I Always Wanted a Puppy

November 2013 Golden GRRRowl A Golden Retriever Can Change Your Life! A registered non-profit 501(c)(3) charitable organization Shane and CJ I Always Wanted a Puppy Shane Lambert, age 9 When I was little (really little) my babysitter s dog, Daisy, had a litter of puppies. Every day, I would go crawl in the puppy pen with Daisy and the puppies. All of the puppies went to new homes except one and her name was Lilly. My first attempt at words were Daisy and Lilly though they sounded more like Dadee and YeYe. My family had two dogs, Porche and Aspen, and then Porche died. Aspen was really old but then we got a foster dog named Coal and Aspen came back to life. Coal was rescued from Hurricane Katrina and really only trusted me and the old dog at first. We lived near Dallas back then and every night we would take the dogs to a lake and walk along the shore and throw sticks for them to fetch. We adopted Coal. Later, we fostered a litter of 4 puppies for 3 weeks. I wanted to keep one but Mom and Dad said a puppy needed lots of time and attention and I would have to wait until we moved to Colorado. Aspen died before we moved and Coal was very sad. We moved to Colorado when I was five. Coal loves Colorado. We live in a dog town and he loves playing with the neighbor dogs. Last winter, Mom and Dad said I could get my long-awaited puppy. We checked the local animal shelter and rescue groups. Then Mom found the GRRR website and showed me a picture of Stacy. I think it was love at first sight. That weekend we were going to Denver for a Cub Scout sleepover at the Denver Zoo. The next day we went to GRRR and I met Stacy and her brother. I played with both puppies and I picked Stacy. She was smaller and calmer than her brother. She rode home in a puppy box that I made for her. I decided to name her CJ for Coal Junior. We had lots of snow in our yard and she loved it. It was amazing how fast CJ adjusted to her new home. The first time I played my violin she howled and howled. The second time she howled a little and after that she just sat next to me and listened to me play. The ride home from GRRR CJ doesn't howl at the violin anymore Continued on page 2

"Mom found the GRRR website and showed me a picture of Stacy. I think it was love at first sight." Continued from page 1 At the Poochy Paddle In April, I took her to the Poochy Paddle at the Old Town Hot Springs pool. She played in the kiddy pool but was not interested in going in the big pool. We travelled a lot this summer and CJ and Coal went on every trip. We camped in the RV and in a tent, stayed in hotels, on a houseboat, and with friends and family. CJ loves to travel. This is me with CJ and Coal at Bryce Canyon in August. Some foreign tourists thought that CJ and Coal looked so cute together that they took lots of pictures of them. Now it s a new school year and CJ and Coal are always waiting after school to walk home with me. We had our first snow a few days ago and we had a blast running around in the snow. I wonder if CJ would pull my sled for me p Shane with CJ and Coal at Bryce Canyon

Recent Rescues Hi GRRR: First, I would like you to know that Mini is a perfect fit. We kept the name but changed the spelling- she really thinks she's a miniature lap dog. She is so sweet and loves to cuddle. Mini really thinks she is the size of a cat or a lap dog. There were a few times during the night that I woke up to her sleeping above my head on the pillows, just like a cat. At the dog park, she prefers to play with small dogs or puppies, or get extra attention from dog owners. I also learned that she LOVES the water - river, stream, puddle, bath...you name it she will jump right into it. So Cherry Creek dog park is heaven for her. Also, birds and squirrels drive her crazy. She has complete tunnel vision when she sees either of them. Mini and our first rescue, Jersey, love each other. We were prepared for a little challenge integrating her with Jersey, but it was a completely seamless transition. Mini's birthday party Mini I feel very fortunate that they hit it off right from day one. She has helped him with his separation anxiety and fortunately his issues have not rubbed off on her. Mini is a very happy girl - loves life, food, human attention and playtime with Jersey. She also loves her toys. Mini just celebrated her first birthday last Thursday. She had a princess party and I wanted to share some photos with you. She's doing so well here and we love this little lady so much! And one final note, she watches TV. Nick and I realized that she would just sit and literally watch with us. Thank you so much for giving us the opportunity to have such a wonderful dog. I could not picture our lives without her. Best regards, Marissa Thornburg Chase: Adopting an Older Dog Four years ago this month, I adopted Chase from GRRR. He was 12 years old. I knew I wanted a senior dog, but maybe not that senior! But I fell in love immediately upon meeting him, as did my other dog, Sonny. My first Golden from GRRR, Freedom, had crossed over the Rainbow Bridge a couple of months prior and Sonny and I were feeling like we needed another furry friend. I inquired about a few of the seniors and went out to GRRR to meet with them and Mary. There were three dogs in the play yard and the only one Sonny paid attention to was Chase. He stood with him and looked at me as though he was saying can we have this one Mom? I had no idea that four years later we would still have our beloved Chase (now 16 years old) with us. He has been amazing. Until this winter he hiked in the mountains with us, went on a morning walk every day and otherwise joined in all our activities. This winter he slowed down and now has SONNY & CHASE vestibular disease so he walks like a drunken soldier, but he gets around as best he can. His morning walk now is up two houses and back! Here is a picture of Sonny (blond) and Chase (red) on one of our hikes last summer when he was a mere 15 years old! I can t imagine loving him any more if I had gotten him as a puppy. He has brought all the same joys, laughs, and adventures as he would have no matter whether or not we had him for all 16 years, or just the precious 4 years so far. Thank you GRRR for two wonderful golden souls, Freedom and Chase. Sincerely, Barbara Smith 3

