I can't tell you how blessed I feel to have Mattie in my life. She can be a stinker, of course, she's a Golden, but more often, most certainly a joy. She makes me laugh, she hugs me when I most need it, and gives me a renewed appreciation for life. I don't know the circumstances that put her in GRRR, but she is absolutely a wonderful companion, and a first-rate love bug. You CANNOT have her back! Thanks to Darla for bringing this wonderful little soul into my life. Sincerely, Terre Lemick Mattie Hi GRRR: Words cannot sufficiently express how wonderfully Sadie fits into our family. She is the sweetest, most lovable dog. We are enjoying her so much! Sadie has joined in camping, hiking, running, walking, and snuggling with us. We are so grateful that GRRR called us to be matched with her Thank You! Gratefully, The Johnson Family Sadie 7

8 Recent Rescues Thank you GRRR for helping us to find our "forever Golden"! We met Peyton (originally named Grizzly) on July 31st when we received the call from Darla that they had a wonderful, boy for us to meet. Darla said that he was a pure Golden personality and was she ever right! We had recently lost our beloved Golden, Mickey, a few months prior and our home just didn t feel quite right without the love of a Golden roaming around, so we reached out to GRRR again and asked for their help. They worked hard to help us find the right Golden and to be a buddy for our 13- year-old Siberian husky, Keetna. They had said that Peyton was found as a stray in Gillette, Wyoming. He was a large boy, just over 100 lbs and had a beautiful red, curly coat. Needless to say, it didn t take us long to want Peyton to come home with us. At 100 lbs, Peyton didn t really understand how strong he was and we had to practice our walks and leash manners a bit. He s gotten so much better, but he is still insistent on stopping to visit every person or dog along the way. He just knows that everyone will love him and he s usually right! But we did soon discovered that he couldn t be off leash as he does like to wander off, which is probably how he became a stray. When we learned this lesson, it at least didn t take too much to find him as he was visiting the first person he saw. Although we ve had two other Golden s prior to Peyton, we ve never had one that loves to snuggle quite as much as he does. He is happiest when he s lying in your lap and being as close to you as possible. And boy does he like his creature comforts. He hasn t met a bed or couch that he doesn t like. He s also figured out how to quietly sneak on to the bed in the middle Peyton of the night, and doesn t have any qualms about claiming any open spot for himself. How a 100-lb guy can do that without waking us up sometimes is amazing. He does have a stubborn streak too and he knows how to use his weight and size by going totally limp to try and discourage you from making him vacate your big, comfy bed for that boring doggy bed on the floor. But how can you not forgive such a loving and faithful boy? Sheila & Jack Drew Hi Everyone: I just wanted to let you know things are going well with Scout. He is making the adjustment just fine, as are we. We are all learning the routine and learning about each other. Everyone who meets him just loves him! Even the cat tolerates him now. So far, he really likes to hang out next to the piano when I practice or when my students are playing. I included a picture of him one ball was just not enough! Thanks again for all your help and all you do to find homes for golden retrievers. Scout Lisa Rickard 8 It's difficult to put into words how much happiness Crosby has brought to our family since we adopted him from GRRR in July. Crosby can always bring a bright spot to a difficult day. No matter what is going on, he is always wagging his tail and offering what I know is a smile. His absolute enthusiasm when you walk through the door is something that I can still hardly believe, and it s impossible to ignore. Crosby has so much personality, sometimes we re positive we can tell what he is thinking. I thought that maybe we were taking a little risk adopting a dog that had a lot of unknowns in his background, including being a stray for a while, but I m glad that we took a leap. Right off the bat, Crosby was so loving and always wants to be by our side. He loves to play, and the dog park is his little slice of doggy heaven. I think he Crosby could chase a tennis ball until my arm literally fell off. He can chew through a rawhide with a speed that is unbelievable, but he has never turned those amazing talents towards a shoe or anything else around the house. We took him to the obedience training that GRRR recommended, and the results were awesome. Crosby loves showing off all his talents to our friends, and having a dog that will actually lie down and stay during dinner is great. Crosby is such a good dog, I really can t say enough about him. After just 6 short months we couldn t imagine what our life would be like without Crosby. I can t thank everyone at GRRR enough for saving Crosby so he could come into our lives. Dan and Kelli Wilson

