Have you seen our new website? Thanks and kudos to Justin Cohen, Partner, and Charlie Hanks, Account Strategist, both at Internet Marketing Inc. for their fine work and support of GRRSN!

GRRSN.ORG has a fresh look and new partners who have joined to help you support your dog's favorite rescue effortlessly and at no cost to you!  If you already shop at Amazon, you will be pleased to know you can turn a a percentage of future purchases into a donation to GRRSN. Simply go to our website or GRRSN blog and access AmazonSmile, the charitable entity of Amazon. And yes, the merchandise and pricing are identical to what you are accustomed to seeing at Amazon's website. It's good for you and for us!

Have you heard about IGIVE, a virtual shopping mall of over 1500 popular stores? Use IGIVE either through their website or using their app, select our rescue and a percentage of what you spend comes to GRRSN. The participating retailers actually pay to be part of IGIVE. Why? They want you, the consumer, to know they are good corporate citizens. The way to your heart is through your rescue, and they know it. Everyone benefits.

Walk for a Dog is another organization that supports animal rescues. If you have an iPhone or Smartphone, you could be generating funds for us whenever you and your canine companion are out for exercise or a stroll. And, because not everyone who supports GRRSN has a Golden or any dog at home, Walk for a Dog offers virtual dogs. Just identify GRRSN as your charity. You can sign up at www.wooftrax.com.

Benefit Wines has been a partner of GRRSN for years, and they continue to be a most pleasurable purchase and a delightful gift.

The Calendar Project is one of our best fundraisers. We are already preparing for our 2017 editions. Interested in featuring your Golden on one of the Month pages? Reserve now because only a few months still remain. The good news is that there are still places for your photos and ads. Follow this link to ensure that you are included.

Curious about what's happening with adopting and fostering? New, more complete applications and agreements are now available on our site. GRRSN is dedicated to finding the right family for the energy-filled, high spirited, and the shy and quiet wise dogs who come into our care. These forms help us and the families find the perfect match.

Ah, yes. The dogs. Sweet Goldens who need a home are the reason for GRRSN. I invite you to visit these four-legged kids online and see if there isn't someone who would fit in with your lifestyle. It's also a great stop when you want to find out about the dogs we are helping.

Want to know what's going on at GRRSN Our website is also the place we post events, maintain a blog, and archive our newsletters. If you are interested in volunteering, there is an application on line. So visit today, and visit us often.

by Liz Baldizan

Author's Mom with Lucky in Colorado

My mom moved from Colorado to Nevada seven years ago, transitioning from a suburban two-story home to a one-bedroom senior living community in Summerlin.  I remember the line of furniture outside her new place, filling the sidewalk as she dealt with downsizing and parceled out the pieces of furniture, adjusting to an independent living unit.  Not negotiable was the accommodation for her beautiful golden retriever, Lucky.  Her residence was on the first floor (a mandate), and a small walkway was built especially for Lucky so that mom could easily walk from her back porch outside.  

And Mom and Lucky most definitely walked religiously at least twice a day.  There were three other dogs in the community at that time.  Ushering in a large golden retriever was a new page.  In addition, Mom covered the grounds and beyond, exploring paths and establishing new ones.  New-found friends seemed to blossom.  True to form, Lucky got along with everyone and expanded the social circle, whether two-legs or four legs.

There seemed to be more dogs around Mom's community when I would visit.  Maybe it was just a perked awareness. . . .We would go for short walks and every single person we passed inquired about how each other's pets were feeling, commented on the new leash or recent grooming experience or recommended food brand.  (I could go on.)  Our conversations were filled with more stories and more laughter----

There's something about responsibility, care, and connection when a pet becomes a part of our lives.  And that's what I have witnessed in my mom's community.

There are now more than thirty dogs who have joined their owners in my mom's community.  It is a reflection of the power of a pet, a golden opportunity that enriches each other in unforeseen but deeply meaningful ways.  

Lucky, indeed.

Author's Note: 

Lucky has since passed. Rusty is the most recent rescue to share my mom's home.

Golden In The Family!

I haven't been petted in 14 seconds, I'm dyyyyyying!

by Shannon Sarver

Goldens are nothing less than total joy. And while they are loyal and loving, they inspire just that in their guardians. People who have Goldens belong to a tribe, because we all have things in common. Here are 10 signs you have a Golden in the family.

1. You possess more than three lint rollers. Do you know how God created female Goldens? He brushed the male, considered the four-foot pile of fur and animated it with His divine finger. This is a fact of life with a Golden, and we adjust accordingly with lint rollers, magic brushes and all manner of hair tamers. And yet we still see tumbleweeds of the stuff rolling lazily across our floors.