Recent Rescues Dear All of You at GRRR: As I write, my Golden Retriever Ginger, formerly Trina, is sitting next to me requesting some attention. Thanks to GRRR, I'm so lucky to have a very special companion. She is so sweet! Trina was quite plump on the day she came to her new forever home. She is now svelte weighing 62.6 pounds. In fact, one of my friends commented recently that Ginger looks younger than when she first met her in June. Ginger's feathering is growing back after her matted fur had been cut off. She also has a number of new friends, both human and canine. In fact, she met Lambeau when we were taking our daily two-mile walk and they have had several play dates since. Ginger has a couple of medical issues - an ear infection and what was originally thought to be breast cancer. Much to everyone's relief, it showed to be a cyst. She enjoyed the GRRR picnic at Boulder Reservoir, although, like her predecessor Penny, does not like to swim, choosing only to wade. As far as Ginger is concerned, the main purpose of taking a walk is finding rabbits, of which there are a large number in our area. I watch for bunnies while developing large biceps as I hang on to the leash as she tries to dash off after her prey. She is behaving quite well now, finding it is not worth the effort, particularly since there are several rabbits that have chose our backyard as home. Apparently Ginger had been allowed by the previous owner to ride in the front seat of the car. For safety's sake, I purchased a barrier for the back of my SUV. Although Ginger is not thrilled, she is getting used to it to some degree. I didn't get quite the photo I was hoping for, but as far as Ginger was concerned, she had better things to do than stand around and look pretty! So again, thank you for providing me with Ginger. Having lost my husband two years ago, our cat in January, and finally after 13 years Penny, our Golden (see 2011 GRRR calendar), my house was lonely and too quiet. I'm so glad friends talked me into getting another dog, and GRRR was there to help me. Sincerely, Donna Cianfichi GINGER Dear GRRR: DAISY I was working outside on various home projects over the holiday (July 4th) weekend. It was hot and I decided to have a nice ice cold beer. I drank most but not all of the beer, left the bottle on the patio table. and went into the house. When I came outside, the beer bottle was missing and guess who was found in the yard with the evidence at her paws? You guessed it, Daisy the Beer Hound. The bottle was at her paws and she had a happy dog smile as seen in the attached photograph. Apparently she has decided that Henry Wynyard's Redwood Amber Ale beats water out of a dog bowl or bucket on a hot summer day. This may be considered a probation violation. For such a quiet dog in foster care, she sure has come into her own. Probably as a result of her current bad owner. Stephen Miller 4 Dear GRRR: Jackson, Marley & I had a wonderful time at the picnic. We look forward to it every year. Thanks for all GRRR does and for my wonderful dogs. They make my life so full of love and wonder. Jackie Wiedner JACKSON & MARLEY

Recent Rescues Dear GRRR: I just wanted to let you know how Gus is doing. It appears his hair is returning. He is almost done with his antibiotics and then he will just be on Benadryl, fish oil and a low dose steroid. I am bathing him twice a week and he is very easy to groom. We are still working on his separation anxiety, but we are optimistic that it will improve. He and the girls get along great :). I would also like to thank Darla and everyone at GRRR for bringing us together. So to sum it up... All is terrific! Thank you, Krista Toepfer GUS Hello GRRR: It has been a while since we have done an update on Haley, formerly Ginger, one of the farm auction Goldens. She turned 9 years old on March 10th, hard to believe she has been with us for 4 years. We lost our 2-1/2 year old Golden, Beau, who was my husband's dog. It took us almost two years to decide to get another Golden. So it is great that Haley filled those shoes. She loves her dad and she is doing great! Here are some pics that we have taken of her (next to her dad, of course) with our first Golden Kodi, who is also 9 years old (Kodi has always been a mama's boy). Haley keeps surprising us. She still has no understanding of toys but we keep trying. She has become a lot more social, and we know what things tend to scare her, so we are vigilant to keep her close to us when those things pop up. She loves Kodi, always giving him kisses. They are 6 months to the day apart in age but no white face for Haley. I check your website daily. So happy to see so many Goldens finding great homes through GRRR. Thanks once again for giving us the opportunity to give Haley a good home. Kelly Kandcer KELLY AND RON WITH KODI AND HALEY Hello GRRR! Just wanted to update you on Spago (nee Noah). He has been here about 5 weeks and he is a very loving and very energetic dog. When we met him he was listed as a Golden/ Great Pyrenees mix, but the papers we received when we adopted listed him as an akbash. I had never heard of that breed but after researching it, we are convinced he is pure akbash. He is very loyal but fiercely independent which makes training rewarding and challenging. When he learns, he is a champ but getting there can be trying at times. He is still very much a puppy and his desire to be friendly gets overshadowed by his huge size and huge energy. The family cats are still learning to tolerate him and establish the pecking order. His behaviors and temperaments follow all the akbash descriptions we have read about. Here is a picture from his first hike. Thanks for the work you do! The Nawrocki s from Pueblo SPAGO 5

