Southeastern Virginia Golden Retriever Rescue, Education & Training, Inc.
Inside this issue: A Very Special Foster
2
Willie, My Best Friend
3
Rainbow Bridge
4
Contributions
4
A Round of Applause for Our Trainers
6
GRREAT Scents
7
Homecoming
8
Things We Learn From 10 Our Dogs Adventures in Dog Training
11
Kibble
12
WANTED!
12
“Jessie Red”
12
Adoptions
14
Submitting Photos
14
Membership Form
15
NOTE: To provide the most upto-date contributions and adoptions, the newsletter will be coming to you the second week of each quarter (January, April, July, and October).
WxtÜ `xÅuxÜá AAA With 2013 fast approaching, I look back on another year of "finding homes for homeless Goldens" and give thanks for the difference made in the lives of so many wonderful dogs because of the devotion that you, our faithful supporters, have given to us. Thanks to your generous gifts of time, talent and treasure, 125 deserving Goldens (many in need of significant care), have been made whole and given a second chance at life and love because of the efforts of so many in SEVA GRREAT. When I became President in 2011, I have to admit that I wasn't entirely sure what I was doing. But I knew that I had a very experienced board to help me learn, and I couldn't be more thankful for the opportunity. As I have said countless times over the past 2 years, I am so impressed by the dedication of our board members and volunteers and the amazing things accomplished for our beloved Goldens. There have been urgent intakes on short notice and plenty of transport/volunteer requests (sometimes for long distances), along with tremendous compassion from our fosters who open their hearts and homes to our new family members. Our veterinarians provide outstanding care at a deep discount for the rescue, and we have several talented training partners that volunteer their time and expertise to help our foster and adoptive families. The adoption and HE teams work very hard to help these "pups" find their forever homes - our greatest reward! Our bills get paid on time, our membership database is maintained, and our mail gets distributed. Fundraising has been a huge success this year, thanks to new efforts from the fundraising team. Many events are coordinated, and we have a wonderful website, newsletter and Facebook page to help spread the word about SEVA GRREAT!! That's pretty amazing "stuff" for a relatively small group of volunteers covering a big area!!! So thanks to each and every one of our volunteers for all that you do for our Goldens. I have thoroughly enjoyed my role as president and look forward to continued involvement with the board and all of our volunteers. I am also pleased to introduce Dottie Cleal as SEVA GRREAT president for 2013. She is a long-time supporter of SEVA GRREAT, and has adopted 4 beautiful Goldens over the years. Having recently retired from her "working" career, she resides with her Golden girls, Prissy and Scarlet, in Richmond. I know she looks forward to offering her time, skills and energy to help us continue our GRREAT work in 2013. Sincerely, Jane Frye SEVA GRREAT President 2011-2012
JAN / FEB / MAR 2013
Mark Your Calendar GOLDEN DAYS Jan — TBD Feb — TBD Mar — TBD MEMBERSHIP MEETINGS Sandbridge—April Dog Days in the Garden Feb 2, 2013, 10 a.m.—4 p.m. Strange’s Garden Center, Richmond Pet Expo Feb 23, 2013, 10 a.m.—4 p.m The Showplace, Richmond Bark for Life March 23, 2013, 10 a.m.—2 p.m. Dinwiddie/Petersburg FOSSIL ROCK FUNDRAISER February? Check our website for exact locations and times. Check back a week before the event to confirm.
WANTED: Web Warriors Webmaster and/or Website Content Managers. Volunteers would help maintain the content of the SEVA GRREAT website. Could use a team of 2-3 people to cover various aspects of the website under the guidance of the webmaster. See website ad for full details. If you are interested, contact Pat at webmaster@adoptagolden.com.
