World, Meet Kiwi.

Below is your first look at Kiwi. Kiwi is staying with us as a foster sister until she can find her permanent, forever home. At 14 months, she is a healthy, energetic and active young lady.
Kiwi has been abandoned more times than she can count. Only 14 months old and her life has been a revolving door. Her first owner took her to the pound and surrendered her. Several days later she had second thoughts, went back and reclaimed her. Then she was surrendered again, same result, after a few days she was reclaimed again by the same owner. The third time the pound called Golden Retriever Rescue and gave her over before her owner could change her mind again.

Several days later, Golden Retriever Rescue received a call, her original owner wanted her back again. It took some talking and some counseling, but finally the Rescue relented and adopted her back to the owner. They were assured that the problems were behind them and that everything would work out this time. There was some pressure from the pound who felt that a dog should always be reunited with it's owner if possible. But then the owner returned to surrender Kiwi back to the rescue, for the fourth time. This time rescue spirited her away and is not returning phone calls from the owner. It is no wonder that poor Kiwi has more problems than a high school math test.

This time we are going to find her a stable and permanent forever home. Kiwi does have a few issues. For one she hates car rides, she thinks car rides all end in being abandoned somewhere. Getting her in the car is a major task. She has never been trained to do anything. She is well housebroken, but that is all the training she has had. She is very timid when meeting new people, and she still views a hand reaching towards her as a possible threat. She does not sit, come, lie, stay, walk, or anything else. So we are having to give her some basic education classes. The three cats are helping her, they are teaching "Respect for Cats, 101". She is ready to get her diploma in co-existing with cats, as soon as the scratch on her nose heals. Napping on furniture is a problem, she is learning to stay off of the couches.

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She is in her chewing stage of life. She is demolishing all the toys that Clyde dd not have time to rip up. Clyde, where ever you are, be assured that Kiwi is carrying on your tradition. She loves to chew on anything that fits in the mouth.

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Kiwi is very timid, she jumps at any loud noise. She barks at the dogs and humans in the park, but instead of running out to the fence to bark, she does her barking from the safety of the back steps. She is also timid when it is feeding time. She likes her food bowl out of sight of everyone else, she is afraid one of the bigger dogs will take it away from her. She does not even understand treats, she threw her first few around until someone else grabbed it away and ate it. We have never before had to teach a foster how to eat treats. She does like attention, she will cuddle as long as she can and once the petting starts, she can enjoy ear scratches and tummy rubs all day long.

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The good news is that we all get to join in the training, so we all get more treats as she works on sit and stay. She is a very fast learner and will master it all quickly. The bad news is that we don't get to go for car rides because she has car trauma. The human says that a few trips to the dog park will give her a new view of car rides. I suggested that a trip or two to the ice cream shop will help her get over her fear.

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Meanwhile Muffin is still here. She has met with three different families and not been adopted by any of them, for one reason or another. She has settled in and unpacked her bags. If a special family calls she will listen to their story, but she is not waiting for anyone, she is living her life right here, right now. The humans keep saying that having a third permanent dog is going to interfere with their fostering and there are dozens of dogs that need foster homes. But Muffin is older and not many people want a wonderful, sweet, well behaved, 10 year old lady. So she is enjoying laying in the sun, running in the grass, and sleeping on her new bed beside the human's bed in the bedroom. She says she just as well make the best of it while she can.

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Thanks for reading,

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Mogley G. Retriever

A Home for Clyde!!!

Below, Clyde shows us what he thinks of dinner. He can eat and protect his precious footballs at the same time.

Just because I am laying down, don't think you can get away with stealing one of my footballs.

Clyde is demonstrating how big of a football fan he is. He can't wait till football season begins.

Last night we drove Clyde and Muffin over to Golden, Colorado to the Golden Retriever Rescue of the Rockies (GRRR) site. We met some very nice people that were looking for a companion for their golden. Clyde was a perfect fit not to mention an almost perfect clone of their current Golden Lady. His new home has squirrels in the trees and a nice yard to run in as well as two people that know how to spoil a Golden. Clyde took one of his blue footballs with him, it is his favorite toy and he will feel so much more at home with something he knows. He was also sent with a tennis ball so he would not suffer withdrawal. The nice people even agreed to take Clyde in to the vet for his knee operation and to nurse him back to health. We hope they keep us informed as he progresses. Muffin went along for the ride, but she almost got taken also, the adopters had a long discussion about whether two Goldens or three Goldens was the perfect number. We think they will compromise by becoming foster parents for other rescued Goldens. That way they can discover that the perfect number of Goldens in a home is always "more". A new forever home for a wonderful Golden. Now that is a story worth waiting for!

While we were there another couple adopted Sonny, he was sure happy to have a home of his own. He is younger and his new home has all kinds of wild life. Bunny rabbits, deer, foxes, raccoons and lots of squirrels. Boy what a perfect place for an active younger Golden. He will keep the house from being attacked by those dangerous wild animals. The occupants can sleep safe tonight, a Guard Golden is on duty.
Above, Muffin has the squirrel trapped in a tree, for a moment at least. Muffin is still with us. She is not trying too hard to find a new home. She pointed out to us that there is no hurry to find a home, this one has empty dog beds, empty feeding bowls and a surplus of toys now that Clyde has moved on with his life. GRRR assures us that we will be filling the empty beds and using the empty bowls soon, many more Goldens are coming in every day. Muffin still has to have a visit to the vet, she has a small growth on her eye that has to be taken off and she has a fatty tumor that has to go. If she does not get a new home soon, she will have to stay here while she recovers.

Thanks for reading.

Mogley G. Retriever

Too Much Fun!

The photo is Rusty Muffin, she has taken over the fireplace. Luckily for her white coat, the fireplace had been cleaned well before she moved in. It is cool in the fireplace, and other dogs don't disturb her. The perfect place for a lady that likes her cool peace and quiet. If she can move her bed in there, she will be in heaven.

We thought our three cousins were coming to visit tomorrow. Instead there was something about airline reservations on full planes and overbooking, whatever that means. So the humans were driving to St. Louis instead of flying and they had to leave early.

Emma, Piper and Molly came running in the front door just after dinner time. It was still light so we were able to work off our excitement in the yard before the sun went down and the rain arrived. It is going to rain all night, so we had to get our exercise out of the way. The humans have already had to stop Molly and Piper from jumping in the swimming pool. The humans say it takes too long for wet dogs to dry in the evening before bed, they don't like wet dogs in the bed. I had a long swim during the heat of the day and I dried off quickly. Humans, they just complain all the time.