9 Phoebe's Place Update by Deb Kneale The bridge at Phoebe s Place is magnificent! Aside from all the symbolism and metaphors one connects with bridges, this one is a handsome piece of architecture that fits the landscape and view of the mountains beyond. Starting with a vision of connecting our property across a forty-foot-wide irrigation ditch, it took a year of planning, engineering, and timing to reach the two-hour climax of the crane gently dropping this four-and-a-half-ton structure onto its concrete footings. This beautifully weathered metal and wood ten-foot-wide pathway feels natural, safe, and inviting for the pedestrians who linger in crossing. Structurally, the function of this bridge accommodates 8,000 pounds, which is a pretty big party of people and dogs. This capacity will also allow mowing and other equipment and smaller vehicles to access the south portion of GRRR s property. The four-foot-tall steel side rails with closely-spaced balusters make for a secure feeling, with or without water flowing below. Planning for the bridge began concurrently with planning to build kennels. A generous donation for the bridge from Russ and Cathy Jones enabled the board to approve this project to begin immediately. A custom bridge was designed, fabricated, and stored, even though the installation had to be timed around the water flow in the ditch. Russ tackled the legal, permitting, insurance, and right-of-way issues to make sure we had all our Goldens in a row. His patience and perseverance gained us access across a neighbor s bridge in the interim. Steve Morganfield, with no rest from overseeing the kennel project, headed up various contractors and paced this project to stay within time and budget constraints. Volunteers helped with debris removal, but much of the project required skilled professionals working in tandem. Although many GRRR events in 2012 have been thwarted by weather, the installation of the bridge structure couldn t have been completed on a more perfect day. The window of time for drilling the caissons and pouring the concrete for the bridge footings needed to be after the ditch water stopped running in the fall, but before we hit a cold, wet winter. We had an unusual stretch of blue sky and sixty-degree temperatures in which to work. An unexpected wave of emotion swept over me to see this project completed. It was GRRR s own moon landing. It is that same awe I feel driving into Boulder where the mountains appear. It was heart-warming to see Russ climb up on the bridge even before it was lifted off the truck. Installation came off without a hitch, from the skillful trucker who maneuvered through our gate to the expertise of the crane operator, ably assisted by Steve, Bill Urbanowski, and Brad Fritz. A bunch of adults watched these big toys synchronize, momentarily being taken back to childhood but with a sigh of relief when all the pieces fit. The VIP walkers will enjoy the ease of entry onto the still-to-be-created walking path enclosed by the yet-to-befunded, (coming soon) fencing. It seemed fitting that Mary Kenton s 14-year-old Samson was the first dog to cross, full of life and free to run with reckless abandon on the other side. p Bob Jorgensen with Samson Colorado Gives Day by Judi Servoss We wrote about it in our GRRR newsletters. We wrote about it on our website. We also sent you after . Then a day before the event, volunteers rallied on the steps of Denver s Capital Building, and on Colorado Give s Day, December 4, 2012 we bombarded your Facebook feed every 30 minutes to celebrate and share our (members, adopters, donors and volunteers) success stories. The result: GRRR s first year participating in the Community First Foundation s Colorado Gives Day was a huge success! Approximately 275 individuals donated over $25,000 in a 24-hour period. In addition, we continue to receive donations through the Foundation s GivingFirst.org website. Colorado Gives Day and GivingFirst.org were created to promote online philanthropy statewide. The Foundation promotes these programs and provides additional administrative support such as covering credit card fees. GRRR encourages members to contribute by clicking on the Donate Now button on our website to take advantage of these benefits year round. Although we received more money on Colorado Gives Day than we could have imagined, we have many ideas for next year s program that we hope will make Colorado Gives Day 2013 even more successful. Thank you for your continued support of GRRR! p 9

10 Golden Angel - Noel by Cathy Jones We ve all seen the television promotions showing very neglected and abused dogs that need our help. They are sick injured emaciated forlorn. These images tug at our heartstrings and implore us to help. Here at Golden Retriever Rescue of the Rockies (GRRR), we accept Goldens of all shapes, sizes, ages, and conditions. Some are just as desperate as the dogs on TV. Just such a Golden is GRRR s dear Noel. Noel, at 7 years old, found her way to GRRR shortly before the holidays. A stray from the western slope of Colorado, she arrived with nothing, not even a name. Because it was December, she was given a very appropriate, uplifting name Noel. Upon first meeting the loving folks of GRRR, it was evident that this sweet girl was in great need. The most obvious problem was that she was severely underweight. She needed to gain about 10 pounds or approximately 20% of her size. No doubt it had been a long time, if ever, since she had enjoyed ample quantities of nutri- Noel tious food. This problem was easily addressed as GRRR set about nourishing her and helping her gain strength. Because she was so very thin, Noel wore a sweater to help her retain her body heat. It is not often that we see a Golden Retriever wearing a sweater or a coat, but there are certainly times when one is needed. All Goldens who come