A Golden Retriever Can Change Your Life! Turkey Dogs in Colorado

May 2016 A registered non-profit 501(c)(3) charitable organization Golden GRRRowl A Golden Retriever Can Change Your Life! Turkey Dogs in Colorado ASPEN ASPEN by Jeannie Miller At GRRR, we help every Golden Retriever in need that we know about and can. The good news is that we consistently have more people wanting to adopt Goldens than we have available pups. Our fantastic volunteers and donors mean that we never have to, and never will, say no to a Golden in need. By now most of our membership has heard quite a bit about GRRR s Operation Turkey Dog. Operation Turkey Dog is an extension of our mission to help unwanted, abandoned and surrendered Goldens find their best forever homes. It also supports the other objective of the organization which is to advocate for the breed beyond just our region. So much has happened in the last few months! From all the planning and work behind the scenes that GRRR s executive Director, Kevin Shipley, and the people at Adopt a Golden Atlanta and Instanbul have done. To the amazing outpouring of donations and sponsorships, to the trip to California to bring the dogs on the last leg of their 6,000- mile journey from Istanbul to Phoebe s Place (see valentines-day-trip on the web site). When the dogs arrived on February 15th, there was an amazing welcome by GRRR s Mary Kenton, the other Goldens at Phoebe s Place, and many GRRR volunteers. Then there was fluffing and buffing in the spa with groomer Dee Delay and thorough checks by Dr. Carpenter. The VIP team kicked into gear to give the dogs lots of belly rubs, exercise time outside, and maybe a treat or two! Of course, the most important thing has been to find these sweet Goldens, who have been through so much, the very best forever homes possible. A home where they can feel secure, loved and cared for. We are happy to report that all of the 10 dogs who traveled so far have hit the jackpot as they say, and have been adopted. You ll read about Fraser later in this issue, but let s check in on how things are going so far for a few of our adopted Turkey Dogs Aspen Aspen was found in the streets. She was pretty scared but still put her trust in people. She has found her forever home with Marc Busley. When you read what Marc writes below, I think you ll agree that both he and Aspen have hit the jackpot. Marc writes: Having lost my lab Zen last spring after 15 years of loyal companionship, I knew it was time to put the Dog back in Boy & His Dog. I ve always known that I was destined to have a Golden in my life. With Phoebe s Place (GRRR) nearby, I decided to put in my application and hope for the best. Searching all the shelter and rescue sites daily, I started to lose hope as so few Goldens are ever available. Then I received an email from Mary asking if I would be interested in fostering a Turkey Dog A WHAT? was my first reaction. Then I read the story and my heart went out. Of course I d take care of a Turkey Dog until his/her forever home could be found. Next I received pictures of some of the motliest characters in mug shot fashion that I ve ever seen. Sweet but nervous faces wondering what was to become of them. They d be in Monday night I was told. I figured this was something I had to see. The night was windy and cold as the pups exited the large rental truck sniffing the free air. I was quite overwhelmed with seeing so many happy Golden mutts bopping in new found freedom. Most were dancing and wild so happy to be out of the kennel after the very long trip. Then I noticed one that kept looking at me. Giving me this face. Her eyes were following me, checking me out. So I checked her tag. Aspen it said. Her eyes said Human. You are mine. OK then.aspen it is. So after the hubbub subsided, I loaded this stinky bundle in my Jeep and made the short drive home. I set up her area and she woofed down her dinner. Then she came over to where I was sitting and plopped at my feet like she had always been there. Aspen confirmed that night that I was hers. No choice just the way it is. I m so thankful for all the wonderful people that offered their funds, time and hearts to bring Aspen into my world. This Turkey Dog (and GRRR) Have Changed My Life! Brush Brush was the product of a puppy mill. As for so many Goldens in Instanbul, this boy would likely have been kept at a shelter or released into the streets. Barb Kreisman generously decided to sponsor a dog. She has traveled to Turkey in the course of her work and has seen firsthand the stray dogs running the streets of Instanbul. She BARB & brush picked the name Brush to honor her father-in-law who was celebrating his 85th birthday and was born in Brush, Colorado. When she told him about it, he was so honored and he told her that there is a word in Turkish that sounds close to brush and means peace. Pretty cool! Well, Barb decided that she had to go to out to see the arrival of the dogs. When Brush came out of the van and was brought over to Barb, he just looked up at her as if to say, yes, there you are. I am here! You have been waiting for me!. Barb went home that night and could not Continued on page 2

... he just looked up at her as if to say, yes, there you are. I am here! You have been waiting for me! stop thinking about this boy from so far away. Those eyes, that face! Barb has two other Goldens Autumn, a 13-year-old,and Killi, a 6-year-old. A third Golden? Crazy right? Of course not! It took a little convincing with Barb s husband but very soon, Brush was headed to his forever home. Barb says that every day, Brush lets her know how happy he is to be with her. Barb has since seen the potential in Brush to become a therapy dog. They are in training and Brush is all business when he gets his vest on! They have even been featured on the local news! Keystone A 3-year-old Golden Retriever boy is living in the forest, foraging for food, with cold temperatures and no shelter. When he gets captured, he is taken to a very small shelter. Afraid and uncertain, he cannot know that his rescue has actually begun. In the shelter, his ability to run freely is gone. He knows nothing about trusting humans at this stage but at least food is arriving and he doesn t have to forage. But he is scared. Far away, in a place called Colorado, a group of humans who call themselves GRRR are making plans to change his life forever. A generous donor sponsors him and gives him the name Keystone. Keystone finds himself on a long journey that was very scary but filled with these humans that would speak kindly to him, give him breaks from the crate, play with him and give him good food and fresh water. When he arrives at Phoebe s Place, here are some more humans that are so happy to see him! Maybe he can think about trusting them after all! Before he knows it, Keystone is meeting two people named Brent & Angie Getchel. They re saying, do you want to go home with us? The concept of home is foreign to him but he is willing to Brent, keystone, and sophie begin to trust these two. They have another dog, Sophie. She seems happy and he thinks he might like her too. A few weeks later, Keystone has new words in his dog vocabulary. Happy Boy! Trust! I am a lap dog right? He loves to go with his new family in their RV. He gets to run and play with Sophie and see new places. All the while his new humans love him, cuddle him and keep him safe. He wants to stay with them forever. Just to make sure they know, he holds their hand often with his paw. Brent & Angie say, It s the look in his big brown eyes, his total trust, his playfulness, his curiosity of sights, sounds, smells and experiences. He has our hearts and has easily befriended our 8-year-old Golden, Sophie. We are happy together in a world that is now a safe and wonderful place! Windsor Windsor is a handsome 3-year-old boy. He had a home when he was a small pup. He tried to be a really good boy. Then his puppy cuteness started to change and he grew into that typical young Golden boy with energy and zaniness to spare. To top that off, he had a cyst on his shoulder that needed to be removed. His owners didn t want him anymore so they took him to a crowded shelter. Before Operation Turkey Dog, that would have likely been the 2 end of the line for Windsor. He would have had to stay there in a cramped cage for the rest of his life or be released onto the streets. In the shelter, they had a vet take care of the cyst. The problem was that the vet sewed the skin to a bit of muscle when closing the wound. It hurt and pulled and just wouldn t heal. WIndsor A T-shirt was put on Windsor when he arrived at Phoebe s Place. Then Mary bought him turtle necks because the wound was on his neck and he could still scratch and paw at it. He thought he looked pretty handsome! When he arrived at Phoebe s Place, the tee shirt quickly became a fun game of tug of war for Windsor and all of his new friends. Not long after he arrived, there came a lady named Terry who looked at him a little differently than most of the other humans he had encountered. Terry asked him if he wanted to come home with her and her husband, Rudy. Windsor couldn t believe it! He thought the days of having a home with his own person were gone forever but now here she was inviting him home! Well, he said OK, I ll give it a try.- Now, that he s with her, Terry says Windsor is a big play boy. He loves to play with everyone he meets and just prances around as happy as he can be. He loves his back yard and when he gets a toy, he quickly buries it so that he won t lose it. Terry thinks he ll learn that those toys are his and he won t have to bury them hopefully! Windsor has the biggest smiles and he even has smile lines on his nose and face! He wants Terry to be with him all the time. No problem Windsor!, she says. Windsor is going to have his wound fixed by Dr. Carpenter and then things will be darn near perfect! Happy Endings So, you can see that things are going well for our Turkey Dogs. Fraser, Estes, Hayden, Bailey, Tellie, and Colorado Honey have also found their forever homes. After the success of Operation Turkey Dog I, we ve decided to rescue more of these sweet dogs. The bonus is that we have worked with our US logistics contact to bring them into Denver at DIA next time. This will be so much better for everyone! An unexpected outcome has been the influx of surrendered Goldens from Colorado and the surrounding states that we ve experienced recently. The turkey dog story has been a fabulous media attention-getter. On almost every TV, radio or print media interview we ask people not to sell their dogs online. Online is great for selling a dining room table, but not a living creature. In those interviews we suggest people find a reputable rescue. Why? Because we are professional home finders for dogs. It s what we do. So maybe the increase is due to that message getting out, maybe it s a coincidence, but either way, we are thrilled to band together with 17 other Golden rescues to help these sweet dogs in Turkey. So, get ready for Operation Turkey Dog II later this year! p LAX Arrival

