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Special Needs Goldens Who Need Your Support
Because of your generous support, GRREAT has never had to close our doors to Goldens who need extra medical attention. Some of these dogs with special needs can be adopted into their forever homes once their treatment is completed. Many others have ongoing medical problems and/or advanced age and are deemed to be not adoptable. These dogs become long term fosters and will always live with a foster family and have their medical needs met by GRREAT. If you would like to help us give these dogs their happy Golden lives, please consider:
If
you would like to provide for the care of a particular special needs
dog, you may sponsor that dog. As you read about the dogs featured on
this page, you will have the option of selecting a dog to sponsor. You
may sponsor a dog with a one-time donation or with a monthly
contribution in an amount and for a period of time of your own choosing.
To get started, simply the click the
button
for the dog you wish to sponsor.
Please click to read more about:
Brooke, the Miracle of "Golden Meadow" Charlie, the Golden with a Big Heart
Stevie, the Indomitable Little Blind Pup Lady, with a Family to Call Her Own
Bailey, Movin' and Groovin' in His Own Way Peaches, Sweet and Soulful
Phoebe, a Golden with a Wink and a Smile Tony, aka Button Nose
Rufus, aka the Comeback Kid Sunny, Her Name Says it All
Wally, the Boot Camp Graduate Rocky, A True Golden Retriever
And coming soon: Maggie Mae and Tucson
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On July 4, 2008, an old Golden Retriever was found wandering the streets of a major city. A found dog report was filed, but no one claimed her, so GRREAT was contacted to find a home for her. Before being placed in a foster home, this little no-name girl was examined at an animal hospital and was found to have a life-threatening condition. What was originally thought to be a fatty mass was actually a softball-sized mammary tumor that had leaked blood and had metastasized into her lungs. The sweet homeless girl would probably live for only a few more months, but she was happy and did not seem to be suffering. The little red Golden with no name went to Golden Meadow, a beautiful farm in rural Virginia, to be in hospice care. Her foster family had attended to and doted on other GRREAT dogs at the end of their lives, so we knew she would be in good hands. After many tries at different names, she heard the name “Brooke”, and promptly spun around and looked at her foster Mom. So, Brooke it was! About two months after her arrival, Brooke came into season, which was a big surprise. After a consultation with the vet and the approval of GRREAT, Brooke underwent surgery to be spayed and to have the large tumor removed. Her recovery from the surgeries was very long and arduous, but she has miraculously survived and now lives a very happy and full life. She is carefully monitored for a recurrence of the cancer, and her foster Mom is always inspecting her for lumps and bumps. Brooke is a very loving girl who has adapted easily into her forever foster family; she behaves as though she has always been a part of their lives. She has taken up a permanent sleeping place next to the bed in the master bedroom. Whenever her family needs to find her that is the first place they look, and they usually find her there enjoying one of her many “beauty naps”. Brooke is quite protective of this space and all of the other dogs are well aware of the “No Trespassing” line she has drawn. Brooke is very afraid of noises and is extremely shy - she runs and hides whenever she's worried about something. She is also very needy and constantly seeks attention. She and another needy red female rescued dog who lives at Golden Meadow have become affectionately known as “The Needy Sisters.” Brooke is also a bit skittish, perhaps from having been alone on the streets of a big city. But she’s also a very alert, bright girl. When she’s out in the yard she is usually the first to notice a vehicle coming up the driveway. She runs quickly to the fence, making a boisterous greeting, and all of the other six four-legged housemates join her as the welcoming committee. It is hard for Brooke’s dedicated foster family to imagine that she was ever so sick, and they cannot imagine a time without her. Brookie is one tough little Golden with a strong will to live. She’s a miracle that has been healed with the love and good care she has received at Golden Meadow. Brooke is in a permanent foster home and will be cared for by GRREAT for the rest of her life. Click the button below to Sponsor Brooke, she would be most appreciative of your support
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We are so sorry to report that Jasper passed away on 1/23/10. Thank you to all for your sponsorship.