Recent Rescues Hi GRRR: Ruby is doing GREAT! We love having her as part of our family. She loves going to the dog park, and she loves playing in water! She is constantly in the creek, or playing in the sprinklers in the yard and in the park. She gets along great with the other dogs, and is always the fastest one at the park - nobody can catch her! We get compliments all the time on how pretty she is. I have attached a photo of her that we took today at Elk Meadows Dog Park. Thank you so much for rescuing Ruby for us - we absolutely LOVE her!! Laura and Ron RUBY JACOB, STACEY and MURPHY Hello GRRR. It's me Stacey Puppy. This is my Big Brother Jacob. I love mim so much, as a matter of fact I love all my furry brothers (all 5 of them now). I just got another brother named Murphy. He is a 15 week old Black Labrador. Someone left him in a cardboard box next to a busy road, and we adopted him, so now he is my baby brother. I treat Murphy like he is mine. We play all day long while mom and dad yell at us, "Don't Break the House!" I'm a good girl, I'm a loyal friend and I have taken it upon myself to make it my responsibility to be the guardian/protector of the house. So just doing my job, I bark at everything I hear and see. I keep getting yelled at. They say "Stacey...NO Barking...Bad Dog!" However, I am very proud of my new job... so just call me "Stacey the Golden Husky Barkadore". I'm so happy that someone rescued my K9 mommy; she had been left tied up in a campground near Pueblo. Thank you from the bottom of my Puppy Heart to the kind soul who found her and helped her and made my life possible. She had me and my litter mates and I was adopted to my happy home from GRRR. To think, because of the cruelty of that awful person, I almost didn't get a chance at a happy life Love, Stacey Puppy, 9 months, old (and Samantha & John Halabrin) Dear GRRR I wanted to give you an update on April, now Stella. Hooray! I named her Stella (how Stella got her groove back). She is an amazing soul and a wonder to be with. I could not be more happy to have her company, and Scruffy is adjusting too! We went right to Petsmart and got her food, bed, halter and nylabone. Then we took her to the office and everyone fell right in love with her and she was happy. She also was great in the car. Scruffy and Stella lay together in their big bed at work. Her bed at home is by my bed and she loves it! She sleeps right there every night and seems so relaxed and happy. If ever there would be a perfect match for home, people and dogs, we made it. Thank you so much for finding her for me. I hope to keep in touch with you and your cause. You do great work! 6 Linda James STELLA

Recent Rescues Hi GRRR: Lucy is doing great. She is such a sweet, lovable girl - except when roughhousing with Piper (they get carried away) :). We are really enjoying her. She and Piper do love to play and wrestle. Their favorite is tug-of-war with stuffed toys. She is still very timid and nervous when encountering other dogs on our leashed walks, but enjoys the dog park. She can run like the wind and jump higher than any dog we have ever had. She makes it difficult for me to water my flowers because she cannot stay out of the water. She makes me laugh. She learns quickly, which is a real treat. The bottom line: we love her to pieces, and Piper is happy, happy. We are so glad we found GRRR! Penny Scott-Oliver LUCY & PIPER Dear GRRR: Wow, what a difference from a month or so ago. When Diane and Jeff first saw me I was a mess. The Colorado Springs Humane Society just picked me up for loitering. I just had puppies, but being a "street dog", they forgot the puppies. I lost a lot of hair and was malnourished. Jeff called GRRR and someone from Denver came down and picked me up. I then met Mary and my life turned around. I even got to sleep on her bed. After seeing Dr. Carpenter and getting some good medication, I was a lot better. About a week later, Diane And Jeff came back to Denver and I was on my way to Aspen where I met my new sister, Maggie. Boy, do we have fun together. I can go anywhere I want on the property and learned quickly what the boundaries are. Maggie and I wrestle a lot and sometimes I let her win. To think where I came from and where I am now, I am truly blessed. Thanks GRRR for everything you have done. I probably wouldn't be here without you. Love, Cassie, Diane and Jeff Yusem CASSIE & MAGGIE Dear GRRR: My husband George and I simply could not live without a Golden! When Amigo, our eightyear-old GRRR rescue, whose companionship we enjoyed for six years, passed away from lymphoma in April, we thought we would "never get another Golden." Amigo was number seven. By June I was online with GRRR looking for another Amigo! My husband George had lost his very best friend and I knew that he didn't believe any other dog could replace Amigo. There is a special place in our hearts for all the Goldens we've loved and we have big hearts. When I saw Timber's photo and read his story about coming to GRRR from Wyoming, I just knew that he was going to be number eight. We almost named him Ocho ("eight" in Spanish) because we knew he'd be spending winters with us in La Paz in the Baja. But he's a Buddy! Like Amigo, Buddy has adapted to our active lifestyle and accompanies us just about everywhere we go. When Buddy made us "his people" at the end of June, he was 103 pounds with a scar on his neck where he had been tied up. Today he still has the scar but he is a svelte 83-pound four-year-old who is full of energy and eager to play and please. He has learned to retrieve in the water (something he had apparently never seen before), ride in a golf cart and a kayak, and jump off a boat and climb back up the ladder (with a little boost). Buddy is a fun-loving funny boy who "talks" through his nose (and often snores at night), loves to chase anything that moves (birds, lizards, bunnies), and now loves to swim and go for long walks. He is calm and sweet and someone trained him well in the past because he has great manners. We will love him for as long as he lives and we are grateful for however long that will be! Goldens are furry angels who are a gift of love. We are grateful to GRRR for rescuing Buddy-just as they did Amigo. Jennifer Gore BUDDY