into the welcoming arms of GRRR receive a veterinary exam and are brought up to date on all their necessary vaccinations. This takes place soon after they arrive. Noel s exam revealed serious problems. It was obvious to our veterinarian that she had been used as a breeder dog and had carried, delivered,and nursed several litters of puppies. How depleted and worn out her poor, frail body must have been. Even for an otherwise well-cared-for dog, so many pregnancies take a great toll. Now at age 7, Noel apparently had been discarded thrown away, as she was perceived of little value by her breeder. She was abandoned to fend for herself after providing, for most of her life, the services asked of her by the breeder. As part of her care with GRRR, she has now been spayed and will never again be expected to sacrifice her body to bring puppies into the world. But Noel was diagnosed with a much bigger, life-threatening problem. Her 10 blood test came back positive for heartworm. Heartworm is a condition that can cause severe lung inflammation and heart failure and can result in death. As most responsible dog owners know, heartworm is easily preventable when dogs are given a monthly oral medication, which is very palatable. On the other hand, treatment for active heartworm is agonizing for the afflicted dog. It is also very expensive. Poor, poor Noel a loving, trusting Golden without a home of her own, seriously underweight and with a body weakened from multiple litters. Thankfully, she was surrounded by the loving arms of Golden Retriever Rescue of the Rockies. Noel s next problem was that the medicine used to treat heartworm has become scarce, and GRRR s vet was not at all sure that he could get his hands on enough to administer the needed medication to her. This disease is uncommon in the Rocky Mountains, and perhaps this is why there is not much of the treatment medicine available in this area. The fact that Noel arrived heartworm positive raises the possibility that she may have lived in a southern state where the disease is more prevalent, and she was dumped in Colorado. With great thanks to our veterinary hospital partner for locating enough of the medicine for Noel, a plan was formulated to get this precious girl the help she desperately needed. And this plan has several aspects. First, as mentioned above, this treatment will be grueling for Noel. She received several injections given at prescribed intervals with an outpatient day at the hospital each time. Now she is confined and will need to lead a very quiet life style during the treatment period, probably a few months. Noel encountered yet another major hurdle a diagnosis of pneumonia. This is a very serious illness, requiring costly medications, and she must be checked, and perhaps rechecked, to be certain the lungs are clear, so there is no risk of recurrence. All of this is very daunting for a 7-year-old homeless girl. But remember, Noel is a Golden Retriever and has the spirit characteristic of her noble breed. She also has the love of the GRRR family. Thankfully she also has the financial resources GRRR can provide to help her through this crisis in her life. As mentioned earlier, treatment for heartworm is very expensive in actual cost as well as in cost to the Golden. It is because of dogs like Noel who come into GRRR s care that we reach out to you to help if you can. By supporting our Golden Angel Fund, you ensure that money will be there for the next dog who arrive with extraordinary needs. Most often those needs are medical, but occasionally they can be behavioral. GRRR cares for them all with the individualized, quality care each so deserves. So the next time you see one of the heart-tugging television spots, please think of GRRR too, and help by contributing to the Golden Angel Fund. Please visit our website at click on Donate, and you will find the Golden Angel Fund listed. Here you can learn more about this vital aspect of GRRR. Won t you help these very special Golden Angel dogs heal and recover and go on to lead more robust lives in new loving forever homes? These wonderful Goldens deserve to lead fun, pain free, carefree lives. Your help is critical. Thank you for helping. And most of all, thank you for your positive thoughts and well wishes for Noel. p

11 Golden Angel - Seavers by Rina Madarong Seavers, named after baseball great Tom Seaver, is an 11.5-year-old pure-bred Golden Retriever. He was delivered to GRRR with his AKC paperwork in early November 2012, and shows all the lovable qualities found in Goldens: sweet, affectionate, and smart. His original owner died, and Seavers lived with his owner s girlfriend for two years. She recently moved and couldn t take him with her. So after he was groomed, his original owner s brother arranged for him to come to GRRR. Seavers had struggled with allergies and ear infections his entire life. He had been on a special diet to help with his special needs. However, his human step-mom didn t feel it was working, so she switched him to regular food. When Mary Kenton, GRRR s resident caretaker at Phoebe s Place, met Seavers, she noticed that this cuddly and playful Golden was very itchy. After closer inspection, she realized his ear canals were thick with scar tissue, evidence of his long life of enduring chronic ear infections. Then his skin his skin was black and thick from recurring allergies and skin infections. Aside from the scar tissue, Mary also noticed that his ears were packed with a substance