Home       Adoption       Resources       Boutique       Events            About

Extraordinary Golden Fund

When GRR Goldens require atypical medical expenses, GRR's regular membership and adoption fees are unable to cover the costs (even after generous discounts from area veterinarians). Faced with the prospect of turning away or euthanizing Goldens with high medical costs, we created the Extraordinary Golden Fund. This fund provides a means to target donations specifically for extraordinary medical care. All donations are tax deductable, and there are two ways to donate:

Gold Ribbon Rescue
EGF
P.O. Box 956
Austin TX 78757-0956

Meet some of our Extraordinary Goldens...

December 2009

Ladybug is a lovely cream-colored puppy with big dark eyes and fashion-model eyeliner. She’s happy, friendly, open, curious, gentle and affectionate—just the way a Golden should be! And she lived with a wonderful family who has always had her best interests at heart. Yes, when it comes to looks, love, and character, Lady truly was born under a lucky star.

Unfortunately, the stardust seems to have stopped just short of her hips! When Lady was only a few months old, her owners noticed that she wasn’t jumping as much as a normal puppy should, or running as fast. She even had a hard time doggie-paddling in the shallow end of the pool. She seemed painful after exercise and didn’t want to stand up. A trip to the vet confirmed it: severe bilateral hip dysplasia. Just to be sure, the family had a specialist look at her. He agreed: “Without surgery, she’s likely to dislocate her hips, just walking around. She’ll develop arthritis and be in a lot of pain.”

With active small children and another dog in the home, Lady’s family realized they couldn’t really afford the surgery or the rehab, either right now or later. They contacted GRR, and on December 8th— just two days after Lady arrived in foster care—the surgeon performed a TPO (triple pelvic osteotomy) on her right hip. In this operation, the pelvis is cut in three places, then rotated to position the hip socket properly vis-à-vis the head of the femur. The resulting joint is stable and pain free. The operation went smoothly… and if everything goes according to plan, the second hip will be repaired on December 22.

What will be absolutely crucial to Lady’s success is attentive post-op care. The most critical element is confinement—Lady will be need to be limited to a small area with comfy bedding and good footing. No slick floors or stairs; no jumping, running, climbing, or acrobatics. She’ll also be having physical therapy to help with recovery. With good luck and good care, she should be ready to resume the life of a typical pup around Valentine’s Day. Luckily (again!), Lady is living with a super foster family who have really studied up on her post-op needs. (In the photos, you see her with two of her newest and biggest fans!)

What does it all add up to? Well, even with a generous discount, this major surgery comes out to $1,600 per hip. Lady’s owner went above & beyond and contributed a sizable sum toward her care, but we still need to make up about three-fourths of the cost. If you would like to help this beautiful girl on her way to an active and pain-free future, please make a contribution to the Extraordinary Golden Fund in Ladybug’s name.

Thank you from all of us at GRR!
 

November 2009:

