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June 2005

Bentley/Max

Bentley was picked up by  animal control in Tobyville in April 2003.  He was filthy and skinny, with a ton of fleas, burns & tar on the pads of his feet, and burrs everywhere in his coat. A vet visit showed that he had probably been run over by a car at one time, as his pelvis had been broken and then healed on its own. BUT – just look at him now! He is living in Chicago with his mom, dad, and Golden brother Max. Here is an update from his mom from June 2005: 

Bentley is doing awesome!  There is not a day that goes by that we don't laugh at the funny things he does. He has an obsession with pillows and remote controls.  He is always stealing one and then walking around squeaking until you praise him.  The dog that once didn't like treats or toys will now barrel you over when he sees a Petco bag or a Frosty Paw!  His health is terrific.  He takes glucosamine in the morning and eats prescription ID food.  We call him Ben Bear now because he has so much fur that he looks exactly like a bear.  It's amazing because he no longer limps at all on his back leg like he used to.  Every morning he starts barking and won't stop until he gets his walk.  So basically …  Bentley runs the household and he knows it. 

Bentley and Max are still getting along great.  I think Max keeps him young with all of the wrestling and Bentley keeps Max in control. We're starting some obedience training with an in-home trainer on Monday because Bentley and Max are always in a competition during their walks.  Consequently, I get dragged all around.  The trainer focuses solely on positive reinforcement, so I'm sure the guys will love him.  Who says you can't teach an old dog new tricks??

It’s funny, when we went to adopt, the thought of an older dog never entered our minds, but the second we saw him we fell in love with him.  We are so fortunate to have him in our family!

Here are a couple of pictures.  One is from the winter and I just took the other two today.  I hope all is wonderful with you and your families!

 Best regards,

 Melinda

Dakota

Dakota was surrendered to GRR in April 2003 by owners who did not have time for him. Because they considered him too “hyper” for their children, he spent most of his time alone in the backyard. When he arrived in foster care, we found he had chronic, severe, painful infections in both ears that had gone untreated for years. Several courses of strong antibiotics didn’t help, so eventually he had surgery on his ears. He spent a long while with a wonderful foster family, recuperating from his surgery, getting treatment for skin infections (another chronic and neglected problem!), and learning to be a house dog—and then he found his forever home.

Dakota’s mom sent us this update:

Dakota is FINE now … more than fine! We adore him and he adores us (at least those lovely brown eyes look that way). He has a great home … run of the house … loves peanut butter, eggs, bread (that boy loves bread!), and treats, especially those duck & potato treats! Actually, he'll eat anything so we have to watch the calories!

He loves ice cubes!!

Our vet loves him and pronounced him a great dog and everyone at his office loves him.

Our kids and grandkids love him.

Our neighbors pet him and there are two little white dogs living next door; they bark at each other across the yards while on the decks and then they all run down the fence line, yapping and wagging their tails, having a great time.

There are several Goldens that live along Dakota's walking trails and they wag tails and say hello.

He looks like a cute little bear cub when he is asleep.

He goes with us everywhere (well, a few exceptions!) and loves the trips to the feed store in La Vernia where we buy his dog food. We go to the Post Office, to the pet store, to the golf course, to the park, for rides with the windows down so he can use that great sniffer of his (I need a convertible). John took him to Corpus where Dakota wasn't very impressed with those friendly gulls but loved the trip.

Dakota will lie by the patio doors watching for the squirrels that run through the trees and across the fence top. He moans and barks when he sees one and dances like a deer until we let him out. He actually caught one in the backyard! Bounded down the steps and caught it! He didn't kill it, just stood there and licked and nudged it—poor squirrel was stunned! Called the vet and he laughed. Pretty fast tracks for an old dog!!!

He loves Bach, Wagner, The Eagles, and Willie Nelson. I sing, he puts his head on my lap and sighs. (Well, I'll allow that sigh might not necessarily be love for my singing!)

He has slept in our bed, the whole night, from day one. When it's too cool, we cover him with a little quilt and he snuggles down.

He sometimes retrieves papers that I'm working on, holds them in his mouth, waiting for me to take it as if saying, "Mom, you dropped this."

He is John's little boy and he is my baby and we love him dearly. How on earth could anyone not have loved him? How could they have stashed him in the yard and denied him the love and play of children? He loves our grandchildren—he cuddles with them and follows them around, crawls into their laps, lies by them in the evenings while they watch TV or play a game.

I can't express words enough to describe how much we love him. I just can't. He is wonderful.

God bless & hugs,

Shirley