Seven Golden's with three days to play. Too Much Fun!


I hope you have as much fun as I am going to have for the next three days.

Mogley G. Retriever

Referral

Today's post is a referral to someone else. The Bumpass Hounds recently added "Radar" to their menagerie. They took in a blind, sick Golden puppy to nurse and ended up as a "Foster Failure", when the time came to give up "Radar", they kept him instead. They are awfully good at rescue, not too hot when it comes to the "surrender" part. Ten happy dogs and three tolerant cats prove them excellent in the rescue part of the equation.



His story is their post today and we want to share it with our readers. Go to http://bumpasshounds.blogspot.com/2009/07/i-want-to-give-thanks.html
to read his story.



All of the Golden Retriever Rescue of the Rockies volunteers are marching in the Golden parade today. We did not go because Clyde and Rusty are not good at marching and we did not know how long the parade route would be. We hope all of our friends had fun in the parade.



Thank you,



Mogley G. Retriever

A trip to the vet today.

This morning we all took a ride across town to visit the Golden Retriever Vet. Bella had to have her booster shot for her Lepsis. But Clyde and Rusty had a more serious visit. Clyde had been limping since we picked him up at Doggy Jail. His right rear leg was badly swollen at the knee. After another exam today, Clyde is going to have his knee worked on. They hope to restore most of his use of his knee so that he can chase balls for real. He loves to chase balls and play fetch. But right now they can't throw a ball more than about 10 feet for him, they don't want him to do more damage to his leg.

Rusty has several minor things they needed a look at. She had a "hot spot" just in front of her tail. She has a small growth on her eye lid that will need to be taken off soon. She has several fatty tumors that are no danger, but they do need to be watched. She also has weak hips and has trouble getting up and down. Once she is up, she goes like mad, but she hates to get up when she is down, and she hates to lie down once she is up. She still chases squirrels and checks out the hikers on the park trail outside the fence. She has been put on a small dose of Rimadyl, and we can watch it to see how much she needs to become more mobile. We keep telling her that when you are 10 years old, you have to slow up a little. Rusty says she can slow up this winter when it is snowy and cold outside, in the meantime just give her her pill and open the back door when the squirrel chirps.

It is the height of the squirrel season in our yard. The apple trees are bearing a huge crop of apples this year and squirrels are coming in from miles around to eat breakfast, lunch and dinner. The grape vines have a good crop and soon the raccoons will be raiding the apples and the grapes. The squirrels have not discovered the blueberry and blackberry bushes yet, but they will soon. The giant sunflowers are setting on soon, the squirrels love them as well, if they can keep the birds away long enough to get to the seeds. It is a full time job just keeping raiders out of the crops, Bella is our head squirrel chaser but even she needs help when there are squirrels on three sides of the yard at once, so Rusty needs to be in good shape to help protect the crops.

Next week we will have another trip across town to get some of the work done. We hope that Clyde will come out of his operation with a leg that can keep up with the rest of us. Wish him well, he is a little bummed out about it all. He says that if we will just give him a bigger dose of Rimadyl he will be fine.

All of our rescues have some health needs. That is why your donation to the rescue is so important. The vet bills and medications for GRRR run in the hundreds of thousands of dollars. In fact, that is almost all there is in the annual budget, just a huge category called "medical". In the meantime, make a donation to your local rescue. Keep an eye on the blogg, we will keep you informed as to how Clyde and Rusty do.

Mogley G. Retriever

Lose ends.

The problem with blogging is that frequently there are so many lose ends. Stories that we start but then we move on before we finish them. Dogs that come by once, are adopted and move on, when we meet them later we don't bring you up to date.

The Golden Retriever Rescue of the Rockies (GRRR) vet has been on vacation. He sees so many Goldens in a year that he can almost diagnose them by driving by while they sit on the front porch. Clyde came to us with a bad limp and he had a hard time getting up once he was down. We have been waiting for the vet to come back to take a good look at his left rear leg, his leg has a small zip-zag around the knee and that leg is kept straight. So the vet is due back this week and we will get a picture taken of the leg and find out what is wrong. Meanwhile we got a short term script for Rimadyl to help him move around. It has sure losened him up, he is starting to run and play with us. He still can't bend his knee, but he can sure get around on a stiff leg.

Meanwhile Rusty was having a problem getting up, it was getting so bad that she would not lie down if she was up, she did not want to get up if she was down. We got permission to try one of Clyde's Rimadyl on Rusty, it has made a big difference in how she gets around as well. She chased squirrels again this morning. So she gets another trip to the vet's office when we take Clyde.

GRRR has had several very sad rescues recently. One long time volunteer passed away and now GRRR has to find special homes for his two life companions, ages 12 and 8. Another surrender came when an elderly woman passed away and her family took her 13 year old Golden into a vet to be put to sleep. The vet staff convinced the family that GRRR offered a better solution. She is already in her new home with new love to last her in her remaining years. These Goldens are special cases because the Golden's are losing their homes because of no one's fault. These are the rescues that hurt the most and feel the best when they are completed. .

Some time ago we mentioned five lab puppies that were orphans. At three weeks of age, they were sworn in as honorary Golden Retrievers and are currently in the GRRR system. GRRR is blessed to have hundreds of volunteers to help, our "Puppy Team" found surrogate mothers for these orphans. GRRR has adopted out 3 of them and expect the other two to be spoken for shortly. Who can resist a puppy?

While we have several transportation teams that will drive 1,000 miles or more to transpore needy dogs, we also need to mention "Pilots for Paws:. "Pilots for Paws" is a volunteer group that transports rescue dogs, they brought us several Golden's from Idaho, South Dakota and Wyoming. Boy what lucky dogs to get transported by private airplane. One boy in particular who was flown in was named Willie, but at the shelter in Idaho they called him OTD, "Older Than Dirt".

We are overrun with older Golden's. We are desperately seeking foster homes that are willing to take older Gold. Most of the older surrenders have health problems which is often why they are surrendered. Since it is so hard to find homes for older dogs, most foster homes understand that they may end up keeping them much longer than a younger dog.

These older Golden's are the true treasures. They ask for nothing more than a chance to get a head pat and some human company in their final years. They know the rules of a home, they don't run away or chew up furniture. They just give love and comfort in a way that few can understand if you have never had an older Golden as a friend.