2. You have both a dog and a burglar alarm

Goldens are not guard dogs. They are equal-opportunity lovers and they are charming from nose to tail, much more interested in being adored than being feared. In fact, you may have found yourself explaining to the pizza delivery kid that you really do love your dog, even while  ol' Lila is wriggling and leaning on the kid's legs as if she is starved for attention.

3. You can't put anything within 18 inches of the countertop's edge. Some Goldens counter-surf with abandon. Some do it sporadically. All have been caught, shamefaced, with some wrapper that obviously didn't belong to them. Loaves of bread, sheets of cookies, entire cold cut trays-all have been laid to waste before the intrepid Golden's majestic snout.

4. You are a huge fan of sloppy kisses. Maybe you're on the couch. Maybe you're just waking up in the morning. Or maybe, you're leaned over, blow-drying your hair. Suddenly, here it comes...a snuffling, nuzzling hello. And every time it happens, you may wipe your face and act all annoyed. But you're not. Your face may be slimy but inside, you're all warm and fuzzy.

How the author met her rescue!

5. You have been head butted. Some of those kisses miss, and when they do, you see stars. Dang, your dog has a hard head. And

6. You don't have anything fragile set below three feet off the ground. The tail is a mighty thing. It fells everything in its flag-like sweep, enthusiastically and with great flair. Holidays are especially fraught with peril, because your decorations could end up on the receiving end of a Babe Ruth-worthy swat. Those who put up Christmas trees have learned: never put the heirloom ornaments near the bottom.

7. You smile a lot. They have such sweet faces. Such huge personalities. And yet, the smallest things bring a grin to your face. His morning stretch. Her forward ears when you talk to her. That wriggle when you come through the door. The vacuum-like ability to make kibble and treats disappear. Every quirk brings a grin to your face, and makes your heart much more content.

8. You are loyal, bighearted, agreeable and empathetic.

Science has shown that people gravitate to the pets that most match their own personalities. So, if you have a Golden, chances are you share her traits.

9. You are never alone. Goldens are a little too big to be "underfoot." However, they do feel most comfortable in your vicinity. While you clean and do laundry, they are glued to your side. While you watch TV, they're  at your feet. They claim part of your yoga mat during home workouts and they present an inquisitive nose while you're repairing the plumbing.

10. You are strong. To have one of these amazing creatures means someday having to say goodbye. And yet, you have rescued one or raised one from a pup. You have let him lay claim to both your home and your heart. You have done this out of love and with the strength that weighs all of the good-and it is all good-and chooses to risk the pain.

GRRSN thanks all of our rescue and foster families.

As told to her "Peep", Patricia Nelson

Hello all,

I am Elsie and I have asked my mom-peep to scribe a few words to give you the benefit of my doggie wisdom.  I had a recent experience that I believe all could benefit from and it starts with my favorite toy,Crackers, the  duck!  Crackers is wonderful, I grab her, shake her and run around the yard with her; she goes squeak, squeak, squeak!  

I live in an area with lovely lakes which we go around every day when I take my "peeps" for their daily walk.  Around these lakes are all manner of interesting sights, smells; plus other dogs (and peeps) that I can

pass some time with as we make our rounds.  

Recently, I was leading my peeps around the lake and I saw an amazing sight.   Laying next to big bush was a pile of Crackers!  Imagine, someone had left a pile of my

favorite toys laying right out in the open where anyone could pick up one or two to take home.  I raced over to make my choice when the Crackers started moving and squeaking all by themselves.  It was amazing!  I thought "Aha, a new type of Crackers toy that moves by itself which would make playing much more exciting. 

I quickly made my choice, got ready to pounce...oh it was great, squeak, squeak squeak, lots of movement, tugging on my leash, feathers were flying and then.......

Ouch, ouch, ouch!  The big mom-duck jumped into my path, spread her wings, hissed and poked me with her hard, pointy beak right between my eyes.  Ouch, I couldn't see, breath or do anything more than make my own version of a squeak.  It seems those Crackers were not a new and interesting toys but rather her babies and mom-duck was very upset that I wanted to take one home.

My mom-peep took a cloth out of her pocket and held it to my pitiful self to stop the bleeding while waiting for the alpha-peep to get the car.  The vet-peep had to put two stitches in my beautiful face (right between my eyes) and told me that I needed to stay away from baby ducks (Crackers).   Well, really, I had figured that out all by myself and to this day I make a w-i-d-e detour around those Crackers and highly suggest that all my doggie friends out there do the same!

Elsie