Golden_Retreiver_Rescue_May_2013_Newsletter

May 2013
Golden GRRRowl
“A Golden Retriever Can Change Your Life!”™
A registered
non-profit 501(c)(3)
charitable
organization
Bryce
Robin Strelow
May 22, 2010 was a day that changed two lives. That of mine, a single woman who lived with two cats and never
had a dog, and that of a wonderful year-old male Golden Retriever named Bryce. Our lives changed for the better
when we chose each other that Saturday almost three years ago. This Golden came with the unbecoming name of
“Slick” which I immediately changed to the more fitting name of Bryce. This name was chosen for two reasons; he
is the color of the beautiful landscapes of Bryce Canyon National Park in Utah, and the Golden Retriever breed of dog
was started in Scotland. The Scottish meaning of his name is ‘swift’. PERFECT for this dog! Bryce loves to run like
the wind off-leash and lives for the times he’s allowed to run in the safely gated ball fields in the park across the street.
Bryce came from a seemingly neglectful home in Wyoming, where he was one of several dogs and cats living
with a family who had a toddler and whose mother had just given birth to triplets! Poor Bryce apparently
was tied up outside because he had abrasions behind his front elbows from where the tether had rubbed
so hard he had scarring. His family did the absolutely right thing relinquishing him to GRRR. I thank them
each day for that.
We started our journey together by attending the American Kennel
Club’s Canine Good Citizen classes at the Longmont Humane
Society. Bryce needed some training but he learned SO quickly
and was eager to please by being a good and well-behaved dog.
He passed the 6-week class with flying colors, doing all of the test
exercises perfectly the first time through! I also took him to doggie
day care on a regular basis at Uptown Dog in Longmont. There,
Brian, the owner, worked with him to address a few dog-on-dog
aggression issues, which he also came with. Bryce was progressing
so well when I started to notice how wonderful and especially
patient he was with young children and elderly folks. This sparked
an idea. A GRRReat idea!
One day several years before I adopted Bryce, I was at Longmont
United Hospital (LUH) getting some tests done and was nervous
because they were testing for some serious issues that my doctor
was concerned about. As I waited to be called for my CT scan, a
woman came by with a beautiful black lab. She asked if I would like
to meet her dog. “Of course”, I said and asked about her dog. She
told me about how they were in the TAILS Therapy Dog Program,
a volunteer group at the hospital. As it turned out, I had no serious
health issues but that woman’s visit with her dog stuck with me
for several years. I remember the feeling of all the stress and worry
being lifted from me when I petted her sweet, wonderful dog. That
planted the seed!
Robin and Bryce
Continued on page 2
"I’ll never forget how gentle and loving
Bryce was that day and how much
he made that family happy."
Fast forward, seve ral
years, plus a year and
a half of being on the
waiting list to be a
TAILS volunteer with
Bryce at LUH. I was
called and asked if I’d
like to attend the training to be in the program. I was so excited and honored to be asked. Bryce
and I went through four weeks of intensive weekly training where we met with other folks in
similar programs at three other Boulder County-based hospitals. There were twelve teams (dogs
and dog parents) in the October, 2012 graduating class of Boulder County Therapy Dogs. We
had to go through obstacle courses with our dogs, expose them to hospital beds, IV stands,
people in walkers, wheelchairs, and on crutches, see how they would react to loud, jarring noises
and people, LOTS of people! We even went to Flatirons Crossing Mall one evening and went to
dozens of stores where we met lots more people in a completely unfamiliar environment. Bryce
had a blast and was so tired he slept all the way home that night.
Our final exam was at an assisted living facility in Louisville where the 12 teams met with lots of
folks in a variety of physical conditions; some bed-ridden, some completely mobile, some with
Alzheimer’s/Dementia or other debilitating diseases. Bryce seemed to be in his element, gently
approaching the folks in wheelchairs, a little more exuberantly approaching those who were
Entertaining the patients
ambulatory. All of the patients loved the dogs’ visits and they really made their day!
Bryce graduated from the training with Boulder County Therapy dogs, again with flying colors! We started visiting together as a team at
Longmont United Hospital in December, 2012 and he continues to brighten the days of patients and visitors each Saturday morning. The
volunteers and nursing staff love seeing him come in too, and there is no shortage of dog treats for him around every corner!
A particularly touching story happened one Saturday morning when Bryce and I had finished up our shift. An older man was coming into
the hospital with his daughter. Both were laden with bouquets of flowers and several wrapped gifts. The man stopped to meet Bryce
and asked if we would come up to see his wife who was recovering from a stroke and also whose birthday it was. Of course I agreed and
we followed them up to the floor where his wife was a patient. She not only had had a severe stroke but it happened right after she had
shoulder surgery! The lady couldn’t speak and was completely incapacitated. It broke my heart to hear the story, but Bryce walked over to
the lady and gently licked her outstretched hand which brought a big smile to her face. The man thanked us and told us that this meant so
much to his wife and him. It meant the world to me to hear that and really made my day. I’ll never
forget how gentle and loving Bryce was that day and how much he made that family happy.
I am so proud to be Bryce’s dog mom and teammate. I brag about him to all of my coworkers,
family, and friends every chance I get. He has added a
whole new dimension to my life and I’d like to think
that he’s made a positive difference in the lives of
others.
Thanks to GRRR for doing what they do with such
wonderful dogs like Bryce. GRRR offers people like me
the opportunity to give them good ‘forever’ homes
where they can lead active, vital lives and bring such
joy and peace to so many others! p
Good therapy
for staff too!
Photos by David Oonk
Robin's dad,
George Strelow,
with Bryce
Hi GRRR:
Colleen, who is now named Josie, is doing amazing. She is absolutely
wonderful and loving. All of our kids love her - they've all been over
to meet her. The Granddogs think she is ok too. She really doesn't
bother them too much but loves to run with them in the backyard.
Recent Rescues
Josie is sleeping nicely in her crate by our bed. She's been on a few car
rides to meet some new people - everybody loves her and thinks she
is the sweetest! She sat in the rocking chair with me this morning and
rocked. Oh no, she won't be spoiled at all!
Anyway, we love her to pieces and she is such a sweet dog. She has
filled a huge void and has done a great job doing it! Thanks again for
telling us about her - we appreciate it very much!
Bonnie Settle
Josie
Hey GRRR:
Tucker, Couloir, and Tundra
Thank you again for the opportunity to have our beautiful dog. Couloir is doing
very well, especially with our cat, Rado. She knows several commands, sleeps all
through the night, and is pretty well all the way potty trained. We love our babies
so much and are very glad that they are a part of our lives. They both enjoy
visiting their cousin golden retrievers, Tucker and Tundra.
God bless!
Ty Lollis
Dear GRRR:
Because my cats and dogs have Irish and Scottish names (Cassidy, Jessie, Molly, and Riley), I planned to rename Aspen, 11 months old, who came to live with
us at the end of 2012.
I began trying out names. Like every self-respecting dog who loves treats, Aspen responded happily to anything I called her, until friends began yelling, “Here,
duck,” “Here, little fool,” Here, Melissa.”
To spare her more humiliation, I had almost settled on a name, until one morning she came to
the back door with mud on her paws and a branch in her mouth. Fearing the worst, I followed
her and Riley, her 5-year-old GRRR brother, to the back corner of the yard.
