Winter 2016
25 celebrating
years
GRR SEVANearly 1800 EAT Golden Retrievers Rescued
Golden Beginnings • Codie: Naughty and Nice • Delilah, My Angel • Stop That Jumping Up
CONTENTS GRREAT Times is a quarterly publication of SEVA GRREAT, Inc., an all-volunteer, nonprofit organization dedicated to finding homes for homeless Golden Retrievers.
3 .. President’s Message 6
For more information, call our Hotline at 757-827-8561 or visit our web site at www.sevagrreat.org. To contact the newsletter editor with suggestions, comments, or send materials and photos for inclusion, send an e-mail to grreattimes@adoptagolden.com, or write Attn.: Newsletter Editor, PO Box 8014, Yorktown, VA 23693. SEVA GRREAT disclaims all responsibility for omissions or errors.
4 .. Adoptions 6 .. Back to the Golden Beginning
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8 .. Codie: Naughty and Nice
Submitting Stories and Photos We have decided to make “homecoming” a feature in each newsletter to feature dogs that have been adopted from us over the years. Send us a picture (identify everyone in it, please) with your dog’s name, when you adopted it, your name and a few words or more about your dog. Full length stories are welcomed, too!
10 .. Delilah, My Angel
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12 .. Homecoming 14 .. Stop Jumping Up on People
When you submit your pictures for publication in print, please submit an original digital image of no less than 300 dpi. If you aren’t sure of the dpi, send the original and we’ll check the possibility for use. We can make pictures smaller but we can not make them larger. Don’t worry about the file size; if you can send it, we can receive it. If you can’t send it, let us know. We’ll show you a way that it can be sent.
16 .. Introducing Dogs & Children
into a Household
18 .. Toyland Parade
Email to: grreattimes@adoptagolden.com
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19 .. Rainbow Bridge 20 .. Learning from Max’s Tribulations 22 .. Contributions
fostering@adoptagolden.com 2
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ON THE COVER: That’s Chewy on the cover asking if you’ll come on over and play some ball.
SOUTHEASTERN VIRGINIA GOLDEN RETRIEVER RESCUE, EDUCATION & TRAINING, INC.
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MARK YOUR CALENDAR Check our website for updates and exact locations and times of events. adoptagolden.com Check back a week before the event to confirm.
Send Us Your Photos We would love to see what you are doing. Share your pictures, including captions, by sending them to grreattimes@adoptagolden.com.
GRREAT ADS GRREAT Times is now offering advertising space. Rates per issue for various size ads are: Full Page = $150 1/2 Page = $100 1/3 Page = $75 1/6 Page = $50 A discounted rate for multiple issue placement is available Email requests, size and specification questions to grreattimes@adoptagolden.com. Every effort will be made to put your ad in the desired issue. GRREAT Times is published quarterly the second week of January, April, July, and October. Deadline for submitting an AD is the 1st of the month prior to the publication date.
President’s Message H
appy New Year and thank you for your continued support of our Goldens! My name is Joanne Even, and it is an honor to be starting my term as President of this beloved rescue. I have been involved with this grreat group for almost 10 years, and if you’ll indulge me, I’ll share my story. In 2006, I had to say goodbye to the most amazing Golden. His name was Maury, and he had been my shadow, my constant companion, and my other half for 10 years. When he was 8, he was diagnosed with diabetes. He eventually lost most of his sight, but I had two more years of borrowed time with him, and I cherished each and every moment of that time. When Maury left me for the Rainbow Bridge, friends told me not to get another Golden because there would never be another Maury. They were right – there will never be another Maury. To this day, in my mind, Maury walks on water. But I knew I would get another Golden. Not to replace Maury, but to honor Maury and the amazing things I learned from him. That’s when I found SEVA GRREAT. I put in my application, had my home visit, and waited. And waited. And waited. I wanted a younger female – purposely different from my boy – and when I finally adopted Ginger, wow, was she different from Maury… and I loved her for it! Shortly after Ginger joined the family, I became a Home Evaluator with the rescue, and then at the end of the summer of 2008, I stepped into the Adoption Coordinator role. At the end of that year, I agreed to try fostering and succeeded in becoming a foster failure when I adopted Blaze, my first foster dog. I continued in the Adoption Coordinator role until December 2011 when I realized I needed to step back my involvement with the rescue for a couple of years while I finished grad school. I still did some home visits during that time, and I was (and still am) the primary administrator for the rescue’s Facebook page. In early 2014, Jane Krom approached me about filling the vacant VP role on the SEVA GRREAT Board, and I couldn’t say no. (Who can say ‘no’ to Jane?!?!) And now that Jane has finished her term as President, I know I am stepping into some big shoes, but I also know that we have a phenomenal group of dedicated Board members and a fantastic base of supporters, and I am excited about the year ahead. Nervous about the responsibility of leadership, yes, but mostly excited. We do have a couple of other changes on the Board that I want to mention: • I hope you will join me in thanking Beth Thompson for the countless hours she dedicated to the rescue as our Volunteer Coordinator last year. Beth, we know your Goldens Bailey and Mimi are looking forward to more time with you in 2016! Please also join me in welcoming Quan Li back to the Board. Quan will be stepping into the Volunteer Coordinator role, a position she previously held for several years. • We lost a very dear friend last fall – Nicki Seger had been an active volunteer and Board Member with SEVA GRREAT for 15 years, most recently filling the role of Board Secretary. We invite you to read more about Nicki and her dedication to our Goldens in the article on page 5 of this issue. Sharon Leeman, who had been a Board Member at Large responsible for fundraising, stepped into the role of Secretary last fall and will continue in that role this year. Although it’s been said, many times, many ways, THANK YOU for your continued support. Thank you for allowing us the privilege of rescuing more abandoned and unwanted Golden Retrievers in the year ahead!