Recent Rescues Hi Mary and Darla and GRRR! Ruffus is doing well. He is approx 65 pounds and looks grown up, but is still very much a puppy in attitude and outlook. He is somewhat shy in personality and is sensitive to sounds; some are scary, but all sounds grab his attention. He loves to fetch and has shown a good aptitude for carrying objects in his mouth. He will carry pieces of laundry to be washed and pieces of paper. He s very proud to be working and appears to take great pleasure in delivering items to a specific member of the family. He s learning to differentiate which item and which person, which remains a work in progress. He s also learning to wear a puppy backpack with his lunch and water for when he ll be away from home. We don t want him to carry anything too heavy at his age, but it s a good time to learn how to wear the pack for carrying when he s older. He s learning to be my office companion and is getting practice in meeting people throughout the day. Ruffus should be ready for neutering soon. We ve been hoping to hold off for awhile so he can be further along in his growing and body development, but he s developing some attitude issues that suggest aggression (particularly when he doesn t want to do something), so neutering is coming up pretty soon. Since he s with us all the time, accidental breeding is unlikely, but he will have to be neutered, so RUFFUS BEFORE maybe sooner than later. He loves to swim and he is the most food oriented dog I ve ever seen. Even if he were a back yard dog, I couldn t leave him unsupervised because he ll eat ANYTHING... rocks, coal, plastic. Fortunately he s always under supervision so we ve been able to avoid problems arising from eating anything bad for him. Keeping fingers crossed. He sits and uses his crate well; he s house trained and is learning to lie down on command. He will sit up on his haunches and put one paw (or two) on my lap or arm when he wants attention. He s great around our cats and birds, but sometimes is too boisterous for the cat s liking. The parrots will call him and feed him...they have quite a thing going and it s a hoot to watch! What a difference 10 months makes! He's a wonderful member of our family and we can't imagine life without him. He goes everywhere with me and has become the office mascot; everyone has to stop and pay homage to the Ruffus before they go about their business. Some of Ruffus' hobbies include chewing his antler, fetching the Giant Puppy Kong of Doom, and carrying my purse in each evening when we get home. In fact, he loves to help carry in the groceries when we get home from the store and is learning how to carry small trash bags out to the car from the office. 'Atta boy Ruffus! Alyn Dressler and Ruffus RUFFUS NOW Hi GRRR: I love my dog. His name is Gus, and he has turned out to be everything I have ever wanted in a dog. He has a great personality, he is very affectionate, is not aggressive, is learning to mind well, still has a little to learn. I feel so lucky to have him. Linnie Neal GUS 8 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, e-mail the letter and digital photo to debbie.davis@goldenrescue.com, or mail to GRRR at 15350 W. 72nd Ave, Arvada CO 80007. Deadline for the February, 2014 issue is January 7. Thanks!

Phoebe's Place by Deb Kneale By 10 AM the kennels were sparkling and Sparky arrived from Boulder for grooming. He s a sweet little guy, full of love and appreciation for his new life. He hung out in the adoption hut with Sampson to wait his turn with groomer Dee. Sampson was receiving an acupressure treatment from volunteer, Linda Pierrel (who also pet sits). Four dogs were en route to Dr. Carpenter s office in Mary Kenton s van (they had coughs). The ten in the kennels were enjoying the sunshine in their outer runs, waiting to be walked. One of the VIP dog walkers commented on how quiet they all were with the new system of taking them outside (devised by trainer, Carole McMurry and the VIP coordinators Sukie McMaster and Bill (Urbo) Urbanowski). Three fosters stopped by to bring dogs being considered for adoption. These dogs were shown to the pre-screened adopter and her family one at a time by Darla Henderson in the meet and greet yard. Jack was chosen ( hard not to take them all home ) and went to his forever home where he would continue to be trained but spoiled. Carole would be back later for the Monday evening Basic Obedience Class with a dozen exuberant pups. This is just a slice of yesterday at Phoebe s Place, which takes a village of people to care for the dogs, clean and maintain the property, return phone calls, answer emails, pay the bills and plan for the future. For those who spend a lot of time there, Phoebe s Place is a slice of heaven. On 9/11 the skies opened up, it started pouring, the wind blew and it just didn t stop. In an afternoon, our heaven had turned to hell. Water was rising faster than we could sump pump it away from the building. It came into the residence from above and below due to faulty gutters, a hole near the chimney, an unsealed foundation, and the ground water level that kept rising. With all that was happening in communities around us, we were fortunate to rally volunteers and multiple pairs of shop vacs with sump pumps to move water out the basement window and as far away from the residence as the hoses would allow. We could have sailed on the lake being created on the north-east corner of the parking lot. This was a race against time to empty the basement (unplanned) and empty the entire upstairs (planned) to be ready for the contracted floor people to convert the hardwood floors to a surface compatible with liquids. The new floor had been scheduled months before the flood and required all dogs and people to be out of the residence for a week. Still pumping water, we sought professional advice as to the fix for the basement and were able to move the upstairs floor project out a week. As you can imagine, our best laid plans to get dogs adopted and in foster care prior to the new floor going in were challenged by dogs needing immediate shelter due to the flood. They seemed to be coming in as pairs. Without use of the residence, Mary and the dogs camped out with access only to the garage (wall to wall dog beds and a recliner), an RV and the kennels. Mary, Carole and Darla Henderson kept it all going with good humor, improvised food, a lot of resilience and the knowledge that Steve Morganfield and many others were working towards a solution. Bob Hildenbrant and volunteers laid previously donated Hardy Backer Board over the hardwood floors on 9/28, followed by the pros creating a 4 layered poured surface the following week. This new floor is a mottled beige, easy to clean and non-skid for the dogs. Mary and the dogs have partially moved back in, with baseboard being installed around them and tile being laid at the front door entry way. The fix for the basement is still in the research phase, but the generous donations that have come in allow us to go forward without using monies earmarked for the dogs, the programs, or general operating costs. We also received a very generous $10,000 matching donation challenge from an anonymous donor, and that $10,000 was matched in 24 hours, with over $30,000 raised in just 2 days! Thanks to those of you who have donated time and funds to help us Keep Phoebe s Place Afloat. You rock, and the dogs are waggin'! p GRRR HIRES FIRST EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Kevin Shipley will become GRRR s first Executive Director effective November 11,. In recognition of our growth, the Board decided it was essential to have a full-time Executive Director working for the organization. The hiring committee (Pat Dinkey, Steve Morganfield and Judi Servoss) went through a lengthy process designing the job description, advertising the position, and interviewing candidates. The group saw many delightful and talented individuals with interesting, diverse backgrounds. At the end of the process, they decided Kevin was the best match for GRRR. Kevin has extensive experience in the nonprofit and for profit sectors, leading start-ups as well as established organizations, and supervising both paid staff and volunteers. His work includes operations Kevin Shipley with his pups management, strategy and budget development, fundraising, marketing, database management and Zoey the Aussie Zoey and community involvement. Taz the Llasa His references have described him as a seasoned pro with terms like passionate, visionary, dedicated, 9 engaged, high energy, and fun. And perhaps most importantly, he loves dogs, especially his rescue pups! Welcome Kevin! p