My miracle began July 11, 2008. That’s the day I found myself in the Big Dog House. There were cats and rabbits and cute furry rodents living there, but they were down the hall from us canines. I’ve never seen (or heard!) so many critters in one place before. After fending for myself awhile on the streets I was dog-dirt tired – excuse the pun. And I hurt. Humans at the Big Dog House gave me my own room and brought me delicious food twice a day. Have you ever eaten trash and road kill? Take it from me… don’t. Remember how I mentioned I hurt? When I first arrived at the Big Dog House my hair was extremely matted, I was filthy, and colonies of fleas and ticks were using me as their meal ticket. I had so much trouble walking that those nice folk at the Big Dog House thought my hips were bad! My new human friends cleaned me up as best they could and removed an 8" stick imbedded among the mats on my rear end. All the tail wags and licks in the world couldn’t show you how much I appreciated the lodging, gourmet food, and pets from all the humans; in fact, I thought things couldn’t get any better. But 5 days later on July 18th it did - I actually thought I’d died and gone to the Rainbow Bridge. That’s the day GRREAT people entered my life and I started hearing how special I was. Randy’s the wonderful human who sprung me from the Big Dog House. She took me to visit a really nice doctor who checked me from the tip of my nose down to the tip of my tail. You see, it turns out that the stick stuck in the mats on my hind end was nothing compared to everything else they found. Lab work quickly diagnosed that the nasty ticks gave me Ehrlichia, and I’d been playing host to those infamous indestructible whip worms. One of my ears was larger than the other too. Now I’m a big boy – my Mom says I have the head of steer – but that ear was definitely too big for me. Chronic infections in both my ears caused me to shake my head constantly and all that shaking’s what caused the hematoma to form. But it was the horrible weeping sores on my elbows that seemed to concern the doctor and Randy the most. I must be special because after I left the doctor’s office, Randy spent all her spare time being my nurse. And I was her only patient. I got really good care and she did everything possible to set me on the path back to good health. Weeks past. I was living the life and feeling better every day as the medications worked their magic. All the love from Miss Randy didn’t hurt either. Then my world turned upside down when I overheard Randy was going out of town. Sheer panic struck me as I envisioned being out on the mean streets again. How could this be? I went for a car ride and, much to my relief, I met my new Mom, Linda. She didn’t blink an eye when I showed up looking like half mummy/half Golden Retriever and toting a bag full of bandages and medication. Mom continued to dispense my medications, cleaned and dressed my wounds, and showered me with love, so now those foul diseases and parasites are all gone. She even took me to a doggie-dentist due to lesions on some of my teeth. My arthritis is bad but some conditions have to be accepted as part of growing older. Like my hearing. I don’t know if it’s bad because of the infections or my age. But Mom cleans my ears weekly and I don’t shake my head as hard or as much either. It wasn’t long before Mom noticed another serious problem I had. One of the reasons I’m so special is because I don’t like other dogs. At all. I try but I just don’t like them. GRREAT and Mom tried and are still trying hard to help me with my “inappropriate behavior” around other dogs. I even got my own personal trainer. Then I went to school with other delinquent dogs. Why, I even spent time at Hauck’s Camp and hung out with their large pack of Goldens! Mom’s been so encouraging and she says I’ve improved a lot when it comes to tolerating other canines. The other day I almost made a friend while out for a walk. The other dog kept his distance but we were walking down the same road in the same direction and we weren’t on completely opposite sides of the street. It seems any time we took a step forward together something happened and we ended up two steps back. I was finally getting over my Ehrlichia, whip worms, elbow wounds, etc., when I started having “digestive issues.” That’s the nice way humans describe diarrhea explosions. After another trip to the doctor I started taking my meals with Tylan every day along with a dose of Metamucil. I feel bad because the Tylan is very expensive but GRREAT and my Mom say I’m special and worth it. The silver lining to Mom’s carpets being ruined is that I get yogurt, cottage cheese, baby food (chicken and veggies are my favorite), and really, really yummy kibble.
Mom says I’m the sweetest, most gentle dog she knows, with perfect manners… as long as there isn’t another dog around. Even though my arthritis is bad (I get medication to help alleviate some of the pain), I get so excited when she comes home! I believe it’s important that Mom knows how grateful I am for everything she does for me so I roll over on my side and let her rub my belly. Once in a while I try to do my happy dance for her; however, my legs aren’t what they used to be. I used to be one heck of a happy dancer back in the day when I was young and spry … alas, no more. My spirit’s still young and strong though. Although Mom tried to find an adoptive family for me, it’s just not possible because I’m special. My medical and attitude issues along with my age seem to be too much for most humans. It’s OK though because GRREAT and Mom said I can stay with her for the rest of my life. I don’t ever have to worry about being on the streets again! If it weren’t for the total dedication of humans at the Big Dog House, GRREAT volunteers, numerous trainers, my Mom and her neighbors - who know to keep their dogs at a distance from me - I don’t think I’d be here today. With all their help I’ve tackled or learned to live with my medical and behavioral issues. I guess you understand why my file weighs a hundred pounds ;). I hope you have some spare change to help sponsor me. I promise you I will keep on trying to be the best Golden ever!! We are so sorry to report that Jasper passed away on 1/23/10. Thank you to all for your sponsorship.
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JAKE We are so sorry to report that Jake passed away on 1/20/10. Thank you to all for your sponsorship.