It’s been two months since Jingles’s last update – and a very eventful two months, too. Since coming into foster care back in mid-July, the spunky senior had improved immeasurably on the behavior front – transforming himself (with loads of help from his supremely patient foster family) from complete wild man into a model indoor citizen (well, almost). However, he started out chubby and wasn’t really trimming down as much as we would have liked – in fact, his foster family became increasingly concerned over the apparent growing size of his belly, which gave him an almost sway-backed look. Bloodwork done early in October looked “relatively unremarkable for his age,” but his vets felt he might have an abdominal mass or Cushing’s disease—a condition in which the body produces too much natural cortisone, leading to symptoms including a pot-bellied appearance, poor hair coat, and a ravenous appetite (Jingles had all three). To find out just what was going on, we did an ultrasound—and found a tumor on one adrenal gland. Yep, it was Cushing’s.
While the diagnosis wasn’t good news, the location of the tumor certainly was. This is because Cushing’s is usually a result of a benign mass on the pituitary, in which case the only option is to proceed with medication to reduce & control the tumor while monitoring the dog’s progress with frequent bloodwork. It’s a lifelong and costly undertaking. But Jingles belonged to that small group of dogs in whom the tumor was on an adrenal—and that meant it could be excised. The catch? It’s a very risky and difficult surgery, since the adrenals are hard to get to (on top of the kidneys, tucked up under the rib cage; three layers of muscle must be cut to access the site) AND situated very close to a number of large blood vessels. There was a chance that Jingles may not survive the operation. But if he pulled through and the surgery was a success, the condition would be resolved.
He’d already come so far – he deserved the chance to be really well! We went ahead with the operation on 10/27 -- and crossed our fingers.
10/27: The vet report: The tumor was successfully removed. It was about half the size of your thumb. Everything else looked good. The other gland (the left one) is normal in shape but a little bit smaller than normal. The incision is on the right flank instead of the midline. This is in part so that all the weight from his “pot belly” won’t be pulling down on the sutures & putting pressure on the incision. Since Jingles has so much cortisone in his system, his healing time will be longer than normal, so the vets used heavy duty sutures for the body wall and non-absorbable sutures for the skin.
10/30: Note from Jingles’s foster mom: Jingles had the operation Tuesday late morning. We brought him home Tuesday evening, but by Wednesday night he still hadn’t managed to keep anything down. We were worried and took him back to the clinic Thursday morning. He is such a sweetie though. Right before he and Michael left for the vet, we were still getting tail wags when we would sit next to him and stroke his head, even though he must have felt just awful!
11/9: The latest: Jingles is doing MUCH better! The two days of IV fluids and steroids at the vet really helped. The vet explained that the excess cortisol put out by the tumor effectively shut down his other adrenal gland, so after the surgery he had too LITTLE cortisol. The low level of cortisol and the post-op pain he was likely feeling despite the pain meds probably caused the vomiting that led to his return to the clinic for those two days. He will be on a gradually reducing dose of oral steroids for the next couple of months while his other adrenal gland revs up again. He is so amazing! As bad as he felt, he insisted on going outside to potty and did not have a single accident! We were prepared for him to have trouble in that regard, but he surprised us again!
The tumor was benign (Yippy!!!). The bottom of his incision developed a little seroma last week because, as he felt better, he managed to scratch it. To keep him from worrying it any more, he is now dressed in a t-shirt (bottom pulled up and fastened with ponytail holder along his spine) to loosely cover the incision and a sock on his right hind foot. With his floppy Elizabethan collar on (which is blue) he looks quite funny. I have been trying to get a picture of him in his “outfit” but getting him to stand still right now has been hard!
His appetite has come charging back and he is eating very well. In fact, we have had to supplement between meals with veggies. His favorites are raw carrots and sweet potatoes. He is still on exercise restriction, so he has a bit of cabin-fever, which he manifests by constantly hanging out by the front door. We are calling him an honorary cat, since he seems to have nine lives! The whole family, including pooches Sallie and Peanut, is very glad he is on the mend. The vet wanted me to tell GRR she was glad the surgery was authorized because he should make a full recovery. Our family too is grateful that GRR was willing to provide this live-saving treatment for him. He remains the most energetic “elder” dog I have ever seen. It has been very hard to keep him quiet. Last night, he tried to steal a chicken from the kitchen island, so he obviously needs some reminders about “leave it.” It was the first time since the surgery that he has tried to jump up, however, so his abdominal muscles must be less painful. Anyway, he is doing GREAT!
 Ultrasound, surgery, post-op hospitalization for a truly Super Senior: $1,100.

