Ruby the magician and Sugar the in transit foster.

The photo above is Ruby with her very first toy.   And her very first hole she dug in the lawn.   Two firsts for the puppy mill escapee. 

So much is happening that it is hard to keep up.    This afternoon the bi-ped could not find Ruby.   Ruby was missing.   The house was searched, the yard was searched, the gates were checked.   There is not even a space large enough for the cat to get through.  How could she escape?  She is small and very skinny, maybe she could squeeze out the space between the gates?

Our cousins were called in to help in the search, neighbors were asked to spread out in the area and look for her.   The bi-ped called Golden Retriever Rescue to tell them that Ruby had somehow fled.  Asked them to be on the alert if someone called in her tag number to GRRR.   Then Ruby came out of hiding, yawning and stretching.  But no one saw where she came from.  A short time later they had to search again, this time they found her hole.  She had a hole behind the apple tree, partly under the lilac bush, where she could nap undisturbed.   The search was called off and everyone was able to relax.  Ruby was brought inside and she was placed under close watch. 

Then a call came in asking if we could go pick up a 7 year old Golden from the Denver Dumb Friends league.   Sugar needed a new home, she had been at the Dumb Friends League as long as she could be and we were asked to take her.   The bi-ped jumped in the car and returned with a wonderful lady, Sugar.   Below is our first photo of Sugar. 

Tomorrow morning Sugar, Alexa (our cousins foster) and Daisy have to make a trip to the vet.  Then Sugar will either return or go on to a new foster home while she waits for a forever home, we don't know yet.   Our task was to get her out of doggie jail and move her into the care of Golden Retriever Rescue.

Ruby is settling in, she is getting along well.  She is still terrified when a bi-ped approaches, she likes being petted but she has a hard time overcoming her urge to flee.   Sometimes she stops and braces herself to be petted, sometimes she just runs away.   We did find out how to get her to eat, she received three meals today, the rest of us only had two.   We did have a first today, Ruby played with her first toy.   She likes it, but she drops it and backs away when another dog approaches.   Maybe that is why she found a hiding place, but she is not learning to socialize when she is in the brush. 

Ruby had three meals today.  Above, Sugar took over my couch to nap on, it is the only place dogs are allowed on furniture, and Sugar took it.    Life is not fair.

Someone asked about how many fosters we have had so far, Sugar is number 48.   Can you imagine having 48 different foster's here since the start of this blog?    What should we do when we reach the magic number of 50? 

Yes, if you get bored, you can go back through the blogs and count the fosters, except for three that we could not write about.  One was surrendered by a spouse to get revenge, we could not put her on the web till the dispute was settled, one was an abused dog that we thought might be needed for a court appearance.  One was turned in by someone we did not think even owned her.   They just stayed here till it was worked out, these explain some of the long silences we had on the blog.   48 Goldens and counting.  It has been a wonderful experience, a trip well worth the taking, memories worth  the keeping.    

Mogley G. Retriever

Rescued Ruby, and her rescue story!

I hope everyone will help us welcome Ruby to the pack.   Ruby arrived yesterday, Tuesday, afternoon.   She is about 1 year old, 30-35 pounds, and very scared.   She is one of the puppy mill dogs that Golden Retriever Puppy Mill Rescue Team (GRPMRT) bought at auction.   Golden Retriever Rescue of the Rockies stepped in to provide transportation and new homes for many of the Goldens.    We were feeling left out, our cousins picked up two fosters on Sunday, they were supposed to drop one by here, but they kept them both.   Now they have five Goldens, just like we do.  They have Alexa (not the same as Alexis we placed in a new home on Saturday) and Mia, we have Daisy, Abby and Ruby.   Our task is to turn Ruby into a happy, healthy, obedient Golden that we can place in a Forever Home.   You see, this little lady deserves a second chance in life and we are in charge of giving her that chance!

 If you ever wondered if  your donations to dog rescue groups are worthwhile,  take a look at Ruby, this is her story.   Some people disapprove of buying puppy mill dogs under any circumstances, even to liberate them.   If you want to help give puppy mill dogs a new life, donate to GRPMRT, help fund them and other breed rescue groups that are in the front lines of the battle to save these poor dogs.  Several people from their group attended a "going out of business" auction of puppy mill Goldens and 100 other dogs.   Other puppy mill operators were trying to buy at a bargain to increase their own breeding population, but the rescue groups were there to stop them.   Then shortly after this auction, another auction came up and 16 goldens were auctioned.  Many of the dogs, of all breeds, were purchased at a low price, but the rescue groups ran out of money and many of the dogs went back to another cage with another breeder.  For the want of a donation, a dog was lost, or in this case, many dogs were lost, back to the life that no animal deserves.
 