that looked like peanut butter. And it not only looked terrible, but it also smelled terrible! There was also a protruding mass on his hip next to the base of his tale. This sweet, adorable Golden boy needed some extra care, so Seavers was taken to Dr. Carpenter, GRRR s veterinarian at Arvada West, right away. Dr. Carpenter found a yeast infection in his skin and secondary bacterial infection due to scratching and licking. Seavers also had a full senior screen blood panel completed, and he was scheduled for surgery to remove the tumor on his hip. Seavers was placed on Ketoconizole, an anti-yeast medication, and Cefalexin, an antibiotic to work on getting rid of his skin infections. In addition, he was to have medicated baths weekly if not more to help alleviate the itching and help with healing his skin. We all know how much our furry loved ones enjoy having baths! As for his tumor, Seavers had his surgery and all went well. The tumor was found to be cancerous, but it has been successfully removed. However, there is always a chance of recurrence, so he must be monitored and checked for cancer regularly. After his surgery, Seavers continued to receive his weekly medicated baths, and his skin and coat improved each week. (Now his hair is so beautiful!) He spent his days playing with the other furry residents at Phoebe s Place, and enjoyed all the volunteers who came to spend time with him daily. But his ears still gave him problems. Even with treatment, Seavers itching with his ears continued. He would dive into the grass, or onto a dog bed or couch, to rub his ears. Watching him was brutal, knowing he was suffering with this condition! He was eventually placed on prednisone to try to alleviate some of his pain and itching. During Christmas, Mary checked him over, and it looked like a Seavers cyst had exploded in his ears. He was then taken back to see Dr. Carpenter. Dr. Carpenter put him under to take a good look in those ears again, and ran a culture that revealed a staph infection. Seavers was then placed on a new regime of treatment: new oral antibiotics, a new ear drop Dr. Carpenter made specifically for his infection, and twice daily ear washes with a vinegar/water mixture. Even with all his hardships, Seavers lovable Golden personality is still shining through. He is very affectionate, playful, and you would never guess his age his current wrestling partner is Walter, an 18-month-old who can t wait for the nightly wrestling matches with Seavers! Seavers is also an intelligent, vocal boy and will let you know when he s ready to eat, needs to be with you, or wants to go outside. The smart communicator that he is, there is no guessing with him; he s not amused when left outside in the cold and will complain loudly! Seavers is still receiving treatment because his infection was so bad, but it is only a matter of time for it to completely go away. Now that the whys of his mysterious itches are being solved, this friendly boy is on the path to healing. He continues to enjoy the other furry residents at Phoebe s Place and the volunteers that spend time with him, while he gets ready to find his loving forever home. With your donations, our Golden Angel Fund helps improve the life of our Goldens that need special medical treatments. Please consider making a donation today to help Seavers and other Goldens with medical needs. p Please Donate to GRRR's Golden Angel Fund! 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, W. 72nd Avenue, Golden, CO (Make your check payable to GRRR with Golden Angel Fund in the memo portion.) Thank you! 11

12 Golden Angel Update Gordon 12 GORDON, by Linda Olson Gordon had a somewhat bumpy recovery from his Cranial Cruciate Ligament (CCL) surgery, due to a fracture that occurred in his leg after his initial surgery. It kept him from using his leg in the crucial month after surgery, a time that would normally be spent regaining mobility and stability in the injured leg. Finally he was released by the surgeon to begin therapy in November, at Canine Rehabilitation & Conditioning Group (CRCG) in Englewood. The wonderful professionals there started him on laser therapy, acupuncture, and the under-water treadmill, all of which were viewed with much suspicion by this very stubborn Golden. Fortunately, he has now graduated to swims in the big pool a big improvement in his mind! When we enter the pool now, a hearty whoo-whoo-whoo by Gordon announces our entry. He approves. With the help of GRRR, and the wonderful people who contribute to the Angel fund, he is able to get the therapy he needs. The wonderful care he receives at CRCG would not be possible if it were not funded by GRRR they are unwavering in their support of their many Golden Angels. His damaged leg is still something he won't use all the time, but he is improving. Additionally, I work with him at home with massages in the morning, walks to improve muscle growth, and much love and encouragement. Besides his physical recovery, he is now part of my family this is the kind of love he obviously never had before. Gordon is doing what a Golden knows how to do finding love, accepting it, and giving it back 1000 fold. He is blossoming under my care and that of my friends and family. I too am blossoming with Gordon's love and watching him relax into his new life. He is my third GRRR adoption and my sixth rescue. They have all been so different, and I love all their differences in turn; what a wonderful family of dogs I have had. My