Success_2005

Success Stories for 2005

Ranger

This is Ranger. I adopted him from GRRACE in January 2005. He was a companion to my lab named Sandy who needed a playmate. As you can see from his gorgeous smile, he loves people and is my baby. He is very photogenic and gets along with everyone. He is a certified therapy dog and I love him dearly. He is my constant companion and he thinks he is a lap dog! I am grateful to GRRACE to have Ranger in my life since he brings me joy every day! I am send 2 more photos in additional emails since I couldn't just pick one! Thank you so much for all you do.... Bonnie

click on the images for more great pics of Skylar!

SKYLAR (VON SUNSHINE)

I adopted Skylar from GRRACE on Memorial Day weekend in 2005. I had just lost Marty-Moose, my 6 year old Golden to Lymphoma a couple months prior to that, and I knew then that I would always need to have a Golden in my life, because the hole without one was too great. Even my other dog, Doblie Collarman, was sad and depressed since Marty died, so I decided it was time to take action! I looked at all of the dogs on the GRRACE site, and one caught my eye. His name was Skylar, and his wonderful and loving foster Mom, Linda Hayes, described him as being “as sweet as sugar cream pie”. I contacted her and we decided to meet at Petsmart where GRRACE was having an Adoption Day. I got there early, and Linda and Skylar were not there yet, so I petted some of the other Goldens that were there for the Adoption Day. All of a sudden, I saw a huge Golden that could have been my Marty-Moose’s twin! I sat down with him, and just started crying. I realized this was harder than I thought, and I missed Marty more than I realized, and it was like this big, beautiful, 130 pound Golden, Big Max, was Marty reincarnated! It was then that my Brother and his family arrived about the same time as Linda and Skylar. I was actually kind of shocked when I saw Skylar… he was so small (probably normal compared to a 130 pound Golden), and his fur was so light, and he had no feathers or no fluffy tail. He did jump up and give me a kiss, and we took him for a walk outside, and he did seem very sweet, but he was NOTHING like my Marty-Moose! My brother’s family and I went to lunch to talk about picking the ‘right’ Golden, and I was leaning toward Big Max, but my Brother wisely said, “Max is already 7 years old, and Doblie is 6 years old, but Skylar is just under a year old. And BECAUSE he is nothing like Marty, Skylar is the one you should pick so that you love him in his own right, and not as a substitute for Marty!” He was right. Linda brought Skylar for a “Home Visit” to see how he would get along, and as soon as he got in the gate, he hit the ground running! He and Doblie got along immediately, and the “Home Visit” turned in to Skylar’s “Forever Home”. As he grew older and started to fill out, he got a little darker, and grew the most beautiful feathers and fluffy tail that I have yet to see on another Golden! He is so much my daily ray of sunshine, that I amended his name to “Skylar Von Sunshine”, and Linda was right, he IS as sweet as sugar cream pie! And when he runs around the yard like it is a racetrack, all I can say is that he looks like “joy in motion”!! I sent an updated picture of him to Linda just before she passed away, and she wrote back and said “He is just so darn gorgeous!” I hope that Linda and Marty have hooked up in Heaven and are looking down at us with smiles on their faces!

Blaze

“Blaze” is doing great. He is such a lover. Loves to cuddle and will sleep anywhere, in any position. He loves being outside. It is hard sometimes to get him to come in, even when it is pouring down rain. He loves to bark at squirrels and the neighbor's cat. He was the best little boy at Halloween. He helped to pass out trick or treat candy and wore a costume for me. He loves to wrestle with Cookie and they are great for each other. Blaze isn't very good at sharing toys. He likes to take every toy away that Cookie has, even her favorite ball. But, she gets it back. Cookie has become braver since Blaze has arrived. Sugar still is Sugar. Blaze is afraid of her and keeps his distance. She treats Cookie the same way as Blaze, but Cookie doesn't care if she growls at her, she licks her in the face. It is a zoo around here sometimes, but I love Blaze as if he got here as a puppy. THANK YOU and your organization for the wonderful things you do.

Sandy

Our "Sandy" who we adopted in May of 2005 is really a "Dandy" and we are very fond of her. She's our 4th Golden, and perhaps the most loving. We recently celebrated our 50th wedding anniversary and since Sandy wasn't able to accompany us to Hawaii, we brought her a lei!! Please thank Sandy's foster family, the Thompson's for giving Sandy such a good start. Her favorite toy is still the squeaky ball they sent with her!