Jake attended many adoption days – in fact you may have met him. He was the handsome red man (OK, the big red dog) that flopped over on his back so folks could rub his tummy. Jake lives for tummy rubs and it was difficult at times to convince people that he really could stand on all four paws! A month past. Then another. And another. Would this sweet dog’s severe allergies prevent him from finding his forever family? Five more months past and then – eureka! Jake’s forever family was found. But not long after Jake joined his new family, they noticed a lump on his neck and relayed their findings to his foster Mom. Hearts sank on both ends as all involved felt the diagnosis would be lymphoma. Several years prior, Jake’s foster Mom had faced this challenge with one of her own dogs. She immediately offered to take Jake under her experienced wing and all agreed it was best for Jake – Jake’s foster Mom would be home and available to take Jake for treatment. Everyone was on pins and needles until the needle aspiration results came back. Inconclusive. A tissue biopsy was scheduled. Negative. Everyone was elated!! Almost 2 months past. Suddenly Jake's lymph nodes were noticeably enlarged; not just the one that was found initially, but many of them. Jake went for a car ride the very next day. This time a needle aspirate confirmed that deep, dark feeling Jake’s foster Mom had from the beginning: lymphoma. A few days later Jake underwent his first chemo treatment in a series. A heavy dose of Prednisone accompanied the other chemicals. In less than a week all of his lymph nodes were smaller!! Everyone was happy beyond words except Jake. Jake’s spirits were totally in the dumps. Before Jake came back to his foster Mom, she had already put on her PI (private investigator) hat. Research resulted in identifying a vet who specialized in holistic medicine. Although chemo can interfere with holistic remedies, ultimately the decision was reached to complete the first "round" of chemo: one treatment per week for 4 weeks plus the Prednisone. The holistic remedies provided some support to Jake's confused immune system. The big red dog and chemo did not make for a happy pup. While it put the lymphoma in remission, the side effects ruined his quality of life. He was hot. He panted. He was uncomfortable. His appetite disappeared. He didn't want to move. And he was incredibly depressed. Jake became just a shell of the dog he was previously. His spirit seemed broken. It wasn't difficult to make the decision to stop the chemo after the first round. No more chemically-induced misery for this precious dog.
Soon Jolly Jake's spirit returned. He wasn't hot. He wasn't
panting. And most importantly, he was happy again! He's back to
being a true Golden: he regained his love of food!
His current regimen doesn't have all the horrific side effects of the chemo. He takes a zillion supplements along with the homeopathic remedies and eats special food. Jake's an excellent sport about finishing the "good for you" foods as well as the 20+ pills added to each meal. Then there are another 5 or so pills he takes 3 times a day without food. Jake's foster Mom was very encouraged because the handsome red man was doing so well. Until early October when a lump was found. The lymphoma is back. Jake's currently on a last chance type remedy. Until Jake indicates he's had enough, his foster Mom and GRREAT will keep trying. Jake's a smart guy and seems to understand that everyone's trying to help him. While no one knows how many tail wags are left for Jake, his foster Mom knows the most important thing is Jake's happiness and comfort. "Blessed" is the word his foster Mom uses to describe her feeling to have had this fabulous dog in her life for over a year. Her intense love for the big red dog and any holistic remedy recommended provide the grreatest chance for Jake. Just a quick look in Jake's soulful brown eyes and one is awash in his gratitude. If you would sponsor Jake to help offset the costs of his treatment and maintenance, he would be forever grreatful. We are so sorry to report that Jake passed away on 1/20/10. Thank you to all for your sponsorship.
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Charlie was turned over to GRREAT in July 2008 after being kept outside all day and in the garage at night. A serious medical condition was immediately detected during the standard medical evaluation that GRREAT performs on all our rescued Goldens. Charlie was found to have a grade 5/6 heart murmur, but further evaluation by a cardiologist was performed to determine the exact nature of his problem. The technical terms that describe Charlie’s heart are: subaortic stenosis; severe left ventricular outflow obstruction; thickened aortic valve leaflets and borderline moderate aortic insufficiency; mild mitral, tricuspid and pulmonic insufficiencies; and slow sinus arhythmia and ventricular bigeminy. This was a very grim diagnosis, but the family that was fostering Charlie adored him and decided they would keep him comfortable and happy for as long as he would be theirs to love. Charlie is treated with oral medication that he takes twice a day, and he makes occasional visits to the cardiologist. Because of his heart problems, Charlie is more susceptible to infections, so his foster family must always be ready to deal with any injury that may occur. Charlie also has a muscular weakness in his rear legs, for which he takes joint supplements.