Joanne
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Adoptions
Petey/Theo
Abigail
Jack
Lacey
Lily
Loki
Wesley
Rosie Mae
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SOUTHEASTERN VIRGINIA GOLDEN RETRIEVER RESCUE, EDUCATION & TRAINING, INC.
Abigail – Hettie Norlund and Scott Mayhew Lacey – Jane and Jim Krom Lily – Kristine Sisson Rosie Mae – Brent and Allegra Havens Petey/Theo – Allison Bradshaw Jack – Tom and Diane Gomey Loki – Christine and Steve Gurman Wesley – Karen and Craig McKowan Maxine/Lexi – Amanda Berry Penny Lane – Lisa Corbin Ellie – Lisa Corbin Zoe – Alison Fehl Nina – Brian and Linda Thomson Gibbs – Vincent and Kelly Brooks Bo – David Studer Snuggles – Brandy and Anthony Sylvia Havin – Kristi and James Parker
Maxine/Lexi
Penny Lane
Gibbs
Ellie
A Tribute to Nicki Seger
Bo
N
icki Seger, a longtime supporter, participant and board member of SEVA GRREAT passed away on 5 November 2015. For most of its history, the rescue has benefited from Nicki’s loyal and energetic support.
Zoe
Snuggles
Nina
Havin
Serving for more than fifteen years as a Home Evaluator, Adoption Coordinator and, most recently as Secretary, Nicki brought her passion for rescuing and caring for animals – particularly Golden Retrievers – to SEVA GRREAT. Adoption Coordinator is a time consuming and often difficult job. The upside of this is knowing you are helping to find “furever” homes for deserving Goldens and the wonderful people you meet in the process. As an Adoption Coordinator you quickly come to rely on the home evaluators who are your eyes and ears in the field. Nicki participated in many of these evaluations over the years. She brought a keen insight and sound instincts to the task of matching dogs with families. Nicki was a tactful and skilled problem solver. When she assumed the position of Adoption Coordinator, she put her organizational skills into the job and soon helped to streamline record keeping and adoption processes still in place in SEVA GRREAT. Beyond her skills, she will be remembered for her loving attitude for our furry friends and her positive attitude and kindness to everyone she met. Nicki left her mark on many hearts. We will always miss her. WINTER 2016
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Back to the Golden Beginning: Lord Tweedmouth’s Golden Retrievers and Guisachan D
udley Coutts Marjoribanks bought Guisachan House, Tomich, Invernessshire in 1854. He set about having the model village of Tomich built, the farm steading, kennels and many lodges for guests. In 1881, he was elevated to the Peerage and became Baron Tweedmouth of Eddington and took the title of Baron Tweedmouth. In 1865, he purchased “Nous” from a cobbler near the town of Brighton in southern England. The only yellow puppy in a litter of black Wavy-Coated retrievers was whelped in 1864. This young dog had been given to the cobbler, as payment of a debt, by the gamekeeper of a local landowner, Lord Chichester. Marjoribanks took this young dog with him to Guisachan, his estate in Scotland, to join his kennel of sporting dogs Much interested in hunting and sporting dogs, he established the breed of Golden Retriever in 1868 by breeding Nous to a Tweed Water Spaniel named Belle. This created the foundation litter of Golden Retriever puppies, three yellow wavy-coated puppies called Crocus, Cowslip and Primrose. When people speak of “going to Guisachan” or attending the “Guisachan Gathering” it is the mystic of the property to which they are referring. The Guisachan House ruins has become the symbol of what began there and become one today’s most beloved breed of dogs the world over.
Nous with gamekeeper Simon Munro circa 1872
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SOUTHEASTERN VIRGINIA GOLDEN RETRIEVER RESCUE, EDUCATION & TRAINING, INC.