Maddie

Hi My name is Maddie and I was adopted May 2005 on Mother's Day when I was only 7 weeks old. I have the best home where everyone loves me even Katie who is a 10 year old Golden. Mom and Dad let Katie and I sleep in their bed (Or should I say our bed). My two human brothers are also fun to play with and get me snacks. I love to eat ice cubes and I can get their attention at the refrigerator when I want one. I know how to get them myself but I like to make my humans feel useful. I am a really good dog but when my humans go on vacation and leave Katie and I home I get bored so I like to bite into the the drywall. Dad doesn't mind too much since he loves me so much. The walls are painted the same color as drywall compound so it is easy for him to fix. Katie and I like to play tug-0-war with our stuffed ducks and also who can make them quack the loudest. I also like to climb on my humans laps to give them kisses many times throughout the day.

-Eric, Karen, Brandon, Bradley, Katie, and Maddie

Shelby

Hi, my name is Shelby. I came to GRRACE in March 2005. You might remember my story from the newsletter last August. Life was pretty tough for me until the nice ladies in Ft. Wayne rescued me from a horrible situation. But that is all behind me now. In April I chose my new forever mom and dad when they came to see me at PetsMart. As soon as Dad saw me we both knew that we belonged together! Some belly rubs, a walk around the store, and some conversation with my foster mom Linda and it wouldn't be long until I was at my forever home. I am one happy boy now! Mom and Dad love me lots and call me their "Shellie Belly" and I get lots of hugs and belly rubs (and lots of treats). I have a nice big fenced back yard to play frisbee, tug of war, and fetch (I absolutely love to fetch my ball-in fact I carry upstairs when I go to bed at night with Mom and Dad) and I go on a nice long walk every day-sometimes twice. Mom even bought me a pool so I can play and cool off on those hot summer days. I am a good boy in the truck so Dad takes me with him wherever he can. I have an older human sister who spoils me rotten when she comes home to visit from college and I have regular play dates with my golden "cousin". Dad says I am the best boy ever and that we were meant to find each other, and he asked me to tell everyone to remember that an older guy like me can be the most wonderful loving companion a person can have! Thank you GRRACE for helping me get a chance go be the true "golden boy" that my Mom and Dad will love forever!

Guinness

Hi, my name is Guinness and I was surrendered to GRRACE in February 2005. It didn’t take long for them to figure out that I didn’t have a lot of social skills and needed some very patient but firm handling. I got real lucky and my foster moms found a forever home that could give me LOTS of love and attention in June. Obedience class was the first item on the agenda; I loved the praise and the trainer had a laser light that drove me crazy! I was a little on the husky side but Mom & Dad say that I’m all muscle now. When I’m not getting belly rubs, I have a big yard to run in and get a long walk everyday. I’ve been real good and I’m only in my crate when Mom & Dad are at work. I sort of go, go, go until I crash and I’m sure glad Mom & Dad think that is cute. They keep telling me that I just needed some attention and that I’m turning into a real loving Golden. Not sure what that means but I know that I’m one happy boy! Thank you GGRACE for giving me a chance, as my foster moms said, “to reach my Golden potential”.

Huck

Hi, my name is Huck. I found my forever home in February, 2005. At my old home, I had to stay outside all the time. It took me awhile to figure out that my new family wanted me inside. My mom would have to come out and bring me in with a leash. Now I just come in and out whenever I want. When the weather is nice, I still like to hang outside in my big backyard. I have two human brothers. I like to play with them and they really love having me in their house. I have a new dog sister. She is a Jack Russell Terrier, how annoying. I let her do all the running and barking out in the backyard. I think it is truly a waste of my energy. I would much rather wonder around and find a good stick or toy to chew on. I’m kind of lazy, and she is kind of hyper, but I like her. I guess opposites do attract. I am a perfect fit with my forever family. Thanks GRRACE for finding them.

Doogie

Hi...I’m Doogie. I was found as a stray and given to GRRACE (foster mom Marcie), who eventually found an awesome forever home for me. My new parents are great. Since they don’t have any kids, they spoil me rotten. Fortunately, I like their 2 cats and they don’t seem to mind me either. I enjoy going for daily walks and I recently found out that I really love to swim and thrash around in the water. It cracks my mom and dad up to see me acting so silly....after all, I am just a puppy! My parents say I’m the best dog ever. Thank you very much GRRACE for giving me the opportunity to have a wonderful life!

Moses

Hi Everybody. My name is Moses. I am 9 years old and was surrendered to Animal Control back in June 2005-pretty scary-especially for an older guy. Luckily the people from GRRACE came and got me. GRRACE took me to be groomed because my coat was really matted and my ears were infected. They also had me vetted, and I got a complete senior wellness check up, vaccines and I was neutered. I then went to live with my foster dad, Brian, and his two Golden Retrievers. At first I was really confused and depressed, but after a few days I started to feel better. Over the July 4th weekend, some nice people came to visit me. I was real polite and greeted them at the door with a stuffed toy bone in my mouth. They gave me lots of attention and decided that maybe I should come to visit at their house to see if I might like living there with them and their two other dogs and thirteen cats-not to mention the rabbit, the cockatiel, and the two box turtles! The next weekend I went to their house to visit. Boy, at first I wasn't sure about those cats. They moved fast, and I thought maybe they wanted me to chase them-I really was real curious. Rosie, the Golden Retriever mix seemed friendly enough-but that Cockapoo didn't really seem to like me. My new humans were very patient with me though. For the first couple of days they kept me on a leash-even in the house-until I understood that cats were not something to chase. The other dogs and I went on lots a walks together-boy, I really get excited about going on walks! Pretty soon even the Cockapoo was friendly with me too. I really like my new home. I get lots of hugs from my human family. They joke about me being "Velcro dog" because I really like to be touching by someone all of the time. I've got a huge backyard to play in. I get to go on car rides and hikes in the park. Life is good, and I know that the best is yet to come. Thank you, GRRACE for a second chance and helping me on my journey to find my "forever family.".

