February 2015 Golden GRRRowl A registered non-profit 501(c)(3) charitable organization Stella A Golden Retriever Can Change Your Life! STELLA STELLA (originally Lola) The darkest nights often produce the brightest stars. Lola is one such star. In January of 2013, one of GRRR s volunteers was at a veterinarian s office. While waiting, a young woman with three young children and a big fluffy dog walked into the clinic. She overheard the woman at the counter explain that she had called the clinic about dropping off her dog. The receptionist came around and said, I m sorry, do you want to stay? The young woman said, No, not with the children. Our volunteer walked over to the young woman and said she couldn t help but overhear and asked if she was leaving the dog to be euthanized. The woman replied that, yes, due to the fact that they were moving and could only take two of their three dogs, she was in fact leaving this dog to be euthanized. She explained that Lola had been living outside because she had been urinating inside, and they couldn t afford the medical tests and treatment to look into the urination problem. They tried to find her a home, but nobody wanted a dog with medical issues and one that urinates in the house. To make matters worse, Lola now also had a torn ACL, and they would never be able to afford her pain medication and surgery. The volunteer had been unable to take her eyes off of Lola and asked if she could take her and get her the care she needed. The young woman was grateful that someone wanted to give Lola a second chance. Our volunteer took Lola home and contacted Mary Kenton to see if GRRR would be able to take Lola into their care. Of course the answer was yes. Lola soon arrived at GRRR s Phoebe s Place. Lola had obviously been severely neglected as she was extraordinarily matted and dirty. Lola s first new experience was a spa day with Dee Delay. Lola must have felt like a princess being pampered and getting her gorgeous coat clean, free of all the dirt and mats. Afterwards, it appeared as if Lola s coat was a new color, platinum blonde, as well as different in texture as it was now soft and silky to the touch. Lola s next stop was Arvada West Veterinary Hospital. Lola received a thorough exam, vaccinations, and heartworm testing. Dr. Carpenter advised GRRR that Lola was in a great deal of pain and needed to be placed on medication for her torn ACL. Lola went home with Rimadyl and Tramadol prescriptions to reduce her discomfort and assist in the beginning phase of the healing process. Mary welcomed Lola to Phoebe s Place where she readily adjusted to being an inside dog again. Lola quickly discovered that furniture was not off limits for the dogs, and the couch was calling out to her! Watching her get up onto the couch was heartbreaking, however, as she would use her upper body strength to pull her painful hind legs onto the couch. Apparently it was worth the effort! She would literally smile as she curled up for naps or just to relax and observe what was going on. Lola is such a sweet girl and she was fortunate to be taken in as a foster with Bob and Darla Heldenbrand. Darla and Bob LOVED fostering Lola. Lola was in their home for quite some time, around six months. During that time, she further adapted to life as an indoor dog and was cared for with consistency and with great love. She was just the sweetest dog in the world and we fell in love with her, said Darla. We nicknamed her Fluffy, Marshmallow, Nutter Butter - she is just so soft and has such a nice coat after it became healthy again. She was absolutely no problem with any of our dogs or foster dogs that came in and out of our home. Lola could be pretty sneaky too. Darla shared one of her sneaky episodes, We came across an empty can of dog food in the house and wondered how it got there. Was it in the trash and the dogs got it out? We had no idea until we came home one day and found another empty can but this time Lola had a couple of incriminating pieces of the can s label stuck to her chest fur. We soon figured she must be getting full cans off the bottom shelf of the pantry and opening up the pull-top can we had no idea a can of dog food would smell good enough to make her get into it! When Lola progressed to the point of being ready to find her forever home, there was a lot of interest in her for adoption, everyone commenting on how beautiful she is. With her medical issues however, and the need to be on medications, the real potential for surgery in her near future, as well as the fact that she is a Golden Retriever mix, it eliminated most of the applicants who fell in love with her pretty face. Enter Katie Do you believe in love at first sight? We think Katie and Lola are true believers now. Katie had Continued on page 2
...we are so clearly a perfect match. I cannot imagine a more perfect dog. really wanted a dog, but was determined not to adopt until she no longer was living in an apartment. When Katie moved into a home with a backyard, she started poking around at all the rescue sites and as soon as she saw Lola s picture, she felt that she was the one. Katie completed the application, went through GRRR s screening process and an appointment was set up for Katie to meet Lola. Katie said, When I went to meet Lola she was very aloof with me, but very attached to Darla. Somehow I still knew she was the one. I spent a lot of time debating because I knew there would be a lot of medical costs, but I just couldn t say no to that face. The same pretty face that the GRRR volunteer couldn t take her eyes off when she was at the veterinarian s office to be euthanized. On a very magical day in June 2013, Lola was adopted by Katie and Lola began a new life as someone s most precious companion. That very pretty face was renamed Stella and her new loving home was worth waiting for. It s nearly two years later and we are so clearly a perfect match. I cannot imagine a more perfect dog. She is so sweet, calm, great with kids, loves people. I still marvel how anyone could have given her up. She is so loving and happy. And that face just says it all, said Katie. Stella has been doing fantastic. She loves the dog park, walks and especially loves car rides. She went on a cross-country trip with my brother and I for Christmas and was the hit of all our family events. She had everyone at her beck and call with her signature slow roll onto her back with her paw in the air, begging for a belly rub. Katie s parents even fell in love with sweet Stella, allowing her into their house while they rarely, if ever, let in other dogs. When Stella came to GRRR she had two bad knees, one torn ACL. Unfortunately, she further complicated her situation when she slipped on some ice and tore her right meniscus all the way through. At that point, Stella needed TPLO surgery, which was done in February 2014. Surgery went perfectly and Katie did a great job helping with Stella s recovery. She rehabed at Canine Rehabilitation & Conditioning Group (CRCG) but had to be kept off her legs, and even tougher, out of snow (which she loves) for weeks. While Stella was in surgery for her right knee, the surgeon determined that her left knee was also completely torn and likely had been for years. She was losing muscle on the other leg and everyone agreed that surgery was the best option to keep her body up with her spirit. Katie didn t know if she should put Stella through another surgery so soon, plus it was expensive. But the stronger her right knee became, the less she used the left knee, and Katie could see how much pain she was in. Although Stella lived with the issue for so long, it was starting to affect her. Stella started running on three legs, just using that fourth for some balance, but with all four healthy legs, she would be so much better. So Stella was scheduled for another knee surgery in August, and thanks to support from the Golden Angel fund, GRRR helped pay for it. Katie tried to work a deal for a Buy One, Get One Free surgery, but no one could figure out how to make that work! Stella s second knee surgery went well, but rehab seemed a bit tougher for her. Since the left knee was worse, it was a more difficult recovery for Stella. Stella is still going to CRGC every few weeks. She loves the underwater treadmill and is such a good patient that she s a poster dog for the therapists. She really loves getting massages and laser therapy too, and likes doing agility exercises to regain her strength and stamina. Stella really loves the physical therapists there! Stella has now recovered very well from the surgery and has become a whole new dog. Stella now wants to chase and play with everything and everybody; kids, dogs, and squirrels alike. Stella is a completely different dog now, she s like a puppy again! said Katie. Stella s boyfriend and partner in crime is Brady, the English bulldog next door, who taught her to counter surf. She in turn taught him that the couch isn t scary and the things his humans put on there to keep him off won t bite. Stella is the friendliest dog that Katie has ever met. She really loves being with people and thoroughly enjoys being on the furniture. Although she loves being in the snow outside, she doesn t want to be out without a human nearby. Stella also turns out to be a pretty good watchdog. Katie had a scary night where a homeless guy showed up on her doorstep at 2am and wouldn t go away. I had to call the police. Everything ended up fine, but I have never seen Stella act like that. She was barking and growling at the door and she did not sit down or stop until he left, and he stood there for 15 minutes! When the police showed up, Stella did her usual gruff and was fine. She knew something was off about that guy and she was not afraid to let me know. Stella was by my side for the next three days making sure I was ok. She protects her people. I even told the 911 dispatcher that the best decision I ever made was to adopt her. I was scared, but having her with me made me less so. From the neglected, dirty, outside dog who lived in pain for years, Lola became the beautiful, sweet, funny and loving dog she was destined to be. The darkest hour of Lola s life changed forever due to the love shown to her by the GRRR volunteer who saved her at the vet, to her foster parents Bob and Darla, to Mary at Phoebe s Place and especially due to her forever human companion, Katie, who has fostered the shining star within her sweet Stella. p 2 STELLA, GRRR Ambassador at the Girls on the Run fun run.