There—tilted at a 45-degree angle—was one of the six aspen trees I planted last summer. Next
to its base was a two-foot hole. The landscape fabric and river rock had been carefully removed,
and there were matching holes around the tree stakes.
Muttering, I stabilized the tree, filled in the dirt, spread the rock, and hammered in the tree
stakes. “Bad dog, bad dog,” I said, while Aspen and Riley danced in happy circles around me.
Aspen seemed pleased, both with her hard work and with her newest name.
“Perhaps she’s trying to tell me something,” I said to a friend. “Either the message is, ‘I’m really
bored’ or ‘Stop messing with my name.’” I’ll never be sure, of course, but her name will always be
“Aspen.”
Jan Whitt
ASPEN
3
Recent Rescues
Hi GRRR:
In October of 2011, my son and I came to GRRR to adopt a middle-aged Golden...
Well, we sort of ended up with that if you average together the ages of the TWO
dogs we ended up adopting. Chloe (who we renamed Daisy) and her brother were
about 4 months old. The foster mom decided to keep the boy and Daisy was
brought to meet us. Although she is nothing (personality wise) like our beloved
Golden, Meadow, who we lost at age 10 to stomach cancer, her face looked SO
much like her that my son and I both started crying when we met her. And...we
estimated that her birthday was probably very close to, if not on, the day Meadow
passed. So, she was obviously coming home with us.
Then we started talking with Mary about the seniors, because I have a very soft
spot for old Goldens. Mary had several seniors but, for one reason or another,
most were not ready to be placed. Except for Buddy, who was 10 years old at the
time, and just surrendered to GRRR. He was quite overweight, his skin flaky and
ears itchy, and his fur really coarse with oily patches. He was honestly far more
interested in tennis balls than he was in us, but there was something about him...
and, his early life had been spent in my neck of the woods/mountains, so it was
meant to be... So there you have it, 10 years and 4 months — about 5 years,
middle-aged right?
As it turned out, Buddy is also almost completely deaf. I clap loudly to get his
attention (so now Daisy thinks clapping means come). I wasn't sure how long
he'd last but figured the least we could do was have him enjoy his time in a great
setting. With the right thyroid meds., gluten-free food, and exercise, he became a
new dog. He went from 100+ pounds to about 85, his skin and ears cleared up,
and his coat is gorgeous! His fur is some of the softest I've ever felt. We worked up
to hiking, snowshoeing, even running 6-8 miles and he is in great shape. Of
course he also has Daisy to keep him young...she doesn't even like to go outside
without him and then torments him mercilessly. He's too nice to tell her to back
off so he stands there and looks at me as if to say "help". So, he's now 11+ years
young and Daisy's about
1-1/2 years and I'm so
thankful to have them in
my life (especially now that
both of my boys are off at
college).
It was SO difficult losing
Meadow and was equally
hard for a while to think
about new dogs, but the
huge void in our lives was
the most painful - so
thanks GRRR for filling
that!
Thank you again,
Cici, Corey, and Keaton
Franklin
BUDDY AND
DAISY
4
Hi GRRR:
Merlin is the
sweetest dog that I
have ever had and
we can't believe
someone would give
him up. We were
looking for a
Goldendoodle
puppy but got a call
from Darla stating
she had Merlin available. We were very
tentative taking a
rescue as we didn't
MERLIN
know what the
background was on the dog. After being with him for the past four
months, we have settled him into his new home and he is very much a
part of our family. All of our friends can't believe how well behaved he is
and how gentle he is with other dogs. He sleeps with us and is used to
going on walks or runs and he expects them on a daily basis. Merlin has
also put on about 7 pounds as he was very skinny when we adopted him
and only receives the best food. Also, I love the fact he does not shed!
We absolutely love him and thank GRRR for presenting the opportunity
to adopt.
Allan Stitt
GRACIE
Hi GRRR:
Gracie (formerly Rosie) is doing great! We love, love, love our Golden
girl! She has been such a wonderful addition to our family. We have
been very involved in the GRRR events, and I take Gracie to as many
as possible. I also volunteer once a week at Phoebe's Place, walking
the other sweet residents who have not found their forever homes
yet. I love GRRR and all that it stands for. Gracie gets together with
one of her sisters from the litter. Her sweet sister Sienna was adopted
by another GRRR volunteer, and we have been trying to schedule
play dates about once a month. I feel so fortunate to have been able
to adopt Gracie...she is so very special!
She is the sweetest girl...we are so in love with Gracie!
Best regards,
Roberta Miller
Recent Rescues
Dear GRRR:
Adopting Hunter has been quite interesting. I fostered him from March until mid-June when being evacuated by the High Park fire made it too complicated to keep him.
My elderly dog, Brandi, was injured in an accident early August and had to be put down. Heartbreak! In
September, I discovered Hunter was still available for adoption so I figured he must be waiting for me to
come back and get him. And I did.
About a month after I got him, his fur started coming out in clumps. It turned out he was hypothyroid
(which explains part of his initial weight of 107 pounds). He's now on medication and has become a totally
different dog than the one I adopted. He plays with my 3-year-old Golden, Sage, all day long. Hunter was
down to 84 pounds the last time I weighed him and is regrowing a beautiful, curly coat.
Hunter is an absolute character...talks, howls, barks...anything to get attention. He comes up and puts his
paw on my lap when I'm reading or watching TV. All Goldens are great, but this guy is extra special. I'm so
glad I got him back!
Pat Carey
HUNTER
Hello everyone!
I wanted to give you an update and a current photo of myself. Many of you
remember me, Murphy, aka Bear! I went to my forever home on 1/23/2010 with
Karen Martens and one of my brothers, Wilson (since that time my mom adopted
another golden from GRRR named Marco who I love dearly).
I have not always had an easy time because I have a condition called
Megaesophagus. Sometimes I have trouble keeping food and water down and I
have some rough days. My mom makes sure that I eat on a step stool and then sit
upright for about 20- 30 minutes after eating so that I can digest my food more
easily. Most of the time my mom massages me as I sit so that I can relax.
Unfortunately, in December of 2012, I ended up with Pneumonia. I was in the
Wheat Ridge Animal Hospital
for several days (great folks
over there but I sure missed
my family).
One of the vets suggested a
Baily's chair because of my
Megaesophagus condition.
GRRR volunteer Bill
Urbanowski made me one of
the chairs. I love the chair and
I am feeling great. I really
appreciate Bill and all of his
help. Here is to all my fellow
Golden brothers and sisters
and to the wonderful people
who take such great care of all
of us!
Hi GRRR:
Aspen is such a
sweet girl!!! She
definitely has
turned into
Gordon’s little
friend, I am kind of
jealous! She and
Emma, who we
adopted in July, play
so well together and
are buddies. Max,
our other Golden
who is 7 has his
hands full with
these two girls.
They gang up on
him sometimes and
run him around the
yard even though
ASPEN
he is twice their size at 95 pounds. Max loves them both and
you will often find them in a circle in the backyard playing with their
many toys.
Hooray for Bill, GRRR, my
mom Karen, and my brothers.