“Guisachan Gathering” - A group of Nous’ and Belle’s ancestors gathering at the Guisachan House ruins today
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Part 2:
by Debra Hubbard
Codie: Naughty and Nice W
hat can I say about Codie? Lots! Codie was an enthusiastic bundle of energy, a 65 lb puppy at the time I had him. He was always happy even while being corrected. He’d just go find some other trouble to get into. He had one speed – full speed. I’ll quote Quan: “He is a very trainable untrained dog.” I should have reconsidered when I saw the caption on her photo of him on the kitchen counter “Pray for me.” But, I know Quan and Katie would never . . . hmmm . . . send me a dog I couldn’t handle. I live in a condo so Codie went on multiple walks and several trips to the dog park per day. Do you remember that winter? Miserably cold, snow, rain, mud, repeat. We worked on our training as best we could. Codie never met another dog he didn’t like. He was always a welcome addition to the dog park, running in “crazy dog circles” as I call them, with the rest of the pack. He was a welcome addition to my little neighborhood, friendly with all people and dogs. He was Houdini at first when it came to the crate. How could a 65 lb dog get out of a crate without opening the door? Answer: underneath the door and above the pan. Really? Katie recommend zip ties, which after many, worked. He was a love when I was home and slept in bed with Maggie and Pumpkin (Halloween cat). One of Codie’s favorite things inside my condo was running/falling? down the stairs, hitting the kitchen corner wall, chipping off paint (still not re-painted, a good thing as then Cooper and Copper enjoyed the same fun). Sliding across the kitchen floor and crashing into the cabinets on the far side. Yes, he was on my 8
kitchen counter also. From a standstill on the floor up onto the counter; his athleticism was amazing to watch. The difference is that Quan thought to grab a camera and is a great photographer. I can rarely find my camera and my first thought is “GET OFF!” Cuteness on the road He knocked so
SOUTHEASTERN VIRGINIA GOLDEN RETRIEVER RESCUE, EDUCATION & TRAINING, INC.
Part 1: Time for A Long Nap by Quan Li, the adventures of Codie, ran in the Fall 2015 edition of GRREAT Times. Watch for the further adventures of Codie in future issues of GRREAT Times magazine.
many things off the counters – plants, Pyrex, dishes, glasses, you name it. I’m writing the damage off on my taxes as a donation to GRREAT. He chewed any number of things including clay statues, pottery, baskets, shells. He was enthusiastic with all toys but his favorite at the time I had him was slippers – just the ones on your feet. My heart-stopping moment when Codie was here came on my small deck on the second floor. I let Maggie and Pumpkin out on the deck when the weather is nice, okay, even when it’s in the 30s; spoiled! They enjoy looking at the beach, Bay and people passing by. That wasn’t good enough for Codie as I found him standing on the 4 inch wide deck railing – on the second floor. Again, first thought “GET OFF!.” Then, COME!! TREAT?? I know, not the best reaction. All I could think was if he fell off GRREAT would fire me. Him? Goofy happy. Good news, only 8 feet down and sand so I’m sure he would have been fine. Me? Took a while to recover. And again, no pictures. Maggie would scold Codie like Ginger did at Quan’s but to no avail. In retrospect I should have taken Codie to training. I thought DonnaI could do it myself and wanted to save GRREAT and Nadi money. It had always worked before with numerous foster dogs. But Codie was special. The combination of a bad winter and Codiebrain led him to Barb and Jeff and official training. Within minutes of arrival at their house Codie jumped two baby gates to explore the house. With incredible patience and training Codie found his forever home. And so the story continues.
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Delilah, My Angel Chosen as Finalist in Petco’s Holiday Wishes Campaign W
e would like to thank all those who submitted stories to Petco’s Holiday Wishes Campaign and Mary Strzelecki for her story (Delilah, My Angel) being chosen to be a finalist. Unfortunately the grand prize (grant money) went to an adopter in Nevada and her therapy dog, but we know there is no better story (or no more deserving rescue) than Delilah and SEVA-GRREAT. At right is a reprint of Delilah’s story.
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SOUTHEASTERN VIRGINIA GOLDEN RETRIEVER RESCUE, EDUCATION & TRAINING, INC.