Angel MAE Dear GRRR: We were the lucky family who adopted Angel Mae in Sept 2013. What an angel she truly is! She is an integral member of our family and a special friend to our other Golden. You are a wonderful organization and the work you do impacts so many lives - four-legged and two-legged. Carol and Al Weimer Recent Rescues AMBER Dear GRRR: Here is a photo of Amber (originally called Wilmer ), my GRRR rescue from 9/23/2012. She s very sweet and a great friend to me and her companion, Kodi. Thanks to GRRR for allowing me to adopt Amber. She still sleeps beside me, sharing my pillow. Donna Clark, Amber and Kodi Dear GRRR; Wow, I don t even know where to begin. Joben s new name is Archer and he has become a very important part of our family. My husband, daughter and I couldn t imagine being without him. The first day we brought him home and I opened the door, our two cats were there to greet him. He looked back at me as though to say, you didn t tell me there were two of them. It took a couple of days for the cats to accept him. They didn t hiss or run but just kept their distance. Archer never chased or barked at them, and now they try to nap with him in his bed. We have found that he likes his walks and have found a place where he can greet other dogs. When weather permits, we try to go once or twice a day. He has become a neighborhood favorite. We take him to day care one or two days a week, which he loves. They let him swim in a pool and every dog has to wear a life vest. He LOVES it. My mother-in-law recently visited us for a week. She is a dog lover and had him sleep with her in the new Sleep Number bed, (she said he s a 60). One morning she said he woke her up by gently grabbing her wrist because she was having a bad dream. Getting Archer was the best decision our family has ever made. Sincerely, The Growley s and Archer the Super Dog ARCHER BEA HI GRRR! We adopted Bea on Memorial Day 2012. She is such a joy in our lives! As time has passed, she has come to trust our friends and is getting better every day at trusting strangers. Bea gained a healthy 20 pounds within months of coming to her new home. She loves her walks (she gets two a day), her toys, and taking car rides to the mountains to run in the snow. She loves going on road trips! Bea has chased seagulls on the coast of Oregon and chased lizards in the desert of Tucson. In 2013, Bea was the flower girl in our wedding! She loves camping, belly rubs, and giving us lots of kisses in the morning when the alarm goes off. She has a doggie door and loves spending time in the backyard chasing squirrels and basking in the sun when we are at work. Overall, words cannot express how much we love our Bea and what an amazing dog she is! Tom and Lindsay Huthoefer Dear GRRR: We adopted Bella (formerly Layla) over Labor Day weekend. Needless to say, we are madly in love with her and think that she is VERY special. We can t imagine our lives without her. She is a good girl and has adapted quite well to our home. She is extremely affectionate and loving. Everyone who meets her can t believe how lucky we were to adopt her (although, I really think she is the one who adopted us). She is happy and healthy. We tell all of our friends where we got Bella and what a wonderful job your rescue does. Sincerely, Brian and Janette Rourke 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 May, 2015 issue is April 6. Thanks! BELLA
Recent Rescues Dear GRRR: Blu is a sweet boy who loves to snuggle on our laps and is always wagging his tail. His favorite snuggle spots are on the couch next to anyone and on the pillows of our bed. He loves riding shotgun in the car. Blu is attention driven and not food driven. In fact, sometimes he will choose not to eat with our other dogs. He simply sits in front of his food bowl and wags his tail. When he doesn t eat, we move his bowl onto the counter and wait a couple hours when he seems more motivated to eat. Blu is far more people-centered than dog-centered. He doesn t play with people or dogs but loves to be around both. No toy play. That s ok. He love s being outside with us and is the first of our three dogs to sense we re headed outside or to the garage. We ve never heard Blu bark but he whines briefly when the other dogs bark at the doorbell or strangers near our yard. Blu brings great joy to our lives with his constantly wagging tail and is quickly becoming the favorite of friends and family due to his snuggling ability. James Hardin BLU, Sugar, Double, and Kamere the Kat 4 BRUCE, NALA, SADIE Hi GRRR: We absolutely LOVE Bruce. He has been a great addition to our family. He is a great running buddy and a great snuggler. He gets along well with our other two Goldens, Nala, also 4 years old, and recent addition Sadie, 10 months old (also a former GRRR baby). He is so well behaved and such a sweetheart. He has a vicious bark, but not a mean bone in his little body. We really didn t have plans to adopt another dog because at that time we had Nala and Daisy, who was almost 14 years old. But we fell in love with Bruce the first time we walked him and decided it might be a good idea for Nala to have a playmate so she didn t pick on Daisy. Sadly, Bruce only had about four months with Daisy before she passed away from cancer. Having Bruce made it a little easier on Nala when Daisy passed so we are very thankful for that. Wade and I both volunteer to walk pups every week and we think that GRRR is an amazing organization. Thanks, Francie Rakiec GRRR STATS January 1 - December 31, 2014 Number of dogs adopted 232 Money spent on medical needs: $103,428 Hi GRRR and Happy 2015! Buddy is doing soooo incredibly well! He is beloved in the neighborhood and by the grand kids. He loves to chase them around, as well as being chased by the Roomba robot vacuum. He s been camping with us, traveling, and hiking in the mountains. He loves the snow. He continues to be a master at getting into closed closets and drawers - and somehow managed to eat nearly 2 pounds of Christmas stollen without getting sick! Buddy and two neighbor Goldens have a swapfest of stuffed animals that travel to and fro. On Christmas Eve we walked the streets of Vail with Buddy dressed up as Santa Paws with a red velvet suit and cap with jingle bells...i can t tell you how many tourists from around the world asked to have their picture taken with him. Thank you for all of your efforts and for the joy you bring. If you were a destination on Trip Advisor, you d be given 5 stars! Henry J. Goetze BUDDY JACKSON GRRR: We absolutely love Jackson. He s a blessing in our lives. He loves toys, going to the dog park to fetch the tennis ball, and loves rolling around in the snow. He s made himself at home here. When I m doing laundry in the bedroom, I often find him up on the couch lounging. He loves to snuggle. He follows me around everywhere. His absolute favorite is car rides. We are still working on getting him used to walks, because he always thinks he s going for a car ride when we put his leash on. Jackson s favorite snacks are carrots and green beans. He is definitely always about food. He loves bringing us socks from the laundry basket so we chase after him to get them back. He doesn t chew them, but lays on top of them and hides them under his paws. I ve recommended GRRR to many of my friends. Kristen Farrell & Eric Lehman