Charlie’s family
must monitor his activity level to keep him calm, but he’s a
laid-back loving dog who doesn’t have much energy for more than just
brief play time, both with other dogs and with his human brother and
sister. While his condition is getting a little worse, he still
enjoys a good quality of life, and he continues to bring joy to his
foster family as well as the many neighbors who know him. Charlie
is happy just to be with people, and he shows his appreciation to
the family that cares for him by bringing them sock gifts, as many
as four at a time and sometimes in the midd While we feel that Charlie is a very lucky boy to be loved and cared for by his foster forever home, the rewards of caring for this special needs boy have led Charlie’s family to conclude that they are the lucky ones. They would like you to know that having this special dog in their lives has been so worthwhile, even though they know their time with him will be shortened. Charlie has done remarkably well for a dog with his medical condition. The generosity of our contributors and the kindness and love of his foster family have all helped to prolong the life of this deserving Golden boy. We certainly hope he will continue to defy the odds. Charlie is in a permanent foster home and will be cared for by GRREAT for the rest of his life. Click the button below to Sponsor Charlie, he would be most appreciative of your support
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Stevie came to GRREAT in November 2008 as a very small, 9 wk old puppy. She and her littermates, along with their Mother, were dumped at a shelter when the puppies were only a few weeks old. One by one, all were adopted except for Stevie. She was obviously the runt of the litter but that wasn’t the problem. No one wanted Stevie because she had been born blind. When the shelter realized that they weren’t going to be able to find her a Forever Home, they called GRREAT and, almost that same day, a volunteer picked her up and transported her to her first foster home. Through a wonderful vet at Palisades Veterinary Clinic, Stevie got an appointment with a world-renowned doggie ophthalmologist, Dr Seth Koch. After her examination, we received the news that Stevie’s blindness was due to a congenital birth defect, and there was nothing that could be done to correct it; her eyes just never developed properly. From there, Stevie arrived in her current foster home as a 12 wk old, 13 lb youngster, and promptly tinkled on the living room rug. Ahhhh puppies. In fact, the most challenging parts of living with Stevie have nothing to do with her blindness. Most are simply the everyday challenges of raising a young dog. Her foster home prepared for her arrival by reading Living with Blind Dogs, by Caroline D. Levin, which is a wonderful guide to the rewards and realities of sharing a life with a blind companion. Once Stevie was settled in, she was taken to visit the Coventry School for Dogs and Their People to meet the owners, Ruth Chase and her dog Robbie. After an initial assessment, it was determined that Stevie could join Puppy Day Camp and enroll in Puppy Kindergarten class. Since then, Stevie has graduated from both Puppy I and Puppy II, and she continues to attend day camp to play with all her young friends. Stevie also attends the Canine Fitness Center where she spends time swimming laps and playing in the pool. So many people and businesses have opened their doors to Stevie, regardless of her differences and, because of this, she has grown into an outgoing, sweet, and confident young dog. Often, new people she meets have to be told that she is blind, it’s just not obvious. She uses her heightened senses of hearing and smell to help her negotiate the world around her, and she bravely forges ahead though she cannot see a thing. Unfortunately, her story does not end here. In April of 2009, it became apparent that Stevie’s housebreaking progress was falling behind other puppies her age. After several tests and procedures, we were given the terrible news that the congenital birth defects that affected her eyes and small stature, also affected her kidneys; they never developed properly either. The vets sadly informed us that this condition is life-limiting, and they gave her 3-6 months to live. It was an incongruous diagnosis. How could this young dog, so full of life, so precious and precocious, have only months to live? It was absolutely unfair.
The values are nowhere close to normal, and the possibility of complete kidney failure is ever present, but we are hopeful that we can buy some quality time and keep Stevie feeling happy and healthy for as long as possible. This indomitable little spirit has proven time and again that she will meet every challenge in her life with courage and determination. She won’t give up and neither will we! Stevie is in a permanent foster home and will be cared for by GRREAT for the rest of her life. Click the button below to Sponsor Stevie, she would be most appreciative of your support
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A week after coming to GRREAT, my wife and I met Lady. We had been members of GRREAT for less than a year, but we were eager to help Golden Retrievers as much as we could. We were to foster an 11 year-old male, Lucky, when we were asked to also take a 14 year-old female. It was Lady. Lucky and Lady had been transported together and when Lady was taken to the vet’s, she was found to have scabies. This is a highly contagious condition, so Lady couldn’t go to another foster home with dogs, and Lucky had already been exposed. When we first saw Lady she was sad, scared, and alone. She had no hair on her tail, hips, and belly. In addition to the scabies, she also had heartworms, hookworms, and an ear infection. We took Lady and Lucky home. We gave Lady a pillow to sleep on, and for the next two weeks, she would not leave the pillow. We also gave her a toy to play with but she didn’t want it. She ate very little and no matter how much attention we gave her she would just lay on her pillow. At night, Lady would not come upstairs with Lucky and us. She would just lie on her pillow and cry in her sleep, and nothing we did helped.
Then our grandsons
came to visit us for a few days. The smallest one, who was five
years old, was playing in the pool when Lady first noticed him. She
got off her pillow and went to him. She spent the rest of the day
by his side watching him play in the pool. This was the first day
Lady didn’t seem depressed. That night she came upstairs with my
wife, Lucky, and me. She checked each bedroom and then lay in the
hallway and slept. This was the first night she did not cry. After
that night, Lady slowly began to accept us, and she began to eat
more and play with her toys. Then her treatment for scabies was
finished and she could be moved to a new foster home, but we just
could not let her go. We had become attached to Lady and asked if
we could remain her foster family, and GRREAT agreed. As Lady’s medical condition improved so did her attitude. But because of her advanced age, treatment for her heartworms was deemed impossible. On August 21, 2009 the GRREAT Board of Directors decided that Lady would become our long-term foster dog. She would never have to go to another home again! When we come home from work, Lady greets us at the door with her tail wagging in the air, and she always presents us with a gift in her month. It could be a toy or just someone’s shoe, but she always has a gift for us. Her hair has grown back and once again she is a beautiful Golden Retriever. She plays with her toys and tug of war with Lucky, and she runs to the door to meet our friends. She still is the last one to go to bed, but only after she checks each bedroom and makes sure everyone is safe. Lady is now a happy girl because she has a family to love. If not for the volunteer who worked for the shelter and for GRREAT, this beautiful dog would have been put to sleep the first day at the shelter. And if not for the kindness of her foster family, Lady would not have been able to blossom into the grand old Golden girl that she is. Lady is in a permanent foster home and will be cared for by GRREAT for the rest of her life. Click the button below to Sponsor Lady, she would be most appreciative of your support
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Tony was already in a wonderful home when we received the sad news about his condition, and when his foster Mom was asked if she would keep him until it was time for him to make his journey to the Rainbow Bridge, her response was: "How could I not? I have fallen in love".