Delilah, My Angel I met Delilah after losing my 3 dogs to cancer over the past 4 years. I was devastated after the most recent loss and it was the first time in 15 years that I had been truly alone without a dog in my life. Understanding my pain, a fellow volunteer at SEVA GRREAT called my attention to a sweet little 1 year old girl in our program named Delilah. I was hesitant to adopt a dog since I was about to re-locate for work but as soon as I met her, I fell in love with her. It had been a very long time since I had a young dog and Delilah, in particular, had a ton of energy. Her previous owner had worked multiple jobs and had left Delilah in a crate for extended periods of time, so she was fairly high strung and very curious about everything. As it turns out, we were a perfect match! Her energy makes her the perfect running companion for me and keeps me motivated to get out there with her and get some exercise. When we are not running, she goes to daycare and gets to socialize with all of her new friends. Her curiosity and her eagerness to start new adventures made our move and transition to a new job and life much easier and we were able to face each day with excitement, instead of the stress that normally accommodates this kind of change. In our time alone, we are also able to help each other heal the pain that we experienced in our lives before we met each other. Her love has helped to ease the void in my heart from my previous losses and I hope that I have been able to show her that she is so very special, she is loved more than any dog could be, and that she is #1 priority in my life. We start each and every day by cuddling together in the morning and it is the best reminder of how special life truly is.. Delilah’s love for life and her eagerness to meet each and every day is an inspiration to me. Each day, when I look at her and think that I cannot love her more, she finds a way to capture even more of my heart. I am so very fortunate to have this sweet angel come into my life and make my world better. Mary Strzelecki
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Honey was 9 in February. I adopted her in October. She was to be a foster but I couldnt let her go. Honey is in the front and behind her is 3-year old Karley. Honey has lost 35 pounds since October and wanted to show off her beach body in this shot. -Deb Van Dover
HOME COMING
Share your pictures and stories by sending them to grreattimes@adop They will be featured in coming newsletters, right here under Hom
I hope you’re having a lovely holiday season! I wanted to send a quick update on Theo. I honestly could not have asked for more this year - he has been a perfect addition! We love going to the beach and playing fetch, though the pelicans still get his whole attention when they fly by. Theo goes to doggy day care once or twice a week to play with his friends, and he adores my parents’ and sisters’ dogs - we had quite the pack over Christmas. He’s truly the perfect golden. Thank you all for your help in connecting us, and I look forward to staying in touch! Best wishes. -Allison and Theo
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SOUTHEASTERN VIRGINIA GOLDEN RETRIEVER RESCUE, EDUCATION & TRAINING, INC.
Lacey came to us as a “temporary foster” this summer, but quickly worked her way in to our hearts and made us foster failures on our first attempt! Lacey and Lucy have become GRREAT friends, and love to share toys, chase squirrels, and swim. We are so lucky to have adopted these beautiful girls, and can’t imagine life without them! -Jane and Jim Krom
It was cheese snack time at my house. (clockwise from the top) Cricket, Lady, Nina, Lacey and Pinky. -Rose Bennett
G
ptagolden.com. mecoming.
Toby is 4 years old now. He was one of the three “parvo puppies” rescued from a North Carolina shelter by SEVA GRREAT when they were 8 weeks old. He’s a wonderful, smart boy. Currently we are enrolled in his first agility class and he loves it. Thank you so much for bringing him into our lives. -Amy Boyer
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Train Your Golden Retriever to Stop Jumping Up on
by Wendy Lipscomb at Totally Goldens.com
I
t’s happened again. Your neighbor stopped by for an unexpected visit, and as the back door opened, before you had time to act or even think, your visitor was on the floor. The culprit? Your well-meaning, but overly excitable golden retriever. When you brought home your cuddly ball of fluff, that excitability was pretty adorable, as was the jumping and licking that went along with it. Now that your retriever has grown, you’re wondering what you’ve gotten yourself into.
Why Your Dog Should NOT Jump Up When Greeting People If your dog is beyond the puppy stage and still jumping up on people, it needs to stop. There are so many reasons why jumping up should not be tolerated. Here are a few, and I’m sure you can think of more if you try. Your dog’s paws are often dirty, and nobody appreciates muddy paw prints on their clothes (okay there may be a few special souls who do, but they’re in the minority).
As your neighbor can attest, there’s nothing cute about a dog that knocks you down when saying hello.
Your dog’s nails could potentially rip clothing or skin.
Can you train your dog to tone it down and stop jumping up on people? Of course you can! Keep reading to find out how.
There are children smaller than your golden retriever that get easily knocked over. There are also children who are afraid of dogs. A dog who jumps could traumatize or hurt them.
Why Do Dogs Jump Up When Greeting? Your dog jumps up for many reasons — first and foremost because they’re excited and they want to prove it to you. They also jump up because they want to be closer to your face so they can smell you. Dogs naturally sniff other dog’s faces during greetings and they want to give everyone they meet the same treatment. Lastly, your dog jumps up because you never taught them what to do instead. As with most behavioral issues, the buck stops with you. Dogs who start out jumping on people as puppies and get told how cute they are, and encouraged to do so, will continue to jump up as adult dogs. That is, unless we teach them how to greet people properly. 14
Your full-grown retriever could easily knock over a healthy adult, but you should be especially concerned with the elderly, infirm, and disabled who could suffer real harm if knocked down. Not only would you feel terrible, but you could also face a lawsuit.