Hi GRRR! The girls, Daisy & Ella, are beyond amazing and are the best doggies ever! They got used to our doggy door right away and love running out back chasing squirrels and rabbits that come through our fence! They sleep in bed with us and are spoiled rotten, but I think every animal should be spoiled! Pam & Garth Renall DAISY & ELLA PIPER Dear GRRR, I am writing to give you an update on one of your dogs who was adopted by my family last September. On the first of said month, 2014, we adopted a dog named Topaz. (We have since renamed her Piper.) We knew when we met her that she was the perfect dog for us. You will be glad to know that Piper is thriving in her new home. When we first got her she was skittish and somewhat distrustful of humans. On the whole, she was not interested in us, let alone any other animals. For her first few days at our house, our cat hissed at her and was constantly hostile toward her. She spent most of her time laying on a rug in the kitchen with her nose in the corner, or hiding from the cat. She did not bark or make any sort of noise. Now her life could not be better. She loves to play fetch with us and has absolutely mastered a handful of puppy dog faces. Every day we notice something new about her personality that we had not known before. She is loving and trusting and friendly to everyone. She always wants to please us and be close to her family all the time, and Piper is loved by nearly every person who meets her. We sometimes call her Chewbacca because she makes these hilarious grunting noises, and we have heard her bark once. She even occasionally lays with the cat. We thank you for giving us a dog with whom we can share a close family and wonderful experiences. Piper is the best dog we could possibly have asked for and our mutual love will ensure a close relationship with her forever. She is no longer afraid that we will abuse or abandon her, though she still gets extremely excited when we come home. I will probably always wonder what her life was like before she was found on the streets, and I will probably never know. All we can do is make her life now the best it can be, and continue to love and care for her to the end of our days together. Sincerely, Morgan Martin, 13 yrs old Dear GRRR: We adopted Gracie (formerly Rosey Grace) at the end of September 2014. Gracie had TPLO surgery on October 9th and she is now completely recovered at 12 weeks post-surgery. She is a great girl and has become a precious part of our family. As with our other rescues, we ve had a hard time figuring out why anybody would ever have surrendered Gracie in the first place. She is a beautiful, sweet, loving girl with lots of personality. We re looking forward to many years ahead with Gracie s companionship. Gracie is the sixth Golden we ve adopted from GRRR over the past 15 years. We ve always had two at a time. Three of them lived to be 10+ years old before succumbing to cancer. While we are great Golden Retriever lovers, that in itself cannot explain why we ve had 6 of them and not tried another breed. No, I believe that it has been the great experiences we ve had with GRRR that keeps us coming back. Over the years, Mary Kenton has gotten to know us quite well and has always done an outstanding job matching us with a Golden that would fit in perfectly with our family. It is a real plus that GRRR takes time to get to know the dogs before placing them as available for adoption. The large group of GRRR foster parents do a wonderful job. In reading the bios on the website, it is nice to know whether the dogs are good with kids, good with other dogs, are housebroken, or have any ongoing health or behavior issues, etc. And, of course, there s Mary Kenton. Mary has never pressured us and always gave us GRACIE plenty of time to make a decision. We ve relied on her expertise to find the right Golden for us. She s often suggested that we bring our other Golden with us to GRRR to see how he/she reacts to a potential brother or sister. This has been invaluable, for besides bonding with us, any new dog needs to get along with our present Golden. Mary s devotion to the dogs is legendary. She is every Golden Retriever s Golden Angel and does her best to make sure every placement is in the best interest of the GRRR Goldens in her care. We believe that all of our GRRR rescues have found a forever home with us in large part because of Mary s love and care for them throughout the process. Sincerely, Jim & Ellen Standish 5
Recent Rescues KELTY AND TEDDY Hi GRRR: Teddy is doing fantastic. He is the 3rd dog that we have rescued from GRRR. We lost our 2nd rescue, Duncan, to a heart condition in June 2013. I have attached a picture of Teddy and Kelty (our first rescue). He was very respectful of our old girl and even got her to play! It was great to see the life that he brought back to her. Unfortunately, we had to put Kelty down in July due to a nasty tumor. Teddy has adjusted well to be an only dog and enjoys all the attention he gets from us. We have two big parks by our house and he loves his walks around the lakes. He is a sassy little man and makes us laugh every day! He also enjoys playing ball and a good nap, especially if it s on one of our laps! Each adoption from GRRR has been a delightful experience. We believe we have adopted dogs that have not only been a good match for our lifestyle but also our personalities. Birch has been so happy with the organization that a few months ago he volunteered to be one of the dog walkers for GRRR. We appreciate so much the joy that our pets have brought to our lives and look forward to being great adoptive parents for Teddy! Birch often remarks that it is the dogs that have adopted us. Take care, Jennifer, Birch, and Teddy PENNY Hi Everyone: Penny is doing great! She is a wonderful, loving dog. She is quite the Daddy s girl, but likes to snuggle with Mom when it s cold outside! Although our kids are actually young adults, she loves to be around them and gets very excited when they get up or come home. She is great at playing fetch (without much training from us even!) She has her set of toys that she will bring to us to play fetch with. She even still has her dolly that you gave us! It s kind of an all purpose toy in that sometimes she likes to fetch it and other times she likes to lay on it. She has met several friends in the mirror, fireplace glass, refrigerator (or anything else that reflects her picture). Sometimes she likes to talk to them - ha ha. But she also has several real neighborhood dogs that she interacts with very well. She is friendly to the people she meets as well and everyone loves to pet and play with her. One of her favorite things to do is to take a walk. She is learning to walk nicely beside us and not pull on the leash. She s learned to sit when we tell her and will sit when we need to stop on our walks. We think she s the cutest thing around, of course. She s remained all black, but you can see some copper in her if the sun hits her just right. I don t think she will be a large dog (more medium I think), but she is just right for us. We are very happy to have her in our lives. Peggy Hathcoat Hi GRRR: First of all I have nothing but great things to say about Marnie (Luna). From day one she has been a pleasure to have. She keeps us happily entertained with her beautiful smile. I can only attribute this to the great things that GRRR does for all the dogs they rescue. When anyone asks Steph or I about her, one of the first things we say is that she is a rescue from GRRR. Those who have heard of GRRR smile immediately because they are aware of what a great organization it is. We love the support that GRRR continues to provide. We participated at the picnic at the Boulder Reservoir, and to see all the beautiful dogs that now have great homes makes me proud to be part of such a wonderful family. We have also taken advantage of the training programs made available. Carole McMurray was our trainer and she was amazing to work with. She worked around our busy schedule, and the results of her instruction were seen after the first session. Thanks MARNIE Andrew & Stephanie CALLIE Hi GRRR! Callie is doing wonderful. She is adapting to her new home very well and three months later she is still coming out of her shell! She is very sweet and affectionate and her coat has grown in dark and thick. She starts and ends her day with a long walk through Palmer Park and is spoiled rotten. Callie rescued us, not the other way around. Joe and Joanna Somosky
Dear GRRR, Its been almost 9 months since Luna (formerly Lyla) came into my life, when she made me her person. She has brought so much life to my home. I m constantly amazed at her unbridled joy to be around people and animals. We plan a lot of outings for both her social life and high energy need for exercise! I introduced her to water this summer, and she had clearly never been swimming but once she figured it out, it was very hard to get her out. Two squirrels live in a tree next to our house and provide never ending source of entertainment (torture?) for Luna. Her sweet and loving disposition makes every day a happy one for me - thank you so much for allowing me to fill this missing part of my life, and thanks for all you do for so many Goldens in need. Julie Dederer CHARLIE HI GRRR: Charlie is doing fine and is an excellent addition to the family. He gets along great with the puppy and has received a clean bill of health by the vet. He loves to chase rabbits in the backyard and never turns down a hike up to the mesa after work, a trip to the dog park, or walking the trails in Boulder. Regards, John LUNA Dear GRRR: Our adoption of Cody (formerly Koda) has been a dream come true. He is wonderful - so loving and well behaved and we love him so much. He is my constant companion, and loves his daily trail walks and ball fetching sessions. While he can swim