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A Very Special Foster By Bob Graham Melissa called: “Would you have any interest in taking a little 6-year-old female coming in next week? She’s a sweet thing; gets along with all dogs; housebroken and cute as a button. Oh, and she’s blind.” Oh, no problem. Wait....what? Let’s think about that one. We said yes, of course, but then ... We have a deck with steps down to the yard and a pool behind that. Does that mean we will have to carry her out to do her business...? How will our two, sometimes three, other dogs react to that disability? How will she function in our house? Can she do steps? Wow. Lots of questions here. If you know Melissa, you’ll understand that she anticipated our every question. Somehow she managed to snag an on-line tutorial on living with blind cats and dogs. We got into it. We found some specific scents: lemon, rose, and a couple of others we could use to mark her food and water bowl, the back door and her bed. We had a clicker to guide her to us. We sat the other dogs down and lectured them ... Yeah, I know, blah, blah blah, Amber, blah blah. Is it treat time yet? … Well, we tried. The day came. Amber was being ferried from Rose’s place in Richmond to a rendezvous in Ocean View, about 45 minutes from home. She arrived in the pouring rain with a wonderful woman, Leslie Trew, who had agreed to do the transport. Poor Amber was completely beside herself. She had lost the scent of her security and had no idea what was happening. She had attached herself desperately to Leslie. We actually had to pry her away to get her in the car to come home. The trip home was like something from a Hollywood comedy script … only I wasn’t laughing. It was 4:30 in the afternoon, I-64, you all know what that is like. Add rain so heavy, I swear there were fish swimming in it. Amber was close to insanity. She was frantically distressed. Every sense
(and scent) of security was gone. We had made the silly decision that only one person was needed to move such a tiny girl. I found myself alone with a heavily panting, whining, constantly twisting and wriggling Amber in my lap as I huddled in the right lane at highway speeds dodging the fish in the blinding rain. Amber insisted on trying to steer so I could keep at least one hand on her at all times. The 45 minute trip took an hour and a half! I was drenched by the time we got home ... with sweat, not rain. From there on, it was all happiness. It took her less than a day to figure out where the food and water were. Within three days she had the house and yard completely mapped out. The marking scents were a waste of time. She has a sensory system that goes far beyond just smells. When we approached her she would look up directly at us as though to say, I know you are there and who you are, so what’s up? She navigated with such precision, even around randomly placed sleeping dogs, we were sure there had a mental radar in play. She seemed so normal, we were convinced she wasn’t completely blind. We took her to the canine ophthalmologist to identify her condition and see if anything could be done. The good news was she had no disease but the bad news was she was irreversibly and totally sightless. The cause was retinal degeneration which brings the onset of blindness very quickly, sometimes even a matter (Continued on page 6)
Southeastern Virginia Golden Retriever Rescue, Education & Training, Inc.
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Willie, My Best Friend By Patty McGuire Today is the day after Thanksgiving, and seems an appropriate time to write about my very special SEVA GRREAT dog. I am thankful for my beloved dog every day. He means so very much to me. I can only say the experience is very much like the bumper sticker we’ve all seen that says, “Who rescued Whom?” I grew up in Chesapeake, and, back in those days, it was real farm country. So, we always had animals. There were dogs and cats, and cows and ducks and, well, you get the idea. I was the one always bringing home a stray. I couldn’t bear the thought of leaving an animal I found who was out in the cold. When we lost our last beloved pooch, we were too heartbroken to get another one. So, for the next 20 years, I went without having a dog. Circumstances worked out that after my Dad passed away, Mom and I decided to sell our separate properties and get a place together. We bought a picturesque Cape Cod just east of the Blue Ridge Mountains. It was the perfect place for a dog. We had space, and I finally had some time in my life to devote to having a dog. Then the question became, what dog? My best friend and her husband had started fostering Goldens for SEVA GRREAT. I would visit Virginia Beach frequently and usually stay with them. On one of those visits, they had recently taken in a new dog, Willie. It was absolutely love at first sight. I was unfamiliar with Golden Retrievers (that’s so hard to believe, isn’t it?), so Willie was my first introduction to this wonderful breed. I wanted to adopt him immediately. We went through the interview and application process and were approved. I am very impressed with this group and how careful they are in placing their dogs. It’s hard to imagine or even believe the trauma these dogs endure. To promise a forever home is a big deal. We are so in love with our adopted Golden, that you couldn’t pry him away from us!! How do I describe Willie? He is the friendliest, most gentle and loving dog I have ever known. He has enough personality for 5 dogs!! He is my constant companion in life. He is a dog with more people friends than many people! Friends love the pictures I take of him, and he gets constant attention on my Facebook page. He even has his own blog at EverybodyLovesWillie.tumblr.com. He loves to have his photo taken and seems to