His foster Mom can’t imagine her life without Tony, aka “Big Yellow”, aka “Button Nose”. He loves his short walks, his rides around town in the back seat of the car, relaxing, and even taking his medication. When she comes home after a long day, she’s met by Tony dancing with joy and yelping “hello!” The time that Tony and his foster Mom spend together is treasured. Tony is one big lucky boy who will have a blessed life for the rest of his grreat days. Tony is in a permanent foster home and will be cared for by GRREAT for the rest of his life. Click the button below to Sponsor Tony, he would be most appreciative of your support
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Wally seemed to be in good health when he first came to GRREAT, but the big old sweet lug was overweight and terribly out-of-shape. His foster home immediately started him on a restricted diet and an exercise regimen of very short walks around the neighborhood a few times a day. Wally was in need of some serious boot camp training. When Wally visited the vet for his initial GRREAT health checkup, a thickening in his spleen was discovered. A follow-up visit led to having an ultrasound and biopsy performed. The biopsy results were inconclusive, but one week later his spleen, which was at risk of rupture, was removed. Wally’s spleen was tested and a diagnosis of hemangiosarcoma was confirmed. Although the removal of his spleen will extend his life, the cancer has likely spread. Wally’s foster family had fallen in love with this sweet guy and they were heartbroken to hear the diagnosis, but they gladly agreed to be his forever foster home.
Two
weeks after his surgery, and about 15 pounds lighter, a new Wally
emerged. Suddenly he became an enthusiastic and energetic walker,
and now he takes his foster Mom on a brisk 1 to 2 mile walk about 4
to 5 times a week, and romps in the yard with his canine sister
every day. Another indicator of Wally’s improved health is Wally’s family does their very best to make his life a dog’s dream come true. He gets constant human and canine companionship, endless snuggles, daily walks, and treats that he is now fit enough to enjoy. Like so many Goldens, he likes to carry his stuffed toys in his mouth, and he happily greets people with them. He loves to hang out with his family, just quietly resting his head in a human lap, and accompanying them on car rides. But Wally’s absolute favorite thing to do is to accompany his 7 and 9 year old human siblings to the bus stop each day where he receives a warm welcome from his many school-aged fans. Wally may not be with us for much longer, but while he’s here, he’ll be having the most fun imaginable. GRREAT and his foster family are so happy to be able to provide the good Golden life for him. Wally is in a permanent foster home and will be cared for by GRREAT for the rest of his life. Click the button below to Sponsor Wally, he would be most appreciative of your support
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Rocky’s true Golden life began as soon as he became a GRREAT dog. He was immediately taken to a vet, who estimated Rocky to be 10 years old, and his condition was evaluated. Within a few days he had surgery to remove the tumor on his ankle and on his ear, and he also had several teeth extracted. Then he went to his foster home to await the results of the biopsies on the two tumors. Five days later, the results came back - the mass on Rocky’s ear was a hemangiopericytoma, and the mass removed from his leg was a multilobulated fibrosarcoma, which could not be fully removed without amputating his leg. These are both cancerous growths that would reoccur, but they would spread slowly or just stay localized. Given his age, it was felt that no further treatment would be appropriate, except for daily anti-inflammatory and pain medications to keep Rocky comfortable. The decision was made to allow Rocky to live out the rest of his life as a GRREAT hospice dog, and the foster family that had bonded with him agreed to provide him with his forever home. While medicines have helped Rocky endure the physical discomfort associated with his medical condition, the soothing of his soul has been problematic from the very start. He came to his foster family as a dog who was sometimes happy and always affectionate, but with daily anxiety and panic attacks that went on for hours at a time, and sometimes lasted through the night. Rocky would pace, pant, scratch and tear at the floors, and climb behind furniture where he would get stuck. While every possible remedy was tried to calm him, there just didn’t seem to be any way to help him. But love and patience made a difference, and gradually the true Golden Retriever inside Rocky began to emerge. With each week, he became a more secure and happy dog who seemed to find his place in his forever foster home. He started playing with the three other dogs in the home, zipping around the yard, wrestling and rolling on the lawn, and just having a grand old time being silly. He found lots of energy for daily walks and big hikes in the park a few times a month. And the panic attacks eased significantly. Now they occur only about once a week and last for less than an hour!
