A Message From Our President | |
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Hello friends,
Giving thanks is something that is such an important part of what we do at Gold Ribbon Rescue. We are so thankful for all our amazing volunteers, donors and community members. Without all your help and support we would not be able to fulfill our mission. We are grateful to each and every one of you. Completing our 26th year rescuing Goldens is something we can all be very proud of. THANK YOU!
As the holidays are rapidly approaching, our biggest need right now is for foster families. Even if you can provide respite for a short period of time, you can help a GRR dog on their journey and be a part of their story. The next few months are expected to be busy with incoming dogs and we can’t bring in dogs if we do not have homes for them to go into. Please consider applying to foster and if you are already approved, please contact our Intake Director, Jacki,
Thank you to all who have donated to the GoFundMe for Kelce 24-095. We have raised $2,530 which is 63% of our goal. She is recovering well from the surgery on her leg; however, she still has a way to go in her healing journey. There is still time to donate and all of the donations go directly to cover her medical expenses. We appreciate your support.
Remember to keep your pups engaged with lots of mental stimulation and to not overindulge them with holiday foods. Take them for a long sniffari before festivities begin to help work their brain a bit. Ensure they have a safe space to take a break if the house is a bit too busy for their comfort. A few training sessions for 5-10 minutes throughout the day will provide a significant benefit. Always reward calm and desired behaviors.
Our 2024/2025 GRR board of directors was voted in at the annual business meeting on 10/26. Our board members are Julie Birkeneder /Adoption director, Laura Bredt/Medical director, Paula Ellis/Communications/Fundraising director, Michelle Goldberg/Dog Adoption Process director, Jacki Mulkey/Intake director, Sandy Nelle/Treasurer/Finance director and Susan O’Reilly/Volunteer/Events/Transportation director. The board will elect the executive officers at the November 2nd board meeting. A huge thank you to Hara Cootes for her years of service as an exceptional leader on the GRR board.
We wish all of you a very Happy Thanksgiving and we hope you create some very special memories with your family and friends.
Warm Regards,
Michelle
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If you know of a Golden in need or one to be rehomed, please always remember to contact our intake team or call our hotline at 512-659-4653 as our social media pages aren’t monitored for posts of dogs in need. | |
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Do you have questions or comments for the Board?
We value your input. Please send a note to the GRR Board and include Questions For The Board in the subject line. We hope to hear from you! The next GRR board meeting is November 2, 2024.
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The More You Know…GRR Volunteer Overview | |
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Please join us for this high-level overview of Gold Ribbon Rescue. We will discuss volunteer opportunities available. All are welcome to attend.
Please RSVP to Susan if you are planning to attend.
When: Wednesday, November 13, 2024
Time: 6:30 p.m.-7:15 p.m.
Where: Microsoft Teams Meeting
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Join on your computer, mobile app or room device.
Download Teams | Join on the web
Join the meeting now
Meeting ID: 234 492 831 350
Passcode: 8phDmw
Dial in by phone
+1 689-206-0321,,969831459# United States, Orlando
Find a local number
Phone conference ID: 969 831 459#
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The GRR 2025 Calendar is Available for Order Now!
Order Yours Today!
This 9 X 12 calendar features beautiful photos of Golden Retrievers. Calendars will ship beginning November 1st. All calendar proceeds will support the Goldens of Gold Ribbon Rescue.
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Reservations open on November 15th!
We hope that you can join us for our annual celebration of the season!
Stay tuned for more details.
We are seeking silent auction items for the Holiday Party.
Please contact Susan or Paula if you have items to donate for the auction or if you would like to learn more.
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The Mighty Texas Dog Walk & Expo
Camp Mabry in Austin
The 24th annual Mighty Texas Dog Walk is coming. Let us know if you are interested in participating in a GRR group walk with your Golden. We’ll provide GRR bandanas for the dogs and suggest you wear a GRR T-shirt, if you have one. Cost is $30 per person in advance and $40 at the door with money benefiting Texas Service Dogs. Read more about the event here. Please reach out to Susan if you are interested in attending or to learn more. It’s going to be fun!!!! Thank you.