know when I take photos for his blog. He will actually pose for me! It is just hilarious. The hardest thing for me to believe is that Willie was considered a dog that would be difficult to adopt. He’s called a senior, because it was believed he was older than 5 years. When he was found wandering Richmond, he had heartworms, lyme disease, and ehrlichia. He was also about 30 pounds less heavy. He lived in a vet hospital for 3 months before he was well enough to go into foster care. It breaks my heart to think my baby was out there wandering around all alone and so sick. How could that be? He has had recurrences of Lyme’s since we’ve had him, but he’s great about taking his medicine. He has arthritis, so needs some pain meds from time to time to help. I am a Certified Massage Therapist for people, and also, much to Willie’s delight, do animal work. He gets special attention from me, and this has really helped him. So, he may have a few more needs than a young dog, but he is worth any extra care that has been required. I am getting older myself, so I appreciate some of what he is going through. I cannot say enough about taking a chance on adopting an older dog. I would do it again in a moment’s notice. To anyone unsure about it, don’t be afraid. Goldens are quite exuberant dogs, so even an older animal will really keep you active! We have been in dog training classes for the past 6 months. It has been as much about me learning how to work with a large dog as it is about him understanding what I need from him. He has made the most amazing progress, and I am one proud Mom! Currently, we are in the Canine Good Citizen class. I would love for him to earn this special designation and to be able to go on to earning his therapy dog certification. The hardest thing for him is loose leash walking and not pulling to greet people. It is such a challenge for such a friendly and exuberant a dog not to be enthusias(Continued on page 13)
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Waiting at the Rainbow Bridge Jessie —The O’Connells Our beautiful, kind, friendly, and wonderful Jessie crossed the Rainbow Bridge on 22 October 2012. She was born on the Outer Banks on 1 April 2001. She died from Hemangiosarcoma, only six weeks after having her spleen removed and her vet’s suspected diagnosis confirmed. During this sad time for all of us she bounced back to pretty much her old self, regained her appetite, and didn’t let on to anyone Jessie O’Connell that she was sick. If she was suffering or having any pain, she kept it to herself and never showed it. (see Jessie’s story on page 12) Pebbles — The Richardsons Pebbles has been with SEVA GRREAT for several years. She is survived by her brother, Bam Bam. Duke — The Oberlanders Over the last two and a half years, Duke traveled just about every state in the nation with his forever family creating many fond memories. He loved riding in the back of he truck, camping on our property, wading in the streams, and, if we weren’t leaving quick enough, he would get in the driver’s seat of the car looking as if he would leave without us! Duke Oberlander
Contributions Jane Frye In memory of Jessie O’Connell June Pritchett For Schooner’s Care Christine Shultis Andrew & Jill Smith Total Footcare, P.C. Ann & Andor Czompo Pat Winters Courtney Filer Bonnie Campbell In honor of Peg & Bob Graham from Aslan Kathleen O’Donnell In honor of Reilly, Gracee, and Jack, my GRREAT companions Joanna Simonsen In memory of Jake Greenlee
Jan & Clay Beall, III James Wilson In honor of Dr. Jane Hiser Megan Brown In honor of Scout for his fight against heartworms DJ DeCicco, Jr. Corporate matching gift based on donation of DJ DeCicco, Jr. Jim and Pauline O’Connell In memory of Jessie Lyle and Mary Sanders In honor of Amber MI State Housing Development In memory of George E. Grammer, Jr., Lt. Col USAF Ret. Kristin Tamse John & Marie Kilcarr Sherry and Bill Peterson In honor of Teddy Jo Vance
William Buklad
Diane Trinko
Robyn & Bass Beasley
Nini & Peter Frey
In memory of Jake Greenlee and Jessie O’Connell Roberta Richardson In honor of Pamela Murray
Eddy Theisz Lee Alford Joan Trotti
Barbara Talley In memory of Cash, Fozzie Bear, & Ben Ellen Cassanos Karen Pence In memory of Col. William E House Jr, USMC, Retired Richard Hoehlein We still care about SEVA GRREAT and all its Golden gems Kristen Goldbach In appreciation for Giddy and our 2 Sebastians Natalie Weimer Keith and Diane Anderson Mark Hampton Barbara Mason In honor of Rusty & Samantha Wilson—Merry Christmas Jennifer Marshall Christmas gift for Elton & Peggy Lane Catherine Swan In memory of Byron Swan. Bethany Berdes In memory of George Grammer Jim & Marsh Witcher In honor of Abby Baron Miller
Southeastern Virginia Golden Retriever Rescue, Education & Training, Inc.
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A Round of Applause for Our Trainers! We are very fortunate to have such talented trainers that work with our fosters and adoptive families. They provide insight and training techniques to help our dogs and their humans bond together into a successful family. Because of them, we were able to offer training classes to our SEVA GRREAT membership and adoptive families free of charge this past summer. We could not be the success that we are without their commitment. Their dedication to our Goldens sets us apart from other rescues. We truly appreciate the personal time they commit to help our dogs find a rich and fulfilling life. Please join us in wishing them and their families all the best for 2013! Our thanks go to-Julie Harshaw, Positive Animal Training Solutions Ellen Mahurin, Clever Critters Dana Hutchins, First Paw Forward Susan Altimore You can find links to their websites on our "Vets and Friends" tab at www.adoptagolden.com. From all of us at SEVA GRREAT, we thank you!!