Golden Angel - Clara by Karen Hardesty GRRR members: you have done it again, and we are so grateful! Your donations made it possible for GRRR to save a Golden for whom a happy future looked impossible. Please read on about beautiful Clara. On a sweltering hot day this summer, Clara watched confused as her humans tossed their things into boxes and bags, and threw them in the car. The angry tension of the activity must have been a bit scary. But Clara was no one's concern today. Soon everyone in the household was gone. Clara was left alone; and she waited for their return. She waited...and waited. Until, unable to wait any longer, she nervously relieved herself on the hard floor. She waited longer, her belly growling; eventually vomiting bile that foamed in her empty stomach. Without food or water, she waited. She licked her bony elbows where the pressure of the hard floor had re-opened old sores. And she waited. And finally, an anonymous call alerted authorities. Clara had been abandoned by her family when they were evicted from the house. Clara was found hungry, thirsty, weak and depressed. Her thickly matted golden hair reeked of urine, feces, and infection. The shelter staff who came to rescue her noted that the filthy condition of her room verified that she had been neglected for some time. Had her humans come to the shelter and tried to claim Clara, the staff would have pressed abuse charges. But no one came to claim her, and no one was surprised by that. A trip to the vet was urgently needed, and the shelter staff placed a call to GRRR to ask for help. GRRR folks jumped at the chance to help a Golden soul, and the Golden Angel Fund would once again provide the needed financial assistance to bring Clara back to health. The wonderful folks at Arvada West Veterinary Hospital examined Clara, and it was quickly clear that in addition to needing rehydration, nutrition, and rest, Clara was in need of surgery. Though she was an older dog, Clara was lactating and suffering from what had to have been a very painful case of mastitis. Dr. Carpenter observed that Clara must have given birth to multiple litters, and it was urgent that she be spayed, and that the large mammary tumor be removed. (They couldn't help but wonder about Clara's puppies - not yet completely weaned - but probably taken with the family to be sold. Poor Clara!) Her poor health required Clara to stay in the care of Dr. Carpenter and his staff. The surgeries were successful, though the mastitis infection had spread; it took medication, CLARA rest, and an improved immune system for Clara to fight back. Once she was stable, Clara was placed with a GRRR foster family for continued medical care and recovery. At first, Clara's foster family was worried. Clara slept most of the time, rarely moved around, and seemed still to be depressed. Dr. Carpenter determined that Clara's sedentary and difficult life-style had left her with arthritis - making it painful to move around the way she really needed to in order to get healthy. With meds for the arthritis easing her pain, and with the loving patience of her foster parents, Clara began to revive. She spent a bit less time in her hiding place, and a bit more time seeking out her foster folks for pats and tummy rubs. It became apparent that Clara was most familiar with "people food," as she would beg unashamedly whenever the menu included pizza, burgers or chicken. But nutrition was crucial, and what might have been her former staples became, in small bits, an occasional treat. A walk in the park added needed exercise to the daily routine, and though at first Clara seemed reluctant and sluggish, her pace began to strengthen. At last, as fall brought color to the leaves and a crisp breeze to the air, Clara too seemed to sparkle a bit. A goofy Golden girl emerged, and she began to lope around the yard and roll about in the fallen leaves. And occasionally, rump in the air and tail wagging, Clara would perform an old-lady's best play bow - inviting the other Goldens to join her for some gentle fun. Often her rump would quickly fall, but her tail kept wagging, and her foster parents swore you could see the smile on her face. Today, thanks to the Golden Angel fund, Clara has re-captured her Golden spirit. A classy, elegant and lovely mature golden has emerged from a sad and painful past. And though her foster family fell in love with Clara, we are happy to report that Clara has fallen in love with her new, very own human; and her human is quite in love with her. But that's another story, one we will tell in the next issue. Please stay tuned. And thank you again to all of you who donate to the Golden Angel Fund. Another Golden is happy and healthy, another human has found a loving & true companion. 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, 15350 W. 72nd Avenue, Arvada, CO 80007. (Make your check payable to GRRR with Golden Angel Fund in the memo portion.) Thank you! 10