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The Tree of Hope Launches November 25, 2024 | |
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All funds raised from the Tree of Hope benefit our Extraordinary Golden Fund.
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It's All About the Dogs! Here's Our Roundup! | |
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A Gentle Spirit is Shining Through
Kelce’s second chance needs your support.
On September 6th Gold Ribbon Rescue accepted a rescue-to-rescue transfer from Laredo for 24-095 Kelce and her two four-month-old puppies 24-096 Elway and 24-097 Brees. The previous owner could no longer afford to feed Kelce and her pups, such that Kelce was very skinny at an astonishing 40 pounds.
Upon examination by our dedicated GRR vet, the extent of Kelce’s suffering became clear. She was not only battling malnutrition, but also contending with other serious health issues: heartworms, anaplasmosis and hookworms, a mass on her nose and another on her eyelid. Kelce was also not spayed. Even more heartbreaking was her emotional condition; her spirit seemed diminished. She required assistance to get in the car and she could only muster being fed by hand. The limp in her back legs, especially in the rear right leg, spoke volumes about the pain she had endured.
Kelce has begun to rediscover the joys of doggy-hood under the care of her remarkable fosters and life has become sweeter as she learns to trust again.
Kelce had her spay surgery and had the masses removed. The x-ray of her legs revealed an obvious right femur fracture; however. It is badly displaced and had happened some time ago. The femur required replacement with a plate and a rod, which was performed on October 22nd. Heartworm treatment has been postponed until the femur heals.
Kelce's GoFundMe, currently at $2530, is for $4,000 to cover the cost of Kelce’s femur surgery. GRR is unwavering in our commitment to the health and well-being of Kelce. We are absolutely dedicated to her rehabilitation. But we can’t do it alone.
Every donation helps and will go directly towards Kelce’s care. We truly appreciate your support.
NOTE: When making your donation, GoFundMe will provide a tip option which is set at 18%. This tip does NOT come to Gold Ribbon Rescue and you have the option of sliding the lever from 0% to 100%.
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Spotlight on Ollie 24-047 | |
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There's only one Ollie left!
Get yours before he's gone!
Handsome Ollie is a return to GRR and looking for that special someone who will curl up with him and binge watch Halloween movies. Ollie loves people and is a very Velcro dog with his people. Ollie's fun to have around and likes to cuddle and be loved on. He is a 75 pound loyal, happy boy who thinks he's a lapdog. To learn more about Ollie visit Ollie's page on our website.
If you think that you might be the perfect family for Ollie, please review our criteria for adoption and complete the application. If you are currently working with a matchmaker, contact them for further information.
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Look Who's Here! Welcome to GRR! | |
Please welcome Magic 24-103 who came to us from the Weslaco Animal Shelter. As you can imagine, there was a lot of interest in this fellow, but our ACO friend really likes GRR and said he was ours. We are guessing his age between 2-3 years old. Stay tuned for more info on this young man. | | |
Welcome this pretty lady, Diva 24-104, to GRR. She’s one year old and comes to us from Austin Animal Center. Her owner went to jail and no one surfaced to claim her so, fortunately, GRR was able to take her in, once the appropriate hold period was up. She is a very sweet and loving Golden and we can’t wait to learn more about her. Diva is in her foster home. | |
Victory 24-105 is a 6-year-old male who came to us because his owner passed away. Neighbors stepped in and have been caring for him (and the other dogs that were in the home) until they could find placement. They were referred to GRR and after a conversation with us about our organization and processes they felt certain GRR was the best option.We are excited to learn more about him over the next few weeks. | | |
Triumph 24-106 also joined the GRR family with his friend Victory 24-105. His owner passed away and neighbors were caring for him and Victory. He is a 2-year- old boy who is active and very sweet. He seems to be a typical Golden boy who loves everyone. We can't wait to learn about his personality. | |
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Ellie Rose 24-107 is a 9-month-old puppy from Graham, TX. She came to us because her previous owner, at age 84, found having a puppy around the house was a lot of work and could not give Ellie Rose the exercise she needed. She is as sweet as they come. and we are so excited to welcome you, baby girl