Recent Rescues Hi GRRR: Gunner is a wonderful addition to our family. He is happy and strives to please. He learns quickly and is very well mannered. Like any Golden, he loves the outdoors and water immensely. Every splash in a puddle, pond or pool is cause for celebration. He loves me, but is still not sure about men. He is especially worried about big guys wearing outdoor bulky clothes and hats. I have no idea what that is all about. He loves the other dogs and gets along well with all of them. Our GRRR experience was great and I have recommended looking into rescues rather than breeders or pet stores to all my friends. I have nothing but good things to say about our experience and our sweet Gunner. Gail Stencel GUNNER Dear GRRR: We adopted Rosiebud in December of last year. It was a quick exchange between her previous owner who surrendered her to GRRR just moments before we arrived at your facility. I want to let you know that Rosiebud (we call her Rosie) has brought so much joy to our family. She has such a sweet soul and it almost feels like she has been with us much longer than the short couple of months since we brought her home. She is a perfect match for my husband and me. I have attached a couple of pictures of her protecting one of her new toys. She is hard to capture on camera because when she s outside she is so active and wants to play or go for a walk. Thank you so much for bringing us together. Rosie is an awesome dog and we are so happy to have her with us. Rosie has found her forever home! Polly and Mark Boyd ROSIE Dear GRRR: Here s an update on Marco and Dexter! Both are enrolled in the Pet Therapy Program at Lutheran Hospital. Marco and Dexter bring smiles and joy to the patients, the families and the staff of the locations we visit. On our assigned days we get up bright and early, eat a healthy breakfast, put on a purple scarf (Marco s favorite apparel) and our badges, and get ready for the day ahead at either the Lutheran Hospital or Hospice. Dexter and Marco have great dispositions and they seem to bring sympathy and caring to people. We strive to make everyone s day a little brighter. The dogs already have been asked by several families to be photographed. Marco was recently asked to participate in a video advertisement for the hospital. We look forward to the spring and summer months and continuing to get out and spread cheer. We all want to thank Jaycee Chinn, a GRRR volunteer, for all her help in getting us started in the Pet Therapy program. She has been doing it for years at Lutheran Hospital with her Golden, Roxy. And thanks also to Karen Hoglund, also a GRRR volunteer and doggie photographer, who was able to capture these beautiful dogs of mine on film. Karen Martens Marco & dexter 3

Recent Rescues LILY Dear GRRR: Maggie is a dream. She is healthy and happy most of the time, however I have a four month old puppy who is putting her through her paces and testing her patience...). Maggie is my 4th rescue and my oldest and the process with you was the best. I wouldn t change a thing! Thanks! Tom Heinritze MAGGIE HALEY Dear GRRR: I thought I would share with GRRR that Haley, who was formerly Ginger, one of the mud pit farm auction dogs, turned 12 years old today. We adopted her when she was a little over 4-1/2 years old. She is doing great! Kelly Vlassis Dear GRRR: Max is doing great with his big sisters. My goldendoodle thinks we got him just for her. He s a smart boy, but when you see him it s hard to believe he isn t all lab. Jill Dear GRRR: We ve had Charlie since January 22nd and all is great! He and our Siberian husky puppy, Grizz (who is now 6 months old), are best friends. They play all day and enjoy being pampered by us. They also enjoy our hiking excursions and road trips. Thanks so much for all you do! Sincerely, Teresa MacKillop CHARLIE AND GRIZZ MAX 4 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 August, 2016 issue is July 6. Thanks!

Dear GRRR: Lalla, aka Turkey Dog Bailey, is doing really well, learning her commands and having a great time with walks and routing the squirrels from the back yard. Dan had some medical appointments in Denver yesterday, so we left her overnight with the family that has done pet care for Edgar in the past. They adored her, and she was happy and relaxed when we got home last night. What a resilient girl she is. Thanks, Lee and Dan Coveney LALLA OLIVIA AND SOPHIA Dear GRRR: Olivia (Ollie) and Sophia (Sophie), two 14-month-old litter-mate sisters went home with me on April 7. They are settling in quite nicely and it s as though they ve always lived with us! I was told they hail from New Mexico. They apparently were very well cared for and know sit, stay and lie down (sort of). They also have TERRIFIC manners and never beg at the dinner table. They really enjoy wrestling with each other for fun, chasing frisbees and flying squirrel toys in the backyard, and are loving their separate walks in the park across from our house. Mom s getting lots of much needed exercise too! They re a wonderful addition to our household and super sweet gals. Welcome to your Colorado forever home, Ollie and Sophie! Robin Strelow Hello GRRR: It s a cool, breezy Saturday morning in Kalispell, Montana. Sam and Scruff and Chip and I just got home from a nice long walk. Chip is sound asleep at my feet as I tap this out to you. Chip is a beautiful, happy, affectionate dog and we just LOVE him to bits. I have moved up to Montana ( to be nearer my aging parents) and NOBODY is happier than the dogs they love the cooler weather, the open spaces. We have a much bigger house and a nice big deck. Chip bonded right away (like I hoped he would ) with my calm, easygoing 8-year-old Golden, Samantha. They play together, they sleep side by side, and Chip looks to Sam for reassurance. They have a nice friendship. Sam and little Mr. Scruff the Maltese, on the other hand, go round and round, but they seem to have come to an understanding. Sometimes we have discussions about WHO gets WHAT toy. CHIP Chip remains on his meds (Keppra and phenobarb and thyroid Rx) and he has had very few seizures since we got him from GRRR (in November 2015). We took a trip down to Colorado Springs and saw Dr. Ray Ko, the incredible canine neurologist. Dr Ko had access to all of Chip s vet records and he has determined that Chip s seizures are NOT a result of his head injury the seizures are simply a breed-specific condition. Adopting Chip from GRRR was wonderfully easy and Chip was a delightful find for us. We LOVE what you guys at GRRR do and we thank you for all the good things you do for ALL your rescues! Much love from all of us! Annie Coe, Sam, Chip and Mr. Scruffypants SAM, CHIP AND MR SCRUFFYPANTS 5