pups who have passed never leave me; they are always alive in my current love. Gordon sleeps at my feet now, with a hearty snore and twitching feet, chasing squirrels in his dreams a happy boy. Thank you, GRRR for bringing him into my life, and thank you Angel Fund donators for your kind generosity which has helped Gordon so very, very much! p Cheyenne CHEYENNE, by Christopher McKenzie Sweet Cheyenne has done very well after her surgery. We had to keep her away from her other puppy friends for a couple of months while she recovered, but we made up for that with lots of love and attention at home. Now that we are a bit down the road and her healing has progressed, she is out of control! As soon as she gets out the door she is off like lightning down the trail here at the preserve. She loves to run, and I believe she knows that she has been given a new lease on life. Cheyenne does favor the new titanium hip over the one that has not been restored, and after just a few minutes of activity, she plays on the ground to relieve her aching hip. I know that when her other hip is restored, she is going to be unstoppable! In the interim, she gets lots of play time with the other puppies in the neighborhood and her friends around town. We are so grateful for the Angel Fund that has allowed Cheyenne to become the playful, lively Golden she is. On a non-surgical front, Cheyenne has really opened up and her real personality is starting to shine through. She jumps into bed to get cuddles before retiring to her own new, comfy bed. Then in the morning, she hops back into bed for more cuddles before she lets you know that, "Now it's time to go outside," but only after she gets her morning cuddle time. Cheyenne is so great, and we are infinitely thankful that we get to share the next decade showing our appreciation for her. Thank you to all who contribute to GRRR s Golden Angel Fund. p

13 GRRR 2013 Calendar Photo Contest! The Golden Retriever Rescue of the Rockies 9th Annual Photo Contest is now open! Your Golden could be featured in the 2014 calendar! The Grand Prize Winner will have their photo on the cover. Last year s calendar was a huge success we received 600 entries and sold almost 1,500 calendars! Submission Guidelines: $5 per photo entry fee; no limit to number of photos you can submit! 12 Monthly and 12 Honorable Mention winners all receive a free calendar. Golden Retrievers only; doesn t have to be a GRRR or Rescue dog. Horizontal (landscape) shots only, not vertical (portrait)! You can submit the same photos as previous years (previous Monthly and Honorable Mention winning photos excluded). The photo must have been taken by you or someone in your family; you can t submit photos taken by someone else. For digital images, set your camera at the HIGHEST resolution (photos will be enlarged to 8.5 x11 ). Please send original digital files (.jpg or.tif files) either on CD or via as attachments, and include your name, phone number, address, and dog s name. Please don t make the file smaller to send the original, largest file. digital photos to: grrr.contest@gmail.com *IMPORTANT: You will receive an confirmation of your digital entry within 48 hours; if you don t receive confirmation, assume files didn t go through and re-send. For snapshots, please put a label on the back with your name, dog s name, address, and phone number (please don t write directly on the print!). 4x6 minimum size please (8x10s would be great!). And please don t scan in snapshots yourself mail in the prints. If you would like your photo returned, please include a self-addressed stamped envelope. For all entries: Mail entry form (available at payment (unless paying on-line), and snapshots or CD (unless ing photos) to: GRRR Photo Contest c/o Joyce Morganfield W. 73rd Place Arvada, CO Please make checks payable to GRRR. Online payment option is available for entry fee ( but you still need to mail in your entry form or fax it to Deadline for entry is June 24, 2013, so start snapping! Winners will be notified by July 30. Calendars will be available at all GRRR events starting with the Picnic in September, on our website, and at many stores throughout Colorado. Thanks and Good Luck!

14 In Memory IN MEMORY OF LOUIE, by Pat Rogers Louie was the GRRR Wonder Dog of Russ and Cathy Jones. And, talk about a perfect match between them and his Golden brother Brock. Louie had a terrible and cruel early life, but then the Jones's stepped in say no more after that! The Jones's give so much of themselves to GRRR, emotionally, physically, and financially. They saw how much Louie had been mistreated and knew this dog was for them. Louie little sprouts of hair on his body, non existent on his chest, and clouded eyes. This was all due to the mange he had during his early years from living outside. But, you could see in those big brown eyes that it did not worry him. He knew that he was one handsome dog, inside and out. He was in a great home now and with people who Louie more than loved him. And Louie blossomed. The Jones's took such wonderful care of this dog with all of his health issues. He did require a lot of medical attention daily. Louie also took wonderful care of Russ and Cathy as he wormed his way into their hearts. Louie was the perfect example of unconditional love. He was always such a happy dog and loved everyone, even after the early years of being mistreated. I think that no one played with him as a puppy, as he was really good at playing with the tennis ball