Help us by being a foster home, give these wonderful older dogs a chance to live in dignity and enjoy the comfort and love of a final forever home. Call a rescue near you and volunteer to help an older dog enjoy the Golden years. Log onto your rescue's web site and donate to help with the many health problems we are seeing.

Somewhere, a dog needs you.

Mogley G. Retriever

Looking for a Forever Home!

Below, I help Clyde (center) and Rusty Muffin (right rear) keep the squirrel up the apple tree.

Rusty Muffin and Clyde are still in the search for their new Forever Homes. As the head dog in the household, I always am concerned when too much time passes without finding homes for the foster dogs that stay with us. "Foster Failure" is what happens when the humans refuse to give up a foster dog for adoption. I have seen it happen too often so I try to help the process along. Clyde had some people interested in him, but it turns out they wanted a jogging companion. Clyde would love to jog, but he has a sore right rear knee and he does not do long distances.

We have seen a pattern emerging in the older rescue dogs we get as fosters. The human thinks it is caused by poor quality food, when a family gets desperate they buy cheaper food which in turn causes their older pet to lose mobility, which in turn leads them to abandon them. The older dogs all are movement impaired when they arrive. After several weeks of a better quality food, exercise, diet and supplements, they become much more active. When we picked up Clyde he had to be carried into the car. Now he runs and jumps very well. Glucosamine and a small Rimadyl tablet has given him back his mobility. Rusty Muffin had a hard time getting up once she was lying down, after getting the supplements she is now running with Bella and I, chasing squirrels and having fun.

Clyde would like a home where he can be the head "Fetch Dog". Clyde can fetch anything, sticks, balls, Frisbees, you name it, if you can throw it, Clyde can fetch it. Clyde can even fetch two tennis balls at once. He is not up to long jogging or running, but a walk in the park is fine with him. He will need a lot of toys, he is hard on them. He plays rough. He loves tummy scratches and ear rubs. Clyde does not bark much, he will not make your neighbors angry by barking at everything, but he will warn of an intruder or arriving guests in case your door bell is too quiet.

Below: Rusty Muffin is chasing a squirrel that came too close to the ground.

Rusty is seeking a home with a squirrel nearby. With better food and her glucosamine supplements, she is running with the best of them. Still, at 10 years of age, she will not be joining you on your triathlon training, but she will join you for walks and short jogs. She would like a toy or two, here when she tries to play with a toy Clyde takes it away from her. Rusty says she is the best cuddler and lover in the world. If you need a warm, soft, lady to snuggle with, Rusty is the lady for the job. She does not bark unless it is something worthy of mention, she will not keep the neighbors awake at night. When she was surrendered her old owners said she had thunder fear. She has been through three loud storms here and has been fine. In the first storm she was a little frightened until she saw that the three of us were ignoring it, then she laid down and slept through it and the storms that followed.

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Below, Rusty Muffin knows that good camouflage helps when you are stalking the wily squirrel. Here she disguises herself as a pine tree.

Both Rusty and Clyde are cat safe, certified by the three resident felines. They are well housebroken and have good manners, your good carpet and silk pillows are safe with them. If you can help find homes for two needy friends, go to http://www.goldenrescue.com/ and fill out the adoption application. Mention Clyde or Rusty Muffin on the form and you will get to meet these two lovely Goldens.

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Mogley G. Retriever

The Toy Fairy

The dog toy fairy came to our house today. We hit the jackpot. They went shopping to someplace called "Ross Stores" which usually sells people clothing, but they had a shipment of very cheap and good dog toys. Everyone got a new toy, and there was even toys left over. Clyde has destroyed many of our toys, so we needed a new supply. The problem is that Clyde was there when they were handed out, so I have asked them to schedule another re-supply run for tomorrow. Below, Clyde has a brand new hoard of toys to chew.

Below, I have to play with a stupid fake tire with a blinking electric light in it.
Bella has a toy but she will get tired of it soon and steal everyone elses' toys.
Below, Clyde is gloating over the toy he stole from me.
Several days ago the tennis ball fairy stopped by and left us a big bag of tennis balls. The tennis ball fairy had heard that Clyde was staying with us. Clyde is delightful, but he is hard on toys and balls. Rusty Muffin is very camera shy, plus she does not like toys very much. She likes squirrels, she took a look at her new toy and went outside to hunt squirrels.

Mogley G. Retriever.

A Fun Weekend

Below, a dry Rusty Muffin is followed by a very wet Molly. Rusty did not want to get wet, she says it takes too long for her to get her hair looking good after a swim. She wants to look her best if a possible new Forever Home comes to see her.

Below, I am in the lead, followed by Piper, Molly with Bella on shore.

Saturday and Sunday were fun days. Early Saturday I was tired of waiting for the human to open the pool so I pushed the little fence into the water and took a swim. They took the hint and opened the pool. Then later Saturday our three cousins, Emma, Molly and Piper, came by to go swimming. We had a good time.

Above, Clyde proves he is faster than the young dogs, he beat them to the ball several times. On shore he can not keep up, in the water he can show the young dogs how it is done. We think Clyde should have been named Dudley DoRight. He is always making sure that everything is being done in the right way. Balls have to be gathered together. Toys moved from one area of the room to the other. Other dogs have to behave, or he tells them to calm down. Clyde is a talker. He tries to speak words, but his enunciation leaves something to be desired. He still tries to speak and he gets his wants across.

Rusty Muffin did not go into the water. Apparently the evening when she fell into the pool was enough for her. She is content to just watch us splash and play. She is relaxing enough to start playing now. She plays a mean tug-o-war. She is not much of a toy hound, but she is starting to take an interest in some of the toys.

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We have one person that wants to meet Clyde. He says he recently lost his Golden and needs a new best friend. He lives in the mountains with lots of room to roam with a stream nearby. Clyde says he is already having dreams about the mountains, we had to show him pictures so he would know what to expect.

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So far no one has asked about Rusty. She says that her demands are few. She just wants a home where she can show a family what Golden Love is all about. She does not play fetch, she does not retrieve ducks. Her specialty is snuggling and with her long soft coat, she is terrific. When she puts her head under someones hand, they can not help but pet her when they feel her lush coat.

Mogley G. Retriever

Good News!