Grab a fresh handkerchief, then go to this link to start:
http://newsok.com/jones-breeder-turns-over-dogs/article/3454697?custom_c

Then go to this link to see some photos of just some of the dogs that were rescued:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/49463873@N03

Then go to this link to see how these dogs were sold:
http://www.swkennelauction.com/Online%20Catalog%20Flores-May%201st.pdf

Ruby was one of the lucky ones, she was a young breeding female, she had already had at least one litter of puppies,  she was purchased away from the puppy mill operators and turned over to GRRR to start a new life.  She made a stop by our vet to get a check up and to be spayed.   Now she will be staying with us while she adjusts to a new life.  She was so scared and timid when she arrived yesterday that it was hard to get a picture, she kept hiding under things and behind things.  Her tail was curled all the way under, a sign of fear.   She was scared of every new noise and she was scared of other dogs.  She even had food fear, food had been thrown at her, or she had to fight other dogs to get it, so she was afraid of food.   We had to put her in a room by herself before she would eat, even then she was not sure it was safe.   We can't give her treats, she runs from them so she won't be  attacked.  Everyone, human and dogs, are careful to give her special attention to help her settle in.   We unpacked the crate, she was more comfortable in it with the door open than she was running loose. 

Above, Ruby checks out the view from the front porch, safely hiding behind me.  After a night of sleeping in her crate in the bedroom, surrounded by all four of us Golden's, she has learned that we are friends and not a threat.   This morning the tail is out a little more and she is following us around and learning from us.   Abby and I are her trainers.   She follows the two of us around constantly.   Bella is playing her Alpha Female role, being intimidating, Daisy plays by growling and barking, which is very frightening to Ruby.   Ruby likes the petting from the resident bi-peds, but she is also scared of them.   She has the classic hand fear, which seems to be typical of puppy mill alumni.  She has found a second safe place under some willow bushes and quaking aspen trees where she can hide in the back yard.

Above, Ruby and Bella get acquainted.   Enjoy our photos, we will have more about Ruby and her past in the next blog.  We will try and get her to "Tails Up" before we post her on the adoption web site.   She still has to learn to trust people and other dogs before she can move on.   It will be a few weeks for Ruby to become a happy and loving Golden.    Take a moment to remember those dogs of all breeds that won't ever have a happy home, they will live their life in a cage, producing puppies until they are no longer useful, then.......   Support your specialty breed rescue, help break the cycle.

The Golden Retriever Puppy Mill Rescue Team (GRPMRT) has a web site where you can learn more about them and make a donation to change a dogs life.  Go to:  http://grpmrt.org/
Mogley G. Retriever

Adoption Central!

Above, Alexis looks at the squirrel Abby has treed.

Today our home became Adoption Central for a few hours.   A couple had applied to adopt a Golden Retriever, they had been approved, and the Golden's they wanted to meet were Abby and Daisy.   Our cousin brought Alexis by so that everyone would be available if they wanted to meet them.   We did not know how Alexis would respond so it was a good time to find out.    We have given up on adopting Abby out at Adoption Central, every time Abby goes near the kennels she goes berserk with barking.   She says she has bad memories there because that is where she was dropped off by her first family.    So Daisy and Abby will have to meet possible Forever Homes at our place.   

The couple was a very nice couple, Abby, Daisy and Alexis all worked hard to impress them.   They took all three of them for a walk in the park to see how their leash manners were.   They played with all three, and then decided it was going to be a hard choice.   Daisy claimed them, she did her best, but they had some worries about her health.   We have one more visit to the vet before she gets a clean bill of health.    Abby was so busy chasing squirrels that they decided it would be unfair to take her because they did not have a squirrel in their yard.    That left Alexis.   She was on her best behaviour and she got picked for a Forever Home.     Alexis had spent the first four years of her life on a long tie out chain in the back yard.   She did not know about warm houses and laps.   In her short stay at our cousins house she had to learn to go outside to go potty, she had to learn how to behave in side, and she had to learn how to socialise.   She took to her new life with gusto.   She did a wonderful job of adjusting, she was ready to go to a higher level, and she got the chance today to move up in her life.    

Have a happy life Alexis, we wish you a wonderful journey and we hope to see you at our Golden Retriever Reunion party.    Her new owners promised to stay active and go to our events.   

Our cousins came along to see the action, in truth, when Alexis ran out to jump in the car, they ran out to and would not get out.    So while the new couple met Daisy, Abby and Alexis, Piper, Molly and I ran and played.    So it was a good day for all.

Above, Daisy, Bella, Molly, Mogley and Piper in the background, waiting while Abby and Alexis went for a walk with possible adopters.

We may be getting one more foster Golden tonight or tomorrow.   Two new rescues need homes.  Our cousins may take one and we will add one more here.   Stay tuned.     Golden Retriever Rescue of the Rockies has been busy, a puppy mill was closed down by the authorities and we ended up with older females and some puppies.   If you have ever wanted to foster a Golden Retriever, now is a good time to volunteer.   Sending money is nice also, puppies are expensive to raise to adoption age.   

Mogley G. Retriever

All the news that you can sniff on a fire hydrant

Above, I am helping Abby chase squirrels.

I have good news and I have bad news.   The trouble is that I don't know which is which.   I don't have to worry about getting cold and wet at our big Golden Retriever Party this coming Sunday.   They apparently watched the weather forecast and decided to postpone the party.   I won't be able to play with all of my friends, I won't be able to splash in the water, I won't be able to steal tacos from people at the picnic.    The good news is that I may get to play with my four cousins instead.  