(Continued from page 4)
Carol Culver Ephraim Seidman Carole Farnham Donna & Sidney Pecht In memory of Cysco Welch and Riley Deb Hubbard In memory of Miss Emma Dave & Peggy Main In loving memory of Scotch Bob & Nicki Seger In memory of Buzz Robyn & Bass Beasley, Jr Billy Pirtle In memory of Ginny E. Jane Lorentzen In honor of the life of Nancy Gardner and her love of Rusty, adopted Golden
Debra & Joseph Morris In memory of our sweet Golden, Angel Kevin, Paula, Andrew, & Emily Duke In memory of Nugget Dr. & Mrs. James Hayes In honor of our devoted 14 year old, Sassy Charles F. Burroughs, Jr., Trust The Elias Family Lisa & Mark Spenik Bobby & Phyllis Brashears In memory of Jessie Mary Anne Herrmann In memory of Bryce and in honor of Kelly O’Connor Nancy Hawkins In loving memory of Rusty
Gwen Holt Jack & Jo Snethen In Honor of Adam Akin’s Birthday & The Gracie Fund: Noreen Hoi Kai Wang Graham & Helen Kessler Susan & Vincent Pilato In honor of Ivy: Jim & Jenny Richardson Our granddog Joseph & Peggy Rudder Margaret Richardson Elizabeth Schneir Joan Trotti Carole Farnham
Pat & John Donaldson
In honor of SEVA GRREAT Volunteers for all you do to rescue, love, and find homes for Goldens
Beth Homa
Brenda Penca
Ray Moore
Tracy Minnich
W. Park & Beryl Lemmond
Richard & Barbara Connor
Eileen Walker
The Deli Basket
Jerry Killen & Teresa Honeycutt, Jake, Killer, & Barnaby
Ingrid & Michael Boehmer In honor of our furry friend Woody Temme
In honor of Wyatt, adopted 7/10
The Gracie Fund:
The Carisbrooke Community
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(Continued from page 2) FOSTER
of days. Of course there were the minor trials. We took our eyes off her one day and the next thing we knew, she was in the pool! She calmly swam over to the side where her panicked foster parents yanked her out. That event repeated itself a couple of times. Amber quickly figured out where the steps were and was able to get herself out. There is a body of thought that says she enjoyed those little trips to the pool, especially because the people would jump and shout and give her a towel rub down with lots of love. And a cool dip on a hot day isn’t all bad either. She took charge of the boys. Amber is 45 pounds soaking wet and about the size of a Sheltie. A tiny but very pretty girl. The boys seemed to instinctively understand her situation and showed her the deference gentlemen should. No one approached her food bowl until she was well clear. If she decided to chew the well-worn deer antler, it was hers alone. Aslan, an eighty pound fullsized guy Amber could actually walk under, would lead her around the yard in a very protective way. He didn’t keep her out of the pool, but sometimes guys aren’t all that smart or perhaps there was some collusion in her little scheme. Even Harry, who has only three legs and is generally grouchy and protective of his turf, backed off for Amber. I think I spied a few subtle kisses on the nose shared between the two. She had the sweetest disposition. She would meet us at the door with the boys, wagging and whining her greeting. She climbed in any available lap to snuggle and nuzzle. The picture of her kissing Peg is one our favor-
ites. Looking at her just hanging or sleeping with the pack made us feel comfortable that she was as happy as any “normal” foster. Sadly, Amber had heart worm. Her first shot for the treatment was so painful it caused her to lose her map. She spent two days banging into things as she regained her bearings. Because of the heart worm she couldn’t be spayed. When we went on a trip we had a good friend stay with the dogs. We got a frantic message from Bonnie that Amber was bleeding and she couldn’t tell what was happening. Before we could respond, the truth was revealed: Amber was in heat. Only a true friend would stay with three males and a female in heat. Fortunately the males weren't interested but what a mess. We knew the day would come when we she would be posted for adoption. Our love for fosters always makes that moment difficult, but the pain is usually mitigated by the happy forever home they find. Amber would need a very special home and we weren’t sure we could find a family who would pass muster. But, things have a way of working out. Long story short, Joanne Even, as the HE, found and guided us to a match. Thanks to Joanne’s good work, Amber became companion to a wonderful woman who had specifically requested a special needs dog. Amber goes to the dog park and walks the neighborhood with Victoria. A happy ending for us all. We learned so much from Amber. Dogs like Harry and Amber who seem to us to have disabilities, simply don’t accept any limitations. They never seek special treatment or complain. They just make do as well, if not better than most. It’s wonderful experience to behold.
Southeastern Virginia Golden Retriever Rescue, Education & Training, Inc.
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P P aaggee 88
MAR J A NJAN / F/EFEB B //M AR Bear adopted Josh and Eileen Nelson back in August and they haven't stopped laughing or throwing tennis balls since
HOMEC
Virginia Beach’s Light Up The Town P This is my first parade.
There’s room for one more!
Kathy, Rylee and Hatteras (fostered Kathy and adopted by Peg and Dave Main.
Southeastern Virginia Golden Retriever Rescue, Education & Training, Inc.
COMING
Parade
Red Bear
Blondie
Richmond Santa Claws Event
I’m hiding! Tessa asked Santa for her furever home … and I think he heard her wish!