well, he does not crave swim time the way my past Goldens have. But he does love to just go and lie down in the water to cool off (obviously before real winter weather hit). He gets almost an hour off leash on open space every day and is the perfect gentleman with other dogs, people and especially little kids. He still loves his ball but is no longer dependent upon it. He has learned to enjoy kongs and chewies. He and my son s dog have become friends. He is definitely an integral member of our family. Cody always gets compliments about how handsome and wellbehaved he is. I tell everyone who comments on him about GRRR, what a great organization you are, and that they too could have such an amazing, loving Golden. Keep up the good work. Debra Welsch CODY Hi GRRR, We are having a WONDERFUL time with Lexi (formerly Moxxie). This is our second GRRR adoption and both times the process was very easy and all the GRRR staff were helpful and very friendly. Lexi was very well trained when we received her (at about 3-1/2 years old) almost 8 months ago. She works well on leash, obeys voice commands, knows several tricks (shake, sit up, fetch and roll over) and is very friendly with kids, adults and other dogs. Lexi loves her almost daily walks while chasing a tennis ball and has her favorite water holes in the creek. She loves to cuddle and is seldom less than two feet from one of us, although doesn t seem to mind when we have to leave her as we just let her have the run of the house with no problems. Goldens rule! Thanks for all you folks do at GRRR for all the wonderful dogs! Mary & Jerry Jelinek LEXIE DAISY Hi GRRR: Daisy is absolutely great. She has adapted well and just LOVES walks and playing in the snow. She gets plenty of walks and with the snow she has ample opportunity to enjoy that too. We are very happy with Daisy and I am guessing she is very happy too! She will be off to her walk here shortly and she will have her fun in the snow. Thanks and happy new year. John Salanitro 7
MINI COOPER Recent Rescues Dear GRRR: Cooper came into our lives after our 11-year-old Buddy passed from cancer this past summer. Brandy, our 13-year-old Golden, was quite lost without him, as they had been together for over 10 years. Not quite sure what to do, Scott and I spoke with Mary, and shortly thereafter we had a new addition here. Brandy, our very selective Diva, thought Cooper was GRRR-EAT from the start. He s 9 years old and a very petite Golden, so his nickname is Mini Cooper. It took him awhile to get accustomed to our country living, but now he runs and plays all over the acreage. He is tennis ball crazy and cannot stockpile enough of them inside and out! Still, he s not too sure about our horse, but he will now finally come into the barn. That took him months to do, so his confidence is finally here. He is such a love hog and loves all the attention he can get. And, there is no shortage of that with two retirees living here! He just wants to be around his people and Brandy. And, he cannot do anything without running and getting a shoe to tote around. It s hilarious! The look in his eyes now is one of happiness and contentment, with his tail always wagging. We are so glad that he came into our lives and Brandy s. They both love to swim together up at our Lake House and check out the ducks and geese. It s heartwarming to see how happy he is in his new home here and in the mountains. Thank you GRRR for making the perfect match for our family. Pat and Scott Rogers Hi GRRR, We adopted Stella Oct. 22. We LOVE, LOVE, LOVE her, and the feeling is mutual! We see her growing more comfortable day by day, and at this point it s as if she s been with us forever. She loves sleeping on the couch and with her toys. Thank you again. Pam and Greg Murchison STELLA Lucy and FERGUS Dear GRRR: We had such a great experience at the Golden Retriever Rescue. On January 3rd, we brought home Fergus a 2.5 year old Goldendoodle. Even though he is constantly being pestered by his new best friend, 8-month-old Lucy, he is always sweet and gentle. I can t say enough good things about this rescue group, we are so thankful for them and for Fergus. Dee Du Bois 8 Hi GRRR: I wanted to be sure to let you know Jensie (formerly Judy) is doing just fine. I couldn t be any happier and neither could she! I have attached a photo of Jens in her favorite place; in front of the fireplace protected by the Buddha. ;-) She has settled in nicely. Your foster home process was very valuable to me. The fact that I was able to interview someone who had actually lived with Jensie for months took away a lot of questions that usually accompany adopting a rescued dog. And all that the foster mom stated has proven to be spot on. She is definitely a petite package of Golden delight! I appreciate your organization and all it does so very much! Jensie and I will stay in touch! You have given us both so much! Anita and Jensie JENSIE
President s Letter by Judi Servoss As 2015 begins, I want to thank all of GRRR s members, volunteers, staff and friends for all you did in 2014 to assure this organization achieve its mission of helping Golden Retrievers in need. I have just completed my first year as GRRR s President, a role which is sometimes overwhelming, but mostly gratifying and humbling. When we began the year, the to-do list was huge, and many of us were new in our positions. Although I had been on the Board, stepping up to the presidency involved a lot of new responsibilities, and Kevin Shipley had just joined us as our first Executive Director. There were times we had to juggle priorities to meet immediate needs. Some ventures did not pan out as planned. But others wildly exceeded our expectations. There were hours on the phone and in meetings, and more than a few sleepless nights. But at the end of the day, we achieved most of what we set out to do, and also closed the books in the black. None of this would have been possible without all of you. Your generosity and your help with Phoebe s Place projects, events, communications, and most importantly with our dogs is invaluable. I know we have lots of work to do to continue to improve our operations and processes, but rest assured, the needs of these dogs will always come first in every decision we make. Thank you for 2014 and here s to a great 2015! p Phoebe s Place Update Judi & CODY by Kevin Shipley Will the fundraising ever stop? A part of my position is to answer all kinds of questions from members, volunteers and interested non-members. I welcome all questions, in any format. I will answer any question you have, no matter the subject, because we are all here to do the best we can for our beautiful Golden s (and golden-ish dogs as one person put it). Recently I was approached by a GRRR member asking, Why does it seem like GRRR is always asking for money? This is a great question and an important opportunity to share with you all why we do ask for member support throughout the year. Perhaps even more-so now than a few years ago. With that question in mind, let s take a look at GRRR behind the scenes (or if you prefer, behind the dogs) to get a sense of where your money goes. Every non-profit that I am aware of is in a perpetual state of fundraising. That is the nature of the beast, pun intended. The best non-profits spend about 80% on programs (the actual work they do), 7% on administrative and about 13% on fundraising efforts. By comparison, GRRR spends 90% of its funds on program (the care of the dogs), 7% on fundraising and 3% on administrative. That is an amazing statistic that will hold up against any measuring stick. GRRR has 2 modestly paid employees, over 200 active volunteers, 1,100 members and over 4,000 Facebook followers, many of which support us without being members. Comparing GRRR to other reputable rescues, we are extremely fortunate. We not only have support in terms of people power but we have Phoebe s Place, a five acre property that allows for the amazing care of our dogs. This blessing, however, comes with it its fair share of financial challenges. Repairs to the home, the land and the kennels are important, but still, we spend 90% on program (the dogs we all love). Could we do without the property, sure, but the lives of our dogs would be dramatically different. With proper care, this home allows us to: Take the time to assess dogs in a safe environment to determine their medical and training needs. After receiving medical care, Phoebe s Place allows the dogs necessary recovery time under watchful eyes. We assure dietary needs are met if dogs are diagnosed with special problems or weight