GoldenMoments - Golden Retriever Rescue Club of Charlotte
Transcription
GoldenMoments - Golden Retriever Rescue Club of Charlotte
GoldenMoments APRIL 2014 SOPHIE’S SAGA From her Foster Mom: A very sickly and underweight but smiling Golden girl met the GRRCC Intake Coordinator at a shelter in the northern part of our area. This shelter had called GRRCC about this sweet female who was covered in fleas and ticks and had a very noticeable skin infection. We were told she was a stray picked up in the most northern part of Iredell County and would not be returned to her owner, even if one came forward, because of her physical condition- she was deemed a cruelty case. GRRCC immediately made plans to do the intake on this girl and we named her Sophie….no particular reason…the name just seemed to fit! We were told she had a microchip but since the chip had not been registered by her owner, it was of no use. Animal Control did know the microchip had been sold and implanted by a local veterinary clinic but no other information was available to us. Sophie was 15lbs., underweight, full of worms, and with a serious skin infection from the massive amount of fleas and ticks on her skinny body. She was miraculously Heartworm negative and had good hips, eyes and ears. Her age was guessed to be approximately 12+ years old but despite all her medical conditions, this little girl smiled nonstop and her tail just would not stop wagging! Everyone at our vet’s fell in love with her! After her thorough check-up, off she went a long overdue Spa Day to have years of filth washed away with a special medicated shampoo- while she was in the shop a customer saw her and immediately donated $20 towards her care because of her shocking condition. After her Bath & Buff, Sophie immediately made herself at home when she walked in my house as my foster dog- even licked my 6yr old male Golden in the face! Kisses were shared by all!! Sophie's skin was so sensitive she would flinch when we tried to pet her...we found out very quickly the top of her head and ears were the only place that did not cause her pain when we had our hands on her. We contacted the veterinary practice that had implanted her microchip and asked if it was possible that they could find any records or information on this girl based on her microchip number. A wonderful woman there actually found her records (after extensive and time consuming search) and noted the last time she was seen by their vet clinic was in 2004! We were told she was spayed, up to date on shots as a puppy and microchipped. Her birthdate showed she was actually only 10yrs old, not the 12+ years the shelter and vet had guessed, based on her poor body condition and obvious long term neglect and ‘hard living’. Then came the shocking information that the puppies name was actually SOPHIE, what we had also named her…kind of sent shivers up our spines!! !!! We were given the name of the owner on the vet’s records but the address and phone numbers were not current. Google saved the day when the previous owner's name was placed in the search engine- a phone number was called and the original owner's father in law gave us the current phone number of the original owner. What a phone call that was- after much explanation we discovered Sophie had been stolen out of her owner's backyard before she was 1yr old and had been missing for over 9 years!!! They lived in southern Union County and Sophie was picked up by Animal Control at the very northern-most tip of Iredell County…her 9 year odyssey had been a long one; literally and figuratively! Tears were shed and pictures of Sophie were sent to her that afternoon. A very emotional reunion occurred a few days later when Sophie met her original family at my home. Sophie could be petted on her head but still not on her body. Imagine finding your puppy after 9 years of wondering what had happened to her!!! They were not in a position to take Sophie back into their home and understood that Sophie was a special needs senior girl and were very, very grateful GRRCC had taken her in and were giving her much needed medical care. Sophie soon responded to her medications and good food- after a few weeks she was gaining weight and her skin became less sensitive- we could brush her, hug her and give her full body massages! We don’t know the details of the 9 obviously tough years when Sophie was on her own and I suspect we wouldn’t want to. (Continued…) P.O. Box 471931, Charlotte, NC 28247 www.grrcc.com GoldenMoments Despite what may have happened to her, she remained completely trusting of all humans and other animals and had a way of looking at life that said, no matter what ‘lemons’ the world had handed her, she