A registered non-profit 501 (c)(3) charitable organization Published monthly by Golden Retriever Rescue of the Rockies HUGE thank you to all the GRRR volunteers who help us take such good care of our temporary charges! 2017 has been a banner year for volunteers, with over 50 new people signed up to help many of whom learned about GRRR as a result of our "Turkey dogs, with all the print and media exposure Kevin Shipley, our Executive Director, has been drumming up. The VIP walkers are a very dedicated group. You help socialize some shy dogs, who are even more confused at being in a strange place. You show all our pups love and patience, helping them learn how to walk without pulling and how to take treats gently so that humans can keep all their digits! You walk in the cold and wind and heat, and I'm positive the dogs get adopted faster because of all your efforts. I know we have way more VIP volunteers than dogs, but as I tell every new volunteer I talk to, you will never hear a dog complain that they got too many walks. Our events volunteers are equally supportive, helping us with set-up, break-down, greeting members, food prep, merchandise sales, and, upon occasion, the always-really-appreciated pooper scoopers. We have dog events on the property and a few offsite events around town during the year. We have a lot of fun working together to promote successful events and get the word out about the great work GRRR does saving dogs. We get many donations from our growing list of supporters, and our card-writing volunteers are crucial in making sure those members get a timely and thoughtful acknowledgment. We supply card stock and postage, and where else can you make a difference volunteering at home (and in your jammies, should you be so inclined). If you are a volunteer in one of these groups and want to branch out and add something new, please let me know. We'd be happy to add you to any of these important areas. Volunteering is not just giving of yourself and your time, it also benefits YOU. You receive the satisfaction of knowing that you have made a real and immediate difference in the lives of these Goldens we all adore. Thank you! Cindee Moyer Volunteer Coordinator cindee.moyer@goldenrescue.com
t is always great when a group wants to come out and get some work done on our behalf. It s especially gratifying when they continue to come back, bringing with them many new faces. The wonderful folks from Griffis/Blessing came out in April for the second year in a row and got a ton of stuff done. We tend to focus on everything for the dogs, which means that frequently some of the more mundane property work gets ignored. They did a great job and were adequately rewarded with some puppy love at the end. A special thanks to Sarah and her team for coming out to GRRR.
June 17th - Gala I hope you got your tickets. This is the third sellout year in a row! Yasemin Baban from Istanbul is our special guest. We even have a great door prize a six-night vacation in Costa Rica. Stay tuned for photos and stories from this fun event for the pooches. Cherry Creek Arts Fest GRRR will once again have a couple tables set up at this year s event, July 1 3. We will be located at the northeast corner of 3rd and Fillmore St. in front of Vertu jewelry store. Please contact Deb Stratton if you d like to come join in this annual fun event. Saddle up your Golden with a begging vest, and you ll be amazed at what a furry fundraiser can do. debbie.davis@goldenrescue.com Also in July, is the Buffalo Bill Days parade in downtown Golden. Yvette Woodworth is heading this up for the second year in a row. Thank you, Yvette! It s July 29th in the morning for a couple hours. Come on down, bring your socially friendly Golden, and march in this annual parade. Hint: The crowds are applauding for your dogs. ;-) Let your dogs enjoy the cheers, get some audience love, and sign a few pawdographs. We ll send out more on this as we get closer. t has been a VERY busy time at GRRR. Between building projects (all funded privately), Turkey Dog V plans ready to unfold, and our new entry into rescuing puppy mill females, we have been full of furry and un-furry things to do. This has been a very unusual year. If we re lucky, we get Golden Retriever puppies every two or so years. This year, we ve had two litters of pure Golden Retriever love. (Yes, they are all adopted.) Our VIPs have been fabulous at walking and socializing the bevy of beauties that have come in. It is extraordinarily gratifying for all of us to see these dogs develop and eventually get into new loving forever homes. Even our wannabe Golden, black Lab Charlie, worked his way into someone s heart and home. Whether you volunteer once a year or once a week, GRRR operates at a high level because of your dedication. Please understand the importance of your involvement and how much it is appreciated. Thank you!