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Please welcome the lovely Betty Boop 24-108 to GRR. Her previous owner didn’t have the time for her so he found GRR. She is a 2-year-old beauty who needs a bit of training to help her be the best girl she can be. We are fortunate to have some great training partners so she will spend a few weeks getting some good foundation skills with a trainer. We are very excited to watch her flourish. | |
This 16 month old beautiful girl joined the GRR family together with her housemate, Otis 24-110. Please welcome Luna 24-109. She comes to us from Corpus Christi and was rehomed to us due to her family having a new baby and not enough time. She will be spending a few weeks with a foster family so we can learn more about her. | | |
Please welcome this handsome 21 month old boy, Otis 24-110 to GRR who came in with Luna 24-109. They both come to us from Corpus Christi and they were rehomed to us due to his previous owners having a new baby and not enough time. Thankfully they knew GRR was the best option for them and we will find a fantastic forever family. Otis will be in foster care for a few weeks while we learn more about him. | |
Aries 17-001, now Cooper, has returned to GRR. He was originally adopted in April, 2017 and lived with his family through moves, job changes, the birth of two little boys and the pandemic. After months of agonizing, the family decided that it was necessary to rehome Aries back to GRR. The family has many reasons for the return including Aries' unexplained weight gain since 2021 for which they have tried everything, extensive travel by the dad, that resulted in the wife dealing with a 3 year old and 5 year old alone while working full time and caring for an Aussie/Chow mix that is nearing the end of life. It was extremely difficult for them to come to the decision to return Aries because they love him, but they want him to have the best life. Welcome back sweet boy! | | |
Ollie 24-047 has returned to GRR because it didn't work out with his adoptive family. His previous fosters, Rick and Ernest, welcomed him back into their home with open arms! We are relieved to know that Ollie is back in such a calm, understanding and familiar environment and are so glad that he seems very content with his foster family. Welcome back little one! Once a GRR dog, always a GRR dog. | |
My Dream Really Did Come True! I Got Adopted! | |
We're incredibly happy to announce the adoption of Boscoe 24-074 to Dawn and Greg on October 6th. In addition to his two humans, Boscoe is now playfully antagonizing his Great Pyrenees brother, Koda, and sisters Cosette and Olive. As you may be aware, GPs can be a bit aloof in their interactions with others, but Boscoe easily became the pesky little brother and Koda, especially, is enjoying the romping. Congratulations to the new family. | |
Congratulations to Peyton 24-094 and his new parents, Claire and David, on his adoption on October 7th. It was love at first sight when Claire and David met Peyton. They declared him "perfect" for them and were thrilled to welcome him to to his new forever home. Congratulations Peyton, Claire and David! | | |
Congratulations to Clayton who adopted sweet Buddy 24-060 on October 13th after seeing him through heartworm treatment. Clayton dotes on him and is excited that Buddy is no longer on exercise restrictions. Good things are coming for both of them! Congratulations to Clayton and Buddy. | |
Serenity, 24-101, now called Ellie, was adopted by first time dog owners Anisha and Aashish on October 25th and we cannot be happier. Ellie is our pup that came to us from the La Vernia area after a family found her wandering on the side of the road. It was obvious that she had been previously well cared for but after many attempts to find her home proved unsuccessful, GRR was called. Ellie has now found her forever home with Anisha and Aashish It has been a joy working with them to learn and grow in their understanding of providing a safe and loving home for this wonderful pup. | | |
It is with great pleasure that we are announcing the adoption of sweet Harlei 24-102 (now known as Chantilly or Tilly) by Hannah and Patrick on October 27th. She is so sweet so her new name is perfect! Congratulations to Tilly and her new parents! | |
Van Halen 24-087 was adopted on October 29th. He is the last of the Rock Band Litter to be adopted and he has found a great couple, Kristina and Peter, to give him all the love and care that he deserves! You may recall that these puppies came into GRR’s care suffering from parvo, hookworms and very underweight. Some of them, sadly, did not make it. We are excited that Van Halen has finally found his happy ending! Congratulations to his new family and a special thank you to his fosters who nursed him to good health and set him up for success! | | |
Thoughts, Prayers and Remembrance... | |
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Cupcake 09-19
Zussie 18-028
Reggie 15-043
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Our Beloved Golden Girl Cupcake 09-194
I want to celebrate the life of our bestest golden girl, Cupcake, who filled our lives with boundless love and joy. We adopted her in the first week of January 2010 and the vet estimated her age to be between 1.5 to 2 years old. She lived a long and adventurous life, always by our side. She died Friday, September 27, 2024.