Aspen is great on the leash and enjoys her walks with Max and
Emma…we are known in the neighborhood as “the Golden gang.”
She has come a long way in the last 3 ½ months, her fur has thickened up, her tail is starting to fill out and she feels more secure.
Gordon and I have nicknamed her “wiggles” because she wags her
tail so often and hard her whole back end moves. We love her and feel
like our family is complete!
Murphy
Sincerely,
Jodi and Gordon Lehman
MURPHY
5
Recent Rescues
Dear GRRR:
Kaci has taken no time at all to adjust to our family since we brought
her home just prior to Christmas 2012. She’s sweet, curious and
playful. Kaci loves to chew and her fav choice is a ‘Buffalo knuckle’ that
a friend suggested we try.
She was between chew toys the other week and decided to nibble on
our teen son Drew’s snow boot. Kaci was very surgical in her nibbles, so
Drew was able to ‘fix’ the hole in his boot with duct tape and wore
them on a ski trip. Priceless.
In Feb 2013, Kaci graduated (with high honors) from the Longmont
Humane Society Basic Obedience class. She was always eager to be the
‘demo dog’ and show off. Steve and I also enjoyed the class and plan to
do another one this summer.. .with Kaci, that is.
JOANIE AND KAYLEE
We are blessed to live in a horse property neighborhood and have
awesome neighbors who happen to own several Goldens. One of Kaci’s
play date ‘hood friends is Jack, who was also a GRRR dog (see below).
Kaci is a lightning fast runner and loves to play fetch with a tennis ball.
Hey Darla,
Hope you are all well at GRRR. Thanks for all you do!
Joanie and Kaylee are doing really well. They are so well-behaved and adorable! We
couldn't have asked for a better pair for our home. They have definitely enriched our
lives the past 4 -5 months.
Regards,
Lynda and Steve Pasma
Kaylee has been making a lot of progress lately. It seems that her confidence level
increases a little bit each day, and it is a very rewarding experience.
Recently I've been taking them on 4-mile walks. The exercise has really perked
Kaylee up, as she seems to be less timid and forgets herself more easily. The most
exciting thing for me to watch is her TAIL! When we first adopted her, she had her
tail curled between her legs and it would never move. Slowly but surely, she started
to wag it a bit while running around in our back yard. Just in the past few weeks she
started wagging it at the beginning of walks, and it's lifted up for the entire duration
of walks, wagging periodically.
When we first adopted her, she would walk behind me on walks and not deviate
from the sidewalk. Now she is starting to act more like a dog, like Joanie. Just this
morning she was sniffing everything that sparked her curiosity, even lingering for a
second or two. She even picked up a piece of trash, shook it, then took off running,
wagging her tail. :) She has been racing up ahead of me to be the leader, pushing
Joanie out of the way, HAHA!
We take the pups to family gatherings with us. Joanie is ALWAYS a hit at family
parties, especially with kids. Kaylee used to pick a corner and lay there the entire
time. At the last gathering, she starting walking around with Joanie right away,
accepting and appearing to enjoy getting her head petted. Kaylee is also getting
more confidence around other dogs.
Joanie is such a good big sister, showing Kaylee all the ropes of just being a dog.
They are so fun to have around, and I am pretty sure our cat LOVES them! :) I am so
excited every day to watch Kaylee make progress with her confidence!
Take care,
Clancy & David Bireline
Newsletter Submissions
6
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 at grrr.volunteer@
gmail.com, or mail to GRRR at 15350 W. 72nd Ave, Arvada CO 80007.
Deadline for the August, 2013 issue is July 7. Thanks!
Cheyenne, Jack and Kaci
Dear GRRR:
Jack became a part of our family in June of 2012 from GRRR. Right
from the start he got along with the cats and made great friends with
our other Golden Retriever, Cheyenne. One of his first adventures
(despite his hip dysplasia) was jumping the fence into the horse
pasture to make his acquaintance with our two horses. Thankfully,
that adventure went well. Fortunately, he has never been inclined to
jump any fence again.
He is now almost six years old and despite daily doses of medications
for his hips and an occasional need for pain meds, he is healthy and
happy. He chases the squirrels that run along the top of the fence
(the squirrel highway) and loves to leap for the tennis balls tossed to
him. He knows his limits however, and protects his hips when he is
running and playing by being careful of how sharp he makes his turns
and by avoiding being "body slammed" by his buddy Cheyenne.
Kaeti Kleekamp
Hi GRRR:
We just wanted to let you know how much we are enjoying Razz - he's
quickly making his way into our hearts. We're having a great time with
Razz - he's such a character! He is an absolute goof ball. We've been taking
him to a dog park often and he is meeting lots of new buddies. We're
looking forward
to all the great
adventures ahead
in the years to
come. Here is a
photo we have of
him - we keep
trying to take
more, but it's rare
he sits still long
enough! Thanks
again!
Laura, Tom &
Razz Trujillo
Recent Rescues
Dear GRRR:
Stacey adjusted very quickly to her new life in Alpine, Wyoming. She Loves
following us around. Just a little 9.5 week old puppy, she is very loyal. Stacey is a
pleasure to have in our lives. She is sweet and loving and she is a welcome female
energy to our family, as she joined a family of 5 males, my husband, John, and
two doggie brothers and two cats. She spends her days playing and following
around her doggie brothers. Some things she learns from her big brothers we
wish she didn’t. But what a happy puppy. She is sleeping almost all throughout
the night. We had a very pleasant first trip to the vet and she liked the baby scale
they used to weigh her with.
We wanted to thank you again for everything! It was such a pleasure dealing
with Golden Retriever Rescue of the Rockies. You were absolutely wonderful and
made everything perfect! We promise we will keep you updated on her progress
and send you some pictures every so often.
John & Samantha Halabrin
STACY AND BIG BROTHER
RAZZ
Dear GRRR:
My name is Sarah (formerly Star) meaning “Lady” or “Princess”. This is my
story since arriving at GRRR.
Last September my first family made a very difficult but loving decision to
surrender me to GRRR in hopes of finding me a new loving home. Their
schedule had become so busy that I was spending too much time in my crate
and alone. For their loving gesture I will be forever grateful. You see, within a
day of arriving at GRRR, my new mom came to see me at my foster home and
we bonded immediately! Here is a snapshot of my life in my new home.
I now live in the country on a farm with 5 [fenced] acres to run around on!
No more crate and I have a doggie door that allows me out into a secure
safe area whenever I want. I have a big orthopedic bed with sheets and a blanket and a basket with so many tug toys, bones and balls to play with, it takes mom
a couple of minutes every night to pick them all up (so I can pull them back out the next day) But she says she doesn’t mind if it means I’m happy and content
all day. Chewing on my bones has also cleaned my teeth and I no longer need a dental cleaning!
I have a Weimaraner brother and sister who have accepted me without question and we are together always. I also have cat friends and horses! The day starts
early on a farm, which means that breakfast comes early too! Boy do I love mealtimes
and treats – true to my breed!