Update 9/03
Sing to the tune of “Jingle Bell Rock”:
 Jingle Dog, Jingle Dog, Jingle Dog rocks!
Jingle dog swings and Jingle Dog rings,
Dancing and prancing and wagging his tail
In the frosty* air!
(* due to air conditioning, of course)
 Someone forgot to tell this bouncy boy he’s a senior! And who can complain about that? He’s living proof that old Goldens can have fun and kick up their heels with the best of the pups. Still, his foster family’s patience is being rewarded… instead of “jingling around the clock,” Jingles actually can turn it down a notch. He’s really coming along:
 He is still rowdy at times, but it is so, so much better. He soaks up all the petting he can get and we feel like he is blossoming in his indoor life! He’s really improving at not jumping up. He wants to be with our two dogs and the three are all getting along better. He is slowly but surely learning his house manners. This weekend, for the first time, we let him roam in the house without a lead on and he did very, very well. He still tries to jump on the kitchen counter if we are cooking (ah, all those smells!) but gets right down with a "leave it." He comes to sit next to us when we are eating, but after a couple of soulful glances, he lies down under the table. He is still a very heavy chewer and can bite tennis balls in half and shred a stuffed toy in less than a minute! The best chew toys for him are large, heavy sterilized bones, thick rope toys, and the black “ultra” Kong. Despite having such powerful jaws, though, he takes treats from my hand ever so gently, with a velvet touch of his muzzle. He’s pretty calm with grooming, too. 
One thing hasn’t changed, and that’s how surprisingly good he is on lead! He stays to the left and LOVES to go on walks. He has SO much energy that he will run a little if I let him.
Jingles will need a home where he can get enough exercise to tire him out and keep him out of trouble! He does not like to be alone, so a home with someone there a good portion of the time would be best. He does very well with school-aged children, but he is so big and moves so fast that he could easily knock down a smaller child (or an elderly person, for that matter). He is really a sweetheart!

Update 8/10
Oh my goodness! Do we need more proof that age is just a number? Exhibit A: Jingles. Read on:
 Jingles is VERY high energy. If I did not know his age, I would put him at 2 to 4 based on activity level. He will need a home in which he can get LOTS of exercise. He’s bouncy and silly around everyone, including children, but does not try to jump on them. He is beginning to play with our two GRR dogs, but can get very physical when excited. Really he just acts like a puppy who needs to learn how to play properly. But at the Pet Hotel last weekend, the staff first exercised him alone, then tried him in “doggy day camp” with 10 or so other dogs of all sizes—and he did very well!
 Our cat Avi is petrified of this bounding goof. Jingles is eager to play with him, but Avi takes off if Jingles gets too close.
 Jingles just loves being inside (no surprise given his history) but we still have to keep him on a lead to keep the counter surfing and general exuberance under control. My husband refers to him as our “feral child.” He is very sweet, though, and not at all aggressive. And he is doing SO much better than he was at first! He will sit on command most of the time. He loves to be petted. Funniest thing he does is his “flop.” When he wants his belly rubbed, he leans against my legs and then does a quick slide down and flops on his back with paws in the air. In that position, he will let our Golden boy sniff him all over and wants me to rub, rub, rub his tummy and under his chin. He blisses out completely.
 Jingles needs a home with someone who can give him lots of exercise and work on his training. He’s really the soul of good nature and, since he does want to please you, we know he’ll keep on improving as he learns basic commands and boundaries. Despite his naughty habits, you just can’t help but become attached to his sweet personality and goofiness!
Update 07/25
Jingles is settling into his foster home and gets this report:

Jingles is a fast learner! When he came to stay with us just 2 weeks ago, he was a wild and crazy goofy thing. (Sensory overload! Jingles spent most of his time before coming to GRR in a garage or outside. He apparently was not allowed inside after he was 18 months old. And all of the sudden—other dogs! Lots of people! Living indoors! No wonder he went a little bonkers.) He was rude to Peanut, our 6-year-old Golden boy, who then decided he wanted nothing to do with the boorish houseguest. And he scared Sallie (our 6-year-old Golden mix) so much with all of his running and leaping around that she jumped in my lap! All this from a 10 1/2-year-old! Someone forgot to tell Jingles that he is a senior citizen.

Just a few days after he arrived, Jingles went to the vet for neuter surgery. Because he’s so active and energetic, we had to keep him on a lead whenever he was out of the crate to keep him from injuring the surgical site. He doesn’t mind the leash, and it has helped us teach him some basic manners. We found out quickly that Jingles is very smart and eager to please. Within a day or two, he was spending longer and longer periods uncrated without becoming a complete nut-dog. Even Peanut has warmed up to him, and now licks Jingles’s nose when Jingles comes out of the crate. When Jingles is crated, Peanut and Sallie even lie next to his crate. Of course, they still scatter if he barks, since his bark is very deep and loud (but not aggressive or “growly” at all). We are working with him to use his “inside voice”!

