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July 2006:    Dash        Mulligan        Tony        Petey        Lucy

DASH
aka “Buddy” 04-045

After our 16-year-old Golden passed away, we found that having only one Golden made the house feel much emptier than we had ever imagined it would. We had heard about breed rescue groups, and decided to look for a Golden who had suddenly found himself unwanted and discarded. We wanted to give one of these wonderful dogs another chance at being part of a family who really wanted him. Then, while going through GRR’s application process, we suddenly lost our younger Golden. It was into this unexpectedly dog-less family that Dash arrived.

Dash was found by a Good Samaritan in an area of San Antonio known for dog-dumping. He was very friendly and very skinny. His fur felt like a Brillo pad, and he looked like someone had given him a very short haircut. But whatever he had experienced in his short 9 months of life, his personality and spirit were undampened. He had a wonderful “I love life” attitude. And, as his foster dad told us, Dash could play fetch until your arm almost fell off from throwing the ball.

It,s been 2 years since Dash became a member of our family, and he still plays fetch with that same gusto. Whether he’s chasing a ball, pursing a bird, or trying to catch a spray of water from the garden hose, Dash runs and jumps, twists and turns, and will nearly flip over backwards in the attempt. He’s added 25 lbs to his no longer skinny frame, but he’s never quite got the longer coat normal to Goldens. A mix? Maybe a little, but pure Gold through and through. Even though we don’t know his past, Dash has always been extremely gentle with our three kids (currently ages 6, 7 & 8). Every night you’ll find him on the foot of our 6-year-old son’s bed, listening to bedtime stories and staying there until our son is fast asleep. Over the years, Dash has also been a brother to several GRR foster dogs, teaching them the ropes of living indoors with a family for the first time. Then last year, we added that second dog to our family by adopting another GRR pup. Now Dash and sister Trixie play together, fetch baseballs when the kids practice batting in the backyard, and camp out in front of the TV for a nap. And of course he loves what has to be every Golden’s favorite hobby: cleaning up food dropped accidentally from the counter or table.

One day, about 4 months after we adopted Dash, I heard him at the window barking at the neighbor’s dog across the street. It made me smile as I realized that his barking meant one thing: this was his home and his family, and he wanted the whole world to know that he was here to stay.

View Pictures Here

Update 07/06/06:

When we first brought Mulligan home, he walked around for a few minutes and then lay right down like he owned the place.  If we left, he would be howling when we returned… afraid he had been abandoned again.  But now, he knows the routine.  We go for a walk around the neighborhood every morning before work.  Then he settles right down on his big pillow until we return.  He made friends with our cats, though we did have to make a special inside cat door so he can’t get to their food or litter box!  Mulligan is truly a gentle giant, and he follows me around the house no matter WHERE I am.  He sleeps right by my bed and is a great watchdog.  Every child in the neighborhood knows his name and waits for us to stop and say hello.  He has lost a little bit more weight since we got him, but many more inches.  He eats his meals in just over a minute flat.  He loves almost every raw vegetable there is.  He is well-trained and polite on his leash, and he loves to be combed and groomed.  We took him on a road trip to Dallas this weekend, and he did great.   Born to ride!  People says he is huge, but to us, he is just … Mulligan! 

Carol and Erin

P.S.  When I got home from work today, Mulligan had found a whole loaf of bread that had been left open on the counter.  Needless to say, all I found was a plastic wrapper in the living room.  He likes that Honey Wheat!

View Pictures Here

From: Justin
Sent: Wednesday, July 26, 2006 10:33 AM
Subject: Petey, the dog

Hi Dean!
 
How are you and Pam doing?  I hope well!
 
Annette and I just wanted to give you a 2+ month update on how Petey is doing (I'm sorry it's taken me so long).  He is just a wonderful Golden.  We love him so much...he makes us laugh with some of his goofy poses particularly when he jumps up on our bed in the mornings to say hello!  He and Molly are getting along fine...they romp around outside quite a bit although sometimes he seems more distracted with his stuff toys or rope bones!  
 
He and Bailee are getting along just fine as well.  She likes to give him hugs before she goes to bed at night (which means she basically comes up to him on his side and wraps her arms around him as far as possible!).  Anyway, we just want to thank you, Pam, and all of the folks at GRR for what you do.  Petey is such an important part of our lives and we have you guys to thank for taking care of him until we could come along.  THANK YOU again and maybe we'll run into you at one of the GRR events.  Take care.
 
Justin