Mom has lots of friends and they all comment how quickly I adjusted to my new life
saying it is like I have always lived here! I am a quick learner and I picked up the new
“language” like “out” or “away” from the horse stalls and runs or “Lets go!” when mom
is ready to go somewhere. But my favorite is “Do you want a cookie?”! Of course it
helped having my brother and sister to teach me the “ropes”. They accepted me immediately. I am so lucky! They get a real kick out of my antics, especially when I have a surge
of energy outside and start running around in big circles and figure eights until I run out
of breath. It is wonderful to have so much space to play, run and explore. I even get to
chase bunnies, but lucky for them they are quicker and always get away!
So it has been 6 months since moving to my new home and I have not looked back. I am
loved beyond measure and so blessed to have found a family to live out the remainder
of my days with!
Thank you GRRR! I am FOREVER HOME!
Sarah (and Kimberly Carlson)
SARAH
7
Upcoming Events
Upcoming GRRR Events (see website for full details)
• Wilmore Tree Nursery Adoption Day: Saturday, May 4, 11am-3pm
711 E. County Line Road, Littleton CO 80122 (we'll have a booth there)
• Girls on the Run 5K: Sat, May 11 from 9-11am at City Park (we'll have a booth there)
• Spring Fling: Sunday, May 19th, 11am–4pm at Phoebe's Place
• Work Day: Saturday, May 1 at Phoebe's Place
• Fire Hydrant 5K Run & Pet Expo in Fort Collins (Tentative; we'll have a booth there)
• Open House: Sunday, June 16th, 1–4 p.m. at Phoebe’s Place
• Annual Gala: Saturday, July 20th at the Cable Center in Denver (see below)
• Reunion Picnic: Saturday, September 7th at the Boulder Reservoir
• Halloween Party: Saturday, October 26 at Phoebe's Place
Register Now for the Annual Gala!
Join us for a "golden" evening benefiting GRRR on Saturday, July 20 from 6-10pm at the Cable Denver at DU. Ticket price ($125 each) includes a sit down dinner,
hosted bar, and entertainment (to be determined at press time). Attendees will have the opportunity to bid on fabulous silent items, and the live auction again
features the very entertaining auctioneer Adam Kevil. Some of our favorite Golden Rescues will be in attendance to greet and mingle with guests, so don't forget
to bring some extra cash for the "begging vests!" These pups are too wonderful to resist!
http://grrr.eventbrite.com
Birthday Presents at Phoebe's Place
by Pat Rogers
You are never too young to think about others.
I believe that we had our youngest donor yet! All the GRRR dogs at Phoebe’s Place got gifts from one special little girl who just turned five years old.
Ashlyn had a birthday party and instead of gifts for herself, she asked her friends to bring something for the Goldens. Each year for her birthday she
chooses a charity, and this year GRRR was the lucky recipient. Amazing, isn’t it? Her mom explained that this is how
Hi Pat,
they raise their children. She said that it is never too early
Thanks so much for sharing the
pictures
to start teaching your kids about helping others.
with us. The girls LOVED
When Ashlyn and her two-year-old sister, Darcy, arrived,
out came three big shopping bags full of dog toys, treats,
and more treats. As it turns out, the puppies had just
arrived the night before, and that was just way too
exciting for these two little girls. You can see how much
fun they had with those puppies and the puppies with
them. It made their day. It was an awesome experience
for me too. p
their visit and
could not contain their excitem
ent—
telling everyone who would list
en about
the puppies and where they had
visited!
Thanks for making the donatio
n experience so wonderful for her. The
work you all
do is simply amazing!
Thanks!
Beth
Charitable Giving
Actress Bette Davis famously claimed that “Growing old ain’t for sissies”. How right she was! To make it even harder, the IRS forces you to start withdrawing
money from your carefully built up IRA or 401k accounts once you reach that magical age of 70½.
But this year, you may be able to catch a break and do something good for your Golden Retriever friends at the same time. That’s because President Obama signed
The American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012 in January 2013, reinstating Qualified Charitable Distributions (QCD’s) through this year.
This means that IRA owners 70½ or older can distribute up to $100,000 directly from a Traditional IRA to a qualified 501©3 non-profit with no federal tax consequences. So distributing this money to a group such as GRRR may satisfy all or part of your Required Minimum Distribution, which would otherwise be taxable.
Now we certainly recommend that you first get advice and learn all the technicalities from your tax and legal advisors, but if you, your relatives, friends or
neighbors have reached 70½, we’d sure like you to think about helping out those GRRR dogs in 2013! Congress may extend this again, but you wouldn’t want
to count on that. Thanks for thinking of GRRR. p
Colorado Gives Day
8
GivingFirst.org is becoming ColoradoGives.org. We'll once again be a part of the big event in December, but feel free to donate any
time of the year from that website or from the link on our site: http://goldenrescue.com/donate/ Thank you. p
Phoebe's Place/Board News
by Pat Dinkey
Spring is right around the corner at Phoebe’s Place. The trees have buds on them, and outdoor
projects are stacking up so get ready to reserve some time and enjoy the outdoors at Phoebe’s Place .
Did you know that last year, 307 rescue dogs were accommodated at Phoebe’s Place? Our caregiver,
Mary Kenton, makes all the decisions regarding incoming dogs, and she is ultimately responsible for
the care and welfare of all these dogs. There is also a huge support team involved in caring for the dogs.
Dr. Carpenter, our veterinarian, helps with decisions regarding health care. VIP team volunteers
come out daily and walk and play with the dogs waiting for their forever family. Our foster families
take dogs into their homes and teach them how to live in a home environment before being
adopted. And our hospice homes provide a wonderful home-life for dogs with serious illnesses and
a quality of life and love, until they pass to the Rainbow Bridge.
The adoption team interviews and set appointments for adopters to come and visit with dogs that
may fit with their family. And finally, our follow-up team keeps in touch with adopters , and lets
them know GRRR is still there to support them.
The GRRR board has been working hard to address the many needs we have, and to improve the
communication and volunteer opportunities at Phoebe’s Place and GRRR. The board included in
the budget for 2013, and unanimously agreed that we need an executive director at Phoebe’s
Place. This position will focus on program development and work in conjunction with the board to create a long-range strategy. This position will carry
out policies and plans authorized by the board. Working with the volunteer coordinator, this position will promote active and broad participation by
members. The maintenance of official records, documents, and compliance with federal, state, and local regulations will fall to the executive director.
The executive director will work to create team leads and committees, helping them to be successful in their objectives.
Please welcome Deb Kneale as the interim executive director for GRRR. Deb has been a GRRR member for more than a decade, is serving on our board,
and has an extensive knowledge of GRRR. Deb will be working closely with the board to create a long-range strategy which achieves its mission in a
timely and consistent process.
In addition to having a 20 hour/week executive director, GRRR has a fantastic opportunity through the University of Denver’s Graduate School of Social
Work to offer an internship. The interns will work 20 hours each week and will be trained by the School’s executive director and overseen by a supervisor
from the school. As an intern, they will have competencies and objectives for completing their program. Each student will need to become proficient in
the mission of GRRR and be able to present our mission to the public. The students will be writing grants, plan fundraising events, create programs,
marketing material, and help with training programs. There are many other field competencies that the students will need to adhere to, but this
program in conjunction with DU will provide GRRR with extra hands and offer GRRR new opportunities. This program is a terrific fit for us.