We have also learned that Jingles knows some commands, like SIT and STOP when on a lead. In fact, he has been a good leash walker from the start; he stops when you do, and sits right down if told to so. (Off the lead, he still gets a bit excited, and his attention is easily diverted.) He responds very well to treating for good behavior. Jingles LOVES to be petted, especially under his chin and on his chest. Sometimes when he is lying down, he will roll on his side and put his legs up to have his tummy rubbed. If he is standing up as you pet him, he leans into you in a sort of swoon. What a love-hound!!

One really funny thing about Jingles is that he loves music and calms visibly when soft classical or “easy listening” music is played. We keep soft music playing for him at night and he sleeps quietly until morning.

Now that Jingles is just about finished with his post-op activity restriction, we’re really working on teaching good inside manners. The really good news is that Jingles likes living inside, wants to make his housemates happy, learns fast, and is settling in. We are confident that our next report will have lots of details about how much he has learned!


August 2008:

Chewy...Last update! Main thing is, I had my first hip surgery (on my left hip) AND spay surgery at the same time. It sure seemed to me like a series of most unfortunate events –  who wants to spend so much time at the doc’s? But mom tells me I’m actually really, really fortunate to get all fixed up like this. The hospital staff said I was a real sweetheart and my foster parents were amazed at how well I put up with the E-collar, restricted activity, hours in the crate while I healed… I just took it all in stride.  Heck, Mom complains more when she stubs her toe than I did the entire two weeks I was in “suspended animation”! Oh, other really great news, I finally got this housebreaking thing down and haven’t had an accident in a long while. Mom says I did great not to backslide despite all my medical stuff lately.   

Anyway, I am a happy girl now, because I finally got to get my sutures out on the 29th of July and got that darn E-collar off my head on the 1st of August. Yay! After that I was allowed to play with my brothers and sister again.  It took a couple of days for them to realize that I  was well enough, but tonight we had another loud three-way bitey head (somehow, we never have a four-way bitey head).  What a blast! I’m on antibiotics now to ensure I don’t get an infection of my hip suture area and I’m doing just great on the drugs.  I take pain medication once a day and that really helps, too.

Mom told me that now that I’m over the worst (spay and first hip surgery) that the real training will begin. No more mouthing and no more pulling like a freight train (OK, at 41.5 pounds, perhaps not a freight train…more like a small steam locomotive with a poor maintenance record!). Now, about my size—I’m probably always going to be a small girl, but that’s an obvious plus for those of you who like a smaller-size Golden ( lapdog dimensions!). I also have very distinctive naturally curly nose whiskers. I’m affectionate, I am willing to sleep in when required (hey, my foster parents are retired), I don’t guard food or toys, I don’t bark very often (just the occasional yelp), and I seem to be getting more comfortable every day. 

I need to return to the clinic in late August to get a recheck, and after that I’ve still got hip surgery #2 to go, so  I’m not going to be available for adoption until the middle of September. BUT, if  you  want to adopt me before I get through that second operation, by all means talk with my foster mom and she’ll give you the complete skinny on getting me through it! GRR will foot the bill, of course.

Thanks to everyone who has contributed to my care so far. I love being treated like the extraordinary girl I am! Please come to meet me… I know I can make some family really happy!

April 2008

Sometimes we get  a “highly adoptable” Golden—young (but not too young), healthy, housebroken, good with cats, good with kids, known vet history… how much better could it get?! However, as GRR’s president once said, “Yeah, but if rescue were always that easy, you probably wouldn’t need rescue groups.”

The truest rescues are the dogs who are highly UNadoptable at the start—too young & weak, too old, too sick, or too injured to walk right into an adoptive home. When a shelter or a Good Samaritan looks at one of those Goldens and says, “Who could possibly want a dog like THIS one?”… then we say, “We do.”

In the past two weeks alone, we’ve taken in two such special-needs Goldens. One is just starting out in life, the other has already lived a lot—but both of them need new lives. Here are their stories.

Trucker: the little puppy who could

Hotline message from San Antonio on April 10: “There’s a Golden Retriever puppy under our truck in the driveway. We just found him lying there a couple of days ago. There’s something wrong with his skin & he’s really timid. We have been putting food out for him, but he can’t stay here. Can you help? If you come while we are gone, please take him.  No one is looking for him.”