Is There More to Jumping Than Just Excitement? Most golden retrievers are saying hello in the only way they know how. Some dogs, however, jump up to express more than just an excited greeting. If your dog jumps up while growling or barking, they could be showing aggression, not excitement.In addition to growling and/ or barking, aggressive dogs might “muzzle punch” (punch with their nose), become still and rigid, lunge at visitors, and potentially bite. Luckily this is rare in golden retrievers who are
SOUTHEASTERN VIRGINIA GOLDEN RETRIEVER RESCUE, EDUCATION & TRAINING, INC.
bred for their gentle temperaments as much as any looks, but if your dog has a history of aggression, or you feel they’re showing aggression when greeting people, please consult a professional trainer or a behavioral modification specialist. It is not a behavior that can be taken lightly or treated yourself. You can read more about aggression from this link at the ASPCA.
Four on the Floor: How to Keep Your Dog from Jumping Up You hold the keys to your dog’s heart – but also the key to their failures and successes. Behavior modification can be done, and it’s up to you to train it. Yes, it takes patience. Yes, it can be frustrating, but your dog truly wants to please you, and will learn this important skill if you are steadfast in your training. Here are four methods you can use to help you keep your dog from jumping up.
First and Foremost – Remove the Reward To your dog, the obvious reward for jumping up is getting up-close-and-personal with you or the person they are greeting. Your dog wants your attention and jumping up is their way of demanding it. And if they get any – good or bad – then that’s the reward. And they will do it again next time. Therefore, when your dog jumps, remove all attention, both positive or negative. Do not look at your dog, do not reach your hands out to push them away. Simply walk past or away from them, and go about your business.
PART 1
People This may leave your dog wondering what happened. It may also encourage your dog to try new tactics. But only when your dog puts all four feet on the floor to greet you should you turn to them and offer up treats, pets, and calm praise. Do not offer up too much excitement, which may cause your dog to jump up again. If this happens, go back to ignoring your dog. They’re smart, and eventually they’ll get it. Eventually they will twig that if they jump, they get ignored, if they’re calm and remain on the ground, they get what they want. Only four on the floor should earn any form attention from you! And we shall discuss a little later, you must do this every time, all the time. Never, not once, can you encourage or reward jumping. If you do, it will never end.
Turn Aside from the Jump When your dog attempts to jump, get out of the way. Similar to the method above, but with a key difference — you’re not going about your business. Instead, you’re waiting for your dog to recognize their mistake. When your dog jumps up, turn around, do not make eye contact, and fold your arms across your chest. Some dogs will try to nuzzle your hands and folding your arms removes that possibility.
jumping is wrong, telling what not to do isn’t enough, you also need to train what they should do instead.
When they manage to keep four on the floor, you can initiate a calm greeting. This technique works well for dogs who need immediate feedback.
In some situations, you may be able to simply leave the room when your dog jumps up. First, say hello at the door. If your dog jumps up, turn around and walk out. Simple.
Be sure to treat and praise them as soon as they have all four paws on the ground. Mark and reward the correct behavior. If you say
Stay away for 30 seconds, then go back in and say hello. If your dog jumps again, repeat the procedure.
It won’t be long before your dog catches on, that you will only stay if they aren’t jumping up.
Leave The Room Look for more tips in Part 2: Train Your Golden Retriever to Stop Jumping Up on People in the next issue of GRREAT Times.
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Introducing Dogs & Children into a Household from Pedigree.com
T
here are a few things new parents need to know and do before they bring a new baby into a household where a dog lives. Here are a few of those things.
Introducing new children into a house containing a dog Ideally, the dog should have been socialized to children as a puppy. • The dog should be responsive to you and readily obey basic commands (e.g., “sit,” “come,” etc.) • Before the child arrives, you should modify the way you handle your pet by behaving more like a child. Handling should focus on your dog’s ears, tail, paws, etc. Start by stroking and later with gentle pulling, just as a young child might do. The dog should be rewarded for accepting this contact. It will also be beneficial if other children can be encouraged to handle the dog while rewarding the dog with food or praise. • The dog should be taught not to snatch food or toys from a hand, but only to take these objects gently after being told to do so. Practicing with the help of other children when training is complete will be helpful, since it will teach the dog not to steal food or toys from young children. • Your routine with the dog should be modified in anticipation of the arrival of a new child. If the dog is used to spending all of its time with the owner, this should gradually be reduced so that no sudden reduction occurs when the child arrives. • As soon as the new baby arrives, your dog 16
should be rewarded (with food or praise) when in its presence. That way he will come to associate the presence of the child with pleasure. Shutting the dog away or shouting at it whenever the baby appears may lead to the dog perceiving the child as a negative experience. • Young children should never be left alone with a dog. They have no concept of pain or suffering in others, and may treat the dog as if it was a toy.
Introducing new dogs into a household containing children If you’re considering an older dog, make sure it gets along with children before you say, “Yes, this is the dog for us.” • Some older dogs that are not used to children may respond in a fearful or threatening way, especially at mealtime and when the dog is playing with a toy. • If you choose a puppy, make sure that it is young enough to be socialized with children. It also helps if the pup has had positive experiences with children before.