issues. We care for terminally ill dogs or send them to a select group of loving hospice foster homes, rather than prematurely euthanize them (often the best part of their life is spent with us or their foster home). We provide informed care for senior dogs and they are frequently placed in a loving foster home, instead of being euthanized due to lack of space, often the case with many shelters (even no-kill shelters). All GRRR dogs see the same medical providers to guarantee consistent and comprehensive medical care for the often medically complex dogs GRRR takes in. Even some very young dogs have big issues. Our medical providers extend GRRR great discounts, so we can focus finances on the dogs. The dogs have room to play and the opportunity to begin learning how to socialize and interact with both dogs and humans in an appropriate manner. Many have never had this interaction before. Our dogs get daily exercise and socialization by our fabulous VIP dog walking team. A professional dog trainer (Peebody Dog Training) comes in several days per week. A professional groomer is on-site two days per week. Clearly, the benefits of having this wonderful facility and this great care has a price. Our most expensive item is medical care for the dogs. Like many businesses, we have seasonal financial peaks and valleys. Success in the financial peaks, like the Gala, in part, determine how deep and how long seasonal financial valleys are. It s really about month to month cash flow and monthly operating capital to take care of the dogs, even though we are in the black at year end. Due to these valleys, we try to offer a wide variety of ways for people to give and because each individual has a personal preference; straight donation, donor matching gifts, employee match programs, retail matches (ex: AmazonSmiles), ColoradoGives Day, Non-event, in memory or tribute gifts, etc. Whether you support us in spirit, time and/or with your treasures, we appreciate you all very much. We are truly thankful for the support you give to GRRR and these beautiful sweet dogs that go on to complete someone s life. That s the common bond we all have and we want you to know that is where our focus is, always. We are very efficient, we are financially conservative, and above all, good stewards of your trust and support. As always, I am available to answer any questions you may have and welcome dialogue in any form, anytime (kevin.shipley@goldenrescue.com). Thank you for 9 coming through during a couple of our valley s in 2014. You and GRRR are making a big difference. We, together, are saving dogs.. p
Upcoming Events 2015 February 8-15: Better to Give than to Retrieve Valentine fundraiser. Go to goldenrescue.com or Facebook page and see a series of 3 Valentine Angels who need your help. March 1 (Sunday): Annual Meeting - 1pm at the Arvada Library, 7525 W 57th Avenue, Arvada. Elect new or renewing Directors who have applied to and been recommended by GRRR s Nominating Committee; 2014 Financial Report; Report on 2014 accomplishments and 2015 goals. All GRRR members invited. Sorry, no dogs allowed. May 4: Gear Up for Summer - Online Fun - stay tuned May 5: Photo Contest Deadline May 10 (Sunday): Spring Fling at Phoebe s Place July 4th weekend: Cherry Creek Arts Festival. We ll have a booth selling merchandise and 2016 calendars. July 18 (Saturday): GALA at the Tivoli-Turnhalle Center in Denver. A very special GRRR Gala event: A Golden Salute - honoring our wounded warriors and the dogs that serve them. This event will feature special guest speaker Captain Luis Carlos Montalvan and his service dog, Tuesday. Don t miss it. We are collecting donations for both the live and silent auction, and are also soliciting sponsors for our gala with prominent recognition. Contact kevin.shipley@goldenrescue.com to help. Sept 12 (Saturday): Rescue Reunion Picnic at Boulder Reservoir October 19: Give the Dog a Bone - Online Fun October 25 (Sunday): Halloween Party at Phoebe s Place November 22 (Sunday): Photos with Santa at Phoebe s Place December 6 (Sunday): Volunteer Holiday Party December 8 (Tuesday): Colorado Gives Day Thank you! Hi GRRR: My name is Gillian. I am the daughter of the family who adopted Merlin. He is doing great by the way, I really enjoy having him so much! My birthday was on November 15 and I had a party and in lieu of gifts, I asked my friends for donations to your Rescue. I put some of my birthday money in there too! I am sure it will be put to good use! Sincerely, Gillian Stitt 10 HI GRRR! It is me, Merlin. Thank you for giving me such a great family! They take such good care of me and they walk me at least 3 walks a day. They also let me go on the couch and give me the best belly rubs! I hope this donation will be very helpful! Love, Merlin GILLIAN AND MERLIN
Golden Angel - Kasey by Karen Delicate Hi there, my name is Kasey. In April of 2014, when I was only about 6 months old, I was left at a shelter by some people who said they found me. I waited for a very long time, but when nobody came looking for me, the shelter called my foster mom, who volunteers for GRRR. The shelter couldn t understand why nobody showed up to claim me. They said I was so beautiful and well behaved especially for a puppy. When my foster mom came to pick me up, she named me Kasey, after a Golden she knew that looked a lot like me. She told me that my namesake, Kasey, was a wonderful boy who was loved by his family. And now that I was a GRRR dog, I too would be loved, just like my namesake. I spent a week with my foster family in Rapid City, SD and then my foster mom drove me and another GRRR dog named Ace to Phoebe s Place. My foster mom told me that my Fairy God Mother, Mary Kenton, lives there with lots of other wonderful Golden s, and that Mary would find me the most wonderful forever home. While I was at Phoebe s Place I got to sleep on Mary s bed and had fun playing with the other dogs, and meeting lots of volunteers. A few days later I went to see Dr. Carpenter for my neuter, but Dr. Carpenter said that I had a severe heart murmur. The next day, Uncle Bill Urbanowski took me to see Dr. Karen Sanderson at Rocky Mountain Veterinary Cardiology, where they did a lot of expensive tests on my heart. Dr. Sanderson called Mary and told her that I have a bad problem called severe Subaortic Stenosis. She told Mary that my prognosis is very poor, the worst she had ever seen in such a young Golden. Because my heart was already enlarged, I had to have some more tests on my blood and my kidneys, and they took pictures of my chest and then I had to start taking two different medicines for my heart. Dr. Sanderson told Mary that I can t play fetch, or hike or run a lot, because my heart isn t strong enough. She said I could take easy walks, and play a little, but that I shouldn t over exert myself. The worst part was, she told Mary that she didn t think I would live very long. When Mary called my foster mom to tell her the sad news, my foster mom asked Mary for permission to become my hospice foster family, and Mary said yes. She wanted to be sure that my foster family understood my restrictions and she warned them that I would break their hearts, but Mary knew they loved me and would take very good care of me no matter what. A few months ago, I developed a high fever and became very sick. I had to have another echocardiogram of my heart and the news wasn t very good. Because of my heart disease, my heart valves have an infection called endocarditis, and now I take two very expensive antibiotics and get scans of my heart every month. I KASEY don t really mind all the tests because I get lots of hugs and kisses and cookies. I love hugs, and I really love kisses and I really, really, love cookies. I also love peanut butter, and I get to have it 2 times a day with my pills. I get 4 pills in the morning and 6 pills in the evening, and since I love peanut butter so much, I don t mind taking my pills. I turned a year old in October, and according to all my doctors, I ve outlived their expectations even though my heart is sick. My foster mom says that if love could save me, I would live a thousand years, but I know it takes more than love, it takes good care, and doctors and medicine. Thanks to GRRR, I am getting the help and the medicine I need to live each day to the fullest. My foster mom says that I am always happy, and that s because I know I am loved by so many people like Mary and Uncle Bill, and my hospice foster family and my nice doctors. Thank you for reading my story and supporting the Golden Angel Fund, so GRRR can keep helping Goldens like me. As Kasey s story illustrates, not all of our Goldens have the opportunity to live long lives. GRRR prides itself in providing the best care for any and all of the dogs taken into its care, regardless of the dog s condition. Your generous donations allow GRRR to continue excellent quality of care. Please consider making a donation today to our Golden Angel fund, for wonderful, deserving dogs like Kasey. 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, painfree life in a new and loving home. Please send your tax deductible donations to: GRRR, 15350 W. 72nd Avenue, Golden, CO 80007 (make your check payable to GRRR with Golden Angel Fund in the memo portion). Or donate on-line at http://goldenrescue.com/golden-angel-fund/ Thank you! 11