Action stations! A flurry of phone calls, e-mails, and vet arrangements followed, and two GRR volunteers arrived  the next day… and found a purebred little Golden in very sad shape. “Three or four months old. Lethargic, unresponsive. I  literally had to pull him out from under the truck, although he did take a few biscuits.  You can tell he feels lousy. No hair on his ears for the most part, lots of hair loss on face and legs.  I just wanted to pull him close and hug him. His little life has been just miserable so far.”

Almost too weak to stand, the pup was carried into the clinic and installed in a kennel. He still looked awful, but at least he now looked like somebody cared. And it always helps to have a cheering squad! The clinic staff promptly conducted a “name that pup” contest, and chose the perfect moniker: “Trucker,” because this pup really does keep on truckin’. He has sarcoptic mange (hence the bald spots), a skin infection—and worst of all, parvovirus. For the first few days, Trucker went downhill. Vomiting, bloody diarrhea, fever, extreme weakness. The clinic put him on IV fluids—vitally  important in treating parvo, since it kills in part by dehydration. Dogs with this devastating illness can’t take anything by mouth, to spare damage to their already compromised GI tracts, so Trucker is getting antibiotics and anti-nausea drugs in his IV as well. He has daily blood counts, too, because parvo also attacks the bone marrow. By April 16—five days after he arrived at the vet’s—the diarrhea had abated, and Trucker was able to stand on his own and give a tiny tail wag when the staff sweet-talked him. On Thursday the 17th, the diarrhea stopped, the vomiting slowed way down, and he even went for a little walk outside and wagged his tail when he saw another dog in the distance! By Saturday the 19th, he hadn’t vomited for 48 hours and his temperature had been normal for 36 hours. And by Monday the 21st, he was eating small amounts of canned food, drinking water—and keeping it all down. And each time he goes out for a walk, he wants to be a little more active. Everyone says, “He’s a sweetie!”

Will Trucker make it? We sure hope so, but he’s not out of the woods yet. Parvovirus is very serious, especially in puppies—and more so for pups like Trucker, who have other problems, too. His current bills are running about $69 per day, and there’s no general rule for how long treatment needs to continue.  But just take a look at his pictures. And we’re all hoping that some day we can show another “after” photo: a grown-up happy Golden with a plush fur coat and a loving family surrounding him.

Vivi: shining through

The day after baby Trucker arrived at the clinic in San Antonio, an Austin shelter called about a truly ancient Golden found stray near a Petsmart. Likely a dumped dog, and clearly severely neglected. The staff warned us, “You guys realize this gal is probably 15 years old, and she has A LOT of problems. Tumors, teeth worn down to the nub from chewing. Rear end has hard skin from fleas/dermatitis. She was matted so badly urine could not escape, so she has scalding. Quite a trooper and a sweetie though.”

No matter! Almost before she’d hung up the phone, Margo was speeding off to meet the spunky senior. The shelter wasn’t kidding about her health. But…  one look, and you could clearly  see  the beautiful young dog she’d once been shining through the very old Golden she is today. And WHAT a personality! She glowed with serenity and trust, with a lightness of spirit that triumphed over her physical woes: eyes infected, skin infected, heavy matting. Teeth actually caked with fur and dirt (from chewing at herself). Two big black tumors, the size of ping-pong balls, hanging from one lip and one hock. The worst ear infection Margo had ever seen; the ear was swollen, angry, and dripping pus. But incredibly: “She’s cheerful, alert, perky. Having a blast socializing with the staff, friendly and curious with everyone.  I AM NUTS ABOUT HER.”

No question where this girl was going… home with Margo, to live out her days as a “permanent foster.” But she needed a name, something as light and vivacious as she is. “Vivian” seemed to fit perfectly—just right for a dog with such joie de vivre.

The next few days were a whirlwind for Vivi. Bathing, grooming, trimming, vaccinations, tooth cleaning, flushing and treating her painful ear. The ugly  tumors came off neatly under light sedation. Vivi enjoyed her trips to and from the clinic… riding shotgun, grinning from ear to ear. And just look at her now—what a glamor girl! She’s carefree at last, and will stay that way.