SOUTHEASTERN VIRGINIA GOLDEN RETRIEVER RESCUE, EDUCATION & TRAINING, INC.
• Always make sure an adult is around to supervise when your child is with the dog. • Teach your child about the responsibilities of pet ownership. Kids need to learn that pets are not toys, and that they can feel pain if they’re roughly handled. • Make sure the youngest child in your home is mature enough to understand that the dog is a living, breathing thing and needs to be respected. Since children reach this level of “maturity” at different ages, it’s up to you, as the parent, to use your best judgment. • Children should be encouraged to take part in activities with dogs that are appropriate to the child’s age. For example, a four-yearold child should not be solely responsible for a dog during a walk, but can assist their parent in various dog-related activities, like getting the dog’s leash before a walk. • When your child is old enough, he/she should be encouraged to train the dog in appropriate obedience activities, such as sitting and coming when called. These activities help teach your dog that children are higher in the social hierarchy than dogs are.
2016 SEVA GRREAT Calendars Available Now! T
he SEVA GRREAT Calendar continues to be a popular item and a wonderful fundraiser for our organization. They make perfect conversation starters on your desk at the office. No matter where you use them, they will always bring you a smile when you read about the dogs and see some of the adorable photos our community has submitted. All the dogs in our calendar are SEVA GRREAT dogs; either rescued through our organization or a family member of one of our organization’s volunteers. Remember that SEVA GRREAT is a 100% volunteer organization and all the money raised goes directly to supporting our rescue efforts. You can purchase a calendar online at SEVA GRREAT’s website www.adoptagolden.com or in person at one of the locations listed on the website (adoptagolden.com).
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Out & About
Toyland Parade 18
SOUTHEASTERN VIRGINIA GOLDEN RETRIEVER RESCUE, EDUCATION & TRAINING, INC.
Rainbow Bridge SHEA On Sunday, October 25, 2015 Shea went on the road again, only this time he was not jumping into the family SUV for destinations unknown. He was making his trip across the Rainbow Bridge. Our beloved Shea left us, passing peacefully at home just two short days after receiving a diagnosis of a fairly rare form of cancer, Hemophagocytic Histiocytic Sarcoma. Shea became part of our family on March 30, 2010, from that day forward the three of us were a package deal, where we went he went, there wasn’t a single day that we were apart. In the all too short five and a half years that we were together he probably logged close to 100,000 miles in that SUV. He travelled as far north as Newport, RI, south to St. Petersburg, FL and west to Indianapolis, IN. Even though he hailed from small town Williamsburg he was very much at home strolling down
Shea
Broadway in New York by Columbia University. After having made over 60 trips to NYC (and reminded us where all the rest stops were in case we tried to sneak by one) he was quite comfortable riding the twenty floors in the elevator to trade in his backyard for his human cousin’s terrace overlooking the Manhattan skyline. On our trips back to Virginia we’d visit his canine cousin Smarty (yellow lab) in Maryland where Shea enjoyed running around Smarty’s two acres of fenced yard.
Watching him sit quietly nose to nose with the little ones while having his head stroked made us feel proud.
Shea was always eager to give everyone he met a very spirited and loud greeting. This high energy did not always endear him to everyone he met, however those that got to know him, knew him to have a gentle and loving personality. He was at his best on our many walks down Duke of Gloucester (D.O.G. Street) in Williamsburg. Children would always stop and ask “can I pet your dog”?
Travel on little Shea. We will always love you,
Shea is no longer with us to share the good times, but the memories we have of him will live on in our hearts forever. We will miss our little ball of energy more than words can describe. We were blessed to have him in our lives. Many thanks to SEVA GRREAT for giving us the opportunity to be a family.
-Linda and Brian Thomson
WINSTON My heart is broken. Faithful Winston, my big bundle of golden fur, died on Dec. 28th, 2015. He was the most loving, alert, brave, happy, devoted dog anyone could wish to have. Always a gentle giant; he was a cuddler, a snuggler and a leaner against me. He was always ready to swim, ride, play or just lie at my feet and look up at me with love in his eyes. I have been so fortunate to have had this wonderful fellow as my steadfast companion. I will miss him forever. He was my sweet boy – my Winston.
-K. F. Emory
CALLI Calli was our angel in fur, our gift straight from the hands of God.