Recent Rescues 2016 GRRR Events May 15 - Spring Fling (Phoebe s Place) June 11 - Gala (Tivoli Center) July 1-4 - Cherry Creek Arts Fest (Cherry Creek) July 8 - Calendar Photo Contest deadline... start shooting! (See next page). Calendars will first be available at the annual Picnic this year) July 30 - Buffalo Bill Days Parade (Golden) Sept 10 - Annual Rescue Reunion (Boulder Rez) Oct 23 - Halloween Party (Phoebe s Place) Nov 20 - Photos with Santa (Phoebe s Place) Izzy says... Come to the Grand Slam Spring Fling!

GRRR 2017 Calendar Photo Contest! The Golden Retriever Rescue of the Rockies 12th Annual Photo Contest is now open! Your Golden could be featured in a full page photo in the 2017 calendar! And the Grand Prize Winner will have their photo on the cover. Last year s calendar was a huge success we received over 500 entries! 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 more wide 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: contest@goldenrescue.com * VERY 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, Unit D 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 either e-mail or snail mail your entry form, or fax to 303-940-1559 Deadline for entry is July 8, 2016, so start snapping! Winners will be notified by August 15. Calendars will be available at all GRRR events starting with the Rescue Reunion Picnic, on our website, and at a few stores in Colorado. Thanks and Good Luck! Horizontal shots please! Not like this... this is vertical!

President s Letter 20th Anniversary by Judi Servoss Many of you have been following the Turkey Dog saga, and there is more about that in this issue of the newsletter. I wanted to add my two cents, thanking Kevin Shipley for orchestrating the project, and all the volunteers who helped make it happen. I have also observed that this endeavor has truly energized our volunteers, members and the community as a whole. No matter how good our cause, or how dedicated we are to serving it well, sometimes we get complacent, and it takes something new and different to re-start our engines. When the cause is as compelling as these endearing Golden Retrievers, who have suffered through no fault of their own, it can really light a fire. And it s even better that the Turkey Dogs fit right smack in the middle of our Mission Statement which highlights rescue, placement and public awareness. We are rescuing dogs who are in a bad situation, providing the rehab that they need, then placing them in safe, loving, forever homes. And while we re at it, we re making the general public more aware of the importance of rescue and the role we and other groups play. I look forward to seeing what the future holds for more exciting, important work. BLAST FROM THE PAST In the last issue, in honor of our 20th Anniversary, we ran a story from our old newsletters. Here is another excerpt of an article we hope you ll enjoy. Celebrating Another Very Special Breed Linda Hartman, August 2004 Without a doubt, we believe that the Golden Retriever is the very best dog breed in the world. With each issue of the Golden GRRRowl we celebrate these marvelous friends and the joy they bring into our lives. They fill our homes with love and laughter and share some of life s greatest pleasures with us. But there s another very special breed we would like to honor in this issue. This incredible breed has many of the same wonderful attributes of Golden Retrievers. No, we re not talking about another dog breed. We re talking about that very special breed of humans who open their hearts and homes to sick, recovering, abused, neglected, elderly and often times terminal Goldens in need. They are GRRR s Special Needs Foster Families. Our Special Needs Fosters work quietly behind the scenes, never seeking attention and never expecting recognition. They work tirelessly for our beloved Goldens and although they will rarely admit it, the work is intense, challenging and often heartbreaking. Bob Jorgensen and Debbie Kneale have been phenomenal fosters and adoption support for GRRR and they have also adopted four Goldens: Moose, Merlin, Lucky and Oliver. Their list of special needs fosters is long and incredible, including many Goldens with very special medical needs. They never hesitate to welcome a sick, injured or traumatized Golden regardless of the challenges they will face. Bob and Debbie show unconditional love for each and every Golden in their care. There was Red, Max, Stosh, Allie, Clifford, Riley, Bailey, Sara, Lilly, Rocky, and more! Bob and Debbie epitomize the love, kindness and caring of our Special Needs Foster Families who give so much to these Goldens in need. Susan and Gary Downing also belong to this breed of Special Needs Foster families. Susan and Gary have fostered Bubba, Cayenne, Ted E. Bear and BJ all special needs Goldens requiring lots of love, care and understanding. Very dear to their hearts was Buckley, a sweet Golden boy with an unbelievably awful past who they eventually adopted to spend the rest of his days being loved and spoiled by his adoring family. What an incredible gift they gave Buckley the gift of a home, a family and love. Sam French, a very special foster mom, has shown many senior Goldens a wonderful life where there is good food, constant care and attention, play, and most importantly love. Sam adopted Clifford, who had severe seizures, fostered Toby #1 and Toby #2, both with cancer, Sophie, Sam, Haley and Toby #3 who had been neglected by their owners. Finally because of Sam, they get to enjoy the type of life they deserved all along. With each loss, Sam s heart breaks, but she is always there for another Special Needs Golden, ready to give again. What an extraordinary breed these Special Needs Foster Families are, as well as all of our other wonderful fosters. It takes a big heart, tireless effort, and never-ending compassion to do what these individuals do. We thank you from the bottom of our heart. Your efforts, dedication, care and commitment are greatly appreciated by all of us, especially the Goldens who have been in your care! 8 Executive Director Report by Kevin Shipley We are certainly not short on activity at GRRR. Turkey dogs I and II, 20th Anniversary Gala planning, Spring Fling coming up May 15th, and facility maintenance for Spring, in between snowfalls. In the meantime, we continue to never say no to a Golden Retriever in need. Over the last few weeks, we ve actually experienced an increase in the number of Goldens we are taking in. Not a huge increase, but noticeable. Our extra publicity, due to the Turkey Dog rescue, has created greater awareness of who we are and what we do. In addition, on each TV or radio interview we stress to people that they should surrender their dog to a reputable rescue instead of selling dogs on Craigslist. You, as GRRR folks, have been great at continuing to share who we are and what we do with your friends and family. All of this is important as it provides us an opportunity to educate, attract additional Goldens to GRRR and ultimately place more dogs in great forever homes where they are loved and cared for. At the end of the day, we are all in it for the dogs and we all want what s best for them. p