Tom

GRRACE - I just wanted to give you an update on Tom. He truly is a success story and THE most awesome pet I have ever had. Tom is a blessing in my life. He is full of love and makes me smile every day. He has full run of the house and has ever since I brought him home. He is a good boy and has never gotten into anything he shouldn't have! I want to thank all of you (special thanks to foster mom Jill R) for giving me this wonderful bundle of love. He is such a wonderful dog and he is my baby!

In Golden Love,

Linda & "Tom"

Gracie

I just wanted to give you an update on Gracie. I brought her home at the beginning of the year and she is having fun getting to know her sister Ruby. She is full of energy and love and fits in nicely in her new forever home! Thank you again for sharing her!!

Sam

My name is Sam and boy am I loving it at my forever home. My big brother Luke (GRRACE ’04) has shown me the ropes around our house and we’ve had so many adventures! Mom and dad took me to the ocean a couple of weeks ago. I wasn’t too sure about all those big waves at first, but I just decided that I was going to go for it! Boy was mom surprised when I just swam out to her. I also got to meet my mom’s sister’s puppy (I guess he’s my cousin?) in Maryland. His name is Buster and boy was he fun. He has this cool pool in his backyard and we got to splash around every day. Luke played with us too, but mostly he just made sure we didn’t get too rowdy. At home, we’re working on obedience. I’m really good at it when it’s just me, Luke, mom and dad, but I still am getting the hang of it around other people. I know I’ll get it yet, I’m just a puppy you know. My favorite things at home are playing with my brother in the yard and being right next to mom and dad all the time. They give me lots of love, and I make sure I give them lots of slobbery licks.

Mookie

We adopted Mookie 06-29-05. One of the BEST Goldens I have had the honor of loving. Thank you GRRACE for intoducing us to Mookie!!!

Maddie

My name is Maddie. I was told I was born on March 20 and I went to my new home on Mother's Day. I have learned to sit on command and I'm doing well with my potty training. My new family has two boys who really enjoy having a puppy. They also have a nine year old golden retriever whom I love to follow around. I feel very fortunate because my new family knows that no matter how much trouble a puppy can be at times, I will always be a part of the family.

Beau

When you want pictures, we have pictures!! Beau is about as photogenic as they come!!

He gained three lbs over the past 5 weeks! With the nicer weather, hopefully around the corner, he will be able to run around more and burn off those calories!

Spent a session with a trainer for the jumping. No pinch collar and no treats! Beau is doing just great! Out of the crate and into his own bed in the computer room, just in case he wants to go on the 'Net! :)

Sonny

Hello, my name is Sonny. I'd like to share a wonderful story with everyone. First of all, I came to live with my forever family on Jan. 1, 2005. They adopted me from GRRACE, who got me from the Fort Wayne animal shelter. I had to be treated for heartworm before I could be adopted, that was no fun at all. But since my new year and my new life began, I have had a lot of adventures. I get to go for car rides a lot. We go to Petsmart to get food for myself and the rest of the family. I always talk Mom into a toy or two. I also get to go to Grandpa and Grandma's. They give me toys too. So, I guess you can say I am a little spoiled. Okay, a lot. My new home has other pets too. Sometimes I play with the cat. (Well, I guess that depends on who you ask). I also have a bird and 2 hamsters. My mom says that I have to go to school. I can’t wait! I will get to meet some new friends. My human friend, Ashley, will take me. She’s 9 yrs. old. She takes me for walks up and down the driveway. Then, there is Joe, he’s 15 yrs. old. He takes me out when he comes home from school and plays ball with me. I love to play ball! Andrew is 18 yrs old. He’s cool! He lets me in his room sometimes. He also lets me lay in bed with him. I even get to lay on the ! floor and watch the fish swim around. That’s fun! Then there is Mom and Dad. We play football together. And guess who wins. You got it. Dad and I do. Dad says the reason why we win is because Mom does not know how to play. Well, as you can see I have a wonderful forever family. Thanks, GRRACE, for picking them for me. Love, Sonny.

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Updated November 06, 2008 09:23 AM