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Things We Learn From Our Dogs Never pass up the opportunity to go for a joyride. Allow the experience of fresh air and the wind in your face to be pure ecstasy. When loved ones come home, always run to greet them. When it's in your best interest, practice obedience. Let others know when they've invaded your territory. Take naps and stretch before rising. Run, romp and play daily. Eat with gusto and enthusiasm. Be loyal. Never pretend to be something you're not. If what you want lies buried, dig until you find it. When someone is having a bad day, be silent, sit close by and nuzzle them gently. Thrive on attention and let people touch you. Avoid biting when a simple growl will do. On hot days, drink lots of water and lay under a shady tree. When you're happy, dance around and wag your entire body. No matter how often you're scolded, don't buy into the guilt thing and pout...run right back and make friends. Delight in the simple joy of a long walk.
Yorktown Christmas Parade
Faith adopted by the York County Events Coordinator Kevin
Southeastern Virginia Golden Retriever Rescue, Education & Training, Inc.
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Adventures In Dog Training By Patty Mcguire What does Google have to say about Dog Training? The web defines it as “the process of teaching a dog to perform certain actions in response to certain commands which the dog is trained to perform.” (A lawyer must have written that one.) Wikipedia says: “Dog training is the process of modifying the behavior of a dog, either for it to assist in specific activities or undertake particular tasks, or for it to participate effectively in contemporary domestic life. While training dogs for specific roles dates back to Roman times at least, the training of dogs to be compatible household pets developed with suburbanization in the 1950s.” So it is agreed that dog training is about getting a dog to do a particular task on command. However, I would like to submit the following thought for your consideration: dog training is more about learning how to build a meaningful relationship with and discovering how to communicate with your pooch. In order for this to occur, it’s vitally important to train the human as well. I grew up on a small farm in Chesapeake VA in the 1970’s and 80’s. Everybody had dogs then. We had 3 at one point, though nobody was bigger than about 35 or 40 pounds. We had a very large yard, so when the dogs had to go out, we just opened the door and let them out. They could poop or pee wherever they desired and barked to let us know they were ready to come back in. They generally spent their time chewing rawhides and sleeping on the furniture. We only used the leash when there was a vet visit involved. However, the two littlest dogs (Sheltie and Dachshund) were generally carried. We never got a reliable sit or stay from any of these dogs! Years pass. Life changes, and stuff happens. My mother and I wound up purchasing a lovely house together in Central Virginia. We had two cats, but I was ready for another dog. It had been a really long time since we’d had a companion dog. I had been busy working and couldn’t devote necessary time as a single person to having a dog. Since Mom and I now shared a home, somebody would be around just about all the time. We had a nice yard, my work hours were minimal, and, with Mom sharing my home, someone would be around most of the time. Enter Willie. Willie is my first large dog. He is my first exposure to the Golden Retriever breed. He is so sweet, and loving, and cute, and 80 pounds of STRONG!! Because of his background, we were warned he was a “wanderer” so we had to really keep an eye on him. That meant walking him on leash, because letting him out to entertain himself might mean he would wander to the next county. This is a breed that needs (and likes) to be exercised. So began my experience of walking on lead with an unruly, excitable and happy Golden Retriever. Once I took him to the Boardwalk for a walk in March. He pulled me off the curb and I suffered a nasty sprained ankle. It was my
right foot and I was then unable to drive home in time to go back to work. You can imagine how that went over with the boss. He pulled me down (flat on my behind, that is) two or three times sniffing bunnies over by the Virginia Beach courthouse. He would just about pull my arms out the socket when deer ran in front of us. And squirrels? I don’t even want to talk about it. I was having the worst elbow and wrist pain. Took me a while to figure out why!! Walking him at Sweet Briar College where we live turned into an exhausting and draining experience of constant pulling. It was becoming more of a chore to take him out than something we both enjoyed. However, the final straw was when my Mom took him out for his walk one day when I was away. He pulled down onto the pavement. She’s 80, so you can understand why this was so alarming. I couldn’t risk Willie hurting Mom, so, I had to find a solution. Enter Canine Campus in Charlottesville. We started in basic obedience a little over 6 months ago. Willie was so unruly I couldn’t even have him in the main class area with the other dogs. He was pulling so hard to greet everyone and whining to go visit on top of that. The distractions were just too much for him. And quite frankly it was exhausting for me as well. We started out in one of the side rooms with Dutch doors. We could hear what was going on, and I could work with him in the room where he could focus on me and not the distractions. This is the brainchild of Deven Gaston, dog trainer extraordinaire. She focuses first on building a good relationship with your dog and then taking it one step at a time. By the