Operation Turkey Dog II by Kevin Shipley Yes, ladies and gents, you heard correctly. After the great success of our first group of Istanbul Goldens (aka: Turkey Dogs), we are excited to rescue more purebred Golden Retrievers from the poor conditions in Turkey. We continue to never say no to a Golden in need and, in fact, we had 6 Goldens surrendered to us two days before our Turkey dogs arrived. You should also know that all donations made for the rescue of the Turkey dogs stays totally separate from the rest of the GRRR income. The Turkey Dog rescue effort is self-sustaining. Medically speaking, we were delightfully surprised that, on average, our Goldens from Istanbul were healthier than the majority of the other dogs we take in. This helps them to be adopted more quickly. As we continue to have a long waiting list of adopters for our dogs, Turkish and otherwise, they are finding great forever homes. It is remarkable to see all these happy, goofy dogs go to their forever homes. If you haven t been following the Turkey Dog story, you can find more details, including all the radio and TV interviews, on our website under the Turkey Dog link. If you would like to participate, there are several ways to help. You can sponsor a Turkey Dog (not adopt, just sponsor). Sponsors pay $1000, get to name the Golden and will be invited to DIA to be there when the dogs arrive. You can also donate and/or show your support by buying a GRRR Operation Turkey Dog II T-shirt. This is a very worthwhile endeavor as we continue to rescue Goldens in our region and now, rescue these beautiful dogs from a terrible situation. Follow the story on Facebook and the website. p Keystone, now living a rough Colorado life GRRR Speaking at Civic Organizations by Kevin Shipley On March 30th, GRRR had the opportunity to present to a full house of the Kiwanis Club of Columbine. Russ and Cathy Jones joined in with their GRRR dogs, Brodie and Louise. We had a chance to talk about GRRR in general and about the Turkey Dog project that several had spotted on TV. In fact, it was the Turkey Dog story in the news that brought them to GRRR. The program was followed by some great Q&A and it gave us a chance to talk about rescues as the best option for people wanting to surrender a dog. 70% of our dogs come from owner surrenders. Advocating for the breed is a big part of our mission so we love educating folks about not putting their dog on Craigslist, but rather seek out a reputable rescue. We are, after-all, professional home finders for dogs. Also discussed was weight management (dogs, not people), general health care, and best practices in your daily routine with your dog. A biggie is helping your dog in and out of the car. When they jump out of your SUV, which is what most want to do, it causes increased wear and tear on their front joints (shoulders and elbows). The major causes of hip and elbow surgeries are 1) overweight dogs and 2) excessive wear and tear on joints. If you are part of Kiwanis, Optimists, Rotary, Lyons etc., we would love to speak at one of your programs. Just contact me: kevin.shipley@goldenrescue.com Thank you. p Brodie and Louise with Ruthann MooMey, Cathy Jones, Kevin Shipley, and Russ Jones. 9

Golden Angel - Fraser by Jeannie Miller Generous donors make what GRRR does for our beloved Goldens possible. When you decide to donate to our Angel Fund, you are saying yes, we must be able to give our special needs Goldens the care they need and deserve. It is one of the things that enables us to never say no to a Golden in need. Fraser is one of our Turkey Dogs but he is also a Golden Angel because he came to us with some significant medical issues. Fraser was rescued from a very crowded shelter. He, like many Goldens in Istanbul, was probably the product of a puppy mill and was unwanted once he started to lose his puppy cuteness and became an energetic Golden-teenager. He was likely dumped in the streets and then brought to the shelter. The shelters in Turkey are very crowded and hygiene conditions are often not too good. The dogs do not get much attention or exercise. They do get some veterinary care. In most cases no one adopts adult dogs so they spend their days in these conditions until their time comes. Fraser, a beautiful 5-year old blonde-colored and medium-sized boy, was fortunate to be sponsored by Affordable Housing Support Services so he could come to GRRR. He has a gentle nature and loves people and other dogs. The transport team was amazed at his ability to sense when they were just about to stop for a break on the big road trip to give the pups a break, water and a bit of exercise. Fraser would sound the alarm as if to say, get ready everyone, we are stopping!. Once here, we realized that this cute, funny boy had some serious problems. Dr. Bill Holcomb noticed his elbows were sore on the ride back here from Califorinia. Mary Kenton also noticed that he seemed to be in pain when he walked. Then, as he was getting a soothing bath from Dee Delay, she noticed a big mass of bumps and sores on his hip. She also saw that his seemed very sore as he moved about. Worrying that the mass could be cancerous and that he might have an injury of some sort, the next stop was to see Dr. Carpenter and the team at Arvada West Veterinary Hospital. The initial examination found that Fraser had several teeth that were worn down to the pulp, exposing nerves and causing him severe pain. The masses on his hip were biopsied and analyzed in the lab. The lab analysis showed that the masses were caused by a pox virus infection. These infections can be caused by contact with rodents which carry the virus. The masses can be removed and the area treated with no lasting effects in most cases. What a relief! The examination of Fraser s legs showed potential for an injury to be present. A further appointment was scheduled to remove the painful teeth and the masses. X-rays would also be done on his legs to assess that situation. FRASER Fraser s surgery went well and the xrays showed the presence of old injuries and some arthritis in his elbows which explains the pain he feels. Dr. Carpenter feels that treatment with Rimadyl will really help to reduce the pain. Fraser is feeling and looking much better these days. His sweet and funny personality is coming out more and more. He is the first one in the morning to rush Mary to get breakfast ready. He loves playing with the other dogs. When the VIP team gets him out for some exercise and sunshine, they can t help but notice how he lifts his head, takes a big whiff and closes his eyes as if to say Colorado is the best place on earth! He loves to investigate all of the smells around the trails and streets near Phoebe s Place. We thought that Fraser had found his forever home with some people who live part time in the mountains and do a lot of winter activities in deep snow. He was up for it but Dr. Carpenter felt that he would push himself too much as a 5-year old and then pay for it with more pain as he aged. But good news, Fraser was recently adopted by one of our volunteer VIP dog walkers! Thanks to all of your generous donations to the Angel Fund, we are able to provide the veterinary care that Fraser desperately needed for so long. p 10 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, Golden, CO 80007 (make your check payable to GRRR with Golden Angel Fund in the memo portion). Or donate on-line at http://goldenrescue.com/golden-angel-fund/ Thank you!