had somehow found a way to make lemonade! In short, a typical Golden Retriever! As always, once Sophie went on the website and people read about her back story, the perfect family found us (and Sophie!). Elizabeth and Jake expressed interest in our sweet girl and came to meet her....the story of Sophie came full circle when this precious "lost" Golden found her forever home!!! Always smiling...always happy...always grateful....that is my sweet foster girl, Sophie. From Her Adoptive Parents: My husband and I both grew up with Goldens in our families. So when it came time for us to get a dog of our own, we knew exactly what we wanted. We were living in Charleston, South Carolina and filled out an application with Lowcountry Golden Retriever Rescue. We were so excited to adopt our first Golden; spunky, free-spirited Tillie. We always knew we wanted a second golden, but decided we should wait until my husband graduated from school. He graduated in May and we moved to North Carolina. I searched for Golden Retriever rescues in the area and found GRRCC. I bookmarked the page and read about the available Goldens every couple of weeks. In October we traveled to Boone to celebrate our 2nd anniversary. We were watching the Clemson/Florida State football game and I took a break to check the GRRCC page. Smiling out at me was the perfect 2nd Golden for our family – Sophie! I read Sophie’s amazing story with tears in my eyes. Then I reread the story to my husband and tears were streaming down my face. In every picture, Sophie had the kindest eyes and happiest smile and we knew we could give her the forever home she deserved. We filled out the GRRCC application that night. We had a wonderful experience with Sophie’s foster mom. My husband, Tillie, and I had a “conference call” with her and had so much fun chatting about Sophie and our mutual love of Goldens. About a week later we received a call from GRRCC that we had been approved to adopt Sophie! We were so very excited! A few days later, we traveled to Charlotte to meet her. As we pulled in the driveway, we saw our happy, smiling, tail-wagging Sophie and we just couldn’t wait to spoil her rotten! It was so wonderful to meet Sophie’s foster family. Her foster mom, her sister and her mother had so much love for Sophie and gave her such a warm, comfortable, caring home. We loaded Sophie and Tillie in the back of our Subaru and headed home. Tillie was a little confused as to why there was another dog in “her” car, but she got over that pretty quickly. When we got home, Tillie showed Sophie around and then Sophie made herself right at home on our couch. Her foster family sent some goodies to make Sophie feel more comfortable including the green squeaky ball. Sophie’s green squeaky ball is like her security blanket and she carries it everywhere with her. (At this very moment she is lying next to us on the couch with her head on top of the ball.) Sophie has been such an awesome addition to our family! In her first week with us, we took her to our vet and she had a great check-up! Thanks to her awesome foster family, she was at a healthy weight, her skin was healing well, and her fur was growing back nicely. Other than a little arthritis in her hips, she got a clean bill of health. Not bad for a 10 year old pup who had a story like Sophie’s. She has met lots of family members including 2 sets of grandparents, 2 uncles, 3 aunts, and 6 furry four legged cousins. She did great with all of them! She has sampled everyone’s sofas and beds, but her favorite is our queen bed. She loved it so much that my husband and I decided we needed a little more space so we bought a king bed! J Sophie and Tillie are great buddies. Sophie loves to give Tillie kisses and they enjoy napping together on the sofa. They also love going to the park and playing fetch together. We took Sophie on her first hike at South Mountains State Park and she ROCKED it! She trekked over rocks and through streams like a champ and still had plenty of energy left at the end. She truly is 10 years young. Sophie loves to be loved. She finds a way to get her nose near a human hand as often as possible. She loves to cuddle on the couch. Sophie has a keen eye for squirrels. She enjoys hanging out on the back deck watching them climb trees and eat out of our bird feeder. She has enjoyed getting to know all of our neighbors on our daily walks. Sophie is wise, energetic, and playful. She smiles and wags her tail almost constantly as if she’s saying, “I am just so happy!” I often wish she could talk so she could tell us all of her story. Whatever her story is, we are so happy it now includes us. We feel so lucky to be loved by Sophie! Thanks