-Fred and Kay Ashbrook WINTER 2016
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Max resting with some toys while undergoing his treatment
Learning
EHRILICHIA T
here was something just not right about Max, my eight year old handsome guy. He seemed to do a little gulp about every fourth bite of food, and his energy level was just not the same. That was brought home during two of his last agility classes where he did not want to go over the low hurdles. He did the jumps finally to please me, but it was a huge effort. Cancer flashed through my mind; there were no visible signs, not a single lump, no pale gums, and no stale breath. I knew that the senior blood test would not find cancer if indeed that was the problem, so I decided to let Max rest and talk with the vet during our next wellness visit. A visit came sooner than I had anticipated! Max was due for the yearly heartworm check which includes a search also for two tick transferred diseases. Blood was drawn, and we went home rather than wait for the result. Time ticked by. I was 20
getting a little uneasy, and my heart dropped when the phone rang and my vet himself rather than a tech was on the line. I really feared heart worms was the reason for the call although we had not missed a singe monthly dosage of either heartworm or flea/tick preventives. I am VERY meticulous about this as those who know me can testify. No, it was not heartworms but rather Ehrilichia, one of the dreaded diseases carried by ticks. My vet wanted a repeat test at no charge, and he also called the company of the tick preventative that I was using to see if they would pay for the cost of the treatment. The second test yielded the same result, so a plan of action was set up. Max would be treated with Doxycycline twice a day with a probiotic in the middle and Metranizinol if needed. It was! This would go on for thirty days so that the strong antibiotic could attack and blast out the evil in the cells.
SOUTHEASTERN VIRGINIA GOLDEN RETRIEVER RESCUE, EDUCATION & TRAINING, INC.
So what is Ehrulichia? Named after Dr. Ehrlichia who first worked with the organisms that are classified as rickettsiai and are similar to bacteria, it infects and lives in white blood cells, is transferred by the bite of a brown dog tick, and has three phases. The first phase is the Acute Phase and is mild lasting one to three weeks after the bite. The platelet count drops, the dog might become listless and be off food, and the lymph nodes enlarge. Fever might develop along with anorexia and lethargy. Since antibodies are not formed yet, even a blood test might not show the presence of the organisms. If not caught quickly, the disease could progress into the next phase. The Sub-clinical Phase is next and can go undetected for years. The dog appears normal, but the disease hides out and the dog usually shows no outward signs, so
from Max’s Tribulations unless a blood test is done, the disease could be destroying cells, spleen, and even bone marrow with the owner of the affected dog totally unaware. The Clinical Phase is last. The immune system now is compromised. Anemia, bleeding episodes, lameness, eye problems, and swelling may occur. White and red blood cell counts will drop, and death might be the end result. I have used both topical and oral tick preventatives. The company contacted by my vet stated that nothing is one hundred percent perfect, and I wonder if the brown dog tick is becoming immune to various treatments. On the other hand, I know for a fact that while Max has been on tick prevention for the four years that he has been with me, prior to that time he was not, so he could have been bitten many years ago with the disease just showing up now. I will never know, but I am thankful that the routine blood work targeted what was going on inside this handsome guy. He now is regaining his energy and should continue to improve. So I learn something new about the dogs each day. Despite prevention, mosquitoes may bite and cause heartworms, whipworms might live in the intestine in spite of drugs meant to prevent them, and ticks can transfer diseases even though drugs are being used to avoid that situation. It is ironic that some dogs have no protection and never are harmed while others, like Max, are cared for yet end up having a problem. It does drive home that routine check ups should never be missed because just never knows what lurks beneath the surface. It also proves that you should really observe your dog and follow your gut when you think something is wrong for it very well might be!
by Roni Sumner
FROZEN RAW GOAT'S MILK M
ax had not produced a solid stool in almost three months because he had undergone a month of a very strong antibiotic that really wiped out ALL bacteria, good and bad. He was losing a little weight but otherwise acted fine. However, I longed for the days of regular bowels. (Only another dog lover can appreciate that last statement!) The vets put him on a special diet plan and tried different medications on him including probiotics but nothing was working. Finally I talked with Cheryl at DoggStuff; she is a certified dog nutritionist who has helped me many times in the past. Her suggestion was to make sure that there was no chicken or grain in his diet (he had always eaten chicken, but things had now changed), and to try frozen raw goat's milk. I was skeptical about the raw goat's milk but decided I had nothing to lose, so I bought a small container and decided to switch him over to a grain free food that had whitefish as the main ingredient. Then I began to research the frozen raw goat's milk and was amazed at all of the things that it could do from fixing the good intestinal bacteria to helping with arthritis to negating some cancer
cells. But the proof for me came the next day when I poured three-quarters of a cup of the thawed product over Max's breakfast. He lapped it up like it was the best breakfast ever, and unlike Roxy and Tassie, he is a picky eater. But the best thing of all was this stool was perfect that quickly! One meal--BAM!-normal. I cannot begin to express how amazed I was. I think it is well worth the time to read some articles about frozen raw goat's milk and decide if you want to try it. Certainly it is helpful if your dog is having constant sloppy stools and itching problems. You may have to go to a dog specialty store to obtain it or have it ordered for you, but it is well worth the effort. I am even hoping that my vets will stock it as it is such a holistic approach to a nasty problem.