Golden Angel - Brewster by Linda Hartman At GRRR we always say our Golden Angels are special and now that we ve met Brewster, we can t help but describe him as Extra Special! There are many reasons dashingly handsome and lovable Brewster is one of the most endearing and deserving Goldens we ve ever had the privilege of helping. He is a very resilient fellow who has experienced so much in his life love, tragic loss, bravery and the help of true heroes. He came to GRRR for a second chance at having a great life. We ve promised to do everything we can to help him. Brewster is looking to you, the wonderful supporters of the Golden Angel Fund, to help him realize his dream of living the healthy, happy life he is so deserving of. He has quite a story to share with you. Hello everyone at GRRR! My name is Brewster and I m 7 years old. I had a loving home and family until recently. I lived with my wonderful human who loved me dearly, and she was everything in the world to me. We were constant companions. But our lives suddenly changed one night a few months ago. That night I went to sleep in my usual spot in the house just like I always did. Suddenly I awoke surrounded by dense smoke. It was so thick I couldn t breathe or see. I must have been in shock because even though I managed to get out of the house, I don t remember how I did it. Once I was outside I saw bright flashing lights and firemen running everywhere with hoses. I frantically searched for my mom but couldn t find her reassuring face anywhere. By the time I realized she must still be inside, flames were engulfing the house. I tried and tried to get back in to find her, but the firemen kept stopping me. I was so confused and scared. Now I know these heroes were actually trying to save my life. A kind neighbor came over and offered to take me to safety in his back yard while the firemen continued to fight the fire. It was the worst night of my life as I watched my home burn and couldn t help my very special person. Sadly she did not survive and I ve been so lost and sad without her. Her son came right away to take me to live with him, but with his hectic work schedule he wasn t able to spend as much time with me as he wanted to. I must admit it got very lonely for me sometimes. He worried that I needed more companionship in my life. When he heard about GRRR and how they help Goldens in need, he decided to contact them and find out more. Even though they reassured him I would get the very best care and find a wonderful new home, it was an agonizing decision for him to BREWSTER surrender me. Not only did he love me, I was a huge connection to the dear mother he had lost. After several conversations with GRRR and taking some time to think it over, he decided to ask for GRRR s help. It was very hard for both of us when we said our goodbyes, but he truly loved me and wanted the best for me. The folks at GRRR have been wonderful and kind. I was confused and anxious the first few days, but being with so many nice people and playing with the other dogs at Phoebe s Place really helped lift my spirits. All the fun toys helped a lot too. I m quite overweight, and the volunteers have taken me for slow, gentle walks to help reduce stress on my knees. I ve made many new friends and everyone seems to love me. I know my mom would be so happy for me. Recently a wonderful foster, Cindy Roark, invited me to come stay at her home. Right after I moved in with Cindy, she noticed I was limping. A visit to Dr. Carpenter at Arvada West Veterinary Hospital revealed the knee ligaments in both of my back legs have torn. It was something that had been coming on slowly over time, probably from my weight. Just when things were looking up for me, I now have another big hurdle to face. Without the surgeries I will have great difficulty getting around and will be in constant pain. Through your donations to the Golden Angel Fund, it will be possible for me to have my knees repaired. It will require two separate surgeries and recovery periods. Eventually I will be able to run and play and be a happy tail-wagging Golden once more. I ve been told the fund is supported by amazing donors who love Goldens and want to see all of us go on to live healthy and pain-free lives. Your kind donations will mean a wonderful new beginning for me. More than anything in the world, I would love to be with my very own new family when I have my surgeries (paid for by the Golden Angel Fund). I will need some extra love and care during my recoveries. I just know there s someone very special out there reading this who will want to open their heart and home to me. I can t wait to meet you! How can I ever thank ALL my amazing heroes the generous donors, the dedicated volunteers and the brave firemen? I know what I ll do! I will show my gratitude by loving my new family with all my heart and make them smile every single day. After all, that s what Goldens do best. :) Many wags and woofs, Brewster p 11

Golden Angel Updates COWBOY by Mary Kenton Thanks to the Golden Angel Fund and a tons of love from many people, Cowboy has a wonderful happily-ever-after story to tell. His health and life have improved so much! He came to GRRR with severe dental issues from a life of being neglected. Now, after having 20 of his 42 teeth removed and receiving much needed antibiotics and pain medications, he s a brand new boy. He has completely recovered from his dental work and continues to work on his weight with diet and easy exercise. Cowboy won my heart the day he arrived at Phoebe s Place, but my affection for him grew and grew the longer he stayed. On Valentines Day we decided Cowboy would stay here with us forever. He loves it here and we love him! Cowboy gets along great with everyone and is partial to the younger female dogs. He lets me know every meal how hungry he is by barking and dancing to get fed. Cowboy s excitement when you come into the house, even if it was just a trip outside, is overwhelming like you were gone for days. He greets you with his best happy dance and welcome home bark. He brightens everyone s day with his enthusiasm and joy for life, and after his past life of neglect he deserves to have every single day be a happy Golden day! Considering all of the teeth he lost from the dental disease, he can eat like a champ and is always busy making sure that everyone finished every last kibble in their bowls. Smiles abound at Phoebe s place with Cowboy in the midst of everything. He s a true gem! I still don t understand how this kind, sweetheart of a boy ended up as a stray, but I m so grateful he came to GRRR and I think he is too. Thank you to all who have donated to the Golden Angel Fund that gave Cowboy and other Goldens like him a new chance at a wonderful life. p COWBOY WINK by John & Lori Lannholm We adopted Wink after losing our beloved Golden over a year ago. We were not sure if we could ever love another dog as much. When we brought Wink home, he was such a dear. He took to the orthopedic bed right away. He was so happy and sweet that we could not tell that his life had been so hard up to now. He had a painful tumor in his left eye for many years. It was finally taken care of once he was rescued by GRRR. We are so thankful for the donations to the Golden Angel Fund which allowed for the surgery and care by the vet. His eye had to be removed but you would never know that he has limited eyesight. In fact, he sees very well. He loves to lay in the backyard and watch the squirrels. One of the squirrels has come very close to Wink to within a few feet. It s as if the squirrel knows that Wink would never hurt them. We go on walks daily to get his weight under control. When he was picked up as a stray back in December, he weighed 120+ lbs. Recently we took him to our vet and he is down to 92lbs! You can now feel his bones and he also prances as he walks along with that infectious smile. We chose to adopt Wink after seeing his bio online. We were up for the challenge to work with him on losing weight. And what better partner to have to help us lose weight too! Wink s vet said that we get an A+ for being good dog owners to help him to be happy and healthy. Since Wink has lost weight he no longer needs to use the ramp we purchased to get into the car. When we walk at the park, people will stop to pet Wink and say how good he is and also comment on his good looks. He has met many other dogs at the park and picks up the pace when he sees another dog so he can meet them. He is constantly at my side and never strays. We WINK recently found out that he does not like thunder and lightning. We comforted him by holding him close to us and letting him know that he is safe and we would never let anything bad happen to him. Wink s groomer loves to see him and says that he is happy, happy! As they are grooming him, Wink looks up at her and her helper as if he is just so happy to see them. He wags his tail and smiles the whole time. We recently purchased a new orthopedic bed for Wink and added his name on it. We can t wait to go camping this summer and Wink will be with us all the time. He will be able to find new smells along the way. We would like to thank GRRR for letting us adopt this sweet boy. We fell in love with his smile when we first saw it in his bio on line and we are so grateful now to have him in our lives. p 12