The resident bi-ped has a relative that is very high up in the National Weather Service.  He always complains that it is the government's fault we have bad weather to begin with.   We have perfectly good weather going to waste in Hawaii, but we keep importing that cheap stuff from Canada.   So next time you don't like the weather, write a letter to your congressman.

He thinks they canceled the party for no good reason. I have watched the weather forecasts for years, every night they are on the TV just before bed time. From what I have seen, most weather foreasters could not predict Christmas on December 25, if you gave them three try's.

It looks like this Sunday I will be playing with my rescue cousins instead of playing with all of my rescue friends.   But I will get a second chance at the party in a couple of weeks.     One hundred Golden Retrievers in one place at one time, it's worth waiting for.

Mogley G. Retriever

How to hunt squirrels!

Abby is in charge of giving us lessons on "How to chase Squirrels".   Todays lesson will show you how to chase them up one tree, then when they try to escape by going down a branch into another tree, you climb it too. 

Abby has more fun with her squirrels, she spends the day chasing them from tree to tree, then down the top of the fence, then back into the trees.  She comes into the house to check on us, then back out the dog door to chase the squirrels again. 

Abby is very good at what she does.  Since she has come to stay with us, not a single squirrel has attacked anyone in the household.   The women and children of the neighborhood are safe from the killer squirrels that lurk overhead.    Thank you Abby, you have helped keep our home safe.  We hope that your Forever family has squirrels in their yard, otherwise Abby will be bored to death.    If you are thinking of adopting Abby, please have some squirrels for her to play with!

Mogley G. Retriever

Busy Weekend on tap

We are looking forward to a busy weekend.   We have several people that want to meet with Daisy and Abby.  We will probably bring in Alexis who is our cousins foster, and let them meet her as well.   Maybe one of them will find their Forever Home.  Then on Sunday, May 2, we have our first big Golden Retriever Rescue of the Rockies (GRRR) party of the year.   It is open to members (donate $25.00 to join, we will even take your money at the door, bring a food dish) and their Golden friends.  There will be hundreds of Golden Retrievers and lots of food.   No, not dog food, but we know how sloppy people are when they are trying to eat at a picnic.   Tacos will be the main item, and they always leak out the end when bi-peds eat them.   The long term forcast calls for showers, but what is a little water when you have hundreds of friends to play with?  All of us will be playing in the water ponds, why worry about a little more water. 

I hope you have made arrangements to be there!  If you have not joined GRRR, then how can you enjoy the Golden Life we live?

Mogley G. Retriever
p.s.  Don't forget to bring a towel.

Rain, rain, go away.

We have had several days of rain.  We were ready to put on our life jackets just in case.   It has made us four very bored dogs.   If we go outside to play we get wet and muddy, then when we come back in we get yelled at.  It makes playing in the water easy, there are puddles everywhere.    Above, I am on the left, Daisy is laying down, then Bella and on the far right is Abby.    Below, Abby is on the left. 

We posed for our portraits in the front doorway to keep from getting bored.  I don't know how it happened that all four of us were dry at the same time.   We did go through all of our new toys during the two days of rain, how do we recycle them now?  What else can we do to keep physically fit?    Tonight the rain will turn to snow and we will have one last chance to romp in the white stuff.   For our Siberian brothers and sisters back East, eat your hearts out!    We may get 3 feet in some places in the hills, so look out tomorrow, we will be making first tracks early in the morning. 

Daisy has continued her training in case she has to "go native".   She is worried that she may end up homeless again if things don't work out.   She says that being a foster is a very uneasy way to live.  She looks forward to finding her Forever Home, but just in case she does not get a good home, she will continue with her survival training.   This afternoon she silently treed an open can of cat food on top of the counter and managed to kill it, then she proceeded to eat it because as a good hunter you are always told not to waste game when you hunt.   The humans did not understand her need to practice her hunting skills, they were upset again.   Maybe when they read my blog they will understand why she feels that a lady needs to have choices in life.   After all, there is more to life than just "fetch".    Besides, that can of cat food may have been threatening someone's life.    You can never be too careful.

Mogley G. Retriever

New Duck Day

Bella, Abby, Daisy and I received new toys today.  When our cousins were visiting on Sunday, our toys took a beating.  Here are a couple of photos of Abby playing with my duck.   She got a pink toy that she took outside and hid in the bushes.  Then she came back in to see what else she could borrow.

Daisy tells us she is very worried about her future.  She has been in the rescue system for several months now while her medical issues are taken care of.  One family has asked to meet her, she is looking forward to meeting with them and showing what a wonderful lady she is.   They are a long ways out of town, it will be a few days before we can set up a meeting.  Daisy made a trip to the vet and she now has ear drops for an ear infection and she has prednisone tablets, she may be itching because of allergies.    Daisy says that a homeless dog has to watch out for her own future, she never knows when she might have to go native.   Yesterday she practiced her survival skills by stalking and killing a loaf of bread that she had treed on the top of the counter.    She got into trouble when the bi-peds discovered her with the last bit of bread and a torn plastic bag.   She regrets getting in trouble, she was just keeping her survival instincts honed.   She said it was whole wheat so it was healthy. 