When the old anxiety is hidden away, Rocky is a true Velcro Golden who is always by his foster Mom’s side, along with the other dogs in the home. Rocky’s Mom leads the canine parade wherever she goes around the house! And Rocky loves being with his doggie siblings, either playing with them or just lying down with them to rest and enjoy the good life he’s finally found. Whether with humans or canines, cuddling is one of Rocky’s favorite activities, just like a true Golden Retriever. Rocky is extremely friendly and loving towards everyone, but you probably figure that out - he’s a true Golden Retriever! There are no children in his forever foster home, but Rocky enjoys meeting them in the neighborhood on his daily walks. The true Golden in Rocky has no idea he has cancer. His foster family is thrilled with the progress he’s made and at how well he’s doing given his prognosis, but of course they know the cancer will eventually take Rocky from them. For now, they are enjoying the fun-loving silly Rocky and the journey he’s making as the true Golden Retriever that was always within him. Rockyt is in a permanent foster home and will be cared for by GRREAT for the rest of his life. Click the button below to Sponsor Rocky, he would be most appreciative of your support
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We needed to find out what was wrong with Bailey so that he could be treated appropriately. After a spinal tap ruled out disease, and an MRI ruled out a degenerative condition such as a brain tumor or lesions, Dr. Walker of DC Vets concluded that Bailey’s disability was caused by a congenital structural problem in the brain. The technical name for Bailey’s condition is “cerebellar ataxia”, which means that the signals from Bailey’s brain to his body are not being translated properly. The good news with this diagnosis is that Bailey’s life expectancy and quality are not adversely affected. Bailey displays all the classic symptoms of a dog with ataxia - a staggering gait, “goose stepping” of the front legs, a tendency to lose balance, wobbling back and forth, and tremors. Fortunately for Bailey, his condition is not degenerative and he is not in pain.
Because of his
physical problem, Bailey has special exercise needs. He swims once
or twice a week at the
Canine Fitness Bailey is not in pain, he is a sweet happy Golden with a normal life expectancy, and he is not even aware that he moves differently from any other dog. Except for his unusual movement, he is indistinguishable from any other Golden - he wiggles when happy, he prances and leaps across the yard, and he loves to try to chase balls and play tug-of-war with his Golden sister. The only thing Bailey really can’t do is climb stairs, but fortunately he lives in a single-story home. Bailey is in a permanent foster home and will be cared for by GRREAT for the rest of his life. Click the button below to Sponsor Bailey, he would be most appreciative of your support
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Soon after coming into GRREAT, Peaches was found to have another serious medical condition. Her digestion was sluggish and food tended to collect in her intestinal tract causing damage to her colon. This secondary problem meant more medicines, more procedures, and much closer vigilance. Peaches needs to be given small meals at least four times a day. Her food must be very soft to move easily through her intestines, but without causing diarrhea. And there’s a strict schedule of about eight medicines every day. The exact combination of medicines and daily re-evaluations is critical to Peachey’s well-being. Peaches is not easy to live with - she frequently has an odor associated with her condition, and she also needs “wipey-butts” each time she produces a bowel movement. This unpleasant task is actually made fun by her sweet and playful nature and help from our friends in the baby-wipe industry.
Despite the
suffering Peaches has endured, she is a happy girl. In her mind,
she is no different from any other dog. When she’s feeling too
happy to contain herself she chases her tail, and she’ll even try to
catch it when she’s lying on her back with her feet straight up in
the air. She loves playing with her rope toy, prancing like a lion
with a kill and dragging it between her front legs. Peachey also
loves to sit as close as she can to anyone nearby, scootching in as
much as possible. While waiting the 30 minutes needed for her food
to sit before she can eat it, she lays quietly in front of the
counter; We don’t know how long Peaches will be with us. Because her condition is so difficult to treat, most dogs with her problems do not get the expensive and time-consuming care that’s needed, and sadly these dogs are usually let go by their owners. The dedication of Peachey’s foster family and the generous contributions of Golden lovers around the world have allowed her to live a happy life. Her sweet disposition, playful nature, and soulful eyes tell all who meet her that she’s deserving of every Golden day. Currently, Peaches’ food and medicines cost about $600 a month, and she visits the vet regularly for special procedures and check ups. But this Peach is worth every penny! Peaches is in a permanent foster home and will be cared for by GRREAT for the rest of her life. Click the button below to Sponsor Peached, she would be most appreciative of your support
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Thankfully, Phoebe’s surgery was successful and the malignancy was completely removed before it had a chance to spread. But Phoebe was left with a partial paralysis on the right side of her face, which has given her the somewhat mischievous appearance of always winking at the world. Eventually Phoebe had to undergo further dental surgery to remove more rotten teeth. To treat her thyroid and arthritis conditions, Phoebe must take daily medications and joint supplements. Her thyroid function is now good, but her arthritis has gradually gotten worse. She has developed 2 large arthritic lumps on both ankles on her back legs. At one point her left leg had become so painful that she was hardly using it at all. But she has responded well to a new medicine, so she gets around better and uses her left leg more. There’s a trail of rug runners laid out in her foster home so that Phoebe can move about without slipping and falling down. Over the years, Phoebe has almost completely lost her hearing, but she has learned to respond to hand signals and the loss