Other projects the board is currently working on are:
•
Fencing the back property for events, and the VIP walking team
Replace the flooring in the house
•
Grassing the area behind the kennels
•
Creating a memorial garden with benches and shade for our volunteers
•
Succession planning for the board
•
Creating an Investment Committee
•
Writing an investment policy for our endowment funds
•
On-site dog training programs
•
Continue to develop policies and procedures
•
Create committees such as technology and website
•
We hope that you are as excited as we are about all the upcoming improvements and giant steps we are taking to make our rescue the best it can be.
The board would like to extend its appreciation to each of you for all you do for GRRR, how much you care, and your dedication to our program.
We couldn’t do this without each one of you. p
Naming Tribute
Moose, by The Walden Family. You had an old soul’s spirit; gentle and wise even as a puppy, seasoned with devotion, loyalty, dignity and poise
combined with a sense of humor and a quest for adventure. A terminal diagnosis failed to stop you from living each day to the fullest while you
mentored your humans and your harem preparing us for life without you. Emotionally and physically strong, you defied the odds, outliving your
prognosis not once but twice! As you trekked your way through our hearts, you blessed us with 10 golden years full of adventure, laughter, and
love. We hope that by sharing your name, another family will be as blessed as we. You epitomized all that is Golden and we celebrate our journey
with you. Thank you for choosing us as your family. You are furever in our hearts. Happy Trails Moose!
MOOSE
Golden Angel - Jackson
by Linda Hartman
Hi to everybody at GRRR! I can't wait to tell you my story and how I became a very lucky little GRRR Golden
Angel. Let's see, where should I begin? My life has changed so much since I joined GRRR that all the neglect I
suffered seems almost like a bad dream now. It's hard to imagine a few months ago I was struggling to survive.
I guess the best way to tell my story is to start with the very first day that my new life began.
One morning when I was just six months old, my owner took me to the shelter. When the shelter staff asked
for a surrender fee, she denied that I was her dog and said that she didn’t have the money. Since she couldn't
afford or didn’t want to pay the shelter's surrender fee, we left. As we were leaving she spotted the night drop
box for unwanted pets. My owner started to shove me into that cold, metal outdoor box. It was a bitter cold
winter day in Idaho, and I was terrified to be left in that awful box. Just as I was starting to panic, the nicest
lady stopped to see what was going on. I later found out she was Julia Townsend with Helping Animals Rescue
Team (HART) in Idaho Falls, ID. I knew from the look on her face that the condition I was in horrified her as
she gazed at me. I was literally starving to death. It was really hard for her to hide her shock and the sadness
she felt. My owner told Julia I wasn't her dog, but since I wouldn't leave my owner's side even without a leash
on, it was pretty obvious to Julia that I was her puppy. I was very attached to her. She was the only family I had
ever known. Julia offered to go inside with us and pay the surrender fee just to keep me out of the cold. The
more she looked at me, the more she realized that, in spite of my black color, I look very much like a Golden.
That's when she had this wonderful idea to contact GRRR! Julia described me in a text message to Mary: "I was
absolutely sick when I saw him. Not one ounce of meat or muscle on this poor little guy and yet he is happy
and so sweet. He is a special boy who will need a lot of special attention. I am just heartbroken for this sweet
boy." Mary replied “Yes, we can help him” and I knew from the smile on Julia's face that things were going to
be okay.
That was the day my new life began. Off I went on a road trip with another wonderful lady, Lisa Voigt, who is
the other half of the great HART team. We met up with GRRR volunteers Sandra and Jim Brausch who were
vacationing in Jackson, WY. They were so kind to me, and even gave me my special new name – Jackson – for
the beautiful city where we met. Just like everybody who meets me, they immediately fell in love with me
because I'm so grateful and affectionate and so very sweet. I loved them, too! I could tell my life was just going
to get better and better! Then off we went on another road trip to meet Alan Davidson, another volunteer,
JACKSON
who brought me the rest of the way to Colorado and my new life with GRRR.
One of the first people I met was Mary Kenton at Phoebe's Place. Here's how she describes our first meeting: "When Jackson arrived, he was not fearful as
we expected. He was loving, affectionate, starving for all that he had missed out on. How could anyone let this precious boy get in this condition? He stood
shivering, not because he was afraid, but because his tiny little body had no fat on it at all. He was immediately fitted with a little blue coat to help keep him
warm. And, of course, all the warm and loving hugs he received from everyone helped too! We were determined to give him every chance we could, but with his
malnutrition and being so emaciated, we were unsure if we could save him. What this little guy survived was unthinkable. He is definitely one of the worse cases
of neglect we've ever encountered, and such a darling puppy with the most loving, sweet, forgiving personality."
Right away I was taken to visit Dr. Carpenter at Arvada West Animal Hospital. I had an exam, vaccinations, blood tests, a heartworm test and all the great medical
treatment Goldens get when they first arrive. Oh, and more hugs and love from everyone there, too! I was immediately started on nutritious (and delicious!) food
given to me at frequent intervals. I gobbled up all that special puppy food and even some good old-fashioned home cooking at Phoebe's Place. With all the food
and love, I've been getting happier and healthier each day. My spirits soared when I was given a warm sudsy bath. Nothing has ever felt that wonderful! Mary told
me, "If only we could wash away all the memories of your horrible short life." But I'm a happy little guy and now I act like I've never had a care in the world. All I
want to do is cuddle up to my new special friends.
When I got a little stronger it was time to be neutered and my teeth needed some attention. They were so brown and stained that they looked like those of a
twelve-year-old dog. Dr. Carpenter cleaned and polished them until they were pearly white and sparkling. I am still having my blood work monitored at regular
intervals, and each time there is some improvement. Every single day for me is such a gift from all of you. I'm sure I'm the luckiest fellow in the world!
Mary's description of how I adjusted to my wonderful new life sums up my joy perfectly: "This little boy soon became the star at Phoebe's Place. He's our "little
guy" who needs all of us, and we need him. It has been so heartwarming to watch him bloom before our eyes and know that the Golden Angel Fund, along
with all the wonderful volunteers, are making this happen for him. The best part has been watching him starting to love life and being loved. He now has lots of
doggie friends to play with. He is out every day going for walks, playing, and of course snuggling with our volunteers. He appreciates every morsel of food, every
pet, every cuddle, every ball toss. He curls up in bed with me at night and snuggles up like he can't get close enough. There is nothing we wouldn't do for him. He
won our hearts from the moment we saw the pictures of him taken the day he was rescued by HART."
I’m now at a healthy weight, which has almost doubled since I joined GRRR. My coat is soft and shiny and my eyes sparkle. Oh, how I love life! I might still be a
youngster, but my heart is big enough to love each of you and understand what you've done for me. You took me in when all hope was gone, worked frantically
to save my life and rolled out the red carpet for me at this incredible safe haven called Phoebe's Place. I will soon look forward to having my own
special new home, but all of you will forever be my family. p
10
Golden Angel - Reggie
Reggie found his way to GRRR by way of Nebraska with the help of former
GRRR volunteer Janet Leudtke. For several years, Leudtke volunteered
for GRRR helping GRRR dogs find homes. In 2001, Leudtke founded the
successful dog rescue Golden Retriever Freedom Rescue also located in
Colorado. Now retired, Leudtke currently resides in Nebraska. However, her
mission to help Goldens in need continues, and even though she has lived
in Nebraska for the past five years, she still works with Mary Kenton, the current
caretaker of Phoebe’s Place, to help disadvantaged Goldens find forever homes.