Donations in In Memory or in Honor All Schools Apparel in memory of Chris Reale Caren Baldini in memory of Rob Galvin Loretta Charron in memory of Sonny Charron Cori Couture in memory of Toby dog Dartmouth College Class of 1986, in loving memory of Robert Galvin Karen and Michael Delicate in memory of Kasey Norris & Deanna DeLucero in honor of Kurt DeLucero Becky Escamilla in memory of Joyce Lowry Michael Feigenbaum in honor of Judi Tippetts Henry J Goetze in memory of Steamboat Smith Mary and Donald Graf in memory of Rob Galvin Irene Gomez in memory of Frederick Gerty Deborah L. Gorden in memory of Chris Reale James and Laurie Haszard, in honor of their aunt and uncle, Carl & Margie Badensteiner s rescued Golden, Diego. Robb Horen in memory of Rob Galvin Marilyn House in honor of Windsor from Turkey Russell and Catherine Jones, in memory of Mogley. We have learned of the recent death of Mogley, beloved GRRR Golden of Tory and Marilyn Brown. We knew Mogley only through the blog he wrote regularly for a few years (with Tory s creative assistance) after the Browns adopted him from GRRR. A young dog when he came to our Rescue, everyone knew he had a very serious heart condition, but he far outlived medical expectations, and oh-what-a-happy life he lived. And, in living his life with such joy, and in fostering so many GRRR dogs, Mogley and his family brought joy to so many. Sarah Katherman in memory of Jane Katherman Craig Kentner in memory of Rob Galvin Mary Kenton in honor of Ayda Gwen Klara in memory of Cookie Klara Kimberly Koch in honor of Riley Barbara Kreisman in honor of Neil McLagan Barbara Kreisman in honor of Evelyn McLagen Peter and Nancy Lynch in memory of Chelsey Morganfield Terri Mann, in honor of Lucas, her sister Janice s Golden Angel. Margaret McCallen in honor of Laurie Nesbitt Dara Miller, who sponsored a Turkey Dog in memory of Truman. He was a wonderful dog and this is a wonderful way for my to help someone else know the joy of sharing life with a Golden Retriever! M. Mock in memory of Astro Susan Martel in memory of sweet, precious Chelsey Morganfield John R Oltman Private Foundation in memory of Rob Galvin Linda O Neal in honor of Buck & Emma Ray D. Penner in memory of Chris Reale Pam Peternell in memory of Rob Galvin Judy & Jim Progen in memory of Rob Galvin Donna Prybyl in memory of Rob Galvin Allison Rainey in honor or Katie Ingram Mark Rapp in memory of Whitney Rheonix, Inc., Purchasing Dept. in memory of Rob Galvin Christina Smith in memory of Chris Reale Deborah Shpall in memory of Robert Galvin Jeanette Schulze in memory of Rob Galvin Anthony & Peggy Sciotto in memory of Rob Galvin Peggy A Sciumbato in honor of Fraser Christopher Smith in memory of Rob Galvin Sally Towns in memory of Digger Karen Weber in memory of Rob Galvin Dianna Witherspoon in memory of Skye Yvette Woodworth in memory of Hogan Please Don t Shave Your Golden! by Mary Kenton Often we hear about people shaving their Golden Retrievers to give them relief from the heat in summer. Perhaps you are considering or just curious about whether it is a good idea. We can tell you in a word NO! Information is out there, but to help you sift through it and save you some time, here are the basic reasons you NEVER want to shave a Golden Retriever. Our beautiful Golden Retriever s coats are made up of guard hair on top and soft, fine under coat. Mother Nature designed it this way to protect them from cold & heat and to repel water, burrs, etc. Shaving them exposes their skin to the sun bringing more heat into their bodies. This makes it harder for them to cool down because they don t sweat through their skin, but through their pads/feet. And they cool themselves down by panting. The more skin exposed to the sun means more heat, more work for them to cool down. Exposure to the sun and harmful UV rays can cause sunburn and increases the risk of cancer. Once shaved, their coat tries to recover and it develops a thick soft fur that does not protect them as well from the sun and no longer effectively repels water, bugs, dirt and burrs. This fur does not dry like their original fur and can lead to itchy, sore hot spots from the moisture and bacteria. A Golden coat is naturally designed to protect them from all weather cold, heat and wet. When they are shaved, it has taken away their natural protection which puts their health at risk. This starts a vicious cycle. When their coat grows in for winter it will come in thicker and finer, which is actually just the fuzzy coat that tried to protect the skin that was exposed when she or he was shaved. The guard hairs never fully recover. That thicker and softer hair is easily damaged and will become matted. Then in the spring the owner will likely shave their Golden again and hence the cycle begins all over again. Most reputable groomers will refuse to shave a Golden as they understand that their coats are not meant to be compromised by shaving them. They have likely seen the effects with some Goldens suffering from alopecia (bald spots), heat stroke, and/or several forms of skin cancer. Goldens are born with beautiful coats for many reasons other than keeping them warm. Please do not shave them to give yourself a false sense that they will be cooler in the summer heat. They won t be. Shaving them could do a lot more harm than good. Regularly bathe and brush them. They will thank you with lots of smiles and kisses! p 13

In Memory BRYCE Bryce (previous name of Slick ) rescued me on May 22, 2010. It was a warm, sunny Saturday when I went to GRRR in Golden to just visit with the dogs. My good friend Barbara accompanied me. Bryce was the first dog Mary Kenton introduced me to and it was love at first sight for the both of us. He gave me his big old Golden lean after our walk and I knew he was going to change my life! And so he did. Bryce lived with me for almost six years. He was a gentle, loving soul and respected both of my cats and especially liked my Tortie cat Maddie and would lick her ears every day. He loved his daily walks and romps in the ball fields across from where we lived. He just couldn t wait for me to toss those tennis balls! After having him for about a year, taking him to Canine Good Citizenship classes and working with my trainer Brian, we BRYCE polished down some rough edges and went through training with Boulder County Therapy Dogs, a fantastic program where dogs and their owners visit with patients, families, and staff members at various hospitals throughout Boulder County. Bryce passed this training with flying colors and we were soon visiting every other Saturday morning at Longmont United Hospital. Bryce LOVED his job and took it very seriously. He brought joy and comfort to all he met and interacted with there. What a perfect fit! Bryce enjoyed everything in life; his daycare visits and occasional stays at Uptown Dog, visits with his Grandpa and extended family, especially his young boy cousin Paul who was energetic enough to actually wear him out! He loved parties, barbecues, swims in lakes and mountain streams, trips to the mountains, road trips, and he even got to go to a big family reunion in Minnesota (he was the only dog there!). Bryce passed after a short bout with a very aggressive form of cancer. We made the choice to let him go on March 3, 2016 at Colorado State University s Veterinary Teaching Hospital. That boy was ALWAYS smiling and happy and it was contagious! He made the world around him light up with joy. Our house seems so empty now. Sometimes I swear I can hear him walking across a floor or lying down somewhere comfy. We miss you so very much, sweet boy Bryce. You will always live on in so many of our hearts. Especially mine. Love, Your mom Robin Strelow and your kitty siblings Maddie and Ju Ju Bee JOSIE It is with big and heavy hearts we let you know that our wonderful, beautiful, and always comical girl, Josie, left us on Christmas Eve unexpectedly. Josie (formerly Beauty when we got her) was such an outgoing, goofy friend ever since we adopted her at age 6 from GRRR. She had quite a first day with us! We flew all the way from Chicago to adopt her and then got right in the car to drive cross country to her new home. What a trip it must have been for her! She was given up to GRRR two days before we saw her, spayed the next day, and then on her first big road trip right after! We knew when we first saw her running around keeping up with the other big boy dogs she was something special. We were so happy to teach her how to swim and enjoy the outdoors. She recently had another big move up to Seattle where she couldn t get enough of the water and hiking fun. Always one to be a sneaker and steal a big plate of turkey or bread when our backs were turned, she never disappointed us during the daily morning snuggles in bed. Josie was a strong sassy lady and we loved every part of her. We just want to thank you all at GRRR for providing such a wonderful service. It means a great deal to a lot of dog-loving crazy people like us. Thank you so much, Mike and Anne Enright JOSIE JONAS My wife Gina and I adopted Jonas 2-1/2 years ago. He was between the age of six and seven and took to us like he had been with us for all of his previous years. Unfortunately, we lost him way too early. He developed a brain tumor at only 8-1/2 years old. This was very unexpected because our last Golden, Max, lived to the age of 17! We developed a huge bond in such a short time with Jonas, and we know we gave him the best two and a half years of his life. My wife Gina and I are always going to adopt the great oldie Goldie s and give them the best time for as long as we can. Thank you to everybody at the Golden Retriever Rescue! We have recently adopted a seven/eight year old Golden named Boss, and he is going great! Thanks again to GRRR. Anthony & Gina Delilli 14 JONAS