GRRCC! Love, Elizabeth, Jake, Tillie, and Sophie APRIL 2014 Notes from the President Friends and Supporters of GRRCC, “There are those of you who volunteer your time. There are those of you who volunteer your financial support. There are those of you who do both. GRRCC is a collective of all of you, who do so many things to help each and every day. “We have no office. We have no staff. We have no desks. We have no supply cupboard. We have no water cooler to stand around. “We have YOU! You are GRRCC! Thanks for the many ways you come to the rescue!” (Courtesy of Golden Rescue) It’s hard to believe we are in the month of April already. Our annual meeting was held in January and we bid goodbye (from the board only) to Michelle Nugent. Michelle continues to be our website guru and is invaluable. On behalf of the Board, and all committees, I extend my warmest thanks to Michelle for all she has done and will continue to do. We did add three members to the board. Meg Roach and Audrey Allferbach have returned to the board and we welcome Mini Thangaswamy as a new member. Meg jumped right back in and assisted with our annual Have A Heart dinner and Audrey has taken over the volunteer coordinator position. The annual Have a Heart dinner was a wonderful event attended by approximately 40 of our members with several of our new adopters in attendance. A special thanks to Texas Roadhouse in Matthews and manager John Huffman and his wife Leslie for their generosity in providing salad and rolls. The dinner is open to all and celebrates our wonderful adoptive parents. Think about attending next year. This is the time of year when we are quite active. The St. Patrick’s Day parade was March 15th, the 12th annual Golfing for Goldens will be held on May 10th and Dunk Your Dog Day is coming up on May 31st. Be on the lookout for more information in coming weeks. HAVE YOU PAID YOUR ANNUAL DUES? Your financial contribution to the Club allows us to care for those Golden babies. Our average cost last year rose to almost $1,000 per dog, due to 3 quite expensive surgeries. Does your company match your contributions to charitable organizations? If needed, we will provide you with our tax ID number and whatever else may be needed to accomplish that. If you wish to contribute your talents to the club in some capacity, we would be delighted to speak with you about opportunities. You may contact me or any of the board members. Sincerely, Gene Fitzpatrick AT THE RAINBOW BRDGE Our condolences to our GRRCC families and friends whose beloved companions live on in our hearts forever Jake Babcock Sunny Boneham Jake Cicak-Lorenzen Phoebe Doherty Buttercup Drinan Casey Findlow-Warren Sammy Findlow-Warren McDuff Gill Callie Gorman Brinkley Gross Lucy Laedlein Mattie Rose Levin Gracie Manzi Luke McLamb Jesse Ritchie Boris Rowe Sonoma Russell Page 3 GoldenMoments CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR ADOPTED DOGS AND THEIR FOREVER FAMILIES! Mary & David Diepenbrock Marvin Szajna Bud & Stephaine Holland Brian & Laura Confoy Phil & Rebecca Hinson Pam Shue Speight & Mary Lib Bird Sam & Peggy McGuire Thad & Allison Reece Brad & Jessica Naugle The Johnson Family Cody Arlo Zoey Zeke Chloe Cooper Lacey (now Mo) Jake Enloe (now Oski) Max Rosebud Jake Gibbs & Elizabeth Campbell Jim & Mary Kelly Terry & Tina Naranch Glenn & Judy Bresky Steve & Carrie Crofford Craig & Courtney Teasley Sara Klemmer Mike Wilson Tony & Mary Pinto Dan Smith Jerry Moses Sophie Ruby Whiskey (now Harley) Tucker Bella Doc Josie Castle Chase Bentley Bailey THANK YOU TO OUR DONORS! ND Armstrong Timothy & Janice Findlow Heather Jousma Roberta Otto Joni Berry Susan Fossett Thomas & Carol Anne Kiernan Whitney Pelton Deborah & Frank Binkiewicz Sally Frazier Keith & Tommie Kiser Thomas Phillips Connie Bowman Randy Furr Sara Klemmer Jason Reimer Staton & Sara Boyette Kurt Gauger Judith Laedlein Norma & David Rowe David Brown Sarah Gauger Catherine Lees James Secunda Jane Cannon Brandi Gayle Susan MacDonald JD & Barbara Shelton Milton & Carol Childress Jane Gordon Gregory Mallow Susan Spencer David & Pamela Collier Frank & Vanessa Grill Shari Martin Allison Solid Shawna Collier Danielle Hebdon James & Like McAliley David & Deborah Stimmel Melinda Covington Crystal Hefner Stephanie Mishler Betty Jo Troutman Lessie Davis Hendrix Lexus Laurel Moore Steve & Jimmy Walker Joni Deditek Gale Henry Sheila Morris James & Christine Weaving Kenneth Fay Edward & Emilie Herzberg Tammy Myers Dale & Mary Webber Larry & Debbie Ferguson Steve & Maxine Horowitz Mary Lou Yeatts Linda Nexsen Gwyn Fincher Back by Popular Demand…Please join us for GRRCC’s 7th ANNUAL DUNK YOUR DOG DAY MARK YOUR CALENDAR! WHERE: Wickersham's K-9 Ranch, Inc. 6010 