solo. But that changed when he saw that people could actually throw the ball for him! I remember him always running to get that tennis ball as soon as I would step in the door. Louie was a wonderful GRRR ambassador when he attended events. People always wanted to know his story. Louie was one lucky dog to live out so many years with Russ and Cathy. He does leave a hole in all of our hearts, but we must remember what a blessing it was to have had him. I know that he is running and playing pain free now and smiling down on the best family he could have ever had. You are dearly missed, Louie. We will always love you. LOGAN, by Jeff & Juli Smith Thank you GRRR, for 15 wonderful years with our sweet Logan. We were on your wait list for almost a year, living in Ft. Collins at the time, when we adopted "Cosmo" in December 97/January 98 as I recall... He traveled most of the country and swam in every piece of water he could find from "garden hose" to Lake Powell to The Lake of the Ozarks to the Atlantic Ocean. While I was in Vet School, he and his partner Kelsey (who chose Logan from the two dogs that you had at the time) visited the University of Missouri- Columbia Children's Hospital as Pet Therapy Dogs and brightened up the children's day Logan by playing fetch in the hall! Logan had to have a hind leg amputated 2 years ago due to a bone tumor (fibrosarcoma unusual and non-metastatic) but lived life to the fullest until the day before he passed. I ran some bloodwork to assess him, and he was in multi-organ failure so we let him pass naturally with only fluid support. Just thought you might like to know the "rest of the story." Ben & Max BEN, by Charles Hopkin It seems like yesterday that we went to Golden Retriever Rescue of the Rockies to get a new Golden. As we checked out the dogs that were available for adoption, we didn t choose Ben, he chose us. He sat down next to our car with a look that said, I m ready to go home. I m sad to report that Ben s cancer came back. The photos are of Ben s last trip up Independence Pass. When we got back home, Dr. Jeff came to the house and we put Ben to sleep. Now I m busy consoling Max. He is very sad and misses Ben. We all do. SHADOW, by Donna & Ken Hayward We adopted our sweet Shadow on November 1, Our Golden girl Spirit died at age 12-1/2, and our GRRR boy Dusty was so sad. So, we went to GRRR to find him a friend. Dusty was very picky. The only Golden he liked was 10-yearold Shadow. His foster mom, Gwen Mann, was surprised and thought no one would adopt such an old Golden. Not us. We like the older ones. They are mellow, loving, thankful and make the best pets. So, Shadow came to live with us on the Gentle Spirit Ranch in Calhan, CO. He adapted easily to ranch life. He was not afraid of the horses, enjoyed supervising barn chores, liked leisurely walks, and was the official greeter at the ranch. He would wag his tail and then lean gently into each person who came to visit. While Dusty was content to play ball, Shadow was content to get his belly rubbed. He especially liked it when children came to visit, because they would lie down with him. He would really smile. He was easily entertained by our cats, too. His only trick was to literally dance for his meals. Of the many Goldens who have enriched our lives over many years, Shadow was the sweetest one. He was almost 15 years old. We had never had a Golden live that long. When we adopted him, we never dreamed he would be with us for four years. His friend GRRR boy Bud was so sad when Shadow died. So we didn t waste any time finding Bud a friend. We know that Shadow would have loved our new GRRR girl, Sophie. We are thankful to GRRR for matching us with so many of our faithful GRRR dogs. 14 Shadow

15 PETE, by Carolyn and Chuck Ellington Eight-year-old Pete wasn t supposed to be ready for adoption on the day we came to pick a friend for our rescued Golden, Wendy. The only reason that Pete was at the adoption center was that he had an ear infection that needed attention. We had been working with Mary for a while to find another rescued Golden to add to our family. She had chosen three Goldens that she thought might be a fit. We carefully looked at each of them, and watched the reaction of our Golden, Wendy. As we played with one then another, it became obvious that we had not found the right Golden. We were disappointed, and started back to the office. As we walked past the kennels, there Pete was looking at us as we went by. His face said, Hi! Take a minute to look at me! He was not the most handsome Golden. In fact, he was long, lanky, and had bad ears, skin, and teeth. He was a mess. But his eyes told us to look past the bad outside to see his wonderful heart. We asked if we could take Pete for a walk. During the walk, it was clear that Pete was the one to adopt. Our Golden, Wendy, loved him immediately, and so did we. When we finished the paperwork and started to leave for home, Pete jumped into our Honda Pilot without hesitation. He was without question a part of our family. For the next two years,pete showed us how live in the moment. He kept his sunny attitude through teeth cleanings, ear medicine applications, and joint issues. His luck in the DNA bank may have been bad, but his joy of life was the best! Sadly, we lost our boy, Pete, on 25 Oct Up until the night before, he was his usual big ol' lanky self. But during his last night, he was restless, and didn't sleep well. In the morning he was lethargic, would not