I just opened my morning fan mail and found a note from Evie:

Hi Mogley,

Your friend Evie here with an update on Duke and Daisy for you. This really nice man came a few days ago to meet Duke and Daisy. He really liked both of them. Daisy snuggled right up to him and gave him her best love muffin snuggle. Duke was on his best behavior and he too made a good impression. The man said he would come back on Monday morning and he did. He brought his wife with him too. Duke sized up the situation right away and turned on his best love muffin routine and so did Daisy. They loved all over the man's wife. Duke even got it across that he likes tennis balls and found out that she plays tennis so there will be balls a plenty for him. Both Daisy and Duke looked really happy as they drove away. No one had to ask them twice to get up in the car. Daisy hopped up, will a little assistance, and immediately laid down on the soft cushion they had. Duke left with his favorite tennis ball and both were happy as clams. What Duke and Daisy don't know is that it is only going to get better. 2 of the grand daughters are visiting for several weeks and they will have kids to play with!! Daisy will be soooo happy!! She lights up around kids. Another happy ending thanks to GRRR and all the volunteers that help.

Your friend,
Evie

This is what makes rescue so rewarding. It is hard for me to share my house and my humans, but helping other lost Goldens find their way is a huge reward.

Mogley G. Retriever

Help Wanted!

I received the following e-mail from our swimming friend, Evie. She and her brother and sister come over and swim with me, their family also fosters and places homeless Goldens:


Dear Mogley,

Your friend Evie here. Mom is upstairs sewing and left the computer room door open so I get a chance to write to you. We need your help. We have 2 foster friends here with us. Daisy and Duke. You can see pictures of them at www.goldenrescue.com. Their family lost their home and had to move to an apartment. They felt it was best to let GRRR find them a new home with room to run and fetch the tennis ball. Daisy and Duke really want to stay together. That is where we need your help. A pair is always a little harder to place than a single dog so a bit of extra publicity might help. Below, Duke on the left, Daisy on the right.

Duke is sitting here with me, he is 7 and not a hint of gray on him. He has a dark red coat like me and mom says he has the perfect golden retriever head. He says that he would love a home with a soft bed, good food and of course lots of tennis balls and love. Duke isn't a needy dog but does like his ear scratches several times a day. He is perfectly house trained and is very well behaved. He loves to follow our dad everywhere.

Daisy on the other hand is 6 and a love muffin. She has the softest features and when she looks at you, your heart melts. She is a honey amber color and has lots and lots of curls. Daisy follows Duke everywhere. It took Daisy a little longer to come out of her shell. The first week here she was so sad, she really missed her family. Daisy also wants a soft bed and light food. She needs to trim down a bit and is working on it very hard here. She loves to roll in the grass with a tennis ball and find a cool shady spot to watch everyone else play fetch. She will chase the ball a couple of times but then she prefers the side lines to view the action. Daisy is also perfectly house trained and very obedient. She is still a little shy.

Daisy is perfect around the resident kitties and totally ignores them . Duke is a little more interested but does them no harm. He just has to be reminded occasionally that kitties do not play with dogs. One of our little friends, mom calls her practically a grand daughter, and her cousin came over for a couple of days last week. My goodness, Duke and Daisy were in 7th heaven. They love kids!! Both dogs broke out with big grins and velcroed themselves to the girls. They also were very gentle with the girls and played and played. Our little friend came over again yesterday for a few hours and both Daisy and Duke tried to crawl up in her lap. They are too big to be lap dogs so they settled for laying on the couch with their heads in her lap. They just lit up when she came in the door. I have included a picture for you. Duke is on the left and Daisy is on the right. Hopefully they can find a new forever home soon. They are ready and waiting. Mogley, thanks so much for your help. Sergeant and Sorsha send their regards and say we need to have another doggie swim party again soon.

Your Friend,
Evie

Rusty Muffin

Who would name their Golden Retriever "Rusty Muffin"?

Did they have a bad sense of humor? Could they not agree, one wanted to name her Rusty, the other wanted to name her Muffin? Or did they want her to run away from home?
Rusty was surrendered to Golden Retriever Rescue of the Rockies (GRRR). We were told that Rusty ran away because of the loud fireworks over the 4th of July. They were losing their home and they were tired of bringing her back when she ran away. They gave their 10 year old Golden to strangers and walked away.

We picked up Rusty last night, she was tired, it had been a long day. She had been transported to the Rescue, then given a bath. When we picked her up, she was beautiful. On the way home she napped in the back of the SUV. She arrived late and barely had time to be introduced to the family and house before it was bed time. There was a lot of fireworks, one of the neighbors was celebrating the 4th a few days late. Rusty did not even notice the explosions across the back fence.

This morning when we woke up, we all went downstairs and out to the back yard for our morning potty time. The human watched Rusty get acquainted with the yard and the grounds for a while, then he went in for a cup of coffee. He came running out when he heard the loud splash. Rusty had jumped into the pool. We found out that she can swim, and we found out that her wonderful, soft, heavy blond coat takes a lot to dry out. Three towels and four hours of Colorado sunshine to be exact. She is still damp in the photos.

What do we know about Rusty? We were told she is 10 but she only looks 7 or 8, she has a beautiful coat, she walks like a runway model. She is dignified and she is truly a queen, ruling all she surveys. She used the dog door within minutes of arriving. She swims well, her early morning dip did not even phase her. She went nose to nose with the three cats, they flinched first but no one ran and no one was chased. The cats accepted her in minutes, she accepted them. She is well socialised. She eats slowly, queens do not rush their dinner.

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Some where there is a home that needs a wonderful, beautiful lady that they can walk in the park and impress the neighbors with their beautiful, full coated Golden Retriever. Somewhere there is a home that needs love from a beautiful lady. Imagine what it would be like to snuggle in front of a fireplace with this soft, warm lady.

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Now we are searching for two new forever homes. We hope you will help us in our quest. In the meantime, with four Golden's in one home, we will have some fun. So keep reading, we will keep you updated.

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Mogley G. Retriever

Clyde the Charmer

Clyde has a fan club. Everyone he meets joins the club. He is such a nice, mellow Golden that he charms everyone. He thinks that he will get his choice of Forever Homes, soon people will be calling and wanting to take him home. He just wants to make sure they understand that he needs a lot of tennis balls and toys. We promised him he can take five tennis balls with him, he says that is enough to last him a few days.