t was a special spring day for Cooper and Suzeigh Rogers when they were invited down for stories with the children at the library in Castle Rock. Jane Smith, long time GRRR member and long-time library administrator, was kind enough to invite us as she wanted the children to see the dogs. She also wanted to give out information on GRRR and information on Suzeigh being a hospital therapy dog. Having never done this before, Cooper and Suzeigh weren t quite sure what to expect. As the kids started streaming in, they were so excited to see the pups sitting there. Cooper enjoyed meeting the kids and Suzeigh was working the crowd as she always does at the hospital. Jane was instrumental in having the librarians, parents, and kids pet the dogs. She even brought pictures of her Goldens. Our cozy alcove in the library with a fire going was very inviting. With Easter right around the corner, Suzeigh was donning her Easter bonnet, and Cooper well, the bunny ears lasted a few seconds! He was a trooper, though. The dogs got many kisses and hugs from the children (as you can see in the pictures). They would hug the dogs before going in to story time and once again on the way out. There was never a shortage of hands on the dogs, and word about GRRR got out there too. So, it was a successful day for everyone!
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 it or just curious about whether it is a good idea. We can tell you in a word NO! Much 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 a 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 also cool themselves down by panting. The more skin that s exposed to the sun, the more heat they retain, and the more work it is 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 s 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 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!
GRRR 2018 Calendar Photo Contest The Golden Retriever Rescue of the Rockies 13th Annual Photo Contest is now open! Your Golden could be featured in a full page photo in the 2018 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 midnight, July 16, 2017, 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!
GRRR 2018 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 contest@goldenrescue.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 2018 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 July 16, 2017. Please send this form and payment to: GRRR Photo Contest Attn: Jeanie Peebles 8095 Holland Ct, Unit D 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 contest@goldenrescue.com THANK YOU! FOR OFFICE USE ONLY Digital q Snapshot q Date photos received Date paid Check number CC q Log in Date
2017 Events Saturday, June 17: GRRR GALA - Jackpot...GRRR Hits 21, Tivoli Center, Auraria Campus Saturday-Monday,July 1-3: Cherry Creek Arts Festival Saturday, July 29: BUFFALO BILL DAYS PARADE, downtown Golden Saturday, Sept 9: RESCUE REUNION PICNIC, Boulder Reservoir Saturday, Oct 28: HALLOWEEN PARTY, Phoebe s Place Sunday, Nov 19: PHOTOS WITH SANTA, Phoebe s Place Tuesday, Dec 5: COLORADO GIVES DAY Saturday-Sunday, Dec 9-10: JACKALOPE ARTISAN MARKET Courtney Anderson Audrie'Anna L Booth Jessica Brophy Mary Anne Byer Kellie Camp Wendy Dreistadt Erin Dunne Chris Durham Paige Hill Eric Lehman Sherri Kastens Kristen Oldaker Colleen Owens Leah Parsons Eric Pavol Becky Alberti-Powell Cheryl Reifsnyder Shelby Richmond Marianne Weigand Animal Care Mary Kenton: mary.kenton@goldenrescue.com Golden Growl Quarterly Newsletter Debbie Stratton: debbie.davis@goldenrescue.com Volunteer Newsletter Leigh Gannan: leighlums@gmail.com Adoption Follow-up Mary Fishback: mfischbeck@outdrs.net Placement Roberta Miller: robertamiller70@yahoo.com Application Advocate Gloria LeFree: gloria.lefree@goldenrescue.com Team Leaders Grant Writing Judi Servoss: judi.servoss@goldenrescue.com Linda Pierrel: linda.pierrel@goldenrescue.com Volunteer Coordinator Cindee Moyer: cindee.moyer@goldenrescue.com VIP - Volunteer Interaction Program Coordinator Sukie McMaster: sukie.mcmaster@goldenrescue.com 303-530-1655 Executive Director Kevin Shipley: Kevin.shipley@goldenrescue.com