hasn’t affected her quality of life. While GRREAT and Phoebe’s forever foster family were able to deal with her physical and medical issues, it was a bigger challenge for Phoebe’s family to help her become the happy Golden girl she was always meant to be. Sadly, Phoebe’s previous owner had kept her and the 2 other Goldens together in a small pen in the basement. They were let out only briefly to go potty, and never had the chance to run and play or to interact much with people. Before coming to GRREAT, Phoebe really didn’t know how to be someone’s pet. Now she lives with 4 other GRREAT dogs, has 1 ½ acres as her playground, and is a beloved member of her forever foster family. It took a while before she learned to enjoy romps outside and walks with her human and dog companions, but she did! Now Phoebe’s advanced age and arthritis limit her ability to take full advantage of the grreat outdoors, but her family takes her on daily walks around the yard. Phoebe especially wants to hang out with her Golden siblings, but has difficulty navigating the 5 steps that divide the living quarters in the house. She has learned to bark for help from the humans to get up and down the steps to be with the rest of the dogs. Rides in the car are still an enjoyable activity for Phoebe, and she loves to spend time at the family’s weekend house on the river. She used to swim there, but now doesn’t venture close to the water for fear of becoming mired in the sand at the water’s edge. But Phoebe is content to just be there with the other dogs and the family that loves her and takes care of her. Phoebe has become a happy dog in her forever home. After the first 9 years of her life, she came to GRREAT and finally started living the good Golden life she deserves! Phoebe is in a permanent foster home and will be cared for by GRREAT for the rest of her life. Click the button below to Sponsor Phoebe, she would be most appreciative of your support
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RUFUS
This so-sweet 3 year old boy was found in Tennessee in the summer of 2003 by a GRREAT member, George Stanley, who was transporting some rescued cats. Rufus, who was named by George, was being kept in deplorable conditions along with a number of other dogs. There were cement pens with trash strewn everywhere, little food, and obviously no medical care being given. Rufus was tied to a lean-to shelter made of tarps. While local rescue groups were making efforts to help the dogs, their attempts to transport Rufus to an out-of-state shelter were stalled. George contacted GRREAT and was immediately given approval to bring Rufus home and into our rescue. When George arrived at his front door step with Rufus, his wife Becky found herself looking at a Golden like none she had ever seen before. Rufus was seriously underweight with prominent bones sticking out, he had no fur, his skin was black and full of itchy scaly patches, and he was covered with fleas. Despite his obvious neglect, Rufus was a well-mannered sweet-natured guy whose greeting consisted of tail wags, his special Golden smile, and a hopeful look in his eyes. Because they would soon be going out of town on business and vacation, Rufus’ stay with the Stanleys was brief. He went to his foster home and soon began his medical odyssey to improve his health and bring back his Golden looks. During his initial vet visit, Rufus was found to be 20 pounds underweight, and had severe heartworms, Ehrlichia, and demodex mange. Treatment for all these conditions was difficult and prolonged. Many trips to the animal hospital were made, there were consultations with an internal medicine vet, and Rufus was heavily medicated for a long time. His arsenal of pills included as many as 40 a day, and he endured many intense dippings for his mange problem. As a result of his Ehrlichia condition, Rufus had suffered kidney damage, which then led to chronic high blood pressure. He is treated with 2 types of blood pressure medications, one canine and one human, and examinations are needed every 6 months to monitor his blood pressure, and to perform full blood, urine, and stool analyses. In the beginning, Rufus’ foster Mom made every effort to make him an adoptable dog, but eventually it became apparent that his medical needs would make it very difficult for GRREAT to find a new family that could continue the treatments he needed. His foster family was dedicated to helping Rufus and agreed to keep him as a Long Term Foster and provide him with his forever home. This sweet Golden who had been so terribly neglected would stay with the family that had helped to bring him the good life he deserved. Rufus has also developed a thyroid condition, for which he takes daily medication. Because of chronic ear infections he must have his ears cleaned every week, and he is treated with oral antibiotics and/or antibiotic ointment when flare-ups occur. The serious malnutrition he suffered before coming to GRREAT makes it essential for Rufus to be fed a high quality dog food with no additives, and to be given vitamins and supplements for increased well-being. Although he’ll never get all his hair back and he’ll always have black skin, Rufus aka “The Comeback Kid” is living his happy Golden life in his wonderful forever foster home. He’s a very laid-back friendly guy who spends most of his days lounging on the couch, or pushing the two other Goldens in the home aside so he can be the center of attention. He loves to keep in close physical contact with his foster Mom or any other person who is nearby, and of course he sleeps on the bed at night with a body part touching the human he loves most. When the grandchildren and young nieces and nephews visit, Rufus is the object of all their adoration and affection, which Rufus finds to be the most fun ever! Understandably, Rufus would prefer to be indoors all the time, but he’s managed to get over his initial reluctance to go outside at all; he’s learned he’ll always be able to come back inside to enjoy all the creature comforts. The cost of Rufus’s expensive human blood pressure medicine is covered by GRREAT, but his veterinary care and the rest of his medicines have been donated by Dr. Sue Maturo and the Animal Medical Center of Watkins Park. And Dr. Mark Hitt, Internal Medicine specialist at Atlantic Veterinary Internal Medicine has donated numerous veterinary consultations about Rufus. Rufus has won a very special place in the hearts of these caring vets, and GRREAT is so appreciative of their generosity in helping this deserving Golden boy. Rufus is in a permanent foster home and will be cared for by GRREAT for the rest of his life. Click the button below to Sponsor Rufus, he would be most appreciative of your support