Golden Angel - Polo by Linda Hartman 12 Hello wonderful GRRR humans. My name is Polo and I m so happy to have this chance to share my story with you. I ve heard there is something called the Golden Angel Fund and I have been chosen to become an official spokesdog for this amazing cause. My life was difficult (and very sad) before GRRR took me in, and although my health is getting better with each passing day in your care, I still have a long way to go. There have been many changes in my life. I spent my first nine years with my original family and, although it wasn t the best, I had a place to call home. I was a loyal friend and a very good boy, and I was always grateful to have a roof over my head and a family that I could watch over. Life wasn t perfect, though. I have suffered from severe skin allergies and ear infections for a very long time so long that I have permanent scars from both conditions. I needed much more medical attention than my family could afford, so at the ripe old age of nine they decided to surrender me to the shelter. Then they found out there was a surrender fee they couldn t afford either.the shelter was afraid I would end up in the wilderness or on the streets to fend for myself, so they called Mary Kenton and gave her my owners information. Mary called my family and said they would take me without a surrender fee, and now here I am with you. Fellows like me with a lot of life experience and health issues aren t a real popular choice for people coming to the shelter to find a new best friend. Becoming GRRR s newest Golden Angel is by far the best thing that has ever happened to me. When my family dropped me off, I was scared and confused and had such a feeling of sadness as they drove off. Little did I know the best chapter of my life was just beginning. Mary Kenton vividly remembers the day I first came to GRRR. When Polo arrived, there was an overwhelming smell of a yeast infection the minute he walked through the door. His poor ears were missing a lot of hair and showed evidence of chronic ear infections. The scar tissue inside his ears was horrible. The skin on his body was either bright red, hot and painful Photo by Leslie Brown in some areas, or grey where it had likely been killed by the infection. It POLO was heartbreaking to see him in such terrible condition, and yet his sweet, loving Golden personality was still able to shine through. He was literally starved for attention and love, and everyone at Phoebe s Place was there for him. I had to fight back the tears as I realized how long he must have lived in such misery. No Golden should ever be treated this way, least of all this sweet, lovable boy. I was only at Phoebe s Place for a few hours before I was whisked off to be seen by Dr. Carpenter at Arvada West Veterinary Hospital. I was immediately placed on a regimen of two medicated baths weekly, along with Prednisone, Ketoconazole and Cephalexin. I went back to Phoebe s Place with my very own pharmacy of medications, all provided by the Golden Angel Fund. I wasn t sure exactly what was going on, but I could tell everyone wanted the best for me. I ate my first tasty meal in my new home, breathed a sigh of relief and slept better than I had in a long time. It took several baths before I started to smell better. Bath time is the absolute best! I jump right into the tub and stand there patiently while the medicated shampoo sits for the required time. I m a very good boy because I know the baths help bring relief. Oh, and I really enjoy the massage I get while I m getting shampooed. The pain in my ears is improving, and now that I don t rub them on everything to relieve the itching, I m even growing some hair back. Can you believe somebody actually described me as handsome? After six weeks of baths and medications I m starting to feel a little better. I have so many wonderful new people in my life to help me scratch where I can t reach. I will do just about anything for a belly rub or to have my ears scratched by the loving hands of all my new friends. As Mary points out, Polo still has a long road ahead of him. It took a long time for the infection to develop and it s going to take a long time for it to get better. Luckily GRRR and the Golden Angel Fund were here to save my life. I couldn t have gone on much longer in so much misery. I spend my days at Phoebe s Place playing with the other dogs, enjoying wonderful meals and realizing how lucky I am. Sometimes I just like to curl up with a pile of toys and go into my own little world and enjoy the immense relief and contentment I feel. I can t wait to share my love with a new family. I have so much to offer I m loving and sweet and very grateful for any kindness that comes my way. Being the optimistic Golden that I am, I don t dwell on the past and how miserable I felt most of my life. Life just keeps getting better every day. I wish I could give each of you a happy, tail-wagging kiss and say thank you in person. And to that very special someone somewhere out there reading this I know you will realize I am just the fellow you ve been hoping to find. Please come take me home with you. I m so ready to have a family who loves me as much as I love them. p
Golden Angel Update GRACIE by Amy and Kurt Lucero Gracie is happy and doing very well! For the last few weeks she has been going to work with us every day and has her own bed and treat jar in my office. Spending time with us at work has really helped her to get over her fear of new people, movements, and noises. She comes and goes out of my office when visitors arrive and likes to meet everyone and get patted and loved on. Gracie has been wagging her tail more & more and seems to really enjoy her new routine. She goes to lunch and runs errands with us and likes to ride in my jeep and look out the back window. She is very mannerly and trustworthy in the car and at the office but does practice her begging skills at lunchtime. When we get home in the evenings all of the dogs come running to greet her in the car and play outside together. At home, Gracie is blending in well with our other dogs, Junior, Charlie, and Riley. Gracie loves having her own bed and never jumps on the furniture. She romps and runs, comes and goes through the dog doors as she pleases, and follows the boy dogs out to the pen to bark at a deer or squirrel or just explore. Gracie and Riley get along very well too, they both get chew bones and tooth brushes and enjoy them together on the deck or in the living room. Gracie loves attention and is very happy and energetic in the evenings. We spend time spoiling all of the dogs in the evenings and she likes to show off by chasing her tail and wagging her tail so hard that it sounds like she is playing the drums on our living room tables. Gracie has a regular hair appointment with the mobile dog groomer and likes being bathed and groomed. Gracie is very healthy now and no longer has to take prednisone for her skin issues. She has been eating grain & poultry free treats and food and gets cooked deer & elk meat mixed in her food. She now eats from a raised metal bowl, which is an accomplishment for her because she was so frightened of noises and movements. I think Gracie is very pleased with her new life and we are glad to be able to make things better for her. p GRACIE LUCAS, by Janice Mann The meaning of the name Lucas: Lucas will bring light to your life and love to your heart. In the short period of time that I have had Lucas he has done just that. My family endured two devastating losses this past year. Lucas has helped mend our broken hearts. Lucas is now going to rehab and physical therapy once a week. He does strength training to strengthen his front legs and his core. He does the underwater treadmill and various other exercises which increase and vary weekly. We do exercises at home daily and we include massage and energy work. In about a month we will add free swimming to his regimen. In addition, we are working on manners and behavior training that we hope will lead him to be a therapy dog. I feel that he definitely has the temperament and personality to do that kind of work. I would love for him to go to the rehab unit at the hospital where my other dog and I do pet therapy. I feel he can be an inspiration to the patients there. Perhaps being certified as an animal assisted crises response dog like his big brother will be in his future as well. He will tell us! Lucas has integrated into my family beautifully and most definitely provides light to our lives and love to our hearts. He is a real gem, a teacher and a healer. p LUCAS 13