Fish Road Marshville, NC 28103 WHEN: SATURDAY MAY 31, 2014 from 12:00 PM to 3:00 PM EDT Bring your Golden for a day of swimming at Wickersham's K-9 Ranch's huge, fenced-in pond. It's a great way to beat the heat and let your dog have BIG FUN! ADMISSION $20 for the first dog $5 for the second dog Third (or additional dogs) swim for free! March 2014 GIVE THEM A SAFE WAY HOME By Bodee Corby If you have already read the Featured Dog story about Sophie, you are no doubt as amazed as we are about the 9 year epic journey she was on since being stolen from her original home as a puppy. Although we are forever grateful that she ended up at GRRCC and is now in a wonderful and living home, the hardships she endured need not have happened if her family had simply registered her microchip. One can’t help but wonder how many vets or Animal Control Officers over the past 9 years had scanned her and found her microchip; only to come to a dead end since it wasn’t registered. The GRRCC Intake Coordinator was eventually able to track down her original owner through a combination of luck and tenacity, but it took a lot of time; much more time than it is reasonable to expect an ACO or vet to take on yet another random, bedraggled stray dog. All the dogs adopted from GRRCC are microchipped and the chip is registered to you (by us) using the contact information you provided on your Adoption Contract. All the information pertaining to the microchip registration was sent to you in your adoption packet that also contained your dog’s veterinary records, rabies tags, etc. Normally GRRCC dogs have HomeAgain microchips but occasionally they can be another brand, depending on the shelter from which we got a stray or if an original owner had them microchipped with another provider before they surrendered the dog to us. The HomeAgain Pet Recovery Company alone reunites 14,000 pets per month, with their owners, not to mention what the other microchip companies accomplish. What Should I do now, after reading this? Locate the microchip registration on your pets and keep it somewhere that is easy for you to locate in case you need to quickly notify the microchip company that your dog is lost. Go to the microchip website and establish an account (usually free) and verify that all the information currently in their database is correct. If nothing has changed, verify that there were not any typographical errors when the information was input. At the same time, upload a current photo of your pet into the database. If you have another pet that is not currently microchipped, please, please take them to the vet and have one implanted (and immediately register it with your information). Call your vet and ask them to verify that your pet’s correct microchip number is in their file and/or computer system. When you take your pet to your vet, ask them to scan and verify the chip is still active and in the correct location (between the shoulder blades). Although rare, microchips can migrate within the dog’s body and end up far away from the original implantation site. If the chip has migrated, consider having another chip implanted. Although it might seem like over-kill, it’s always better to be safe than sorry. Although very important, a microchip should be considered as an ‘insurance’ or secondary identification source and not the primary one. Dogs should ALWAYS have on a collar with your contact information on it. How many people will take the time to look at the tag, take their ever present SmartPhone out of their pocket and call the numbers listed as identification? Fortunately, I suspect the vast majority of people would make that effort and your dog will soon be home, safe and sound, and your blood pressure can return to normal. Some people object to their dogs wearing a collar and ID tags because they say they jingle and make too much noise, scratch the hardwood floors, snag the carpet, get caught in HVAC vents when the dogs is lying on them, etc. If this is your situation, there are any number of options open to you, including but certainly not limited to: Tag Bags—These are small, all- weather material, ‘bags’ that attach to the collar with Velcro and contain the dog’s ID information and/or tags. No noise, no scratching things, won’t get caught in vents, easy to transfer from one collar to another. Also, the tag with the dog’s microchip number and Company can be kept along with the one with your personal information. These are available via numerous websites. Name Plates—These are plates that are attached at both ends to the collar with brads and are flush with the collar. No noise, no scratching things, won’t get caught in vents, won’t fall off the collar or become detached