Leudtke found Reggie through a friend who knew of a family breeding
Golden Retrievers. After years of living as a breeding stud on a farm, Reggie
had cataracts that were inhibiting his sight. The breeders decided that
Reggie needed a new home. Knowing about her passion for Goldens, a
friend connected Leudtke with Reggie.
When Leudtke first saw Reggie, there were no physical signs of abuse. She
approximated his age to be 7-8 years old. Though he lived outside the
majority of his life, Reggie seemed very loving and able to adjust living in
a home easily. And though he was unable to see, his personality showed
that he was very much aware of his surroundings: when Leudtke and her
husband would toss a ball for him to play, he acted aware of where it was.
But once she took him to Westfield Small Animal Clinic in North Platte
Nebraska to be neutered and have his check-up, his story began to unfold.
At the veterinarian, they realized that even though Reggie has been used
for breeding, his vaccinations were not up to date. It was also confirmed
that he had cataracts. Cataracts in Golden Retrievers are similar to those in
humans; they usually affect older animals, although juvenile cataracts do
occur. Unfortunately, the only treatment for canine cataracts can be very
expensive. This is the surgical option, where the cloudy or blurry portion
of the lens is physically removed. It is usually not covered by dog health
insurance. For Reggie, his cataracts have been neglected for too long and
could not be helped.
Leudtke contacted Mary Kenton to help with finding Reggie a forever home.
After staying with the Leudtke’s for five days, Reggie safely made the trip
out to Arvada, Colorado with the help of the GRRR transport team. GRRR
has an active transport team set up between Nebraska and Colorado.
When Reggie first arrived at Phoebe’s Place, Kenton said that he was very
affectionate and needy. He was immediately good at being in the house
and natural about going to the bathroom outside. He was placed with the
Fishers right, away who already have three Goldens in their home.
The Fishers took him in to see GRRR’s recommended veterinary
ophthalmologist, Dr. Hammond, to see if surgery was a possibility at all for
Reggie’s cataracts. However, Dr. Hammond confirmed that at that point,
nothing could be done: Reggie will be blind for life. If he received treatment
sooner, they may have been able to have surgery with the help of the
Golden Angel Fund. However, his previous breeders/owners neglected to
by Rina Madarang
supply him with proper veterinary care.
It gets even worse: his cataracts may also be genetic. Goldens with
hereditary cataracts should not be bred. If they are bred, they pass this
gene to their litters. This means if Reggie has genetic cataracts, all the
litters produced by him would have this gene, too. This is one of the many
problems that can occur from “backyard breeders.”
Unlike puppy mill owners, who operate high-volume breeding programs
in squalid living
conditions, the
term “backyard
breeder” can apply
to any number of
situations. The
ASPCA defines a
backyard breeder
as an “Individual
whose pet either
gets bred by
accident, or who
breeds on purpose
for a variety of
REGGIE
reasons—a desire
to make extra money, for example, or to let the children witness
‘the miracle of birth.’ The animals involved are usually not tested for genetic
or health.”
Legitimate responsible breeders have health records of multiple generations
of dogs and can carefully screen for the possibility of serious genetic problems.
The majority of backyard breeders only know the health history of their own
dog and will make assumptions based on what they know. However, there
may have been a genetic predisposition toward hip dysplasia or in Reggie’s
case cataracts, in their dog's line that they are unaware of.
Lacking information about traits from previous generations can create not
just costly health problems, but also temperament problems. This leads to
dogs being abandoned, placed in shelters or worse.
Luckily for Reggie, GRRR has mobilized a transport team and works with
a rescue network that extends beyond the borders of Colorado. However,
though he is ineligible for surgery, Reggie requires medications to help
improve his quality of living and are very costly. Will you help improve
Reggie’s quality of life?
With your donations, our Golden Angel Fund helps improve the life of our
Goldens that need special medical treatments. Your donation to the Golden
Angel Fund can go a long way in improving a Golden’s life. Your donation
can be made online on our website www.goldenrescue.com. Thank you. p
Please Donate to GRRR's Golden Angel Fund!
The Golden Angel Fund has been established to help Golden Retrievers in need of extra medical care. Some Goldens require special medications or surgeries
for conditions such as cancer, hip dysplasia, allergies, heartworm, knee surgeries, eye surgeries, infections, etc. Without medical help, many of them will not
be likely candidates for adoption; however, we can’t say no to these special Goldens who need extra care. Sometimes extraordinary medical circumstances
bring these Goldens to us, and with the Golden Angel Fund we can help more of them find a quality, pain-free life in a new and loving home. Please send
your tax deductible donations to: GRRR, 15350 W. 72nd Avenue, Golden, CO 80007. (Make your check payable to GRRR with “Golden Angel
Fund” in the memo portion.) Thank you!
11
Golden Angel Update
NOEL, by Michael & Sue Jones
Hello GRRR followers! I wanted to tell you how I'm progressing in my
treatment for the heartworms I had. I went to see Dr. Carpenter (GRRR’s
veterinarian) on 2/27 for my final injections. I even got to stay overnight
in his Doggie Spa. I also saw GRRR’s very wonderful and famous “Moose”
while I was there, and he was doing great. My Mom picked me up on 3/1 to
take me back home. The vet's office is a good place to visit, but "there's no
place like home" for sure. When we got home, all I wanted to do was run for
a while! I'm feeling so much better that I really needed to stretch my legs.
I've put on 20 pounds in my new home and I look like a real Golden now! I
think my Mom put me on a diet so I don't keep growing, now that I'm in a
normal weight range for my size. Life is good for me . . . and now my Mom
wants to add a little about me.
Noel is progressing as expected for her treatments. She will still have to
have blood tests done every 3 months to see if indeed the medication has
killed the heartworms. She does still have trouble breathing (shortness of
breath) if she is not kept still and quiet, but other than that, you'd never
know that there was anything wrong with her. She is one happy girl. She
also has taken to her big brother, Duke (a Sheltie), and they want to be
together all the time! She has really settled into her new home quite well.
NOEL
We are all so grateful for GRRR’s Golden Angel Fund and the support it has
provided. All the medical help that Noel has received, together with the loving care we lavish on her, has definitely given this precious girl a new
lease on life. Your donations, thoughts and prayers for Noel's full recovery are very appreciated and Noel promises to keep you up-to-date on her
progress. p
SEAVERS, by Bert & Joe Vogler
We are so blessed to have the opportunity to become Seavers
final forever home.
I had been watching his photo on the website, but we already
had two Goldens, Luke, who is nine, and Mulligan, who was
fourteen. I kept thinking that Seavers belonged with us.
Sadly, in mid-February, Mulligan succumbed to renal failure.
We had two wonderful years with him.
After a week without Mulligan, we decided it was too quiet
and since Seavers was still available, I guess it was meant to
be. We put in our adoption application and when we were
called, we took Luke to meet Seavers. The boys hit it off and
home we went!