eat, and didn't want to go for a walk. I called the vet, and got an appointment for the early afternoon. By mid-morning, Pete was not better, so I called the vet to say that I was bringing him in early. As soon as I got to the vet's they took an ultrasound, and determined that his stomach was filled with blood, and he had a bleeding tumor on his liver. The doctor diagnosed it as hemangiosarcoma. (When there is a tumor on the liver, there most probably is at least one or more tumors elsewhere. The odds of success through operating and/or treatment are 95% unsuccessful.) The bleeding was not going to stop, so our choices were to operate immediately with a very poor chance of success, or let him go gently to the Rainbow Bridge. We miss him more than words can possibly express. We called him our "special needs" Golden because he was not the light-colored, show ring guy that most people would pick. He was big, uncoordinated, and had bad teeth and dry, flaky skin. :-) He was also a wonderful, gentle giant who loved everyone (except cats), and went through life with a perpetual smile. Goodbye to our dear, sweet Pete. Naming Tribute LOUIE, by Russ and Cathy Jones. Despite almost having been euthanized before coming to GRRR, and despite being beset by numerous, chronic and severe medical problems, the amazing quality of Louie, to us, was that he always seemed to accept these setbacks as part of his life, with resilience and without complaint. More importantly, in contrast to his earlier life, Louie seemed overjoyed at just being loved and accepted unconditionally as a part of his dog/human pack. He gave back that unconditional love to us many times over. Louie soldiered through life and all of his adversities, but in such a noble, graceful, gentle, loving even joyful way. We so admire those wonderful qualities. Louie is our Hero! Thank you, GRRR, for bringing the blessing we know as Louie to our lives. We hope another GRRR dog will carry on Louie s name. Louie Donations in Memory or Honor Ann Brandenburg-Schroeder, DVM, Beside Still Water P.C. to honor Bob and Barbara Crook and all their little ones. Michael Dansdor, in memory of Digger. Dwain & Jane Dooley, remembering Jack & Jill, from owner Deanne Harrison. Sasha Dudnikoff, in honor of Hans Peter Spuhler. Carla Fulton, in memory of Savannah. Noanie and Doug Geisert, in honor of Seamus, who we were blessed with from GRRR when he was five weeks old, and he has given us such joy. Linda Gittens, in honor of GRRR dog Holly, who became a special addition to our family in July. She wants to help more Goldens find their forever homes! Michael Gold painted a dog mural at Doggie Pause doggie daycare. Patrons donated to have their dog included in the mural. Michael lost his golden, Sadie Lou, this year and is a GRRR fan. They raised $1,325 and Ann Cope matched it, totaling $2,650! Sonja Hoie, in honor of Janet Eversman. Kristine Hughes, in memory of our GRRR Golden, Evelyn. She wouldn t have been here to bless us with her love, if it hadn t been for GRRR. Brenda Hume, "in honor of GRRR volunteers, for all your hard work and love of Goldens. Mary Kenton, for your tireless efforts 24/7. Bob Jorgensen and Deb Kneale for always stepping up to volunteer and care for GRRR's fosters. Deb Davis, for letting me visit and care for Maui and Rio, both of whom offer me more than I can ever put into words. Larry & Sandy Iverson, in memory of Marvin Myers. Mr. & Mrs. Robert Johnson, in memory of Mr. & Mrs. Tom Stonerock s Stoney. Judith Koren, in memory of 2 wonderful former GRRR Golden adoptees who are still very much missed. Pete Karen Lloyd, in memory of Jeremiah, Rusty & Sadie, and in honor of our current Golden Kody, adopted from GRRR 4 years ago. Laney Kuhn, in memory of Raleigh, a well-loved and loving (and furry) member of the Silverman family. Pete & Nancy Lynch, in memory of Pete, the Golden Boy of Carolyn and Chuck Ellington, our wonderful Rapid City Transporters, who passed away in October Susan Martel, in honor of Steve and Joyce Morganfield. Thank you for the great work that you do! Raleigh Vivian and Greg Miller, in honor of GRRR volunteer Bill Urbanowski. Penny Nelson, in honor of Shannon & David Jennings. Alita Olsen, in honor of JD Olsen. Barbara Roberts, in memory of my dog Mike, who I just lost. He was a sweetie. Judi Servoss, in honor of mother-in-law Tess Carmichael, a fellow Golden lover and adopter, who always loves our GRRR dogs unconditionally! Caroline Skromeda, in memory of Mr. & Mrs. C. Ellington s Golden, Pete, who sadly left us Oct. 25, Barbara Smith, in memory of Freedom. Susan Solomon, in honor of Boulder Detective Chuck Heidel. Friends at Sounds True, in memory of Cylas, beloved companion and friend of Drummond, who suddenly passed to the Rainbow Bridge. Cylas was a very lucky dog and was able to go to work with Drummond every day at Sounds True, a very dog-friendly facility in Louisville, Colorado." Cylas