if the dog runs through brush, woods, etc. These are available via numerous websites as well as at most local pet supply retailers. Embossed/Embroidered Collars—These have the dog’s name (or your name) and phone number embedded in the collar itself eliminating the need for any tags at all. Accordingly, there is no noise, no scratching things, won’t get caught in vents, won’t fall off the collar or become detached if the dog runs through brush, woods, etc. These are available via numerous websites. Fact: One in three pets will go missing at some point in their lifetime. When this happens, it doesn ’t necessarily mean someone is a ‘bad’ pet owner. Dogs can get out through a fence gate that was accidentally left open or not securely latched. They can bolt out a front door held only slightly ajar. They can dig under or jump over a fence in the blink of an eye in pursuit of a fleeing woodland creature. They can get away from their owners while getting in or out of a car in a parking lot…They can become lost due to a home emergency (e.g. fire or burglary) or even as the result of a car accident. The scenarios, even accidental ones and those beyond the owner’s control, are endless. Sadly, statistics shown that without proper identification, 90% of the pets that get separated from their owner never return home. When you read Sophie’s story, join us in being thankful that she is finally safe and in a loving home. Also though, join us in our sadness and frustration that the nine unkind nomadic years she suffered were entirely preventable. Unlike a lost child, obviously a dog has no voice to tell a Good Samaritan their name or where they live. Provide your dog with that voice by making sure they have the correct contact information on their collar and microchip. You already give your dog so much…just be sure you give them the one thing that can literally mean the difference between life and death.… Give them a safe way home. Page 5 GoldenMoments 12th Annual Golfing for Goldens Mark your calendars now for our annual golf tourney! Saturday, May 10, 2014 at Olde Sycamore Golf Plantation, located in the Mint Hill area. Golf begins at 1:00 PM but registration will begin at 12:00 The tournament will be a 4-person Captain’s Choice with a shotgun start. Registration is $90 per player—includes golf, range balls, cash prizes and a wonderful dinner. 2nd and 3rd place teams will win rounds of golf from various courses in the area. There will be a hole in one opportunity, closest to the pin and closest to the line, along with a putting contest. We will also have some great raffle prizes and auction items, as well. “Mulligans” will be available for $5 each or 5 for $20. Special rates will be available on practice rounds the week prior to the tournament. Deadline for player registration is Friday May 9th. There will be a 120 player maximum so register NOW. You are welcome to bring your Golden to the course if you don’t wish to play. Contacts: Dick Griffin-704-940-2297 or [email protected] Gene Fitzpatrick 704-953-5955 or [email protected] DONATIONS NEEDED We are seeking donations from local restaurants, stores, golf clubs, and gift stores to be used as raffle and auction items for the tournament. Do you have a favorite place you can ask the owner/manager if they would be willing to participate as a donor? We will provide listing on our website and in our next newsletter for all sponsors and donors. We are also looking for tournament hole sponsors beginning at $ 125 a hole. Hole sponsors receive a beautiful pin flag with the club logo and their name on it to be framed or hung on a wall. This is a great opportunity for a business to advertise their product, or an individual who wants to recognize one of their Goldens in a memoriam or in honor of. Thanks to those who have already committed to their sponsorships. A full list of all sponsors will be published in our next newsletter as well as posted on our website. Contact Gene for further information on sponsorship. 