Over the years we have brought in so many wonderful dogs who needed extra help. Maybe one of them is even living in your home today. I have two in mine! – Darla, #06-095, left outside the San Antonio shelter with a huge, festering abscess on her neck (the fish hook that caused the injury was still lodged in the flesh); and Bebe, #07-031, picked up stray with a horribly mangled front leg and slipping into shock. Without the help of GRR, both dogs would have been euthanized at the pound. That didn’t happen, and every day I look at my beautiful, lively girls and feel so grateful to have them.

Can you help give a special Golden a second chance? We can’t save all of them, but we can always, always try. Please donate to our Extraordinary Golden Fund. You can make a general contribution or ask that your dollars go to caring for one dog in particular. Any amount will help. Thank you from all of us at GRR!

Princess
January 2008:

Once upon a time, a beautiful princess lost her kingdom and everything she owned. For some time, she wandered the highways and byways, living the life of a vagabond and depending on the kindness of strangers for a sip of water, a bite of food, and shelter from the sun and rain. One day, she met a kind family who offered her a place to stay. “We don’t have much room,” they said, “but you are welcome to live with us.” And admiring their new lodger’s noble spirit and gracious heart (in which, indeed, they were not deceived), they named her Princess.

Now, when she lived in her own kingdom, Princess occasionally traveled the countryside incognito, visiting her subjects and making sure that all was well… something that all good rulers like to do. At the peak of the winter holidays, she decided to take a tour of her new territory, and in a surprisingly un-royal lapse of judgment, did not say a word to her family, but slipped away silently. For four long days they waited and wondered, not knowing if they would ever see their Princess again. And then…

A little figure appeared in the distance, bobbing down the road and up the drive. It was Princess! But what had happened? She was hopping on three legs, while the fourth dangled uselessly in the air. Had she had an encounter with a fire-breathing dragon, been set upon by footpads, been injured in a duel? She didn’t say… and her smile was as happy as ever. Still, her family could tell she needed an expert physician, and truth to tell, things were a bit crowded with one big Princess and many other little ones!

Fortunately, they soon figured out what to do, and placed a call to Gentry Rescue and Rehabilitation, Inc., a local organization dedicated to helping canine aristocrats in need. Within a day, an impressive coach drew up at the door, and out stepped a GRR representative. Princess had not forgotten her royal upbringing and briskly hobbled forward with a smile, a bob, a curtsey, a bow, and a furious tail wag-plus-derriere-wiggle combination (now wherever did she learn that? NOT in finishing school!). She was clearly the Genuine Article, and in a twinkling she was handed into her carriage. A heartfelt thanks and farewell to her family, and she was on her way to her next adventure…

They say that life is not a fairy tale, but we’re hoping that you can help this Princess get the happy ending she deserves! As the story tells you, she was picked up stray a few months ago by a wonderful family who already had lots of little dogs, but nonetheless made room for one more; but when she showed up badly lame after a four-day absence, they contacted GRR for help. Our volunteer Kathy was of course charmed by Princess, and commented that she didn’t think the injury could be too bad, since Princess was all smiles, wags, and good cheer. So you can imagine our shock when an X-ray revealed that her shin bone was not only broken, but shattered and smashed into so many pieces that there was no way to reassemble it. (She probably did have a run-in with a fire-breathing dragon, in the form of a car.) She’d need surgery and a plate in her leg, and the sooner the better. Everyone who knows Goldens knows how stoic they can be, maintaining that happy spirit even when they’re ill or in great pain… and Princess is an outstanding example of that!

The surgery went perfectly, and Princess is now in rehab. Her foster mom says, “This is such a NICE dog. Everything a Golden Retriever should be. She is a solid girl who takes everything that comes her way. Wonderful personality and attitude. Somebody spent some time with her. She is housetrained, loves everyone, does great with other dogs, comes up to you and sits right down in front you for a treat or a pat. It’s adorable. She doesn’t particularly care for her Elizabethan collar (even though plenty of princesses and queens have worn one on purpose). She wants to scratch, and it won’t let her, and then of course she only has one functional hind leg, which makes scratching even harder. So when we go outside, she lies on her back and just wiggles furiously to scratch her back and shoulders. It’s hilarious. Her pet name is even Wiggles! She’s super social and as soon as her leg is healed, she’ll be thrilled to go for walks and mingle with everyone she meets. She’s the greatest.”