If you are looking for a well behaved Golden Retriever, go to http://www.goldenrescue.com/ and fill out the adoption form, ask to see Clyde. Clyde would appreciate having you select a new name, he is not too fond of Clyde. He says he needs something that tells people he is an exciting and loving Golden. Clyde tells people he is dull and drab. Nothing personal to the people named Clyde, but it does not fit a wonderful, mellow Golden. Pass the word, there is a homeless Golden living at a foster home who needs a forever home that can give him love and throw tennis balls for him. He does not like to have them thrown far, just a little throw will do. The joy is in fetching them back to you, not in running after them. The joy is in playing together, man and dog, one happy forever family.

Mogley G. Retriever

4th of July Tradition

We celebrated the 4th of July in a traditional manner. We had a Golden Retriever Swimming Party. Our three cousins came by and we all jumped into the pool. Thomas Jefferson would be pleased if he knew that we were carrying on the tradition. Apple pie, motherhood and wet retrievers. That is what makes the 4th so special.

We knew that our new resident foster friend, Clyde, was fascinated by the swimming pool. He would lay on the edge of the pool and stare into it, then he would drop his ball into the pool. We expected him to fall in, but he was just playing a game. Below, Clyde in the front, learns to swim.
Today when my three cousins arrived to help us celebrate the 4th, we were swimming, chasing tennis balls and having a splashing good time. Suddenly Clyde was in the middle of us. He obviously had not swum before, when a dog first learns to swim they raise their front paws out of the water and splash a lot. After a few minutes they use their front feet to pull. In minutes Clyde was keeping up with us, swimming without a splash. The human was worried about Clyde, he grabbed him by the collar and pulled him up on the patio. Clyde shook once, then jumped back in the pool. The human let him swim this time. The human thought it was cute, but it takes three towels to dry Clyde, he has a very heavy coat.

Above, Piper, I and Clyde push off after a tennis ball.

When a new Foster Golden arrives, it is fun to watch them evolve from scared and timid to full fledged members of the home. The books on Golden's talk about their similarities, saying they are alike. What is fun is learning the vast differences in each Golden. Clyde did not look like he would be a swimmer. He was a little stiff in the hind legs, he did not run well, he was overweight and obviously he had not been exercised in his prior home. Yet he instantly became a strong swimmer who did not want to leave the water. He had made an amazing discover about himself, he was a Golden Retriever after all. Another twist that Clyde brought with him is the great toy box caper. We have a large, old copper wash tub filled with dog toys. Clyde enjoyed digging in the tub and selecting his toys. Soon he started pulling them all out. The humans put them back in to clean the house. Clyde would have them out again in a flash. He can empty the toy tub in about five minutes.

Clyde is Clyde. We have had over 30 foster Golden's in our home. Each one had a very unique personality, some character traits that set them apart. If you want to adopt Clyde, be prepared to have a lot of toys. If you don't have a swimming pool, a wading pool will do, or a few trips to the lake. Once the swimming gene is activated, there is no turning it off!

Clyde could be keeping you company and entertaining him with his antics, just go to the rescue web site, read about Clyde and ask to meet him.

Mogley G. Retriever

Clyde the Toy King

We think that Clyde may like toys, what do you think?

Our new foster friend, Clyde has been with us for 24 hours now and we are getting to know him. The photo above is the real Clyde. He says that he suffered from Toy Deprivation when he was in Doggy Jail, he is trying to make up for lost time.

We are writing his profile for the Dog Dating Web Site, he wants a nice Forever Home, one with lots and lots and lots of toys. Oh, and he wants his new Forever Home to have many toys. A nice bed will be a requirement. Beyond that, his demands are simple. He is currently wearing one of my old collars, with no ID tags. He says he will wait until he is adopted by a Forever Family, then he can get his own ID tags on his brand new forever collar, his new Forever Home address and phone number. A toy or two would be nice also.

If his right ear looks funny, it is because he has an infection in it and he gets drops of a greasy medicine in it. It is getting better and he will be all better very soon. He hopes people will look at his left profile because it is his better side right now.

Clyde asks: "Would you like to take me home and love me, Forever?"

Mogley G. Retriever

Uncle Clyde

Bella had to go to the vet today to get her annual booster shots and her exam. The SUV was loaded and the human was just pulling out of the drive way when Golden Retriever Rescue of the Rockies (GRRR) called on his phone. They asked him to stop on his way and pick up "Clyde" who was the dog we mentioned earlier that was in the local Doggy Jail. He was ready for release from the pound and he needed a trip to the vet also.

He had been dropped in the "Night Depository" without a note, without his collar and tags, nothing. Just an older Golden Retriever, without a home. GRRR wanted him the next day, but the pound had to keep him in case someone claimed him.

When the human arrived at the pound, he was directed to a small chain link run. There was hardly room enough for the tail that was wagging vigorously, and a dog that was quivering all over with excitement to see rescue at hand. He was happy to walk on the leash out the door, and never look back. We delivered him to the vet and then waited till he had passed his physical. The vet guessed him to be 6-7 year old, we guess he is 8-9. We tried several names on him, he responded to anything you said to him. If you called him Prince, he came, same with Rover, Duke, Buddy, etc. He was given a new name, "Clyde". Duke was adopted several days ago, my three cousins (Emma, Molly and Piper) went home today, so there was room at the house for a new Foster friend.

Clyde rode in the car like someone that had ridden often. He braced himself against the seat, and enjoyed the ride. He has been on many outings with a family before he was left alone that fateful night. Once upon a time he took many trips to the mountains and picnics in the park with children that loved him and threw balls for him to chase.

Back home, we introduced him to the back yard and to the house. Clyde is a ball-aholic. He said he was ball deprived in the Doggy Jail, so he had to pick up every ball and toy he passed, carry it for a ways, then drop it to pick up the next one. As he went down the hallway, he came to the dog door, he went out, then came back in. We now know his old home had a dog door and that Clyde was free to come and go as he wished. On the way to the kitchen he met Minni Cat. He did not even slow up, he just marched on down the hallway, right past the cat, not even a hint that he might give chase.

Clyde was intrigued with the swimming pool, he laid down and spent some time watching the water. He was told "No" whenever he got too curious, so he looked like he understood. Clyde had not been here one hour when we looked up at a noise and found that Clyde was in the Koi pond. He had to be rinsed off, then toweled dry. With his heavy coat, it was a three towel dry job. Clyde has been bathed before, he loved every minute of it. Even in the dry 87 degree day, he dried slowly due to his very heavy coat. Like all new foster guests, he has Velcroed himself to the humans leg and won't let go, it will be a few days before he starts playing with Bella and I.