Golden Angels - Pippa & Ann by Linda Hartman It was a beautiful summer day when Little Ann and Pippa a pair of tiny 12-week-old Golden puppies arrived at Phoebe's Place. These adorable bundles of soft butterscotch fur immediately wiggled and wagged their way into the hearts of every person they met. As precious and sweet as can be, Little Pippa and Ann had no idea that life could ever be less than perfect. Playful, mischievous, cuddly and full of love for life, it was nearly impossible for us to believe that their breeder in Wyoming had taken them to the vet to be euthanized. That vet was the first of many caring people to come to Little Ann and Pippa's rescue. Both girls were born with pulmonic stenosis, an often fatal heart condition that is very rare, if not unheard of, in Golden Retrievers. It is a congenital heart defect of the semilunar valve between the right ventricle and the pulmonary artery. Severe cases can cause collapsing, arrhythmias, extremely high blood pressure and heart failure. Without medical intervention there would be no chance for these precious puppies to have a long and healthy life. Thankfully the wonderful Wyoming vet contacted 3 Dog Rescue who rushed to save the puppies. Because of a lack of potential homes and the extensive medical care the little girls would need, 3 Dog Rescue sent out an email broadcast asking other rescues for help with the girls. The e-mail soon made its way to GRRR. With the help of some wonderful volunteer transporters, Little Ann and Pippa soon made the journey to GRRR and a new life of love and care. Their first stop, of course, was Phoebe's Place. The arrival of the puppies was met with both great anticipation and guarded concern for their future, but we knew the Golden Angel Fund would provide each of them with all the medical help possible to give them their only chance at survival and a happy life. Little Ann and Pippa were immediately seen by Dr. Carpenter at Arvada West Veterinary Clinic. After their initial exam and excellent care, they were referred to Dr. Rehling, a heart specialist at Alpenglow Veterinary Center in Boulder. We learned more about their condition and treatment options when they each had an echocardiogram performed. Both girls' blood pressure should be at about 60, but Little Ann's (who had the most urgent concern) was between 180-200! They were placed on Atenenol, a heart/blood pressure medication. Little Ann would need a surgical procedure called balloon valvuloplasty performed as soon as possible to save her, but first she needed to gain some weight. Dr. Rehling determined that Pippa was not a good candidate for the surgery (it is not helpful in all cases depending on the location of the stenosis), but fortunately her blood pressure wasn't as high as Little Ann's. Just when Little Ann had gained enough weight for her surgery, she began showing significant symptoms of her heart disease. She started collapsing and passing out, and she gave us all some huge scares! It was devastating to watch her condition taking over her little body. Dr. Rehling immediately increased her medications, but her surgery had to be postponed again (about a week) until her condition stabilized. It was a very tense day for all of us at GRRR as we waited while our precious Little Ann was in surgery. Dr. Rehling spent three hours trying to pass the catheter through her tiny valve to open the obstruction, but was unsuccessful. A different catheter has been ordered and will hopefully allow the balloon procedure to be completed successfully. In the meantime Little Ann went back to Phoebe's Place to gain strength for her second surgery. We are excited to tell you that she has her eye on a very special forever family and might even be "home" in time for her next surgery. Pippa's condition is being helped by her blood pressure medicine. She is even strong enough for some ANNIE playtime, but in the process of romping like a normal puppy she got a hematoma under her chin. The Golden Angel Fund was there again for her, providing the vet visit and the antibiotics she needed. Pippa is now waiting for her forever home. Her perfect family will help her live every day to the fullest. She needs someone to share in the excitement she feels when she discovers something new a butterfly in the grass, the unattended roll of paper towels and provide a safe and caring environment. Pippa loves to be surrounded by squeaky toys and have a cozy bed when she feels tired and needs her beauty sleep. Simple pleasures and love are what she lives for. Would you like to be that special person/family who makes her dreams come true? Little Ann and Pippa are surely the most precious puppies we have ever met. Their lives could have ended that day at the vet's office three months ago, but instead they spend their days discovering new delights, cuddling (and more cuddling), eating delicious food, annoying squirrels, bugging bunnies and all the things that puppies do best! Through the generous donations to the Golden Angel Fund, all of the Goldens who come into our care with medical issues get another chance at health and happiness. Little Ann and Pippa's thank you to every donor and volunteer is truly " heartfelt"! Your love and kindness saved their lives. There will always be a another Golden in need and we at GRRR are always here to help. p PIPPA 11

Golden Angel Updates EMMITT, now BUDDY, by Michelle Mertz & Michael Rather The Golden formerly known as Emmitt, joined our family on Sunday, September 15th. We are grateful to the GRRR Golden Angel Fund for rescuing this guy and helping him with medical issues including chronic and severe ear infections, which we are convinced left him a bit hard of hearing. Initially we thought his lack of response when being called was due to difficulty hearing. He never responded to the name Emmitt or any other name we tried; but would get up and run over to us whenever we called him Buddy which was simply a term of endearment we often use with our (male) dogs. Essentially, Buddy told us his name and while perhaps not the most unique, it is unmistakably his name. We first met Buddy at Phoebe s Place during the biblical Colorado floods. As is often the case, there was room in our lives in our home for Buddy because of the heartbreaking goodbye we recently experienced with our long time buddy Baxter, a Lab mix we rescued in Detroit eleven years ago. Our ability to care and provide for Buddy is truly a gift from Baxter, his legacy. And, while they never met (at least not on this earth), they will always be connected. We have continued to use the GRRR vet. Due to issues with significant atrophy of his back legs, we put Buddy on Rimadyl and Glucosamine and gave him his very own Orvis Tempur-Pedic bed. He walks long distances several times a day with Isabella, our 8-year old black Lab, and as a result he is slimming down. Of course, he will always have issues with his back legs and with his ears - although he doesn t seem to mind. Buddy is truly the happiest most mellow dog we ve ever met. We feel privileged to have him in our lives to be his forever home. Thank you to GRRR and to all the Golden Angel Fund donors for taking care of our Buddy while we were caring for another and making room. p BUDDY 12 JASPER JASPER, by Jenni Nebgen Jasper had surgery for total hip replacement on June 7. He turned 2 on June 9. What a birthday present! We had lots of restrictions for many months, including being leashed in the backyard. I'm sure the squirrels didn t mind that! Jasper is now 5 months post op and doing well! We are up to hiking about 2 miles, ensuring the terrain is not so steep. He can go out in the backyard without being on leash now, poor squirrels! I occasionally let him do a little fetching of his favorite toy or ball. He has not been allowed to gallop full blast yet, as he gets sore if he does too much jogging right now. I have been treating his hip muscles for strain with laser treatments, massage, and the occasional swim or underwater treadmill as sometimes he still gets a hitch in his giddyup. His other hip is the sorest, since it compensates for his now good hip. He still can t go to doggy daycare, but Charlotte, of Fidos and Felines, comes to walk him every day while I m at work. He loves her! We see Dr. Fick again soon for Jasper s 6-month follow-up and x-rays, and then not again for a year! I still am careful to watch for slippery floors and I will have to watch Jasper on the ice, but he is looking forward to the snow so we can go for a ski or snowshoe trip! Jasper seems to smile more and is more like a Golden, bouncing around and showing his love! December will be the one-year anniversary of fostering/adopting Jasper. How time flies, and even though he had a boring summer while he was recovering, I wouldn t trade my time with him for anything! He has been a blessing! For now I am keeping an eye on the other hip, maybe some day it will have to be replaced for comfort as he gets older. For now, we ll keep exploring this beautiful state of Colorado! If it weren t for the Golden Angel Fund, he would not be here today. Jasper and I cannot thank you enough! p