Precaution: I was talking with a few vets about the goat’s milk, and one cautioned me that a danger in it is that deer are often in the field with the goats and can spread TB. I just know that it worked for Max when nothing else that the vets prescribed did!
Goat Milk? WINTER 2016
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Contributions Ann and Andor Czompo
Dave and Peggy Main In honor of Maddy and Hatteras (Hattie)
Charles Burroughs, Jr., Trust
Maryanne Lambert
Karen and Frederick Whyte
Barbara Talley In memory of Ben, Fozzie Bear, and Cash
Jennifer and Marc Dauzier Linda and Brian Thomson In memory of Shea
Jim and Ginny Hayes In honor of Angel, our faithful and loving golen retriever
Joanne Even In memory of Shea Thomson
Christine and Eric House In memory of Bill House
Wellington and Wendy Kay
Helen Krom In memory of Ray Moore
Bill and Betty Brown B. Barnes
Don and Cindy Merrix In honor of Cooper and Ashley Merrix, two of the best goldens
Cathy Scofield Todd In memory of Ray Moore
Jim and Pauline O’Connell In honor of PJ and in memory of Jessie and Reveille
Diane Trinko Dr. and Mrs. John Marsh In gratitude to SEVA GRREAT for finding our beloved Bear Billie and Beth Pirtie In memory of Jazz, beloved golden of Charmaine and Simon Aritamur
The
GOLD GO
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EN O DO L DIE L OVE
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Golden Oldie Love Dog Fund (GOLD Fund) is used for medical expenses, food, equipment, or adoption costs of rescued Golden Retrievers estimated to be ten years or older. Sharon O’Donnell In memory of Mr. Dash Ford Patricia Lewis In memory of my sister, Kathleen O’Donnell Carl and Lizbeth Jackson
Jack and Donna Roggman In memory of Chewie Cindy Bruno-Miller Gabrielle Glatt In memory of Sugar Marilynn Zauner Rhonda King In honor of my Banner girl, and in loving memroy of King King and Apollo Dr. Jill Hoehlein
William Buklad
Charlotte Jennings This donation is made for Kevin Ely as a Christmas Present
Tracey Clarke
Heather Robinson
Jo Vance In honor of SEVA GRREAT and the Goldens they care for
Patricia Winters
Bay Billiards/Shorebreak Taphouse
Danise Elias and Family In loving memroy of Idaho Pfeiffer
Mary Lou Calhoun In memory of George Haggerty
Denise Jenkins In memory of Mandy Leeman, Sharon Leeman’s golden retriever
Clay and Jan Beall, III
Cathy and Bay Rowe In memory of our golden, Dakota, who we adopted from SEVA GRREAT in 2010. What a special gift he was in our lives
Dorothy Cleal In honor of Scarlet and Prissy, my SEVA GRREAT rescues
John Rellick and Elizabeth Donoghue Thankful for the help of SEVA GRREAT and Susan Altimore
Linda Peters
Barry Barnes
Kay Ashbrook
Brian and Linda Thomson
Richanne Sensenig Natalie Weimer
Mary and Harrison Owens In honor of Hokie (FKA Lonnie at SEVA GRREAT)
Richard Burton
Eileen Eudy
Debra Morris
Kevin Zinski In memory of Dakota
SOUTHEASTERN VIRGINIA GOLDEN RETRIEVER RESCUE, EDUCATION & TRAINING, INC.
Carl and Lizbeth Jackson
Gracie’s Fund
Tony and Judy Hannold
Sharon Leeman In memory of Mandy
Malia Flatt
Ephraim Seidman
Lacey’s Fund
Joe and Debbie Morris
The Monigle Family (Bob, Tricia, Preston, Ian, Inya Grace and Sgt. Pugsley) In honor of the Packer Family (James, Kristi, Abbey, Sailor and Havin)
Nicholas Miles
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Nancy Hawkins In memory of my Goldie, Rusty
Terry Santos
T and Monica Smith In memory of Shea, wonderful golden family member who was lovingly taken care of by Linda Dockeray and Brian Thomson. We miss you and love you
Sponsor-A-Dog Contributors
Veronica Boyett
Brenda Penca
Katie Willson G
Tracy Minnich In loving memory of Izzie, beloved pet of Cindy and Joe Andrew
Jim and Pauline O’Connell In memory of Nicki Seger
d
th
e
Fund
Kenneth Rossen
Sally Hall
Christine Price In memroy of Cheney Beland Tracey Minnich In memory of Cupcake, beloved family member of the Jackson family in Chesapeake, RIP Cupcake Marciano Villamiel Mary Pat Harris J. Lynn and Adelia Thompson Jill Smith Susan Reynolds In memory of Cheney Beland, the beloved golden best friend of Kim, Scott and Zack Beland. Cheney will be missed greatly Michelle Clary Jacb and Jenny Kay
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