We know that Clyde came from a home where he was very loved part of a family, he was trained to chase balls, trained to walk on the leash, trained to behave politely towards cats and other dogs. He came from a home that cared for him, now we have to find him a new Forever Home that will keep him. From our first impression, his new home will be a home that will soon have a wonderful dog in it.

We will keep you informed on our progress as we search for a home for Uncle Clyde.

Mogley G. Retriever

Cloudy Swimming Pools

We have been having daily swims in the swimming pool. Piper, Molly and I are swim-aholics. Piper can swim as much as Pool G. Retriever. Piper gets in and will not come out until she is forced out. Since it was very warm yesterday, the resident human left her in to see how long she would stay. Piper won, after two hours he drug her out of the pool to dry off, she was trembling she was so tired.

The resident chauffeur claims we do it on purpose. When we go swimming, we immediately jump out, run down under the big trees and roll in the dirt. Then we run to the pool for a swim. The result is a very large dog shaped cloud of dirt in the pool each time we do this. Piper does not do this, she simply stays in the pool, all day long.

The human does not mind us swimming, he does get angry when we make the pool dirty by running back and forth between the dirt and the pool. My readers will understand how comfortable it is to roll in the dirt in a hot summer day, and throwing a swim into the package just makes the day extra special.

Does he really need to see the bottom of the pool? It has the same pattern on it as the rest of the pool. What is more important, a clear swimming pool or your dogs happiness? At least in the dry climate here in Denver, we dry off very quickly. A shake or two, a few minutes of toweling and we are ready to go.

Mogley G. Retriever

An Accidental Adoption!

It has been a busy week end. On Saturday Duke went over to Golden Retriever Rescue of the Rockies (GRRR) to meet a possible new home. The first couple he met were looking for a companion for their 5 year old Golden. Duke was perfect, he charmed everyone. He even played with their dog, just to prove he was a good family dog. But he did not look like a Golden with his shaved hair. He lost out to a full coated Golden that was just barely one year old and was a match in looks, but younger, to their current Golden. Competing with puppy charm is hard, even for Duke. The second couple he met were afraid to adopt a dog unless their dog behaviourist approved the dog first, they did not want a clash between their older dog and a new one. So Duke came home. He decided that maybe he would unpack his bags and stay. He told us he gave this adoption thing a good try and he had decided to just stay with us forever.

We celebrated with a huge romp in the Yard. Our three cousins are staying with us for a few days, their humans are off on a trip somewhere. So there are six of us to play all day. What a romp we had, all day long.

Then on Sunday Duke was invited to go along on a home visitation/inspection. Kris does home inspections on the East side of town, and she needed a well mannered Golden to go along with her to make sure the house was worthy of a Golden Retriever. Duke thought it sounded like fun, better than napping all afternoon. He arrived at the new home and decided that it looked like a place he could enjoy. It was indeed worthy of a Golden. Several children immediately started making over him, playing with him and making him feel at home. The other resident Golden was even fun to play with and made Duke feel welcome as well. Kris explained to Duke that a home visit was just a home visit, they could not adopt him.

Kris called us later to explain that if she had taken Duke away she would have broken 5 hearts, Duke's and four humans. Duke sent his regards and told us that we can give his food bowl to someone else, he has a wonderful new one, and dog toys galore.

Don't you love it when a story has a happy ending?

Mogley G. Retriever

Good news, bad news.

We have an appointment for Duke to meet a prospective new home on Saturday morning. We know the prospective home is a former Golden owner, they lost their Golden and are seeking to find love again. We know they will be a good home. We will see if Duke likes them and if he wants to move in with them. He says he expects a nice soft bed. He likes a dog door, but if he does not have a dog door, then he gets to be waited on. Think about it. If you have your own dog door, the people expect you to come and go on your own. If you don't have a dog door, they get up and let you in and out. They have to wait on you. So dog doors are a mixed blessing according to Duke.

The bad news is that we had an emergency call to pick up an abandoned Golden at the local municipal pound. The pound has pens for night drop off of abandoned pets. This morning the cages had two St. Bernard's, two Labs, two Chihuahua mixes, and an old Golden boy. Golden Retriever Rescue of the Rockies (GRRR) called, they wanted us to get the Golden boy out of there immediately. They have holds on any Golden that shows up at a shelter, and an older Golden deserves to have a home, not a chain link run with a concrete bed. In this case, the paper work was not ready so we will pick him up as soon as the shelter will allow. Since the person leaving him did not leave any paper work, the shelter will keep him for a few days to make sure he really is abandoned and not some neighbors sick practical joke.

But this raises the question of why will people abandon their family pets in such a casual manner? Not one, but seven different dogs in one night alone. It turns out this is not unusual. All of the local municipal shelters have night drop off crates or pens. All of them find they are used regularly by people that want to "abandon and run". If they bring the pet in during the day, paper work can be done, a history can be taken, and the pet can be re homed immediately. By abandoning them so casually in the dark of night, the rules are the same with a stray dog picked up on the street, they have to hold them to give the owners a chance to claim them in case the owner did not abandon them.

So what is wrong with this picture? What is wrong with our attitude to our pets, what happened to that dog-human bond we hear so much about? It appears it is too often a one way street. Pushing your 10 year old Golden into a crate on a street corner at midnight is hardly the way a responsible owner should treat such a friend.

This is the new and modern way to end a friendship. Push your family friend of 10 years into a crate on a lonely street corner at midnight, then drive away, leaving no trace. Don't even leave him with his collar and tags, someone might trace him.

Ten years of devotion, gone in a moment. Those walks in the parks, those days of chasing balls on green grass, those evenings laying at your feet and looking at you with the devotion dogs have for their masters, all gone. Only memories, only memories.

Those of us that have warm homes and loving humans can not even imagine how anyone could do such a thing. But we learn that it is very common. Cross your paws for those poor abandoned pets. Ask your human to help, volunteer to help a local rescue. These lonely dogs deserve your help.