end of the 6-week class, we were able to have the door open and sit partially in the room with the other participants. It was great. But it was only the beginning. I have kept Willie continuously in class since basic obedience. Once a week we drive to Charlottesville for doggie school. Let me explain that this is a big deal, because it requires 120 miles of round trip driving every time. Going there for class is a commitment, not just of money, but also significant time. Why do that? The next closest place is Pet Smart in Lynchburg, which would require 50 miles of roundtrip driving. It’s so much closer, but, what do you get? It’s a 6-week class taught by young employees who did an online course as part of their job. That’s it. These are not the best-trained individuals out there. And there’s only the one class. That’s it. I cannot tell you how many people I meet who take their dog to that one 6week class at Pet Smart and wonder why the dog still has no manners! Well, first and foremost, Pet Smart misses the aspect of training as being the development of a relationship. Think about that concept for a minute. The human needs to learn a few things, too. All dogs are different and have their own unique personalities. It takes time to get to know one another. Dogs, like people, have differ(Continued on page 13)
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WANTED! Newsletter & Calendar Editors NEWSLETTER EDITOR: Due to changes in staff schedules, we are once again in need of someone willing to put the newsletter together four times a year. Need someone with a good working knowledge of MS Publisher and Acrobat Professional, an eye for design, and great organizational skills. We need someone to train to take over within the next six months. A team would be great to share responsibilities. It isn’t hard and doesn’t take a lot of time. CALENDAR EDITOR: This is someone with knowledge of Photoshop, MS Publisher, and Acrobat Professional, an eye for design, and organizational skills. This person would be responsible for collecting and selecting pictures for the calendar, formatting pictures and pages in Photoshop to meet publishing standards, design/maintain the calendar pages, prepare final copy and edit proof for the printer. This job becomes a little demanding in June and July but it is fun and very rewarding. A lot of groundwork has already been developed. Need someone to start training now to take over the 2014 Calendar. Publication deadline is the end of August. Direct inquiries to Liz Sumner at grreattimes@adoptagolden.com
“Jessie Red” By Jim O’Connell
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Are you watching your dog’s weight but he can’t seem to get enough to eat? Here are some things you can add to their meal to help fill them up: raw baby carrots, plain canned pumpkin (not the pie filling), or frozen green beans or broccoli pieces steamed in the microwave just long enough to soften them. Don’t use canned because of additives, especially salt. Air popped pop corn sans salt and butter make a great snack and dogs love it! Toss it for them to catch! Make a resolution to brush your pet’s teeth. Always use a toothbrush and toothpaste specially made for dogs. Get out there and walk with your pet. Don’t just let him out in the yard all the time, get the leash and go for a real walk. It will be rewarding to both of you! Teach your pet a new trick this year. Try to capitalize on something he does that you could develop in to something cute he could do on queue. Use little treats to coax him and gradually taper them off as he catches on and just give a reward at the end. Great bonding exercise!
We were the SEVA GRREAT foster family for Jessie in 2002 and, shortly after meeting her, we knew we should adopt her. What a great decision! She was, in many respects, the focal point of our life and an integral member of our extended family. Shortly after getting to know her we realized how compassionate she was with elderly people – particularly Pauline’s 95-year old mother with whom she was always gentle and protective. She passed certification for the therapy dog program with flying colors and was always a big hit when we took her to a local continuing care facility where she visited those in assisted living and also convalescent care. What great memories we have – and our children and grandchildren have – of “Jessie Red.” We will always think of her reminding us of her rigid schedule for eating, taking walks, retiring for the evening, etc. You could come close to being able to set your watch by what Jessie expected (and sometimes demanded) to do next. So you won’t think she was perfect, she never learned to like other than short car trips and was terribly afraid of thunder. We are grateful that SEVA GRREAT found her for us. She reinforced our commitment to supporting this wonderful organization of volunteers – individuals and veterinary service that work tirelessly to save unwanted Goldens, treat their injuries and health conditions as necessary, place them in foster care and subsequently in a forever home where they will find love, compassion and happiness. We are also grateful – and Jessie was also – to Dr. Anita Weidinger and the staff at York Veterinary Hospital for the wonderful care she always received there and to Haurand Kennels in West Point where she went “to camp, not to jail” for almost ten years whenever we travelled. She loved the dog swimming pool there. Jessie gave everyone she met the same uncompromising love she gave us. We miss her very much and still call out to her when we come home, look for her sunbathing on the screened porch or lying on the deck in Nags Head watching the ocean.
Southeastern Virginia Golden Retriever Rescue, Education & Training, Inc.