In Memory TRUMAN One of the saddest days of my life came on March 15, 2016 when I had to put down my beloved GRRR dog, Truman, who was battling hemangiosarcoma. His vet, two vet techs, two receptionists and I were all in tears, but it was our love of him that led us to that decision. He touched many, many lives. After his passing, I received 6 floral tributes, many e-mails and phone calls, as well as 8 sympathy cards - one of them containing messages from 22 neighbor families, and another containing messages from every veterinarian and employee at his clinic. Truman was loved by so many! My first experience with Truman was at Sage Valley Kennel in Golden where GRRR, in 2009, had operating space. He came out of the front door, pulling the leash held by Mary Kenton (which he managed to wrestle from her hand). He flew to my open SUV, jumped in the rear end, sat down, and looked at me with TRUMAN a Let s get this show on the road! look to his body language. The first thing I said was He s beautiful! and he became more beautiful when I knew his gentle, loving, friendly, happy personality. Truman loved everyone he met and was always surprised if people who weren t dog people ignored him. That happened very infrequently. I wish I had trained him as a therapy dog as he would have made a great nursing home visitor. He was completely unbothered by our neighbor s wheel chair and always trotted right over for a good head scratch. Truman s favorite time of every day was walk time. He looked forward to seeing anyone and everyone who happened to be outside some neighbors coming outside just to say hello and pet Truman when we walked by. He seriously missed his pals when we moved to a new neighborhood last summer, but in no time at all he had a whole group of new friends. I am forever grateful to GRRR for bringing us together, especially to Mary Kenton, Sandra Rector (who rescued Truman from a truck stop in Cheyenne, cut paw and all), the late Ron Mayo (who fostered Truman for a time), and all the GRRR supporters who allow GRRR s mission to continue. Truman will be forever loved and missed, but your efforts allowed me and many others to share his life. Thank you! Dara Miller, Grand Junction, CO Mogley G. Retriever, 2007-2016 Mogley is truly a GRRR miracle. On Saturday, July 7, 2007, Mary, at Golden Retriever Rescue of the Rockies (GRRR) turned over Mogley, a 6 month old Golden Retriever, for us to foster. They told us not to get too attached to him, because of his heart condition, he would not live much longer than 18 months. We are happy to say that they missed the prediction by 8 years. Mogley was with us for 9 years only because of the efforts of Golden Retriever Rescue of the Rockies (GRRR). 6 month old Mogley was being put down because of his heart condition. Mogley was a small, scared puppy on a stainless steel table with a needle in his leg, he needed a miracle, and he needed it fast. GRRR was called, they stepped in and took him under their protection and care. They truly saved his life, they gave him his miracle. He would have never known the joy of a walk in the park or a hike in the mountains or a swim in a lake. Without GRRR Mogley would have never known the life of joy that being a dog can bring. He would never have hosted over 100 foster dogs into his home and he would never have written his blog. We did not follow the cautions we received, instead we became very attached to him and he has been the center of our lives for the last 9 years. We did not follow the care instructions which were to baby him, not let him run and put no strain on his heart. We did not choose to give him a safe life, we decided to give him a happy life and let his heart dictate how much exercise he could do. We swam, ran, chased balls, squirrels, rabbits and ducks. We ran in the woods and played hard in the dog parks. We jogged and exercised his heart to build it up. When the swimming pool was open he would swim 3 or 4 hours a day. He responded by giving us 9 years of happiness and joy. Mogley was our first temporary foster Golden Retriever. He was host to over 100 rescue dogs that passed through our home and hearts as we rescued, MOGLEY evaluated, trained and adopted out so many wonderful and beautiful Golden Retrievers. None made the impression that he did on us and our friends. We will miss him greatly. Thank you GRRR for making it all possible and for being there when a small scared puppy needed a miracle. You made that miracle happen for him and for many more dogs each year. Tory & Marilyn Brown Back issues of Mogley s blog: http://mogley-adogslife.blogspot.com Naming Tribute Fluffy, by Susan Conley: I spent a week fly fishing with Fluffy and her human, Amanda Willshire. Fluffy was a wonderful playmate, companion, and fisher dog. She will be missed. 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. FLUFFY 15

GRRR Spring Fling: Grand Slam! Sunday, May 15 new time:1-4 pm Phoebe s Place - 15350 W. 72nd Ave, Arvada 20th Anniversary Spring Fling party for all GRRR members, volunteers, and dogs! Merchandise for sale Raffle Baskets to win! Grand Slam tennis ball retrieving game at 2:30 Dogs playing in new grass yard Potluck - please bring something to share. If in doubt, bring side dish, not dessert. Hot dogs provided by GRRR. Drinks provided. Sorry, no small breed dogs (for their safety). Wine & Craft Beer Donations Needed We will be collecting bottles of wine AND craft beer again this year for the Virtual Wine Cellar / Virtual Beer Garden at the Gala. Please bring wine ($25+ value) or Craft Beer to the Spring Fling. If you are unable to attend spring fling and would like to contribute, please contact: Laura Zlogar at 303 929-3168 or wilson480@msn.com THANKS! Please check website for any weather cancellations: goldenrescue.com Hope to see you all there!