Mogley G. Retriever

p.s. The St. Bernard rescue will probably pick up the Saints, they work very hard. The Lab rescue is overflowing and it can not handle all of the abandoned Lab's that are currently in the shelters and pounds so the two labs will likely not get out soon and will join many more that are already in shelters everywhere. There is a downside to being the most popular breed of dogs, the price is paid by the individual Lab's that will never find a home. The small dog rescue has been contacted for their two. The GRRR organization keeps up but only by asking its members and volunteers to do more and more. We will look at the Labs and try to help them also. We keep adding more "Honorary Golden's" to our system. That is why we keep reminding you to volunteer, a dogs life does hang in the balance.

Duke Update

We have not blogged for a few days. Duke did not want me to talk about his latest episode. Duke was feeling pretty low. On Sunday we took him over to Golden Retriever Rescue to meet with a prospective new home. He had two competitors, two other Golden's were there to meet with the folks as well. Brock was a funny looking young Golden male, he had been given a "lion" shave, he had been clipped except for his "mane".

Duke had a fun time going for a walk with a very nice couple. They told him they had a dog door so that Duke could feel free to come and go. They petted him and made over him a lot. They had an older Golden and they were looking for a friend that would keep her company during the day. Everything was great until they went into the big play pen area.

Two other possible Golden's went into the play pen so that they could see who would best play and bond with their older lady. Duke says he was not told the rules, he spent his time paying attention to the humans, making himself a lovable devoted Golden. But Brock cheated. Brock spent his time buttering up the Golden girl.

In the end, the couple took Brock, they felt Brock was going to make a better companion for their old friend. Duke was heart broken, he was all ready to take a ride to his new home.

But today he feels better. Several people have asked to see him and the rescue is trying to set up appointments for this week end. This time he will ask what the rules are so that he can improve his chances.

Mogley G. Retriever

Pool G. Retriever

A new foster, Pool G. Retriever, arrived at our house today. He was locked in a shed all winter long, when they found him they threw him directly in the pool. I tried to get acquainted with him but he would not come out to play. The humans will not allow me to jump in the pool, they want me to walk in down the steps, they have a fence on the steps, that keeps me from swimming all day every day. I expect to play with Pool G. Retriever later today when it gets warmer. He may not be much fun to play with, but boy can he swim!

Below is a photo of Duke, our current foster from Golden Retriever Rescue. Duke is very afraid of cameras and he runs when he sees one. It is very hard to get a photo of him. Yes, he has been shaved, his coat was terribly matted. A "before shave" photo is posted with his profile on the web site. He is ready for his new home, ask to see Duke when you visit http://www.goldenrescue.com/.

Below is an updated photo of Bella. She says she does not get mentioned on the blog often enough. This is a good photo of the queen of the house.

We may get to go run in the mountains this week end. That is lots of fun, but it really wears us out. Have a happy week end.

Mogley G. Retriever

A Letter from Maggie

I just received a letter from Maggie, one of our foster friends who has moved on to a wonderful forever home.

Hi Mogely!!
Gotta tell ya about my great, great new life. After several trips to the vet, my anal glands were infected, a stomach infection and of course the golden retriever ear problem, I'm really starting to believe this is my forever home. The doc says I have "swim feet" and when I run or walk I look like I'm swimming. I drag my feet and my cuticles bleed. But guess what? My pack leaders bought me some Ruffwear boots the kind with rubber soles (and socks) and I walk 5 miles a day in them. They have made all the difference. We want to go hiking and I have my own backpack and am in training for our summer hikes. I am also going to a basic obedience school in July as I don't really have the sit stay or wait commands down yet. But I love learning new things and am so excited to start. And I finally figured out what the big basket of stuffed babies was all about! Why, when you take them all out and strew them around the house, you can have a baby to shake anytime you want!

I have a kennel, but I only go in it when my pack has to leave me for a while. I never have to stay in it longer than 5 hours and only two times a week. But it's ok. It's very snuggly, has a kong ball with treats and a fan that keeps me cool. Because I'm an indoor dog now, I have lost a lost of my fluffy coat and even go to a doggie spa for my baths. I have managed to lose 3 lbs from our twice daily walks although it's really hard to lose weight! My dad built me some non-slip steps so I can climb up to the bed to sleep at night. At first, I wasn't sure about sleeping with my new pack. But now I know it's where I belong and I have stopped my "panic panting." It's been quite a transition from my old life to this one. So many things had to be perfect for me to find my pack. Had I not been with your pack my pack wouldn't have found me. I'll send pictures soon. I'd love for you to see me in my boots and backpack. I look so great and feel great too.

Maggie AKA MagsZ (my hip-hop name)

Jenny

Just a short note to follow up on Jenny. When we were at Golden Retriever Rescue of the Rockies (GRRR) on Sunday, 11 year old Jenny arrived from Steamboat Springs, CO. Jenny was terribly underweight, she made anorexic look good. When we tried to feed her she would not eat, she would drink water but not take food. We tried treats and she turned those down as well.

She made a trip to the GRRR vet for a physical. She has large tumors on her throat, on her thyroid. Cells were taken to determine the type of tumors she has. Her weight problem is likely hyperthyroid, caused by the tumors. Today she will visit a specialist to see what can be done and if the tumors can be removed. Her ears were a mess and were cleaned, and she had a nice warm bath.

Meanwhile her foster mom is committed to spoiling her rotten. Jenny will have lots of love and attention, plus a warm home and a soft bed while she waits for the diagnosis. Jenny has touched everyone she has met, she is gaining a huge fan club. Keep your paws crossed for Jenny.

Jenny is an example of what is happening in the rescue arena. More people are surrendering their much loved pets when faced with major veterinarian bills. Meanwhile rescues are under pressure to provide more medical care in a time of shrinking donations. At the current rate, Golden Retriever Rescue of the Rockies (GRRR) will likely re-home over 400 this year. More of these have medical problems, more of them need extended foster care to recover before they are ready for new homes. Thanks to all of our donors and our volunteer staff, we are still providing homes and medical care to all Golden's, and many others through our "Honorary Golden" program. Our goal is to prevent any Golden, such as Jenny, from having to sleep on concrete or see the world through chain link. If you can help with a donation, visit www.goldenrescue.com and leave a tax deductible donation on-line. If you can take in a foster, help transport or even just help walk dogs or clean kennels, contact your local rescue organization, they need your help. Volunteering does not cost you anything, but it makes a huge difference in a Golden life.

Mogley G. Retriever

A foster story.