From her cherished walks to her days at the horse ranch, where she would either follow or lead trail rides and even jump horse jumps with surprising agility and grace, she was always up for fun and an excursion. She had a unique personality, hating swimming pools but absolutely loving to romp and swim in creeks and lakes. Her sonic bark was her signature, announcing her backyard presence to the neighborhood for a good decade before she finally cut it out. We had a strict rule: no outside barking before 7 a.m. and not after 9 p.m. to save our relationships with our neighbors, but it was a small price to pay for the joy she brought us.
Even as she aged, she remained active, enjoying her twice-daily walks, though she would dictate the length. Her sweetness was evident to everyone who met her, and she was loved by all the other pets we foster-failed. We almost always traveled by car so she could join us on our journeys, making countless memories along the way.
She was not just a pet; she was a beloved member of our family and her memory will forever be cherished. Rest in peace, sweet girl. You will always be in our hearts.
Maybe we'll be open to fostering again in the future, but it's too soon now. We think of GRR as a gift to both Goldens and our family and we will support the organization.
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Zussie was a tiny, 30-pound Golden mix who came to GRR in 2018 at age 2 to 3. She came to GRR from SAACF as a stray and she was was heartworm positive and a recent momma. Garrett and Elizabeth FPA'd her and adopted her on June 6, 2018. Zussie crossed the Rainbow Bridge on October 22nd due to a ruptured tumor on her spleen. We are so sad for the family and for this sweet little dog. Run free sweet Zussie. | |
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On Thursday afternoon, October 24th, my Golden Reggie (GRR 15-043) crossed the Rainbow Bridge. When Reggie came to my house in 2015, he was a GRR foster. Within three days, I decided I would adopt Reggie, and he has been a great companion for nine
years. I will miss the little/big guy. Reggie had his own canine buddies over those years -- Kip, Hunter, Lark, and Apricot. Hunter, Lark, and Apricot are all GRR Goldens.
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Your Really Need to Know This! | |
Which Thanksgiving Foods Can I Give My Dog?
American Kennel Club
Following is an excerpt from the article:
Thanksgiving tends to coincide with an uptick in vet visits, due to dogs being fed unsafe human foods.
These foods are ones that Dr. Richter, Dr. Ochoa, Dr. Klein, and the AVMA caution should not be shared with dogs at Thanksgiving due to the potential for unsafe or unhealthy ingredients:
Once the meal is over, and you’ve successfully avoided sharing any unsafe foods with your dog, it’s critical to be sure your day’s trash is properly secured so your dog can’t get into it, and undo all of your diligent planning.
If your dog gets into something that they shouldn’t eat, seek help right away. In the event of an emergency, contact the Pet Poison Helpline or call your local emergency vet that offers weekend and after-hours services.
Read the entire article here.
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Newsletter Editor: Dori Olsen
Send comments or suggestions to: newsletter@grr-tx.com
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The Gold Ribbon Rescue newsletter is published monthly. Articles reflect the opinion of the authors and do not necessarily reflect GRR policy. Gold Ribbon Rescue and its Editor(s) seek to publish accurate material, but neither assumes responsibility in the event of a claim of loss or damage resulting from publication. | |
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Gold Ribbon Rescue | 512-659-4653 | 1101 W 34th St #336, Austin TX 78705
www.grr-tx.com
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