It is overcast and cool, scattered showers are going by, the swimming pool is still not open for use.  When it opens we will be inviting our friends in to share our opening party.

Mogley G. Retriever

An exciting weekend

I have not blogged lately but I have had an exciting life.    Sunday morning our cousin was having a reception at their home for a group of foreign exchange students.  Several of the attendees were "non-dog" people, although why you would want them at your party is beyond me, but I guess since it is only one day and one party we can live with it.   We are still four, and with their new foster, Alexis, they are four, so we had eight goldens together for our own party.   We don't need humans to have fun when there are eight of us on a warm spring day!  The photos above and below are of "treat time" shortly after arrival.  We all had a treat or two before we set forth for some serious running and playing.    Bella is not being pushy by jumping up, she just wants to make sure that the treats are of a high quality and worth sitting still for. 

In order to make room at their house, our three cousins and their foster, four in total, came to play.    What a fun  day, eight of us in one yard, with a warm, sunny day to run and play.  

Below is a photo of Alexis, our cousins new foster.   If she looks like she was running in the water, she was.   There was still several inches of snow melt water on top of the swimming pool cover.   She jumped in to see what it was and investigated it thoroughly before getting yelled at.   Her story is that she was an outdoor dog, her neighbors finally convinced the owners that if they did not want to allow a dog in the house they should give it to someone that did want her.   She is staying with my cousins while they teach her some manners.   She is not scared of anything outdoors, but inside every noise is a new reason to be scared.  Even sitting is still a challenge for a dog that has had little interaction with humans and other dogs.  She is learning to love the warmth, companionship and fun that comes with sharing a home with humans and other Goldens.   She has a lot of energy and she played very well with us even though it was her first  time with a big pack.  She has such a fun personality that she will make someone a very wonderful companion.   We suggest that her Forever Home should be with someone that likes to hike, run or jog as she has a lot of energy to burn.

We are still looking for a suitable Forever Home for Abby and Daisy.   Abby is having so much fun, she comes inside, watches the back yard through the glass patio door, when a squirrel comes down a tree or an intruder takes a walk in the park, she is out the dog door like a shot.   She must run 20 miles a day, just keeping the back yard safe for dog-kind.  Daisy takes a different view.  She finds a good place to lie down and watch carefully.   She considers herself the house historian, she will keep close eye on Abby's actions, without having to participate unless someone comes too close to the back fence.  Then she will run out and help.  Daisy is a lover, not a barker. 

The swimming pool cover is cleaned off, they pumped the remaining water off of the top after Alex took her romp in it, so the opening of the old swimming hole is very near.  Life is good. 

Mogley G. Retriever

Friday, wonderful Friday

It has been a while since Bella and I had our portrait updated.   Above is Bella and I at the top of the stairs.

It has been a few days since I have blogged.    The photo of Daisy above was one week ago following the last snow storm.  What a difference a week makes.  The weather has just turned nice, the last of the snow melted yesterday in the back yard.  Today it is 70 out and life is good.     The big news is that the resident bi-ped is working on cleaning the debris off of the pool cover, the spring grand opening of the pool can not be far away. 

As you know, Daisy came back to stay with us.    She has been a perfect house guest since she arrived.   They did work with the vet and they changed her med's.    It looks like the new combination is working, no seizures and more energy.   Daisy is doing so well they are going to put her back up on the adoption web site again.  

Abby is having a ball here.   She has the best of the worlds, she has squirrels to chase, someone to chase them with, and lots of tennis balls.   So far no one has claimed her, but they will.   Abby was given a new toy and she is making the best of it.   She is looking for her forever home, but she is enjoying life in the meantime. 

I got a new toy for being such a good dog when I went to the vet.    Buddy the cat promptly took the toy away.   Buddy is our resident toy tester and this toy crinkles when you chew it or pounce on it, so Buddy loves it.   Twice the bi-ped has gotten out of bed in the middle of the night to take the toy away from Buddy, he was making too much noise with it.  

Mogley G. Retriever

Boomerang Dog

I suppose we should not call her Boomerang Dog, her real name is Daisy.   By whatever name, Daisy came back.   Daisy had the most wonderful forever home, her new family walked her twice a day in a beautiful park, they bought her special dog treats, they bought her new collars and leashes, someone stayed home with her most of the time, they spoiled her rotten.  They said she was such a lover, she attached herself to them and would not go more than a few feet away.  She was a great snuggler and she was a lover in the first degree.  Still she did not find her new home exciting enough.  

She opened the cabinet doors and scattered the garbage all over the house when she was left alone for only a short time.  Then coming back from her evening walk, she broke away and it took the help of several neighbors to catch her and put her leash back on her.  She snapped at her new owners when she was lying down and they tried to put a leash on her.   She showed aggressive behavior from time to time.   They provided her a perfect home, they did all they could for her.  Daisy was a perfect home companion, except for those times when she was unpredictable and lashed out at them. 