Fundraising COLORADO GIVES DAY - DECEMBER 10 Tuesday, December 10, 2013: Mark the date in your calendar! Put it on the refrigerator. Enter it in your smart phone and computer. Write it on your bathroom mirror. Why? It s the 2013 Colorado Gives Day. This is the most important 24 hours of philanthropy for over 1200 Colorado non profits, including Golden Retriever Rescue of the Rockies. This is the day you can quickly and easily go online and help assure GRRR s success. Colorado Gives Day is presented by the Community First Foundation and FirstBank. It is a day when you can make a contribution and know the entire amount will support the Golden Retrievers we all love. Thanks to the Foundation, there are no credit card processing fees. Thanks to FirstBank, there is a separate incentive fund split by all the participating organizations. Last year was GRRR s first year in the program and we earned over $25,000. This year our $30,000 goal includes a modest increase. We hope you will help us achieve (and surpass) this goal, as our needs are great to meet the ongoing needs of the more than 300 dogs a year who come to us and continuing to work to improve Phoebe s Place. Just go to www.goldenrescue.com and push the Colorado Gives Donate Now button which will be on the site in mid-november. You can also see our full profile at www.coloradogives.org. And watch for additional information on GRRR s website in the weeks ahead. p PHOTOS WITH SANTA / MERCHANDISE BLOWOUT SAT, NOVEMBER 30 from 11am - 3pm Get your holiday card photo and shopping done all at once...and help the GRRR Goldens too! Santa will once again visit Phoebe's Place and you can get about 20 digital photos of your dogs, family, anyone you want, all for only $25. And the photos are taken by local professional photographers! Plus...get all your GRRR gear - calendars (makes the perfect gift, still only $12), hats, shirts, all sorts of cool stuff...some stuff half price! We've been doing this fundraiser for a few years and it really is a fun and profitable event. Join us! p "PURE" GOLD BOOK FUNDRAISER Holli Pfau is honoring Brock and Louie (long-time GRRR voluteers Cathy & Russ Jones' Goldens who both passed away this year) by donating $10 from the sale of each book in November to GRRR. Inspired by the lives, antics and talents of her six rescued or second-hand Golden Retrievers, Holli wrote Pure Gold to support the efforts of Golden Retriever Rescue and other dog rescue and adoption programs. It's an amazing book about adventures with six rescued Golden Retrievers... and the book even mentions Mary Kenton! www.puregoldbook.com 970-247-9704 p Brock and Louie AUDREY BRANT DONATES BIRTHDAY GIFTS TO GRRR We love stories like this. Audrey Brant and her family stopped by Phoebe's Place with a donation from Audrey's birthday party where she had her friends bring gifts for the dogs rather than gifts for her. What an exceptional girl! Thank you Audrey! p Audrey Bryant with gifts for the Goldens