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Sunny quickly adapted to her foster family with young twin girls and two young GRREAT Goldens. It was expected that she would be adopted quickly since she was an owner give-up, had been in a family with small children, and was in good health, although skinny and needing to gain some weight. Sunny was an easy foster and seemed to be a very adoptable girl. A few weeks after coming to GRREAT, and just before her first adoption day, Sunny had a major seizure that sent her heart rate soaring. Her foster family took her to the animal emergency hospital immediately. Another seizure occurred a few weeks later. Because of the seizure disorder and her heart condition, GRREAT decided that Sunny needed to stay in a permanent foster home, and her foster family agreed that she could stay with them forever. A few months later, Sunny’s foster family went through major changes as well, which raised the question of whether they could continue to be her foster family. But, they had bonded with Sunny and worried that the stress of moving her to a new foster home could cause the seizures to begin again. Despite her medical problems, it seemed that the Golden and her future were both “Sunny,” and it became clear that she now had a forever home where she was truly a much-loved member of the family. At the time Sunny’s heart and seizure disorders were diagnosed, she was started on several medications that will continue for the rest of her life. She takes two different medications for her heart and one to control her seizures. Also at that time, Sunny was started on medication to help with early-onset arthritis. She has always had a “bunny hop” when she walks, and in the 5 years that have gone by, she has become more tentative and wobbly. The medication provides pain relief and helps her get around her home much more easily. In 2008, Sunny started having difficulty breathing on her daily walks. Her foster Mom worried that Sunny might be experiencing asthma attacks, but a visit to the vet led to the diagnosis of laryngeal paralysis. Surgery to correct the problem was approved by GRREAT, and Dr. Tom Walker of DC Vets performed the operation. Sunny recovered very well from the surgery, but about a month later, her breathing became labored again and her foster Mom took her to see Dr. Walker again. It was discovered that a large tumor was pressing on all the nerves in Sunny’s throat. Dr. Walker performed a painless laser procedure to remove the tumor, and a biopsy revealed that it was benign and would not grow back! Most recently, in the summer of 2009, during a routine annual check-up, it was discovered that Sunny had developed very low thyroid functioning, for which another medicine has been added to her daily treatment regimen.
Despite the many medical problems Sunny has dealt with in her life, she’s a Golden with a “Sunny” personality, and a “Sunny” future, thanks to the good care from her forever foster family and the support of GRREAT. Sunny is in a permanent foster home and will be cared for by GRREAT for the rest of her life. Click the button below to Sponsor Sunny, she would be most appreciative of your support
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A
miracle has happened in a place called “Golden Meadow”. A sweet
little red Golden named Brooke has been brought back to life, and
this is her story.
Hi,
I’m Jasper and I was hoping you might be able to help me. I am 11
years old and special! Whatever that means. I overhear
GRREAT humans saying it. Normally the Golden Retriever in me keeps
me from complaining but I haven’t had the best life.
I
absolutely adore people, despite being an “older rickety dog”, as
one doctor referred to me. My Mom takes me for
daily walks and even though I can still be unpredictable when
another dog is around, I love all little and big people. One day
while out for a walk a little neighborhood boy fell down and hurt
himself. I immediately went to his side and wouldn’t budge until he
stopped crying. I had to know he’d be OK.
Meet Jake. He joined the GRREAT family in August 2008 when his
humans surrendered him due to his excessive allergies. Poor Jake
had been bounced around to at least 2 different families prior to
landing softly with GRREAT. 
Tony
is a very big guy who arrived at GRREAT early in 2009, along with
some very big problems. His owner had passed away leaving 3 Goldens
and no family to care for them. GRREAT accepted all 3 dogs. Upon
his arrival, we discovered that Tony, who was approximately 8 years
old, was in immediate need of surgery. He had a painful condition
called “entropion” in both eyes. This is an inward folding of the
lower eyelid, which causes inflammation, redness, irritation, and
pain. 
Tony
receives 3 different medications for pain, Chinese herbs to bolster
his system and keep him from bleeding out, arthritis supplements,
and a muscle strengthening drug
Named
after the lovable character in the Disney movie “Wally,” they don’t
come any sweeter than this boy. He was found wandering the streets
with his companion, a Cocker Spaniel, in the summer of 2009. Both
dogs were taken to a local shelter, and Wally then made his way to
GRREAT, while the Cocker was able to find his way to Cocker rescue.
We don’t know how Wally became homeless, but we are fairly certain
he did not wander off by choice as he sticks to his foster family
like Krazy glue.
Another
medical problem arose two months after becoming a GRREAT dog.
Rocky’s foster family came home to find him with a
Rufus
just might have the most unusual appearance of any Golden you’ll
ever see, but just beyond his outer skin is a quintessential Golden
Retriever. His story shows how a rescued dog can come a very long
way from a horrendous start to a very pampered existence.
Sunny
came to GRREAT in September of 2004 at the age of 5 when her owners
experienced several disruptive life changes and found themselves
unable to care for her. Her foster Mom remembers the day she
brought Sunny home; she wouldn’t come in the front door! When
Sunny’s owners were contacted, her fear of hardwood floors was
explained. Once the rubber-backed runners from her previous home
were recovered, Sunny willingly entered the place that was soon to
become her forever home.