2014 GRRCC Board Members President Gene Fitzpatrick Vice President Jim Adler [email protected] [email protected] Treasurer Gwyn Fincher [email protected] Secretary Audrey Afflerbach [email protected] Communications/Merchandise Dottie Purnell Volunteer Coordinator Audrey Afflerbach [email protected] [email protected] Adoption Coordinator Bodee Corby [email protected] Newsletter Katie Jabeck [email protected] Beth Charles [email protected] Shari Martin [email protected] Paula Barr [email protected] Meg Roach [email protected] Mini Thangaswamy [email protected] Page 6 March 2014 HAVE YOU REMEMBERED TO PAY YOUR CLUB DUES? Volunteer and Membership Form Use the form at left to update your contact information and mail your 2014 club dues. Membership runs from January through December, and dues paid after October 1 are valid through the following year. Refer to our website for explanation of membership levels. http://www.grrcc.com/get-involved/join-membership/ ____ New Member ____ Renewal ____ Address Change Name ______________________________________ Address _____________________________________ City, State, Zip ________________________________ Phone ______________________________________ Alt Phone ____________________________________ Email Address ________________________________ I have adopted a GRRCC dog(s) __ yes __ no GRRCC Dogs’ name(s) __________________________ Other dogs’ name(s) ___________________________ I am enclosing: _____ $20 individual _____ $40 individual _____ $100 individual _____ $300 individual or _____ $35 family membership or _____ $60 family SILVER or _____ $200 family GOLD or _____ $500 family PLATINUM If you would like to send a donation to GRRCC, please see the choices below. All donations are tax deductible. A donation to GRRCC for ________________________ In Memory of _________________________________ In Honor of __________________________________ To Thank ____________________________________ The Golden Retriever Rescue Club of Charlotte would like to thank the following very special businesses for the care and support they have given to our organization: Belk C. DeWitt Foard & Company Carolina Veterinary Specialists Charlotte Mecklenburg Animal Care & Control Continental Boarding Dogs Day Out Grooming Hendrick Lexus LakeCross Veterinary Hospital Mint Hill Animal Clinic One Lucky Pup Pet Essentials - Paul & Karen Rowan Queen City K-9 -Ted Vande Woude Sellers, Hinshaw, Ayers, Dortch, & Lyons, P.A. - Robert C. Dortch, Jr. Serenite Pet Spa Spa4 Paws Texas Roadhouse, Matthews Volunteer Form If you would like to volunteer your time to the rescue of these special Goldens, please let us know by choosing one or more of the following: ___Foster Home ___ Fundraising ___ Transportation ___ Other Specify_______________________________________ ____________________________________________ All checks should be made payable to GRRCC and mailed to: GRRCC P.O. Box 471931 Charlotte, NC 28247-1931 Golden Retriever Rescue Club of Charlotte (GRRCC) is a volunteerstaffed, non-profit organization that rescues and places for adoption, unwanted, abused, neglected or abandoned Golden Retrievers. The orphans we receive are given necessary veterinary care, and boarding or a foster home, until a good permanent home can be found. Each prospective member agrees to abide by the GRRCC Constitution and By-Laws. Thanks to Our Volunteers! Foster Homes Brian & Nancy Ohlson Alan & Mimi Davis Tom & Sharon Kimmett Beth Charles Gene Fitzpatrick Leigh Ann Combs Randy & Shellie Miner One Lucky Pup Jill Schwartz Matt & Adria Ruff Kim Steiger Jerry Moses Tom & Millie Pinto Kim Lorenzen & Chris Cicak Tina & Terry Naranch Christine Ficarrotta Fred Thorp Matt & Melissa Koeman Stephen & Corinne Goodwin Vande Woude Bed & Biscuit Marcus & Bethany Gooch Robert & Melanie Perry Intake Committee Leigh Ann Combs Corinne Goodwin Sarah Dowless Shellie Miner Paula Barr Melanie Perry Other Volunteers Michelle Middleton Doug Vannah Diane Drinan Michelle Nugent Page 7 Home Visit/Transport/Assessment Beth Charles Bodee Corby Leigh Ann Combs Ellie St. Andrew Jackie Levin Lynnea Pulver Tom Kiernan Randy & Shellie Miner Mandy James Tina Naranch Melanie Perry Sarah Dowless Paula Barr Corinne Goodwin Nancy Ohlson Alan & Mimi Davis David & Mary Diepenbrock Phone Volunteers Nancy Doody Lauren Eiring Susan Fossett Linda Nexsen Melanie Perry Valerie Sancibrian Ann Young Graphic Design Services Judy Adamski - KDG Studio Kyle Donaghy - John Street Graphics Randy Miner Non-Profit Organization U.S. Postage Paid Charlotte, NC Permit No. 2822 P.O Box 471931 Charlotte, NC 28247 704-348-1573 www.grrcc.com The Golden Retriever Rescue Club of Charlotte (GRRCC) is a volunteer-staffed, non-profit organization that rescues, and places for adoption, unwanted, abused, neglected, or abandoned Golden Retrievers in the Charlotte, NC area. Golden Moments is printed by Metro Mailing and Printing, 109 Winona St., Charlotte, NC 28203 Easy Ways to Support GRRCC Shop online through iGive. Register at www.iGive.com Selling on eBay? Donate a portion of your sales through www.MissionFish.org UPCOMING EVENTS Saturday March 15 St. Patrick’s Day Parade 11am College St. and Phifer St. Saturday May 10 Golfing for Goldens TBA Olde Sycamore Golf Club Saturday May 31 Dunk Your Dog Day 12pm Wickersham’s K-9 Ranch Saturday September 6 Matthews Parade TBA TBA Saturday October 4 Tennis Ball Raffle & Picnic TBA TBA