A Day in a Dog s Life at Phoebe s Place Hi, I ll introduce myself at the tail end of this article. I have heard that many of you wonder what it s like for us out here at GRRR. I thought it might help if you hear about what goes on here at Phoebe s Place straight from the dog s mouth! Well let me tell you, we have it pretty grrreat! For starters, everyone that we see here seems to love us! Smiles, kind voices, soft touches, belly rubs, brushing, walks, and of course, good food and a few treats every day! A typical day here goes kind of like this. We all sleep in Who belongs this tail? the house with Grandma Mary. We can sleep on the bed, under the bed, beside the bed, on the couch, the recliner wherever we want it s up to us.and, we do this part very well! If the bed is too crowded, Stella (the Queen) will bark. Then we all fly off the bed to the back door to see what s happening, and when we return, Stella has re-positioned herself less room for us.so we have to make it work. We occasionally have some Party K-9 s who will be playing till the wee hours of the morning. When Mary gets up after one of these all-nighters she can sometimes see the destruction - they get into the trash and empty it, find the roll of paper towels and shred them or even run all over the house with the bathroom tissue! We get up at well, we get up when we want to. Carole (Tuesday thru Saturday) and Justin (Sunday & Monday) arrive to take care of our runs in the kennel and grounds-keeping/plants, etc. anywhere from 6:30am to 8:30am and they are finished with the kennel part by about 9:30. Carole or Justin will then come over to the house for us and walk us individually to the kennel and put us into our runs. Some of us are in need of some help, so Carole might work on Loose- Leash-Walking, or Coming-When-Called on the way to the kennel. We are excited

to get to our runs because Mary has been working on preparing our breakie (breakfast) and Carole or Justin will bring it to us in the kennel. Our VIP (Volunteer Interaction Program) Participants arrive from 10am on and, depending on who comes that day, we may go for a walk, we may run around WOOF, someone may take us to the Adoption Yard (providing it s not in use and no showings are scheduled) and brush us, whatever they have time for we re up for it! We could have one Volunteer or five Volunteers in a day we are happy to see everyone who comes at any time of the day. Sometimes Kevin will take one of us into The Hut (aka-the Office) and that K-9 will hang out with him for a while and play Admin Assistant and official Visitor Schmoozer! Throughout the day, Mary and Carole check on us, and, if we haven t been out for some time, they open the guillotine door and we get to go to the outside section of our run for a while to take care of business, catch some rays and count bunnies! The Run Card on our kennel, as well as the board, tells our VIP Participants if we have any Special Requests. This may include: Slow, Easy Walks (for our Seniors), No Off-Leash (for our potential escape artists/or one of us who is over-weight), No Running or Retrieving (would cover our overweight crowd - as they could blow out a knee, as well as any recently neutered or spayed friends). If we have no restrictions, we can retrieve ½ a dozen to 8 times none of us need to be run hard even the overstimulated, excited ones! We are all very smart and observant. We study our environment and watch our Volunteers. Many of us know when the snap isn t put on our run gate. We will flip the fork latch and let ourselves out and then we will go along and let some of our friends out too - this means party time in the kennel! There s lots of fun stuff in there! For some reason Carole doesn t seem to think it is a great thing though! In the early evening, we all get to run the property with our pals from the kennel as well as the house K9 s. Louie is always up for a game of chase or rough-and-tumble. We play with each other, we play with toys and we get up to mischief some times. Then we settle down for Dinner. During the summer, PawBenders are always readily available! If we have a Dog Aggressive friend, he/she gets to go in the house and play in and around the house, retrieve with Mary, get brushed lots of interaction they don t miss out on fun. Sometimes a dog-aggressive dog will interact/play with one of us it just depends. Occasionally, you may see one of us here for a long period of time - this only means that the search is on to accommodate our special needs...and believe me, there s someone out there for every one of us. We just have to be patient because we know that they ll come along...in the meantime we re having a blast here! This is our house.we make the rules up as we go!

We all visit our Veterinarian, Dr. Carpenter, where we are given a good check-up and our medical needs are evaluated. If we have lumps and bumps they are removed, necessary surgeries are scheduled and we are brought up to date on our shots. If we have a potential adopter that owns a cat - we go down to the Vet s office for a Cat- Scan with Juliette who faces off with us and struts her stuff...i think she has more than 9 lives! Dee is here on Sundays and Mondays. She takes care of all of our grooming needs. We all get a bath and trimmed up and looking our best! Leslie (at Dr. Carpenter s Office, a Volunteer for us and a founder member of Safe Harbor Lab Rescue) takes our photographs once we have been groomed, evaluated and are ready for adoption. While we are partying, playing and running through the house with Mary s slippers, the search is on. Mary and Roberta are scrutinizing Adopter Application Forms to find our perfect match. When they do, we will be in our forever home where we will be loved and content. I think some of you might feel sorry for us please don t. We re in the best, safest place, where we are loved 24/7 till our forever home is found. In some cases, this has been the best experience of our life thus far, and will only get better when we go home with our new family. We love you all and thank you for all you do for us - your payback is our unconditional love. Who am I? My name is Mattie Lemick and I am 13 years old. A number of years ago, I too, was in need of help. Where did I go for that help? GRRR of course where no Golden is turned away. I was adopted by my Mom Terri - she s wonderful and I love her dearly. I too have Special Needs. I am thunder-shy. At this time of the year, if we are expecting a thunder storm, you will see me in run #7 a couple of times a week, or hanging out with my favorite Aunt (Carole), or on a drive with Mary. Mom drops me off on her way to work and picks me up once she s done. If Mom weren t able to do this, she wouldn t be able to keep me as I would destroy the house (I have done this before I admit). Well, that s it. I hope I have helped you understand in a bit more detail... A Day in a Dog s Life at Phoebe s Place. Love to you all... keep on wagging! Mattie Lemick/Carole McMurry

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 Dianne Degroff Beth Flambures Mary Kenton Steve Morganfield Pat Rogers Roxanne Sabin Judi Servoss Bill Urbanowski Yvette Woodworth Officers Judi Servoss President Marci Auston Vice President Pat Rogers Secretary Beth Flambures Treasurer Executive Director: Kevin Shipley kevin.shipley@goldenrescue.com Designed by Debbie Stratton Davis: debbie.davis@goldenrescue.com Edited by Jean Miller: jeanniebeer@gmail.com Find us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/grrrrescue Spring Fling - May 15! Wine & Craft Beer Donations Needed We will be collecting bottles of wine AND craft beer again this year for the Virtual Wine Cellar / Virtual Beer Garden at the Gala. Please bring wine ($25+ value) or Craft Beer donations to the Spring Fling. Anyone donating wine or beer will receive 6 free raffle tickets for some outstanding prizes at the Spring Fling! If you are unable to attend Spring Fling and would like to contribute, please contact: Laura Zlogar at 303 929-3168 or wilson480@msn.com THANKS! A Golden Retriever Can Change Your Life! OUR MISSION STATEMENT: Golden Retriever Rescue of the Rockies is dedicated to rescue, placement and public awareness, to ensure that Golden Retrievers are adopted by people who are able to provide a safe, loving home. Applications to adopt a Golden are available on our website www.goldenrescue.com Please accept my Membership in GRRR (includes quarterly newsletter plus free attendance at all events and reunions) I would like to receive my newsletter: via mail (black & white print) or via e-mail (color PDF...save GRRR postage and printing costs!) $50 year Please accept my additional tax deductible donation to help Goldens where needed most: $ $250+ Golden Champion $100 Golden Hero $50 Golden Star $ Interested in volunteering? Go to www.goldenrescue.com to fill out the volunteer application. Thanks! NAME ADDRESS CITY STATE ZIP HOME PHONE WORK PHONE E-MAIL Please mail to: Golden Retriever Rescue of the Rockies 15350 W. 72nd Ave. Arvada, CO 80007 Thank you for your support! goldenrescue.com