It's July and that means more dogs than ever. Every year at this time of year, dogs are given to us or simply abandoned in shelters. Why?  We have no idea.  We guess it may be related to summer vacations and no place for the family dog to go. But year after year, we get swamped with dogs.  We now have over 60 dogs in the program and we are struggling to get them vetted and into foster care.  We don't have enough foster families and we board the dogs that are healthy but dogs going through heartworm treatment can't be boarded so they are forced to stay at vets in cages or small runs. 

You can help us in many ways:  give a dog a new home and adopt, foster a dog as it goes through heartworm treatment or simply make a small donation to help us pay for boarding.  And, if you have applied to adopt a dog already, be patient with us if you don't have your new friend yet.  Send us a note and tell us who you want to meet and then come to adoption day this coming Sunday.  Thank you for your loyal support. 

Lauren Genkinger

President & Founder

It's time to brush that golden hair and show us those pearly whites because the 2012 AGA Calendar Contest is underway! No donation is required to enter a photo, but if you want to rest assured that your canine friend makes the cut, we will be auctioning off different months and the front cover to the highest bidders. This is our fun way to raise some of the necessary money we need to save these wonderful dogs! For all the information concerning the contest, including rules, please visit our calendar website.

If you already have a golden shot, submit it to calendar@adoptagoldentatlanta.com and make sure to get all your photos in by July 31, 2011.

Chloe is a 5-month-old purebred golden retriever who just went through heart surgery. Chloe was diagnosed with Patent Ductus Arteriosis (PDA), the most common congenital heart disease in dogs. The disease develops shortly after birth as the structure in the fetal heart does not close properly causing blood to flow abnormally between the heart and lungs. Without Chloe's corrective surgery, she was predicted to only have a few more months to live. Now that Chloe has been given another chance, she is expected to live a completely normal life-full of running, jumping and swimming as any dog should. The surgery cost $2,200 and now we need your help! Please donate to Chloe's heart surgery fund and pay for her to have a heart and watch the video below!

Donate to Chloe's Heart Surgery

An excerpt from the Barking Bulletin:

Humans and dogs alike can suffer from sunburn; long term exposure can result in skin damage and skin cancers. Like humans certain factors make some dogs more prone:

• Dogs with white or light colored coats
• Dogs with a very short coat or no coat at all
• Dogs that have suffered coat loss from allergies or other medical conditions
• And of course dogs that are outside during the hottest part of the day.

What steps can you take to prevent your dog from getting a sunburn?

1) Keep your dog inside in a cool room, or if they are outside, in a well shaded area or adequate shelter during the hottest parts of the days.

2) Use sunscreen on the parts of his body susceptible to sunburn. These parts include: nose, ends of the ears, around the mouth, eyelids and the underside or your dog- belly, groin and inside the legs; these areas are particularly at risk. Make sure you use a pet sunscreen because products for human use can contain ingredients that are toxic to your dog. Remember to regularly reapply the sunscreen. Pay particular attention to areas where little coat is covering and where the skin pigmentation is low or light in color.

3) If during the summer months you have your dog groomed, think about leaving his coat a bit longer so the coat offers some protection. Talk to your dog's groomer or veterinarian about clipping your dog, some dog breed's coat's are designed to insulate the dog from the sun's heat like the golden retriever. If you clip too much off your dogs coat, you may be doing more harm than good.

Summer is just around the corner, so make sure that you and your dog stay happy and healthy during summer months. If you do happen to see any signs of sunburn such as red skin, fur loss and/or sores, please contact your local veterinarian and make sure you seek medical advice.

To read more on this subject, please click here.

We are very sad to report that Bibi and Yang (our stars of the video below featuring the golden years of this dynamic duo) both passed away during the past month.  The two were AGA's oldest living goldens and the sweet dogs will be extremely missed!  Our thoughts are with the Bailey family during this time.

The Golden Years - Bibi & Yang

I am the bridge between what was and what can be. I am the pathway to a new life.

I am made of mush, because my heart melted when I saw you, matted and sore, limping, depressed, lonely, unwanted, afraid to love.

For one little time you are mine. I will feed you with my own hand. I will love you with my whole heart. I will make you whole.

I am made of steel. Because when the time comes, when you are well, and sleek, when your eyes shine, and your tail wags with joy then comes the hard part. I will let you go - not without a tear, but without a regret. For you are safe forever - a new dog needs me now.

- Author Unknown

AGA is initiating a speakers bureau to provide speakers to business and community groups, schools and churches  to tell the AGA story as well as educate Atlantans about animal rescue and the benefits of spay/neuter.  If you know of such a group or organization who might be interested, please contact Speakers Bureau Coordinator Vince DiCecco at vdicecco@bellsouth.net

The Golden Retriever Club of America Nationals are being held in Conyers in September and part of the festivities include a Rescue Parade scheduled Wednesday, September 28, at noon.  The Rescue Parade is a celebration in honor of all the rescued goldens in the world, all the selfless volunteers that help them along the way, and the new caregivers that share their lives and their love.  The Parade is limited to 30 dogs.  

We are not the only rescue invited to send entries, but we sure want a good showing!  To enter, you  submit a photo of your rescue and a 100 word (or less) explanation about how adopting your golden has changed your life.  A random draw will be conducted by the Golden Retriever Club of America to select the parade participants.  The more entries we submit, the better chance we have of AGA having a good representation.  Please contact  juliann@adoptagoldenatlanta.com to receive an entry form.