Our foster visitor, Duke, is a water dog. We did not know it, we thought he did not like the water. Last week end at our swim party he would not get in the water beyond his ankles. Today the humans were feeding the fish in the Koi pond. Duke smelled the food, then saw that the water was covered with it. He jumped in and managed to grab a few bites before he was ordered out of the pond. It should be an interesting night. He smells like fish, there is no time to give him a bath. He sleeps beside the bed. At least we won't have to smell the cats all night, their breath smells like fish anyway. It is cool at night so we sleep with the windows open which should help a lot.

Duke is a hand hog, he thinks that if a human hand is not petting him, then it is a wasted hand. He needs a home with a lot of hands, he can keep them all busy. We still have no home for Duke yet, we are holding out for a special home. It needs to be an active home, Duke is a well mannered but tightly wound spring. We go outside and run often just to run and enjoy being young. Duke would be so easy to train, he would make a wonderful forever friend.

When we turned Daisy over to her new forever home, we forgot to mention a few requirements for her new home. Daisy likes a soft dog bed, so be sure she has a large one. She will need one in the family room for daytime use and one in the bedroom for night. We all get tummy rubs, ear scratches, cheek and chin rubs twice a day if we are good, luckily, some days the human has a short memory. We also get peanut butter twice a day. I have to have pills twice a day which I get on the end of a finger with a dab of peanut butter. We can not discriminate, so everyone gets a peanut butter treat twice a day. It is part of our "sit/stay" training.

Thanks to everyone who helped make it a successful weekend for adoptions. We are still overflowing, if you can volunteer with us, or with your local rescue group, they need your help. Near you there is a rescue with wonderful dogs sleeping alone on concrete, one call from you will help them find temporary and permanent homes.

One of the most heart warming stories is about the five "Honorary Golden's" GRRR took in. Five black lab puppy's, 24 days old were orphaned. The shelter did not have time to call around to all the possible rescue organizations, there were five hungry babies in immediate need, they called Golden Retriever Rescue knowing someone would be there fast. Our puppy team jumped to the task, took them in and is hand raising them. Thanks, for all you do.

Mogley G. Retriever

Daisy's new home

Below is one last picture of Daisy playing with her rubber duck. She wants people to realise that she is a real Golden Retriever, ready to fetch ducks at the drop of a Milk Biscuit.

We loaded up Daisy and Heidi this morning and headed to the kennels that Golden Retriever Rescue of the Rockies (GRRR) calls home. Heidi had been staying with another foster family nearby. Heidi had been at our swim party the week before, but she did not swim, she only waded in the water.

First came an appointment to introduce Heidi to a gentleman who had driven over the mountains from Glenn Wood Springs. He made the long trip just to meet Heidi, the trip was worth it. In minutes Heidi had made her wishes known and she was ready to make the trek back to her new home. The paper work was done and Heidi was in the back seat of the crew cab pickup, ready to go home.

The second meeting was with another couple that had driven several hundred miles to meet with Daisy. Golden Retriever Rescue does not hold dogs for people, if you want to adopt one, then you need to just do it. But they lived so far away, an exception was made so that the drive would not be in vain. Besides, they agreed to transport Jenny over the Continental Divide to deliver a needy dog to GRRR.

Below, Daisy hides my favorite toys from me.

When the new girl, Jenny, jumped out of the car at the GRRR kennels, we were shocked. Jenny is 11 years old and very skinny. Skinny is not the word for it, she looked like a caricature of a starving dog. Her hip bones sticking up were the highest things on her body. Her ribs were clearly visible. We offered her food, she did not want to eat. We offered her treats, she turned them down. Her next stop is the vet's office. We thank them for transporting her to the rescue, now we have to rescue her from whatever is wrong. That is what GRRR does!

Then they met Daisy. It was love at first pet. Daisy crawled into a lap and made herself at home. They looked at two other dogs, but none could compare to Daisy. Daisy headed back to Craig, Colorado. She will have a wonderful life in the wide open spaces and under the clear blue sky of the Colorado Western Slope.

Below, I inspect the damage Daisy did to two of my favorite toys.

Duke is still with us. He is not sure he wants to find a new home, he is settling in quite well. He still runs when he sees a camera, but in all other ways he is a wonderful foster brother. Still, we do need to get busy finding him a new home now that Daisy is on her way. We may update Duke's profile on the web. He is a much more responsive dog than we first thought. He listens and carries out commands after only one or two repetitions. He is setting a bad example for the rest of us.

Mogley G. Retriever

Daisy and Duke

It is time to start interviewing for forever homes for Duke and Daisy. Daisy did not win her job as theater mascot. Another Golden Lady won the job and will have a very happy life being the mascot behind the scenes. We will tell more when we get the rest of the story on that adoption.

We do have several people that have expressed interest in both Duke and Daisy, so we are waiting for the rescue staff to schedule some visits to see if they are compatible.

Duke is such a sweet boy, he is a snuggler and he obeys very well. I will be glad to see him go, he keeps competing with me for attention. If I leave my place beside the rocking chair, he moves in immediately. The humans say he can be trained entirely by voice, no treats needed. A slight change in voice tone and he snaps to attention. He is really tuned into humans, he will be easy to move into a forever home, and he deserves a home where they understand that he is very sensitive. If they ever yell at him he will probably faint. He is forever happy, he loves life and he loves people. He is very well behaved, he does not jump on visitors, he sets a bad example for Bella and I, we love to give people a "Golden Welcome" at the door. The humans keep telling us to pay attention to how well behaved Duke and Daisy are, they want us to follow their example. When they leave, life will be easier for Bella and I.

Daisy is a love bug, she just hangs out looking for attention. She is sweet, well behaved and very easy to teach and very calm. No jumping on visitors, no pushing and shoving. Her bark is muted, and she does not bark often. She sleeps beside the bed, in my favorite spot.

We will be taking them both to meet prospective new families later this week. The Golden Retriever Rescue placement team has checked out the families, inspected their homes, checked references and determined that they are worthy of such wonderful friends as Daisy or Duke.

People ask us how we can be foster parents and give these wonderful Golden's up when it is time to move them on to a forever home. Being foster parents is easy. Giving up friends such as Daisy and Duke is the difficult part. It takes time to learn about them so that the new owners will know who they are adopting, but that same time is spent making them a part of our family. Wish us luck and wish Daisy and Duke a happy life in their new homes. We will keep everyone informed.

Mogley G. Retriever