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The July/August of GRREAT News is available for downloading.

 

Vitamins, supplements, and other products recalled

Due to possible Salmonella contamination, there has been a recall of a number of vitamins, nutritional supplements and other products for cats and dogs.  The majority of the recalled items are sold under the brand names Pro-pet and Excel.  However, the recall also includes some products from Doctors Foster and Smith, Petco, and Nature's Miracle.  All of the affected products are sold in either tablet or powdered form.  Though most of these are vitamins or nutritional supplements, several ear powders were also recalled, along with Nature's Miracle Pet Mess Easy Clean-up.  A full list of recalled products is available in this press release on the FDA website.
 

 

The GRREAT Bark-B-Que

 The 2010 GRREAT Bark-B-Que took place May 22 on a perfect day!  As usual, the food was yummy, and the atmosphere was so congenial.  It was a toss up to figure out who had more fun – the dogs or the people.  But a GRREAT time was had by all.  We had a gift basket raffle, a 50/50 raffle, a relay race for the dogs, and GRREAT merchandise was sold.  Mostly, we all just relaxed, ate a lot of great food, and spent time sharing stories about our furry friends.

Here are more pictures

 

Please help this video go viral by sending to every dog-lover you know, so we can save Eastern Veterinary Blood Bank from closing its doors:

They are the largest volunteer-based blood bank in the country, if not the world. EVBB supplies canine blood products to 48 states and they are the cruelty-free alternative to caged homeless dogs living in closed colonies.
 

 

The GRREAT 2010 Calendars On Sale Now Please visit the GRREAT online store for our fabulous 2010 calendars.  The GRREAT calendar features wonderful photos of GRREAT dogs, along with a quick story about each dog is on sale for $10.  The Funny Face calendar, which explores the goofy side of Goldens, is now just $5.

Sponsor Me!

Many of us have the ability to open our hearts to a Special Needs Golden, but not necessarily our homes, so GRREAT has initiated a “Sponsor Me!” program.

Of the 250 dogs we take in every year, many require extensive medical attention before they can be adopted into their forever homes.  Unfortunately, there are some whose medical conditions and/or age make them unadoptable, and they must remain in GRREAT foster homes on a permanent basis.  The medical needs of these Long Term Foster dogs are provided for by GRREAT for the rest of their lives, and the love, attention, and daily care they deserve are provided for by their forever foster homes.  Each year, an average of 3-4 dogs become Long Term Fosters; some are considered hospice care dogs, and others may live comfortably for several years.

We invite you to look at our Special Needs Dog page to learn about each of our Long Term Fosters, and to consider becoming a sponsor for one (or more) of them. As you read about each of the dogs, just click the button to select those that you wish to sponsor. You can sponsor a Golden with a one-time donation, or you can set up ongoing support through a monthly donation. Become a part of ensuring that these dogs will live in comfort and dignity for the rest of their lives.

 

 

HELP WANTED!
We have wonderful dogs coming in all the time,
and you can help them find their forever homes
by becoming a GRREAT Foster Home.

There are many families in our area waiting to adopt Goldens but GRREAT is in need of foster homes who can provide a temporary home for these dogs  (over 250 every year), usually for a 3-4 week period, during which time the golden can be evaluated and cared for medically, its behavior and temperament can be assessed and then the foster family can match this dog with the right adoptive family from the hundred or so approved applicants that we have. GRREAT pays for all pre-approved medical expenses, provides leash, collar, heartworm preventative, and will gladly work closely with you should any questions arise. If for some reason the foster dog just doesn't seem to be able to acclimate to your home, we will move the foster dog. You are not stuck with a dog, nor do you have to take a dog if the timing is not good for you.

If you would like to be part of the solution to the problem of the thousands of dogs that are killed in this country every week because of lack of homes, this may be the answer for you!!!!! Just send Denise Malczewski an e-mail and we will contact you with more information.

Take the Foster Quiz.
 

 

Virginia "Golden Retriever Rescue"
  License Plates

GRREAT and our partner to the south, Southeast Virginia GRREAT, are gauging interest in a Golden Retriever Rescue license plate for Virginia drivers. The basic program requires 350 prepaid applications. As 501(c)3 organizations, our rescues qualify for Revenue Sharing. With our combined memberships, we should be able to meet this criteria. Plates authorized for revenue sharing cost $25 annually. Personalization is an additional $10 annually. Revenue sharing provides $15 of every $25 paid to the DMV to be shared with the qualified organization after the sale of the first 1000 plates. If you are interested in this program, please contact Lona Gordon.  (Note: Golden Retriever Rescue plates have been available in Maryland for several years.  Here's how to get one.)
 

 

Update Your Contact Info…        
                For Your Dog’s Sake

All GRREAT dogs should microchipped (if not, you need to get that done as soon as possible).  But a microchip doesn't help your lost dog get home if GRREAT doesn't have your current contact information.  If you have moved or changed phone numbers since your dog received his chip, send your updated information to membership@grreat.org.  Then we'll be able be able to contact you if we are notified that your dog has been found by someone. 
 

 

Forever Friends

We are pleased to announce a new fund to honor your special pet that has gone on to the Rainbow Bridge. This memorial fund will allow you to pay tribute to your dog, cat, or other special critter, and at the same time help our GRREAT Golden Retrievers find their forever homes. Please visit the Forever Friends to read about Gus 06-212, the first forever friend and all the other friends that are listed.  While you're there, you can find out how to list your special forever friend.
 

 

It Takes Dozens of Volunteers to Keep
GRREAT Operating

GRREAT has no paid staff.  Everything we do to help homeless Goldens in the mid-Atlantic area is done by volunteers.  Some of our volunteers spend several hours a day and others much less.  Can you afford some time each week to be sure all of our dogs find new homes?  Check out our updated volunteer page to see if there isn't something you could do to help.
 

 

Your Donation Dollars at Work

Peaches 05-140 came to us at the young age of 2. Her family loved her but they had learned that she had an expensive digestive condition and they realized they could not afford or handle the treatment. GRREAT committed to her care and began the medical regimen necessary to help her. Shortly after she came to GRREAT however, it was discovered that her condition was much worse, complicated by a poorly functioning autonomic nervous system. She was taken to a specialist in August 2005 and again in October 2005 who was able to help us come up with a system of medications, special diet, and feeding schedules in order to manage Peachey's conditions. He warned us that it might not matter how hard we tried, that Peaches might succumb to her illness sooner than we hoped, but we endeavored to try as long as she had a high quality of life. And she did. Peaches lived, and loved, and romped, and played. For almost a year, we managed to keep her condition under control. In November 2006, Peaches suddenly became ill and was rushed to the animal hospital where they were forced to perform emergency surgery to save her life. Always a danger with her condition, her intestines had become impacted. Peaches quickly recovered from her surgery and bounced back to her exuberant self where she has remained for several months. As we learn more about her condition and ways to manage it, we hope to avoid this terrible crash from happening again. We know that we are racing against time but Peaches has a strong will to live and a joyous energy that touches everyone around her. Until there is no hope, until her quality of life is diminished, we must keep trying. Because of your past and continued support, GRREAT is able to offer sanctuary to Peaches and to other Goldens like her. Goldens who might otherwise have suffered or been put down long ago. Every little bit helps so please consider making a donation. One-time or even small monthly donations go a long way. And please, don't forget to renew your memberships or become a member to ensure that we are able to continue our good work. Thank you for reading and hope to see you at the Bark-B-Que where Peaches will be ready to greet you. Read about more of our Special Dogs.