She had exhibited none of this behavior at our home when she was here, but with 5-8 dogs, she had so much company that she was seldom alone and she seldom had time to interact alone.  .  She did chew a leash in 1/2 when she was left tied up in the car, but she only climbed in the front seat.  Apparently no one had heard her call "shotgun".   She did appear to have some small confused spells, her eyes would be open wide and her tongue would roll out as she lay down, these may have been small seizures, the books say that dogs may snap when they come out of these spells because they are scared and confused.   We had always stroked her gently or just left her alone until she snuggled up again.  In a few minutes she would be up and around again, looking for attention.  She could also run away if she was confused and scared, she had the dog door and she would frequently come and go on her own, we would take little notice except to look outside to see who had gone out.   

We did have a talk with the Doctor about her med's to see if we need to adjust them.   We may try a slightly different approach with her medications, perhaps her seizures are not fully under control and we did not recognize the problem because she was passive with us.

We swear that she had a smirk on her face when she came in the door, she enjoyed the excitement of a busy house with 7 friends.    She came home because of her own actions.   We wonder if she plotted and schemed until she found a way to get back to the more exciting place?   It was only minutes from her arrival back till she had set up shop under the foot rest of the recliner.  Now we have to find a way to make her want to stay at her next forever home.   Since she likes the excitement of dog companions, we may have to look for a home with another dog.  We always leave the radio on when we leave home, it tends to keep all the dogs out of trouble and since we normally have 3 to 8 dogs in our home, there is a lot of trouble to be kept out of.    After dinner all 7 dogs went out and had a huge romp in the back yard, Daisy has not lost her ability to play with the pack.  If anyone else has some suggestions, let us know.    Bella and I are the only "Forever Dogs" in this "Forever Home", our job is to help our fosters find their forever home, and stay in them!

We want to thank the nice family that took Daisy in.  They gave us good insight into Daisy's behaviour.  We should have worked with her med's more before she left here, they did not sign on to take in a problem dog that needed much work and understanding.  We hope they will try again with one of the other fine Goldens that are in the system.  They tried hard to give a good home to Daisy,  they will make some Golden a fine home.  Those of us that work in rescue expect medical and behavior problems.  They just wanted a companion and we made the wrong match.  

Mogley G. Retriever

Weekend Recap

It was an exciting weekend.    Daisy has a new forever home and she is happy to be able to settle down with a loving family.    On Saturday a couple stopped by to meet both Daisy and Abby.   Daisy ended up out-loving Abby.   Abby wants to play and run after balls.   On a leash, Abby lets her enthusiasm show and she is hard to direct, Daisy shows her loving self and just stays close by when walking.  Daisy just wants to snuggle.   Daisy should become a commission sales person at a used car lot, she did a wonderful job of selling herself.   With five goldens in the house, Daisy would not let anyone else near her new family once they came through the door.  She claimed them for her own.  Abby was not sure she wanted to leave the madness of the house full of goldens, so she played hard to get.   Daisy spent Saturday night with us while arrangements were made with Rescue Central to take her home with them.

Sunday morning we had a meeting arranged with another possible home all the way across town at Rescue Central.   Both Daisy and Abby went to the meeting, although Daisy was spoken for.   Abby met the family, they were nice, they had one golden and two Huskies.  Abby went into her "Hyper-Abby" mode, and spent the whole time barking and playing hard to get.   Abby says that she has no intent of being adopted, she is quite happy with the family she has today.   We try to explain to her that this is a foster home and she has to move on to her forever home.   Her reply is "Make Me".  Abby came home, un-adopted.   We decided that she has bad memories about the rescue, that is where she was surrendered and where she lost her family, so in her mind it is a bad place.    She goes crazy when she gets near it, she begins barking more than a mile down the road.   Abby is going to have to meet her prospective new families at our home where she is quiet and happy. 

While we were waiting for Abby to meet her possible family, everyone was making over Daisy, much to her delight.  While petting her, one of the humans noticed that Daisy had a tick on her head.   It was not in deep and was removed without damage, but not being embedded means it was acquired somewhere close and recent.   It does serve as a warning that tick season has arrived.   Now we have to check the yard to make sure no other ticks are lurking in the orchard or are hidden in the dog hair.   
Shortly after arriving back home we had the big surprise of the day.   Our Cousins arrived!    They will be here a week.   Now there are eight goldens to run and play.    Emma, Molly and Piper came to stay while their family takes spring break.   How much trouble can eight Goldens get into?   Stay tuned and find out. 

But eight goldens only lasted a few hours, shortly after they arrived, Daisy's new family came to claim her and take her home, forever.   She was very determined to go with them, she protected her new family from all comers, she would not allow other dogs near her new family.   She made her choice, it is a good thing the humans went along with it, otherwise there would have been trouble in the golden home. 

All in all, it was a good weekend.   We have more guests and we are now "Chaos Central", Daisy has a new home, and Abby has established the rules under which she will go to a new home.   Abby will meet her prospects at a location other than Rescue Central in the future.   