SEAVERS
After a trip to our vet, we discovered Seavers is allergic to
chicken, lamb and pork. He is also allergic to many things
that grow. He now gets special food and we are currently
administering allergy shots. He is also on cortisone pills until he
builds up immunities. He is such a great camper about it all.
A friend of our, who is a dog breeder and trainer, came and spent an afternoon with us. We found out that Seavers was a counter surfer and
very possessive about anything he felt was his. He has learned to wait patiently and that everything is not for him. "It's mine” and “drop it"
were a challenge for him to learn.
12
Sweet Seavers is now a momma's boy. When he is not sure where I am, he barks at me until I answer. You would never believe his age (about
12) by his attitude and behavior. He acts like a puppy. We are looking forward to many more years with him. We just love him! p
GRRR 2013 Calendar
Photo Contest!
The Golden Retriever Rescue of the Rockies’ 9th Annual Photo Contest
is now open! Your Golden could be featured in the 2014 calendar!
The Grand Prize Winner will have their photo on the cover. Last year’s
calendar was a huge success—we received 600 entries and sold almost
1,500 calendars!
Submission Guidelines:
• $5 per photo entry fee; no limit to number of photos you can submit!
12 Monthly and 12 Honorable Mention winners all receive a free calendar.
• Golden Retrievers only; doesn’t have to be a GRRR or Rescue dog.
•
Horizontal (landscape) shots only, not vertical (portrait)!
• You can submit the same photos as previous years (previous Monthly and
Honorable Mention winning photos excluded).
• The photo must have been taken by you or someone in your family;
you can’t submit photos taken by someone else.
• For digital images, set your camera at the HIGHEST resolution
(photos will be enlarged to 8.5”x11”). Please send original digital files (.jpg or
.tif files) either on CD or via e-mail as attachments, and 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
c/o Brenda Hume
P.O. Box 460303
Denver, Colorado 80246-0303
• 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 June 24, 2013, so start snapping!
Winners will be notified by July 30.
Calendars will be available at all GRRR events starting
with the Picnic in September, on our website, and at
many stores throughout Colorado.
Thanks and Good Luck!
In Memory
WILBER
I am so sad to tell you that Wilbur crossed the rainbow bridge on Saturday. He was doing
well, slowing down as you might expect with an older dog. But Friday evening, he began to
look ill. He did not improve on Sat. We went to the vet and he was bleeding from a tumor. The
prognosis was poor. After much crying, I let him go to meet our pack. Wilbur started out as my
foster dog. Mary needed help and I offered to help, though I had never fostered before. I told the
“girls“ ( Sierra and Sugar ) that we were going to have a guest. Sierra was a bit skeptical. Sugar
was just fine with a new friend. Four months later, a couple wanted to see him for a possible
adoption. My heart froze. We went to meet Mary and I told myself that it would be fine. Once
the family picked another dog, I turned to Mary and said ”I think I will just keep him “ He was a
WILBER
good boy. We did obedience school together. We were told that no class had a 100% pass rate.
Wilbur and a lab looked like good candidates for needing more training. But, for the first time, all dogs passed including Wilbur. He loved people more than
other dogs. He was always happy sitting by someone , waiting to be petted. 2012 was a tough year for me but Wilbur was with me all the way, keeping me company and
getting me out of the house. He was the last of my GRRR adoptees but there will be more in the future. When Mary told me his name, I said “ Really? Wilbur?” Once again,
Mary was right. He was a Wilbur.
Cindy Kuehn
TANNER
I adopted Tanner from GRRR in November, 2005 when he was a year old. He was diagnosed with Lymphoma late last
week. He had trouble keeping down food, and I took him to his vet for blood tests, x-ray and ultrasound. His liver was
swollen but no visible tumors or lumps, but his liver levels were too high. A sample sent to CSU confirmed cancer. We did
one session of chemo and it seemed to help, but he refused to eat and passed away next to my bed overnight.
Tanner was a great pal and made me a better human being. He was 8-1/2 years-old and too young to pass on, but what
a life he had. I wanted to let GRRR know what happened to him, and thank you for saving him in 2005 and giving me
the opportunity to adopt him. He loved his rides in the old red truck, walking, making friends in the neighborhood, and
putting up with cats.
Thank you.
Stephen Miller,
Cheyenne, Wyoming
TANNER
MACKENZIE
When I first saw Mackenzie, she was the size of a prairie dog. A friend and I threw tennis balls for Mackenzie’s young mother before sentencing her to another hour with her
biting, bounding babies.
Because I had lost Maggie, my first golden retriever, years before, I was deeply grateful to Mary Kenton for introducing me to “Little Miss Mack,” “Kenziemack,” “Mack Attack,”
and everything else we called her during the eight years she spent in a magical world filled with cats, people, ponds, tennis balls, and trails.
I don’t think Mackenzie ever bonded with me or with her brother Riley, who followed her and stared adoringly at her for four years. She was always her own dog, determined,
independent, and stubborn.
There were so many things to do, and there was so little time: Walking by Mustard’s Last Stand in Boulder on our way to a trail, Mackenzie marveled at the hot dog pieces that
flew toward her from the window at the side of the building. Flying across open fields at the Dry Creek Trail, she chased tennis balls until I feared I would have to carry her back
to the car. She raced into my office building, looking for a colleague who had taught her to play “hallway ball” and who kept treats in a desk drawer.
But each morning, Mackenzie lay quiet and still on her bed, eyes closed, as if she were sleeping. It was my job to let Riley outside to chase the next unsuspecting squirrel. It
also was my job to lie down beside Mackenzie, talking to her softly and petting her until she opened her eyes
and leaped to her feet, ready for a new day.
Of course, I never trained Mackenzie to wait for me in the morning. But it was our time, and she was—as
always—entirely in charge.
Before I lost Mackenzie on Dec. 21, 2012, she had endured surgery for a cut paw and sebaceous cyst, two torn
tendons, kidney disease, and a bleeding tumor. On the day the wonderful veterinarians at Peak to Peak Animal
Hospital and I decided she would not recover from the tumor, we were the only ones who gave up.
Standing weakly and looking at the doorknob in the examining room, Mackenzie was impatient: “There are
tennis balls out there. I saw them. The reservoir is just down the road. Let’s roll,” she seemed to say.
In Nederland, one of her favorite places on earth, Mackenzie went out the way she came in—hardy and joyful—
belonging to no one. For the rest of my life, I will miss her every morning when I remember her
lying quietly on her bed, pretending to sleep. She did that for me.
Jan Whitt
MACKENZIE
14
YOGI
Our house was mighty empty on March 7, 2008 when Fergus, our beautiful Golden, passed away suddenly at age seven and a half.
After some months, we just couldn’t imagine being without a companion, and that’s when we discovered Golden Retriever Rescue
of the Rockies. They had a “sad case,” a rescued one-year-old with no right pelvis, undernourished and inflamed from being abandoned along a roadside after being struck by a vehicle. GRRR was prepared to fund surgery to remove the top of his right femur, but
he was too thin and weak for an operation when he came to us.
What a bad boy! His favorite sport was to bolt out the door and dare anyone to catch him by running away and waiting until you
got almost close enough to touch, then running some more. Happily, he loved riding in the car even more than playing keep-away,
so we could always get him home. He certainly scared a few years off our lives when he bolted from our hotel room in Cañon City to
dash across Royal Gorge Boulevard and run through the park, before crossing again and cuddling up to the receptionist as we came
breathlessly back after him.