16 Pet Cetera by Rina Madarong A Gift from Doggie Pause Early this fall, GRRR received 24 checks totaling $2,650 from Doggie Pause, a Gold Standard Accredited dog daycare facility located in Englewood, CO (near Broadway and Dartmouth). The generous donation was collected as part of Doggie Pause s Annual Benefit, a fundraiser where its patrons can have a portrait of their dog painted on their wonderful mural by local artist, Michael E. Gold. Gold and his wife, Christine Miller, are longtime GRRR members and patrons of Doggie Pause where their beloved Golden Sadie Lou regularly attended day care. Sadie Lou passed away August 2012, and the donation to GRRR was made in her memory. Unlike most dog daycare facilities located in industrial warehouse-like areas, Doggie Pause is located in a residential area and boasts a comfortable, caring environment for your dog to socialize and play. The cheerful daycare was founded in 1999 by Judy Gee. Back then, it was one of two dog daycares in the Denver Metro Area. Gee, who has served on the board of directors of the Colorado Association of Dog Daycares since its inception, helped develop the Gold Standard Accreditation program for dog daycares. Seven years ago, they moved from their original location. We were in the building next door. And when we knew we were going to move here, Michael said, Well when you get into your new place, would you let me paint a little something on one of the walls? And I thought he meant a row of flowers, Gee recalled with a smile. Instead, Gold painted a beautiful, vibrant mountain scene with a portrait of three of Gee s own dogs among the rolling hills and Sadie Lou, Gold s own Golden Retriever, with a ball in her mouth. They then had the idea to open the mural to other Doggie Pause dogs. Every year since, Doggie Pause patrons make a donation in exchange for a chance to have their dog painted on the mural for their annual Benefit. A drawing is held and one lucky dog gets a chance to be immortalized on their playroom wall. We normally raise an average of $1,200 $1,300 that are matched by one of the Doggie Pause guardian angels. Doggie Pause then donates it all to a charity. It s an event I treasure and look forward to every year, beamed Michael E. Gold, a professional performing and visual artist, and longtime client and friend of Gee. I usually paint on the day of the Benefit, and I usually work from a picture. But I save the eyes until I meet the dog in person. The owners usually bring their dog to the Benefit and I get to see their personality. But it s the eyes once I get their eyes and their owner s see it oh, they just melt! Gold s sensitivity to his canine subjects can be attributed to his many artistic talents (aside from being a talented painter and quilter, he is also a Broadway veteran), but the depth of his understanding is from the joys of being a dog-parent himself. Gold and his wife are longtime Golden Retriever lovers and members of GRRR ever since their best friend, a GRRR adopter and member, introduced them to our organization. They have attended several GRRR events, including our Halloween party/parade. This year, Doggie Pause donated the proceeds from their Benefit to GRRR to honor the memory of the Gold family s late Golden Sadie Lou. Sadie was ten-years-old when she passed away August 2012 on Gold s birthday. Sadie was an amazing dog, reminisced Gold, and we miss her greatly. She was such a great dog with the best personality; she even became Doggie Pause s testing dog, scouting out applicants temperaments. They adopted Sadie in 2002, and Sadie had been featured in the GRRR calendar every year since. This year (her last year) Sadie appears in our July 2013 calendar grid. When giving a tour of Doggie Pause s vibrant mural, Judy Gee shared stories, addressing each portrait by name, as if looking at a family album of her own children. She even shared about Henry, who passed in At Sadie s portrait, she continued, We saw Sadie about four times a week for about 10 years. We felt her loss, too This past year was especially hard for us in Doggie Pause; four of our clients dogs passed away this year. We get close to them, like they are our very own. This year was very hard with Sadie passing, Gold confessed. But even though we are going through a tough time, I still wanted to paint this year s mural. They [our dogs] are a great part of our life. The mural is a very big part of my life, and I love sharing it. Whether those painted loved ones adorning the mural have crossed the rainbow bridge or are still playing in the halls of Doggie Pause, all their owners and the Doggie Pause family would agree: everyday they see that beautiful wall, Gold and Gee continue to give them life. Now, with their recent generous donation to GRRR, they help give several underprivileged Goldens a better one. If you are interested in learning more about Doggie Pause, please visit their site on p

17 Golden Retriever Rescue of the Rockies W. 72nd Avenue Arvada, CO The Golden GRRRowl published Quarterly by Golden Retriever Rescue of the Rockies THANKS for your generosity! We raised $12,500 in the annual Non-Event this year so far (and donations keep coming in all year typically!). GRRR members are the best! hotline: 303/ Fax: Board of Directors: Pat Dinkey - President Judi Servoss - Vice President Megan Walsh - Secretary Deb Kneale - Treasurer Kelli Clark Darla Henderson Pat Rogers Claudia Thompson Nikki Wiederaenders Bill Urbanowski Designed by Debbie Davis: grrr.volunteer@gmail.com Edited by Kim Hosler: kasran@comcast.net I ve had it up to my neck with the holidays! 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 Web site or call our hotline 303/ 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 (color PDF...save GRRR postage and printing costs!) $30 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 to fill out the volunteer application. Thanks! NAME ADDRESS CITY STATE ZIP HOME PHONE WORK PHONE Please mail to: Golden Retriever Rescue of the Rockies W. 72nd Ave. Arvada, CO Thank you for your support!