Mogley G. Retriever

Yoga Lessons from Daisy

Hi, Daisy here.   There has been a lot of gossip around here about my sleeping positions.   I wanted to set the record straight on exactly what is happening.    I am a Yoga Master.  I have been trying to demonstrate my Yoga positions to the rest of the family in order to help bring peace and harmony to the house.   I have not been able to instruct Mogley and Bella, they can assume the positions, but then they fall asleep.   Abby and Aspen are able to grasp the nuances of proper relaxation and have helped me resume my efforts to teach Yoga to the masses.  Above is a photo of "Golden Rest" which is a very good position for beginning Yoga fans to use to get into the correct frame of mind and to relax before attempting some of the more difficult positions.  Below, the classic "Passive Tennis Ball Point".   This position is used to help the mind learn to reject outside distractions, such as tennis balls. 

I will try and give you more "Golden Yoga" instructions in the future.   In the meantime, practice these positions and see if you do not find more peace, harmony and relaxation.    If you have some favorite Yoga positions I hope you will share them on your blog. 

Daisy Mae

Friday update

Several things are taking place at the home of the Gold.   Aspen is staying with us a few days.   Her family suffered a death of a sister and had to leave for a funeral.   Aspen does not like attending funerals, so she is staying with us while her family attends to their duties.   She is doing so well at her forever home that she is looking better than ever, more active and more alert.  She is getting daily  vitamin supplements and good food.  They did not drop off her bed this time, but we have plenty of beds in the house.   Aspen is one of the first to go to sleep at night, so she gets her pick.

Meanwhile we have an appointment to introduce Daisy to two possible forever homes.   She will meet one family later today (weather permitting).  Then on Sunday, Abby and Daisy both will meet another family, if Daisy is still with us.  Abby and Daisy are such a wonderful house guests that we are not looking forward to them leaving.    We bet that by Sunday evening both Daisy and Abby will be with their forever homes.    Starting Sunday evening we have a week of madness.    No, it is not the "Final Four" in our back yard, it is our three cousins (Emma, Piper and Molly) coming in to spend a week with us.   Their family has a trip to New York City planned, it is spring break and our (exchange student) sister deserves a visit to New York before she goes home to Denmark at the end of the school year. 

While our blogs have been sparse, we have been busy with all of the good stuff, like finding Forever Homes for Daisy and Abby.   We have been holding them back, waiting for some very special homes.  They are such special ladies that we want special homes for them.  

The house keeper is coming in today on a mercy mission.   "Mercy Me", look at all the dog hair.  With four of us beginning to shed already, it is hard to tell what color the carpet is supposed to be.

Mogley G. Retriever

Over worked !

Above, I am bringing in the Sunday Morning Paper.   It is a big mouth full.    Isn't there a union or something that would negotiate an extra treat or two?   All I get is lots of attention and a few pets, sometimes a tummy rub, for all that work.    The bi-ped thinks that the term "working dogs" is a commandment instead of a catagory.  The bi-ped thinks he is the only one that works around here.    I keep the ducks out of the swimming pool, I protect the property from those dangerous squirrels.  I chase raccoons, foxes and coyotes.  I protect the koi in the pond from the Huron's that come fishing.   He can't hear the door bell over the TV, so I let him know when someone is at the door.   I tell him when the postman comes, when the garbage man picks up.   I let him know if anyone is walking their dog in the park.  On cold nights I warm their feet.  If the alarm does not go off in time (which seems to happen at least two days a week) I wake everyone up so they can enjoy the whole day.  I provide decorative golden hair to accent the couch and the carpet.  I even clean up all their spills on the kitchen floor.   I had to lick some sticky stuff off his beard.  I perform a very thorough "pre-wash" treatment on plates and bowls if left in reach.   I teach the foster dogs that come here where the dog door is, how to ignore the cat, how to wait patiently for treats and most importantly, which dog dish is mine.  I comfort the newcomers and make them feel welcome.   I even show them where the beds are, and which one is mine.  I even remind the tall one when it's exercise time and  when it's dinner time.  I chase after those tennis balls that he keeps throwing in the back lawn, if it was not for me, he would have to chase them himself.

I saw his "to do" list the other day, it only had three items on it, one of which contained the word "nap".  Compare that list to my long list above.  Who does the work around here?  How do we get more recognition for our hard work and heroic efforts?   Working dogs of the world unite, you have nothing to lose but your leashes! 

Mogley G. Retriever

A Snow Romp!

Above, Daisy is running in the snow at full speed, I am watching to see if there is anything worth running for. 

We wanted to share with you some of the photos of all four of us (Bella, Mogley, Daisy & Abby) enjoying a romp in the new snow on Saturday morning.     It snowed in Denver all Friday and only stopped early on Saturday morning.   We made "first tracks" in the new snow about 4:00 in the morning, thanks to the dog door, but the bi-ped did not get up with his camera until 8:00, so these photos are of "second tracks".    Below, Bella and I are wrestling and Daisy decided to get in the middle. 

Below, Abby is searching for a tennis ball, she knows there are 8 in the yard somewhere but she has only found 7, she will not stop searching until all are accounted for.   Her philosophy is that "Too many tennis balls are not enough". 

Below, Daisy is making more snow angels.   She is getting very good at making snow angels. 

Below, Abby is at "Full Romp Ahead".   Even a short coat looks bushy when it is flying in the wind. 