Naming Tributes HOLLY, by Julianne Hennings. Holly passed over the Rainbow Bridge in September 2014. A Christmas present from my husband, she was the best gift I have ever received! We had lost our 16-year-old Golden three months earlier and I wasn t ready for another dog. My husband knew better and boldly acted out of character in surprising me with Holly. We had the privilege of having Holly as part of our family for 10 years. There were messes to clean up, dog injuries and emergencies, barking, hair everywhere, stolen pizzas it was wonderful! She was goofy and loyal and beautiful. Rest in peace sweet Holly dog. HOLLY JEAN JEAN, by Jackie Benson. In memory of Jean Mosman, my beloved Grandmother who loved all animals, but especially dogs. She always told stories about her father who would adopt every stray dog who wandered onto their farm because he couldn t bear to see animals suffer. Love always, Jackie, Mike, Connor & Midas. SID, by Cindi J. McIntyre. Sid was my first Golden. Truly an amazing dog. Because of her, I will always have a Golden in my life. SUNDANCE, by Maggie McLagan. This tribute is in honor of our beloved Barbara Kreisman who lost her heart dog, Sundance, in the Spring of 2010. Sundance was unlike any dog Barb has ever had. They truly shared a deep love for one another. Although Sundance can also be remembered for eating an entire sheet cake off of the counter, we d rather remember him for being the sweet old soul that he was. In loving memory of Sunny, we hope to meet again someday. With your donation of $100 you may request a Naming Tribute so that one of GRRR s rescued Goldens will be named after your dog or loved one. With your donation, you will honor the memory of your loved one, and your donation will help us give a rescued dog a new start to a better life. More info on Naming Tributes here: http://www.goldenrescue.com/news-golden-retriever-rescue/naming-tributes-dog/product/listing. SID SUNDANCE Donations in In Memory or in Honor In memory of Blake Young: Margaret Berzins John and Michele Egan Courtney & Tony Fodor Little Pub Company CE and Carol Katalin Stacy Schafer Richard and Evelyn Smith Robyne Thurber Lyn Albertson, in honor of Annie, Chris & Jack the Golden Bement. Stephen and Susan Antonopulos, in memory of Athena. Mark and Cindy Bacon, in honor of Kim Toth. Judith Barker, in memory of Phil Krous. Allie Besant, in memory of Libby. Boyd Bierbaum, in honor of Judi Tippetts. George Billings, in memory of Katie Billings. Robert and Judy Blacketer, in Memory of Robert & Jean Radin s Golden, Monty. Ann Baker, in memory of Edith Lucinda West. Christina Brown, in honor of Carl and Margie Bodensteiner. Cindy Charles and Ed Tanner, in memory of Joyce Morganfield. Lynn Clark, in memory of Sunny and Duncan. Cynthia Cleveland, in memory of Morgan & Harley Cleveland. Joyce Condon, in memory of Neal Condon. Suzie and Steve Crase, in honor of PJ and Warren Jones. Candace Crowell, in memory of Weaver, their beautiful 14-year-old Golden. Debbie Davis, in honor of Diana Hornick s birthday. Sally Sue Davis, in honor of Miss Q. Lynda Delbaugh, in memory of Barkley and Maggey. Mark Deschamp, in memory of John Nornbaker. Greta Dietrich, in honor of Cody Dietrich. TD Driscoll, in memory of Peggy Driscoll. Lauri Ekberg, in honor of Peter Kost. Keith Elmund, in memory of Charlie Elmund. Michael F, in memory of Halley, Kesha, Daisy & Kate. Paula Fischer, in memory of Milo M. Dawn Frank, n honor of Holly, Perry and Sunny. Brian and Jennifer Friend, in memory of Emma Friend. Sally Friend, in honor of Tory Brown. Elisa French, in memory of Drake, Maggie, Cailen. Employees of The Gardens at Highlands Ranch, in honor of Steve & Michelle Smith. Noanie and Doug Geistert, in honor of Seamus. Alice, Jon & Aubree Gilbertson, in memory of Argyle & Olivia Gilbertson. Linda Gittins, in honor of Holly Gittins. Irene Gomez, in memory of Fred Gerty. James Grady, in honor of Sherri and Andy Rosedahl. Karen Hardesty, in memory of Star. Loyd and Carrie Hardesty, in honor of Karen Hardesty. Mary Jo Hardy, in memory of Sparky our first Golden, and in honor of Jack and Jill who came to us from GRRR! Mike Higgin, in honor of Rescue Dogs Everywhere. Jill Hoehlein, in memory of S^uN ka and Kintla. Sally Hutton, in honor of our Bernie. Judith and Edwin Hynson, in honor of Deb Kneale and Bob Jorgensen. Ann A Jacoby, Christmas Donation for Linda Bova. Christine Keehn, in memory of Molson & Sapphire Keehn. Jan Kessler, in honor of Amy Kessler. Deb Kneale, in memory of Sampson and Zoomer. Kucharek Family, in memory of Aspen Baker-Hines. Darwin and Barbara Kuhlmann, in honor of Sammy. Matt Ladwig, in honor of Wiley Ladwig, Loyal Companion. Connie Lane & Jenny Scanlon, in honor of Alex the big red dog. Sally Lee, in memory of her mom. Margie H Lewis, in memory of Sadie. Elizabeth Linehan, in memory of Jake, Amos and Josie LinZim. Mary Lisman, in memory of Travis, Taia, Mallory, Jesse, Murphy, Maverick, Jeepers, Gracie. Karen Lloyd, In memory and in love of our Goldens who have passed over the Rainbow Bridge - Jeremiah, Rusty and Sadie and in honor and love of our GRRR Golden Kody. Don Ludwig, in memory of his Golden, Colby. Grace and Robert Mann, in memory of Joyce Morganfield. Glen and Kimberli McQuate, in Honor of Dale and Beth Cottrill. Anne Miller, in memory of Gracie Miller. Nancy & Robert Miller, in memory of Kulak White. Christine Miller, in memory of Sadie Gold Miller. Patricia Miller, in memory of Bear the Golden. Vivian and Gregory Miller, in honor of the Vivian s sister and brother in law, and in honor of Bill Urbanowski for all his hard work at GRRR. Marti Mills, in memory of Rosa, Abby and Daisy. Steve Morganfield, in memory of Joyce Morganfield. Diane Murphy, in memory of Grace. Susan Mustoe, in honor of Mary Kenton. Penelope J. Nelson, in honor of Shannon & David Jennings. Sue O Dell, in memory of Zima and Chelsea. Linda O Neal, in memory of Buck O Neal. Ed and Doreen Painz, in memory of Earl Mooney. Linda Panter, in memory of Emma Panter. Steve Perry, in memory of Mardi Perry. Portraits by Pierre, in honor of SugarBear. Francie Rakiec, in memory of Daisy. Richard Regan, in memory of Willie. Cinda Rodewald, in memory of Wilson Martens. Angel Romero, in honor of Rocky. Andy and Sherri Rosedahl, in memory of Dalton. Roanne Sabin, in memory of Deb Dawson and Sophie. Nicholas Scheib, in honor of Cohen Scheib. Al & Bernadine Sherman, in honor of Andy & Sherri Rosedahl. Eva Slattery, in memory of Boone Slattery. Edith L. Smith, in Honor of Barbara and Bob Crook. They truly are doing a magnificent loving job in their caring for all their adopted and fostered Goldens. Tammy, Charlie & Teddy Smith, in memory of Ted Hendryx. Brenda Steele, in memory of Foster Kirby. Wade Stencel, in honor of Saide & Bruce. Stockwell/Fuerst Family, in memory of Sal Carpio. Kathleen Tabor, in memory of Charlie Tabor. Jane Templeton, in memory of her guys are walking together again; David and Theo. Valerie K Schwolow, in Honor of Bob Jorgensen & Deb Kneale. Employees of Sealcon, in honor of Hanspeter Spuhler. Barry and Saundra Shaw, in memory of Dorothy Delicate. Connie M. Taylor, in Memory of Sierra, a lovely Golden owned by Marci Wedel & Jennie Eloff. Rich and Linda Taylor, in honor of Darla Henderson and Team Golden. Jaclyn Thomas, in honor of Wiley Ladwig, Faithful Companion. The Thompson-LeMay Family, in memory of Chester. Jeffrey Tomberlin, in memory of Verity. Penny Tracey, in honor of Shadow and Tavi. Colleen Waite, in memory of River Waite. Wayne Walker, in memory of Lynne Walker. Jenifer F. Walke, in memory of Jack W. Carol Warner, in memory my wonderful GRRR companion, Chai. Barbara Weller, in memory of Sunny. Laurie Wells, in honor of Julie Stern. Debra Welsh, in honor of Cody. Jo Werner, in memory of my best friends. Amy Wisniewsky, in honor of Beth and Brent Flambures. Wendy & Rich Wolff, in memory of Mandy Wolf.