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(Continued from page 11) ADVENTURES
ent learning styles. If you can’t tell by now, I am someone who passionately believes in on-going dog training. Do you remember 9th grade algebra? If you didn’t keep practicing equations, how could you remember? Dogs aren’t any different. They need consistent reminders and homework to remember things, too. Seek out a private dog trainer for your classes. There are several great ones in the Hampton Roads area. Find someone who utilizes Humane Partnership and not Dominance Theory. Humane practices focus on using compassionate consequences to reward good behaviors. Utilize praise and hugs and fetch along with food to reward the dog instead of a show of dominance to force the dog to do what you want. Which would you respond better to? Think about it. What I have learned is that dog training is not just about getting a dog to do something you want on cue. It is also learning how the dog thinks and what their needs are. If you better understand your animal, you can communicate better. If you are communicating better, then everybody understands what’s being asked of him or her. I have learned to pay much better attention to my dog when we are out training. Now I can see when he’s overwhelmed and needs a break. I know how to help him feel confident in new situations. He is learning that the better behaved he is, the more cool stuff he gets to do. We both win. We just finished our last class in the Canine Good Citizen course. We will be testing sometime in the next couple of weeks. I hope Willie can pass, but if he doesn’t, we will simply keep working and try it again. If we don’t pass, it’s not all on Willie. It means that, I, as his trainer, have not explained well enough what I need him to do. This whole thing is about partnership. And, even if he passes this first time, we will be in another class in January and take the Therapy Dog Prep class after that. We may never do any Therapy work, but I would like for Willie to have some options. Adopting a dog is like any other long-term, committed relationship. It requires time and energy. It requires on-going work with communication and finding fun things to do together. Willie is my best friend and the love of my life. I am so happy we tried out the classes together and have developed a relationship that is on a far different level than anything I have previously experienced. I finally understand what having a companion, not a pet, means. Patty McGuire and her SEVA GRREAT Golden Retriever Rescue dog live in Amherst VA where they take long country walks and engage in dog training several days a week all over the area. You can visit Willie at his home on the web at EverybodyLovesWillie.tumblr.com.
(Continued from page 3) WILLIE
tic when greeting people. We are taking it slow and he is learning that the more restrained he can learn to be, the more cool stuff he gets to do. My challenge is to work with his loving personality without taking any of that away from him. The last thing I want to do is diminish his beautiful and loving essence. I am certain we can both learn the things we need to learn and will eventually be able to visit people who need his love in all sorts of settings. Since having Willie, my best friend lost her battle with cancer. She died earlier this year. It remains very hard for me to accept, and I find myself still thinking of her every day. I really miss her. Having Willie is a direct connection to her. I like to think she is present with us in doggie class and that she will walk with us when we test for his certifications. I’m going to ask her to be there. I know it will help us both. Willie has lifted me from some pretty serious loneliness to being a happy person again. He has shown me what’s important in life, and where my focus should be. He reminds me life is short and there is so much to be enjoyed in the simplest of pleasures. Ed—Willie just had an accident getting into the van and has been diagnosed with hip dysplasia. Keep him and Patty in your prayers.
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JAN / FEB / MAR
GRREAT ADS GRREAT Times is now offering advertising space. Rates per issue for various size ads are: 1/4 Page 1/2 Page Full Page
$ 50 $100 $150
All artwork must be in jpg format. Email requests 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 will the 1st of the month prior to the publication date.
Combined Federal
Adoptions Hank — 2 y/o male The Coucher Family Sammie — 3 y/o male The Nelson Family Precious — 1 y/o female The Beall Family Baby Ruth — 1 y/o female The Adamcik Family Chewbacca — 3 y/o male The Wathen Family Bear — 4 y/o male The Nelson Family Kato — 1 y/o male The Crawford Family Mickie/Cody — 1.5 y/o male The Garner Family Ellie — 5 y/o female The Amick Family Amber — 1.5 y/o female The Wise Family Samantha — 11 y/o female The Nelms Family Brandi — 1.5 y/o female The Wilson Family Sam — 7 y/o male The Murphy Family Porter — 8 y/o female The Harr Family Holly — 7 y/o female The Face/Perez Family
Rebel — 4 y/o male The Selfridge Family Reef — y/o male The Weber Family Buddy — 7 y/o male The Raymonds Family Tanner — 7 y/o male The Andersdon Family Lacy — 7 y/o female The Greenlee Family Ginnie — 1-2 y/o female The Turton Family Buddy — 5 y/o male The Kamperschroer Family Simon — 1 y/o male The Gay Family Emma — 1 y/o female The Butler Family Bailey — 10 y/o female The Lemmond Family Tessa — 3-5 y/o female The Jezierski Family Legato — 3 y/o male The Marquis Family Chipper — 10 y/o male The Morris Family Simba — 5 y/o male The Pritchard Family
Submit Your Story!
#3456
Sam
Samantha
Campaign #88796
Commonwealth of Virginia Campaign
Bear
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. Stories are welcomed, too! Email to:
grreattimes@adoptagolden.com
Submitting Photos When you submit your pictures for publication in print, please submit the original digital image of no less than 300 dpi. If you aren’t sure, send the original for the best quality rendering. I can make a picture smaller but I can not make one larger. A picture of 72 pixels per inch is fine for on-line viewing but I find a minimum of 300 is needed for print. Don’t worry about the file size; if you can send it, I can receive it.— Ed.