Mogley G. Retriever

What a difference a day makes.

Above, a photo of the big thermometer, with Mini Cat checking out the warm spring temerature Thursday morning.    Below, Friday morning, same thermometer, but a snow storm blew in this morning and is expected to dump 10" in the area. 

In Denver they say that if you don't like the weather, wait an hour.   We will be exporting this storm towards the East, so don't put your coats away just yet.

Daisy is enjoying the snow, she is making snow angels in the fresh snow. 

Mogley G. Retriever

Our New Foster "Daisy"!

Below, Abby (left), Daisy (front) Bella and Mogley as we wait for our morning treats.

We are welcoming Daisy to the rescue pack.   Last night we had a call from Rescue Central.  One of the foster moms had broken an arm and she needed to move Daisy out until she could function again.   The bi-peds sprang into action, if springing into action can be defined as strolling out to the car, and they picked up Daisy.   Daisy is a Daisy.   She is well named.

We will take some more photos today, then help her with her resume for the adoption web site.  So far we know that she is 6 years old, beautiful, energetic, well behaved, cat friendly (Black cat says that Daisy passed the nose-to-nose test) and an all around great Golden.   She was in and out of the dog door within an hour of arriving.  She has a history of having seizures, she gets a little medication each morning in her food.   She has not had a seizure since she arrived at GRRR. 

Daisy will be an active member of the Wild Bunch.    She proved that early this morning when she decided that the water on the top of the swimming pool cover was better than no water at all.   She jumped in, then panicked a little when she discovered the bottom was soft, she could not stand up on it, but the water was not deep enough to swim in.   She was fished out and dried off, but she smells like a wet dog now, when she arrived she smelled like a clean dog.    With her adventurous ways and her high activity level, she is constantly on the go, we are appointing her our Official Activity Director.  Daisy, welcome to the Wild Bunch.  

Meanwhile, Abby watched Daisy have "fun" in the water, she wanted part of the action as well.   The bi-peds had to lock the dog door to keep Abby inside and dry, every time she got out she wanted to jump in and test the water herself. 

The bi-ped keeps lists and diaries of things that he deems important.   He announced that Daisy is Foster number 45, if we count Baby, our accidental foster this last week end.  We should plan something special when our foster number 50 arrives.   He says he may celebrate by buying an industrial strength vacuum cleaner.    But do we celebrate when number 50 arrives or do we celebrate when number 50 is placed in their new Forever Homes? 

So goes another boreing day at the home of the Wild Bunch!

Mogley G. Retriever

The birds are coming

Early this morning we looked out the back door and there were two ducks on the frozen water on top of our swimming pool cover.   Every spring we have a few stray ducks that think they can get away with invading the home of three alert golden retrievers.  Boy do we set them straight in a hurry.   We ran out the dog door before the biped could take a second picture and we made those ducks "duck". 

That reminded the bi-ped that with spring coming on, the fishing birds migrating north will try to catch the koi and goldfish in the pond. Most springs the bi-ped has relied on Bella and I to be outside at sunup when the fishing birds arrive, we have fun chasing them off. They are slow to take off and we have come close to catching several. This year with Bella and I sleeping later, the bi-ped bought a fake bird. Apparently fishing birds will not treaspass on one anothers territory, and they must be dumb if they think that fake bird is real. If I can't chase off the fake bird, I can pull it out and tear it up on the lawn.    Just wait till after dark when the bi-ped can't see me.  

Mogley G. Retriever

Rescue Update

Above, Abby with one of her favorite tennis balls, one of some 35 favorite tennis balls to be exact!

Our last post was about Baby, our accidental rescue.   Usually when we are involved in a rescue we are just a step on the stairs, the heavy lifting is done by the Golden Retriever Rescue folks who do the work, we just enjoy having a foster as a guest in our home.    So we owe you an update on what else has been taking place.

On Saturday we had an appointment for Abby and Saidy to meet with a possible new family.   Saidy was the foster that was staying with our cousins, Emma, Molly and Piper.   Saturday afternoon Saidy and Abby went head to head for the one opening for a new forever home.  Abby played the boisterous game, barking, chasing her tennis ball and showing that she may be old, but she is not slow.  Saidy played her game of being a quiet and very easy going 3 year old.    Saidy won.   Saturday afternoon Abby returned home, defeated.    Abby said she does not regret losing, she thinks that home would have been too calm and peaceful for her.   Besides being younger, Saidy had the advantage of being a long haired, cream colored golden who look so warm and fluffy.  Abby is still looking for her perfect home, she will keep her standards high and she will not settle for just a warm home and a bone, she wants lots of love, lots of attention and lots of excitement. 


Then we received the following update on Angel, our Golden/Doodle foster.    We are so happy she has a great home. 

Hi – just wanted to give you an update on Angel (we changed her name to Chloè). She and Clyde are doing great together and we are really enjoying her sweet personality. She is a perfect fit into our family and another GRRR dog has found their forever home! YAY!!


Thank you both so much,

Darla, Bob, Clyde and Chloè

Thats all for now.

Mogley G. Retriever

Wonderful News about Baby!!!