Yogi knew no strangers. He greeted everyone that passed the yard, and fiercely protected us from trucks as they growled up the hill
by our house. He met everyone at the front door. Always a lean dog, he leaned on anyone who came close enough. He especially
loved Dad to sit and cross one leg over the other so Yogi could lean his right hip into Dad’s foot. He seemed to derive a lot of comfort from that.
He never got that surgery; our vet asked, after Yogi put a few pounds on, how well he ran (well enough to chase the elk to the
meadow) and could he jump (only up on a 42” high wall). So the vet said Yogi might have a painful old age, like many dogs with
YOGI
dysplasia, but he didn’t recommend the risk of surgery at age one.
We lived for a while in Fremont County, where Yogi herded our neighbor’s cows, every one of them, out of the pasture and into the holding pen. He was not asked to perform this task. He loved his older Golden friend Aspen. Together they treed a she bear, and – being Goldens – forgot about her within minutes, only to chase her to the creek when she climbed
down (“Look, a bear!”). They loved swimming in that creek.
Three months ago, mindful of how empty our house had been when Fergus passed, we adopted another beautiful puppy through GRRR. Yogi introduced the new boy (Harley when he came
from GRRR, but changed to Brisco) to the virtues of playing tug-of-dog, let Brisco sleep on his bed, and was a gentle teacher of canine virtue. Yogi was almost five years to the day older than
the new boy, and both of them came to GRRR from Rapid City, SD.
On January 9th, Yogi got a bit off his feed. We thought he was reacting to some antibiotics he was taking since Brisco came to us with a case of Giardia. Monday the 14th, we took Yogi in to
be examined, since he had stopped eating altogether. After examination, he underwent exploratory surgery. They found tumors throughout his intestines and starting on his liver. We did not
wake him up. No painful old age – no old age at all.
There has to be a heaven for dogs, and we thank God for the four and a half years Yogi brought joy, frustration, affection, and satisfaction to us both. Always cheerful, always loving, happy
despite the Hell on earth he experienced before he was rescued, Yogi was everything a good dog could be. We believe he will enjoy meeting and playing with Fergus, and we look forward to
seeing them both again.
Vivian Peters
Donations in Memory or Honor
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Acaria Homecare staff, in memory of Golden Tebow, loved by Holly Stratman.
Ronald Anderson, in memory of Copper
Susan Briddon, in memory of Duncan and Ginger
Phil & Kim Burton in memory of Ken & Pam Jones’ Golden Barclay. “Barclay was everything you expect from a true Golden: beautiful, loyal,
friendly, and a tail that NEVER stopped wagging!”
Sonja Calhoun, in memory of Jim & Cindy Williamson’s Golden, Lucy
Catherine Conrad, in memory of Hillary Walsh
Barbara Esses, in memory of Cindy Kuehn’s Golden, Wilbur
Michelle Fordham, in memory of Golden Riley
Ann Kjelsberg, in memory of Charlie Lennemann
Evelyn & Neil McLagan, in honor of Barbara Kreisman
Penny Nikel, in memory of Reno Nikel
Katherine Porter, in honor of Kathy and Doug Porter
Anonymous donation in memory of Abbey Wilkerson
Penny Tracey, in memory of Zoey, her GRRR rescue
Cindy & Jim Williamson, in memory of their GRRR Golden, Lucy, adopted in 2004.
Joyce Morganfield with
Rookie & Chelsey
In Memory of Joyce Morganfield: Arvada West Animal Hospital • Craig & Kris Axtell • Jill Balsiger • Marc & Vicki Carpenter • Scott Carpenter
Tracy & Lois Cochran • Debbie & Tom Davis • Karen & Michael Delicate • Jac & Joanne Donald • Betty Eddy • Ron & Vicki Eddy • Jo & Fred
Everding • Margot & Allan Frank • Robin Haney • Deborah Helburg • Pam Holtz • Cathy & Russ Jones • Bob Jorgensen & Deb Kneale Alison Kadans • Joann Leetmae • Toni Leuthold • Grace & Robert Mann • Dan & Marilynn Maring • Susan & Doug Martel • Robert & Nancy
Miller • Donald & Zeta McMichael • Warren & Truda Moreau • Cindi & Don Oatman • Kip & Ann Oram • Elaine Purnell • Patricia & Scott
Rogers • Judi Servoss & Joel Carmichael • Jackie Solt • Stacy & Mark Springston • Chris Wittenbrink & Tracy Johnston
In Memory of Tim Ray: Philip & Nancy Altpeter • Barbara Bailey • Paul Boulis • CCHN & CHAMP • Mary Devlin • Nancy Dykstra
Pat Fairchild • Diane Gaddis • Iggy & Audrey Graffeo • Feygele Jacobs • Andy Jordan • Marion Jordan • David and Carol Kopp • Pam
Locken • John & Roslyn Mengenhausen • Jacquelyn Moen • Pet Kare Clinic • Bill & Marcia Pomietlasz • Promise Community Health
Center •Dave & Andi Rosol • Lynn & Chris Schreurs • David & Rebecca Scott • Curt & Lori Timmons • Kay Roth
Tim and Sheila Ray with
Murphy the Morgan, and
Goldens Rufus and Rodney
GRRR “Spring Training”
Spring Fling!
Golden Retriever Rescue of the
Rockies
15350 W. 72nd Avenue
Arvada, CO 80007
Sunday, May 19m 11am - 3pm
Phoebe’s Place: 15350 W. 72nd Avenue, Arvada CO 80004
The Golden GRRRowl published
Quarterly by Golden Retriever Rescue
of the Rockies
hotline: 303/279-2400
Fax: 303-940-1559
info@goldenrescue.com
www.goldenrescue.com
Join us for this
fun event for all
GRRR members
and their dogs!
Board of Directors:
Pat Dinkey - President
Judi Servoss - Vice President
Megan Walsh - Secretary
Deb Kneale - Treasurer
Kelli Clark
Darla Henderson
Pat Rogers
Nikki Wiederaenders
Bill Urbanowski
Designed by Debbie Davis:
grrr.volunteer@gmail.com
Edited by Kim Hosler:
kasran@comcast.net
®
“A Golden Retriever Can Change Your Life­!”
OUR MISSION STATEMENT:
Golden Retriever Rescue of the Rockies is dedicated to rescue,
placement and public awareness, to ensure that Golden Retrievers
are adopted by people who are able to provide a safe, loving home.
Applications to adopt a Golden are available on our Web site www.goldenrescue.com or call our hotline 303/279-2400
Please accept my Membership in GRRR (includes quarterly newsletter plus free attendance at all events and reunions)
I would like to receive my newsletter: ❒ via mail (black & white print) or ❒ via e-mail (color PDF...save GRRR postage and printing costs!) $30
year
$_______________
Please accept my additional tax deductible donation to help Goldens where needed most:
❒ $250+ Golden Champion
❒ $100 Golden Hero
❒ $50 Golden Star
$_______________
Interested in volunteering? Go to www.goldenrescue.com 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!