In Memory Bubba - Sweetest Dog Ever - 4/17/2001-12/11/ 2014 Bubba was adopted by our family in July of 2004. We were told that he was 3 years old and had come to GRRR weighing only 50 pounds. His former family was a couple with a teenage son. After a while Bubba had become neglected there, so was rescued by GRRR. He also had a lot of allergy and skin problems which caused him to have bare areas in his fur, so he may not have looked as desirable for adoption. Bubba has so been the perfect fit in our family. I can t imagine how anyone on four legs could be any more loving than Bubba. And we have loved him so very dearly. We joyfully took on Bubba, his medical issues, and care. After a time of good diet and allergy medication, his coat grew back full and thick, with beautiful red curls. His long legs and shorter hair were perfect for living out in the country. He loved to run, to play ball, and roll in the snow. We live on 4 acres in an equestrian neighborhood southeast of Parker. A Pembroke Welsh Corgi named Maggie was part of our family at the time that we adopted Bubba. Five months after we adopted Bubba, we added to our household a four-month-old Cavalier King Charles, a gift to our daughter on her 15th birthday. Bubba was so gentle and patient with Benjamin, the puppy, and Benjamin adored Bubba. They have been fast friends ever since. For these past ten years I have been saying prayers of thanks for such a perfect, happy home life. We had the perfect pack with Maggie the princess, Benjamin the all boy puppy with tons of personality, and Bubba Love - everyone s favorite gentle, handsome boy. The perfect pack, but I knew that it wasn t possible to freeze time and keep them as the perfect pack forever. Aging would happen. ln 2O12 when Bubba was almost eleven, he blew out his knee and had surgery, the dog equivalent of his ACL. We pampered and nursed him back to health, even carrying him up and down the stairs - all 75 pounds of him - so that he could be with the family in our normal routine. The vet said that for a senior having this kind of surgery, Bubba did very well. Bubba also became quite popular with the staff at the vet s office going back for routine follow-up appointments. Over the past couple of years, we have been lovingly pampering our seniors, but sadly watching them age. Benjamin the puppy is now 10. He has been deaf for the past six or seven years or so, though one would never know it. Maggie is 15 years old, deaf, blind, and senile. Bubba has been gradually slowing down, as seniors do, and arthritis has been bothering him a bit, as have chronic ear infections and a minor heart problem. We have quite the pharmacy distribution for everyone at feeding time! With medication and keeping him at a good weight, he has been in good shape for his age. At a routine senior exam last month, Bubba was diagnosed with early stage renal disease -such very sad words to hear. We have been bracing for the inevitable, though trying to ignore it, too. We took Bubba to his final trip to the vet this afternoon and I am typing this through tears. I did want to share with you the poem my husband wrote for Bubba the day he died. This pretty well sums up how each member of our family felt about Bubba. Sweetest Dog Ever Thank you Bubba for being the sweetest dog ever. We ve loved you since day one and we ll miss you forever. Your patience with Benny has been a marvel to see, As was your gentleness with little Maggie who cannot hear and cannot see. Thanks for helping Benny run off the deer and thanks for your love always so sincere. Thanks for the smiles you put on our faces as you raced around the pasture and other fun places. Your journey has not always been an easy one to get to this place, but you bore it with dignity, gratefulness, style, and grace. Thank you Bubba for being the sweetest dog ever. We ve loved you since day one, and we ll love you forever. Pam and Mark Brackmann and Family BUBBA CODY It is with a heavy and sad heart that I drop you this note. Home to Heaven stopped by on Monday at 4:30 to help Cody over the Rainbow Bridge. He almost made to 14. His hips finally gave out and he became immobile. He wanted to participate in our activities but just could not. He would look up at us with his big brown eyes and say me too? We loved him so very much. He will be missed by everyone in the family. Keep up the good work. Dave Adams CODY 15
GRRR 2016 Calendar Photo Contest! The Golden Retriever Rescue of the Rockies 11th Annual Photo Contest is now open! Your Golden could be featured in the 2016 calendar! The Grand Prize Winner will have their photo on the cover. Last year s calendar was a huge success we received over 500 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)...that means wider than tall! 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) as e-mail attachments or mail a CD. Include your name, phone number, address, and dog s name. Please don t make the file smaller to e-mail send the original, largest file. E-mail digital photos to: grrr.contest@gmail.com *IMPORTANT: You will receive an e-mail 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 www.goldenrescue.com), payment (unless paying on-line), and snapshots or CD (unless e-mailing photos) to: GRRR Photo Contest Attn: Jeanie Peebles 8095 Holland Ct Arvada, CO 80005 Please make checks payable to GRRR. Online payment option is available for entry fee (www.goldenrescue.com), but you still need to mail in your entry form or fax it to 303-940-1559 Deadline for entry is May 5, 2015, so start snapping! Winners will be notified by June 15. Calendars will be available at all GRRR events starting with the Cherry Creek Arts Festival, on our website, and at many stores throughout Colorado. Thanks and Good Luck!
GRRR 2016 Calendar Photo Contest Entry Form Name Address Phone Number E-Mail Dog(s) names Number of Entries Amount Enclosed ($5 each photo) or q I paid on-line (www.goldenrescue.com) PLEASE MAKE CHECK PAYABLE TO GRRR. Photos: q Enclosed or q Sent via e-mail to grrr.contest@gmail.com Do you want your snapshots returned? q Yes q No (Please enclose self-addressed stamped envelope if you want your photos returned.) Release Form I grant GRRR permission to use the attached photo(s) for GRRR s 2016 calendar, and all related sales and marketing materials that GRRR may utilize in connection with its non-profit operation. I acknowledge and agree that GRRR will sell copies of the calendar and will not be responsible for making any payments to me or any one else in connection with this permitted use. I also agree that I own the copyright to these photos (these photos were not taken by someone else). Date: Signature of Photo Owner Parent s signature for a minor All entries, entry form, and payment must be received by May 5, 2015. Please send this form and payment to: GRRR Photo Contest Attn: Jeanie Peebles 8095 Holland Ct Arvada, CO 80005 OR, if paying on-line by credit card, fax this form to 303-940-1712 or scan it in and email to grrr.contest@gmail.com Questions? E-mail Debbie at grrr.contest@gmail.com THANK YOU! FOR OFFICE USE ONLY Digital q Snapshot q Date photos received Date paid Check number CC q Log in Date
Golden Retriever Rescue of the Rockies 15350 W. 72nd Avenue Arvada, CO 80007 hotline: 303/279-2400 info@goldenrescue.com www.goldenrescue.com Board Of Directors Marci Auston Dee Delay Beth Flambures Steve Morganfield Pat Rogers Roxanne Sabin Judi Servoss Bill Urbanowski Officers Judi Servoss President Steve Morganfield Vice President Pat Rogers Secretary Deb Kneale Treasurer Executive Director: Kevin Shipley kevin.shipley@goldenrescue.com Designed by Debbie Davis: debbie.davis@goldensrescue.com Save the Date - July 18! GRRR Gala: A Golden Salute Honoring wounded warriors and the dogs that serve them 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!) $50 year $ Please accept my additional tax deductible donation to help Goldens where needed most: $250+ Golden Champion $100 Golden Hero $50 Golden Star $ Interested in volunteering? Go to www.goldenrescue.com to fill out the volunteer application. Thanks! NAME ADDRESS CITY STATE ZIP HOME PHONE WORK PHONE E-MAIL Please mail to: Golden Retriever Rescue of the Rockies 15350 W. 72nd Ave. Arvada, CO 80007 Thank you for your support! goldenrescue.com