Sunday morning Bella, Abby and I were out at the back fence barking, trying to tell the bi-ped that  there was a stranger outside the back fence.   It was a cold day, with mixed rain and snow falling.  Huddled in the corner of the fence was a small black dog with white markings, cold, wet, shivering and scared.    A neighbor was out trying to comfort the stranger, but she was scared and a little nippy towards strangers.    Our bi-ped sat with her a few minutes to calm her, put a leash on her and brought her inside where it was warm.   On her collar was a rabies tag with a number on it.    The clinic was closed for Sunday and no one answered when we called.   The stranger spent a warm night in our house, still timid but warm and well fed.     Some signs were printed out on the computer and posted on posts in the neighborhood and a listing was posted on Craig's List. 

Monday morning the clinic in Fort Lupton was called.   Fort Lupton is a long way away from where we live, perhaps 30-40 miles.  The clinic was very helpful, her name was Baby, she was 3 years old and was an Australian Shepherd.   She had just been in for her annual physical and she was up to date on her shots.   Yes, there was a phone number.  

Calling the phone number was exciting, the owners were thrilled to hear that their friend had been found.  They had been in Aurora, Colorado, on Saturday visiting family when Baby had jumped out of the car at a gas station and took off after a rabbit.   They had looked and looked for her but she had disappeared.   They promised they would be right up to claim her and take her home after her wonderful adventure.  

We are very happy that she survived the heavy traffic on the streets and the coyotes in the park.   She is a very nice guest and she is happy to be going home to her family.    She did pick up a slight limp on the way, perhaps she has a thorn in her paw, but other than a day and night of being wet and cold, she is in good condition.   One more rescue, one more memory to add to our diary.

Mogley G. Retriever 

Five friends get a play date

Today we had a wonderful surprise.   Our cousins, Emma and Piper were at a nearby groomer, the same one I had my bath at last week, and they were ready to pickup early.   Our chauffeur came back with them and we all had a good romp.    Of course it is only polite to offer guests refreshments, so we all shared treats.   Above and below, we are gathered for the official treat handout.    Abby is on the far left, she was a little shy in meeting the "Wild Bunch" as we call ourselves. 

Below, another photo of Abby.   She should be posted on the adoption web site tonight.   She already has her first appointment to meet a possible new family on Saturday.  

Wish us luck in finding the perfect home for Abby.   She is such a sweetheart that we are really looking for something special for her.    We may try to place her in a home that does not have air conditioning, her tail goes so fast all the time that she could replace most ceiling fans. 

Mogley G. Retriever

Hello World, Welcome Abby to the pack!

Last night at Golden Retriever Rescue of the Rockies (GRRR) we picked up our new foster, Abby.   Abby has already proven herself to be a character.    She is a tennis-ball-aholic, a play-aholic, a mud-aholic, and a general goof ball.   She is so nice, sweet, well mannered, well trained and she is in overdrive all day long. 

She is seven or eight years old, but she can outrun and outplay most 3 year olds, like Bella and I.   We played tennis ball fetch, but I could not beat her to the ball.   We had to play fetch with four balls at once so Bella and I could get our turns.  She may be small, but she is very fast!

She came to GRRR from New Mexico where she had been in a shelter, so not much is known about her.   They did say she was good with cats, birds, other dogs and kids.   They also warned that if she did not have a doggy buddy, she would stage a break out and go look for a play mate.   So we are happy that she accepts us as being her friends. 

We will work on her resume for the adoption web site so that she can find a new home.  The resident bi-ped is threatening to delay posting her adoption profile as she may have to go to someone special.   If she does not get adopted soon it is going to get very crowded here in another 10 days.    Our three cousins, and their current foster, Saidy, will be coming to stay for a week so their family can go to New York.   Stay tuned, we will keep you posted on our progress.

Mogley G. Retriever

Forever home for Angel, welcome foster Abby

Tonight was a very special night for Golden Retriever Rescue of the Rockies (GRRR).   This afternoon the biped had to drive across town so he took Angel along to meet a nice family.    The family had adopted Clyde a year before and were looking for a companion to help Clyde lose weight.   Clyde had already come a long ways from his "heavy" days, and he was ready to ramp up his activity level.     We thought that Angel was the dog for the job.    After a walk and some time playing together in the yard, Angel was invited to join their pack.    We think she has a pretty special home.    Thanks to GRRR for another successful rescue and placement in a good home.

But wait, that is not all.   Call now and you can get two for the price of one!    Well, maybe not exactly, but while we were at the rescue, Lenny found a new home as well.  Lenny was promised a home with lots of walks and running to work his energy off.   He has a neat new family.  Then Gunner found a new home as well.   

Three new forever homes in one night!   Not even a weekend night, or a warm night.   The celebration will require extra dog treats for sure.

Then we loaded up Abby to come home.    Abby?   We don't have time to post much about her except that she is real lively and a tennis-ball-aholic.   Abby will be staying with us for a while, we don't know how long, she is new and already has a great foster home but travel plans forced Abby to find a place to stay for a time.  Abby is a wonderful young lady, we hope she feels at home with us.

Mogley G. Retriever