So far Princess has had lots of fairy godmothers and godfathers. The family who took her in, then GRR, and now, of course, you! She needs many more friends to help cover the cost of her operation, which ran around $1,500, and of course some very special new friends to give her a castle and a kingdom once again. Can you help Princess live happily ever after? If so, just click here.

Thank you from all of us at GRR!
 

Donnie
February 2007:

For Valentine's Day, I would like:

a. one dozen breathtakingly lifelike roses sculpted from freeze-dried liver (I promise to admire them before eating them);
b. a heart-shaped meat & cheese appetizer tray (jumbo size, of course);
c. arthroscopic surgery to make my shoulder as good as new;
d. all of the above!

Four-year-old Donnie would probably pick (d), but we KNOW he is going to get (c)-on February 13th, he's scheduled for repairs to the shoulder that has probably been paining him for a good long while. And this energetic sweetheart couldn't ask for a better Valentine's treat than that!

Charming, clever, and handsome, Donnie was found running stray in San Antonio last September and taken to the Humane Society. From there, he went to a local family who kept him in the backyard-a lonely life for a social butterfly, so Donnie became a digger and perfected the art of escapeŠ and eventually, in December, wound up in the city pound. GRR volunteer Tracy went to meet him and was won over! "He's very intelligent and eager to please. Every time I spoke to him, he was VERY interested in what I had to say, as if he really understood me. I would guess he'll be a total cuddler." Donnie's family, tired of his roaming ways, elected not to bail him out-and so, on December 21, he came to GRR.

First happy surprise-Tracy reported she was pretty sure the affectionate fellow was housebroken, as, despite obvious tummy turmoil, he managed to hang on until she screeched to a halt at the vet's and he could use the outdoor "facilities." Next, we got the wonderful news that he was heartworm negative. After a much-needed bath and trim, Donnie moved into his foster home. As he settled in, more hidden talents came to light. For example, he proved to be a Stealth Sofa Warmer (somewhat to his family's chagrin!). Then, the considerate dog displayed a real aptitude for Quality Control Management, thoughtfully testing his mom's gourmet cooking for flavor, texture, and appetite appeal. Strolling into the living room with frosting and strawberries adorning his nose, he was able to assure her that the fancy cake on the kitchen counter was perfectly acceptable for guests. (Funny, mom didn't seem to appreciate his opinion as much as she should have.) Mud Wrestling was the next skill to come to light-on a trip to the dog park, "Donnie went to a large mud puddle, tasted the water, and then lay down in the mud. We think he likes water."

From the start, though, his mom and dad noticed that his right front leg wasn't quite right. Especially after exercise, he'd stiffen up and limp. This boy is peppy and likes to play hard! - but sometimes he just couldn't manage it. After a few weeks, they were worried enough to take him to the vet. The doctor was concerned, too - the shoulder was painful, clearly inflamed, and "felt" funny: he even worried that Donnie might have bone cancer. X-rays clearly ruled out any tumors (whew)-but "I've never seen anything quite like this. It's like there are pieces of bone floating around in the joint. Donnie needs to see a specialist." That's just what Donnie did, and the problem turns out to be a "joint mouse" - not the furry little rodent, but a piece of joint capsule that broke off (probably early in Donnie's life) and has now mineralized. As it moves around within the joint, it causes inflammation, discomfort, and damage. The vet says that Donnie's condition is like having a pebble sliding around in your shoe: sometimes it's uncomfortable, other times downright painful, depending on just where the "mouse" is. The very good news here is that arthroscopic surgery can solve the problem. The prognosis is excellent: once he recuperates for a couple of weeks, Donnie should be almost as good as new, and able to play as much as he wants!

Donnie's surgery won't be cheap, though - it carries a price tag of about $1,000, in addition to the $250 already spent on diagnostics. Can you help make Donnie's Valentine's Day the best ever? Any amount, no matter how small, will help this wonderful Golden and others like him have a healthy, happy, active, pain-free future. Thank you so much for your help!