In Memory HENRY Henry was diagnosed with cancer on August 7th and unfortunately, he lost his battle only 12 days later. I adopted Henry from GRRR on September 12, 2009 (you were calling him Rocket at the time). He would have been 6 years old this October 24th, just a baby. I wanted to let you know that he was my little angel and I loved him so dearly. As I write this today I am still devastated by his loss. My only hope is that the four short years that we had together made as much difference in his life as it did mine. Thank you, HENRY Jill Bagdasarian COLBY - My best friend! It's very sad to have to write this about my first GRRR Rescue friend. Colby was my first introduction to Mary Kenton and GRRR. I had just lost a Golden and was new to Colorado. Mary invited me to visit with a couple of dogs that had just come in. Colby stole my heart the moment we met. He had been very abused and neglected when he was turned over to GRRR. I brought Blazer, the first Golden I ever had, to meet him. Colby was his instant buddy from the very beginning. Colby was my buddy and best friend for over 11 years. He hiked, swam and took care of all the new Goldens that came into the family. I am thankful for all the other people who have rescued a Golden over the years. Only you can truly appreciate how painful it is to have such a close friend and constant companion leave our lives. My only wish is that the Rainbow Bridge exists and that some day all of our beloved pets and companions are reunited with us. Tom Dempsey COLBY BEAR I am reporting with great sadness that our beloved Golden Retriever Bear died early October 2013. Bear and Maddie joined our family in 2006 as a rescue couple. They were 3 and 4 years old. Mary Kenton casually mentioned that Maddie might be pregnant. Well, she was and shortly thereafter we welcomed 8 beautiful puppies, the famous GRRR-8. GRRR sent us a dog midwife, since Kathy and I had no experience with puppy birth. Maddie knew the program, since she already had given birth to two other litters before. We had made plans to travel to Alaska for two weeks. We called GRRR again and told them about our dilemma. Mary found the best possible place for Maddie and the 8 rat-sized puppies: Gwen Mann. I brought the 8 puppies and Maddie to her BEAR AND MADDIE house and her 12 year old daughter Gabby took charge, moving her bed next to the specially designed whelping pen. Upon our return from our trip, we expected to transfer the dogs back to our house, but it became immediately clear that Gabby wanted to keep them until they were 8 weeks old and ready for adoption. Since the puppies had extremely mellow parents, they also were quite low key and affectionate. The puppies went back to GRRR and they were adopted within a few days: Two became hospital visiting dogs and they all found perfect homes. Bear had a wonderful life. He was very independent and went on little excursions at times. Since we live near Castle Rock on 35 acres, he fortunately did not stray too far from home and never really was lost. Bear enjoyed several parties with hundreds of other Retrievers at the Boulder Reservoir. He and Maddie were inseparable and Maddie was very sad when Bear passed away. We could not bear the sight of poor Maddie, so we immediately adopted a 2-year-old male Golden from GRRR. He had been fostered with his parents by Gwen. His name used to be Roscoe but we renamed him Riley. Have you ever heard of the "Life of Riley"? He is as gentle and happy as Bear was. We firmly believe that one should always have two dogs: They keep each other 14 company and will not destroy the house when left alone, since they have each other. Maddie is happy again. She is now almost 10 years old and we hope that Riley will keep her young...thank you GRRR for making Maddie happy again. Hanspeter & Kathy Spühler

Donations in Memory or Honor Kathryn Aydt, in memory of Bella Brandt. Bruce Fernandez, in honor of Kate Taylor. Max, Jo and Fred Everding, in honor of Dr. Scott Carpenter, the best of the best vets ever. Larry and Elizabeth Fink, in memory of their children, Melissa & Damon's beloved golden, Max. Joan Fisher, in memory of Riley Fisher. Jennifer and George Gore, in memory of Amigo. Allen and Char Hay, in honor of Laura and Alan Hamilton. Marilyn House, in honor of LuLu. Russ and Cathy Jones, in honor of Golden Angel Emmitt, who reminds them of their Golden, Louie, who died in 12/12. Bonnie Mihevic, in honor of Cathy Jones. "She is a lovely lady. We appreciate all she does for the Golden Retrievers. In fact, we had a Golden and loved her." Greg & Cindee Moyer, in memory of JJ, a Golden Angel who left before they were ready. Doug Puckett, in memory of his beloved wife, Cyndy. Bess J Rhodes in GA, in memory of John C Jones Gail Shatz, in memory of our Goldens: Abraham, Napoleon, and Obi Wan, and in honor of our new Golden puppy, Kinsale. Scott and Sheridan Skinner, in memory of Tango. Sherry Thomas, in memory of Damon and Melissa Vangelis Golden, Max. In memory of Shirley Vikse: Marge Hale, Mr. & Mrs. W.F. McCollough, James & Catherine Doherty. Shirley will always be remembered as an admirer and breeder of Golden Retrievers. Thank you for the work you do. Mrs. Janet Vierra donated in honor and in memory of Stella, her grandson Max Henson s Golden Retriever. Stella blessed all family members for over ten years with unconditional love. She will always hold a very special place in each of their hearts, especially Max s. Thank you GRRR for rescuing Goldens and finding safe, loving homes for them. Jackie Weidner, in memory of Scout, my friend Betsy's Golden. A Dog's Last Will and Testament Before humans die, they write their last will and testament, give their home and all they have to those they leave behind. If, with my paws, I could do the same, this is what I'd ask... To a poor and lonely stray I'd give my happy home; my bowl and cozy bed, soft pillow and all my toys; the lap, which I loved so much; the hand that stroked my fur; and the sweet voice that spoke my name. I'd will to the sad, scared, shelter dog the place I had in my human's loving heart, of which there seemed no bounds. So, when I die, please do not say, "I will never have a pet again, for the loss and pain is more than I can stand." Rest in Peace Sampson Instead, do find an unloved dog, one whose life has held no joy or hope, and give my place to him. This is the only thing I can give... The love I left behind. 15 ~ Author unknown

Golden Retriever Rescue of the Rockies 15350 W. 72nd Avenue Arvada, CO 80007 The Golden GRRRowl published Quarterly by Golden Retriever Rescue of the Rockies hotline: 303/279-2400 Fax: 303-940-1559 info@goldenrescue.com www.goldenrescue.com Did you get your 2014 GRRR Calendars yet? Order from our website: www.goldenrescue.com (and from local stores - see list on the website). They'll also be available at the Annual Meeting on Nov 3, and at Photos with Santa / Merchandise Blowout on Nov 30. Board of Directors: Pat Dinkey - President Judi Servoss - Vice President Deb Kneale - Treasurer Darla Henderson Steve Morganfield Pat Rogers Bill Urbanowski Nikki Wiederaenders Designed by Debbie Davis: grrr.volunteer@gmail.com Edited by Kim Hosler: kasran@comcast.net Please email us with your change of address (e-mail or snail mail) to: info@goldenrescue.com 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 www.goldenrescue.com or call our hotline 303/279-2400 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!) $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 www.goldenrescue.com/for Members page 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!