Membership, Donation & Volunteer Form Note: Membership is open to all persons 18 years or SEVA GRREAT is a 501 (C)(3) organization. * * * ALL DONATIONS & DUES ARE TAX DEDUCTIBLE IN THE YEAR PAID!
Please have the Coordinator in the following area/areas contact me: (Check appropriate boxes)
Name: Address:
These are listed in the order of urgent need by GRREAT.
E-mail:
FOSTERING — A temporary home for SEVA GRREAT dogs before they are adopted.
Home Phone:
HOME EVALUATION visits for foster/adoption applicants.
Work Phone:
TRANSPORTATION — primarily shuttling dogs and/or equipment as necessary. If you are interested in helping with transportation, can you help on:
This is a new membership Address Change
(circle all that apply)
Weekdays
ADDITIONAL VOTING MEMBERS:
Weekends
Evenings
EVENTS — helping to hold/show dogs at “Golden Days,” helping with fund raisers, etc.
(E-mail needs to be unique to vote.)
Name: E-mail:
PUBLICITY — researching and writing stories for media release and newsletters, selling ads for the newsletter, taking photos at events, updating the web site, etc.
Name:
MERCHANDISE — to man booths selling SEVA GRREAT stuff at local dog shows / fairs / festivals / etc.
E-mail: Name: E-mail: REMITTANCE: I am enclosing my annual membership dues 25
$
Additional Voting members ___ @ $25 each $_______ Donation
$_______
Calendar
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MY DONATION IS FOR: In honor of
Our rescue is growing! In order to continue to save more dogs every year, we are looking for volunteers who would like to become more involved with the organization. If you are interested in assisting with intake, foster coordination, Golden Days or other areas on a regular basis, please contact our Volunteer Coordinator at volunteering@adoptagolden.com, for more information. Please make checks payable to SEVA GRREAT. Mail this form with your check to:
Other
In memory of
SEVA GRREAT PO Box 8014 Yorktown, VA 23693
REQUIRED FOR MEMBERSHIP:
(date)
I affirm that I have never been convicted of an animal abuse crime. (signature)
Southeastern Virginia Golden Retriever Rescue, Education & Training, Inc.
SEVA GRREAT PO BOX 8014 YORKTOWN, VA
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2013 Calendars are still available! Time to renew your membership! f
757-827-8561 www.sevagrreat.org www.adoptagolden.com
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GRREAT Times is a quarterly publication of SEVA GRREAT, Inc., an all-volunteer, nonprofit organization dedicated to finding homes for homeless Goldens. 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 e-mail to grreattimes@adoptagoden.com, or write Attn: Newsletter Editor, PO Box 8014, Yorktown, VA 23693. SEVA GRREAT disclaims all responsibility for omissions or errors.
RESCUE HOTLINE 757-827-8561 Press
For
1
If you think you have found one of our Goldens based on the SEVA GRREAT tag or microchip.
2
To leave a message for the President
3
To give up a Golden Retriever or get more info on our intake process,
4
For Information on Golden Days and other events.
5
To check on the status of an adoption or foster application.
6
For all other questions.
National Dog Registry 1-800-NDR-DOGS Foster Dog Medical Care YORK VETERINARY CLINIC Yorktown 757-898-3700 COOKE VET MEDICAL CENTER Chesapeake 757-547-9421 QUIOCCASIN VET HOSPITAL Richmond 804-741-3200 ACREDALE ANIMAL HOSPITAL Virginia Beach 757-523-6100 ANDERSON’S CORNER Toano 757-566-2224
SE VA GRREAT Contact Information President
Dottie Cleal
president@adoptagolden.com
Vice President
Jane Frye
vice_president@adoptagolden.com
Treasurer
Jim O’Connell
treasurer@adoptagolden.com
Secretary
Nikki Seger
secretary@adoptagolden.com
Golden Day Coordinators Southside: Kathy Speak Peninsula: Donna Roggmann Richmond: Jennifer Dauzier Intake Coordinator
Rose Bennett
intake@adoptagolden.com
Foster Coordinator
Katie Show
fostering@adoptagolden.com
Adoption Coordinator
Kelly O’Brien
adoptions@adoptagolden.com
Membership
Jacob Kay
membership@adoptagolden.com
Volunteer Coordinator
Quanzhan Li
volunteering@adoptagolden.com
Board Member
Kathy Speak
grreatrescue@gmail.com
Merchandise
Justin Passori
merchandise@adoptagolden.com
Fundraising
Lindsey Downes
fundraising@adoptagolden.com