The May/June issue of GRREAT News is available for downloading.
 

Upcoming GRREAT Events

With the warmer weather, we have lots of activities coming up.  Please check our calendar page.
 

Recent Events

On Friday, April 24th, Paws Pet Boutique in Annapolis teamed up with Loew’s hotel (pet-friendly) to sponsor Canines and Cocktails.  It was an enjoyable evening, as you can see from the pictures:

Virginia "Golden Retriever Rescue"
  License Plates

GRREAT and our partner to the south, Southeast Virginia GRREAT, are gauging interest in a Golden Retriever Rescue license plate for Virginia drivers. The basic program requires 350 prepaid applications. As 501(c)3 organizations, our rescues qualify for Revenue Sharing. With our combined memberships, we should be able to meet this criteria. Plates authorized for revenue sharing cost $25 annually. Personalization is an additional $10 annually. Revenue sharing provides $15 of every $25 paid to the DMV to be shared with the qualified organization after the sale of the first 1000 plates. If you are interested in this program, please contact Stephen Bergstrom.  (Note: Golden Retriever Rescue plates have been available in Maryland for several years.  Here's how to get one.)
 

HELP WANTED!
We have wonderful dogs coming in all the time,
and you can help them find their forever homes
by becoming a GRREAT Foster Home.

There are many families in our area waiting to adopt Goldens but GRREAT is in need of foster homes who can provide a temporary home for these dogs  (over 250 every year), usually for a 3-4 week period, during which time the golden can be evaluated and cared for medically, its behavior and temperament can be assessed and then the foster family can match this dog with the right adoptive family from the hundred or so approved applicants that we have. GRREAT pays for all pre-approved medical expenses, provides leash, collar, heartworm preventative, and will gladly work closely with you should any questions arise. If for some reason the foster dog just doesn't seem to be able to acclimate to your home, we will move the foster dog. You are not stuck with a dog, nor do you have to take a dog if the timing is not good for you.

If you would like to be part of the solution to the problem of the thousands of dogs that are killed in this country every week because of lack of homes, this may be the answer for you!!!!! Just send Denise Malczewski an e-mail and we will contact you with more information.

Take the Foster Quiz.
 

"There is a rescue for Golden Retrievers?"

It is this question that people ask when they see GRREAT's booth at one of the numerous events the rescue participates in.  When people find out that GRREAT takes in about 250 dogs every year, you can see the shock and amazement on their faces and in their voices when they state that Golden Retrievers are such good dogs why would anyone give them up?  It is because of comments such as these that GRREAT attends events to help educate the public on the need for rescue and on the Golden Retriever breed.  GRREAT is always looking for and in need of committed volunteers who wish to give some of their time to attend events.   For a list of upcoming events go to the GRREAT Calendar Page.   For more information on any event please contact Events Coordinator Carolyn Beyer; and if you wish to volunteer at any event please contact Volunteer Coordinator Lisa Cook. 
 

The GRREAT Golden Scrapbook

Click the video screen below to enjoy a video showing some of the dogs that have
come into our rescue and are now happily living with their forever families.

REESE (08-206) is Special Needs boy who'll happily fulfill all your dreams for companionship and love, in return for his very own forever home that can supply his simple needs. Reese came into GRREAT as a stray in November of 2008 and it was soon discovered that he is blind. But that has not stopped him from being a happy, healthy, playful dog! Like all blind dogs, he has adapted to his environment and can do it all again in his forever home, with some simple guidance that we will provide. Did you know that the rewards of living with a Special Needs dog are far greater than you could ever imagine? To read more about sweet Reese and to learn how easy it could be for you to provide him with his loving forever home, please visit our Special Needs page.   Here's a video of Reese enjoying the grreat outdoors and some belly rubs

All GRREAT dogs should microchipped (if not, you need to get that done as soon as possible).  But a microchip doesn't help your lost dog get home if GRREAT doesn't have your current contact information.  If you have moved or changed phone numbers since your dog received his chip, send your updated information to mail-admin@grreat.org.  Then we'll be able be able to contact you if we are notified that your dog has been found by someone.  (For more information see page 9 of the January/February edition of GRREAT News.
 

Forever Friends

We are pleased to announce a new fund to honor your special pet that has gone on to the Rainbow Bridge. This memorial fund will allow you to pay tribute to your dog, cat, or other special critter, and at the same time help our GRREAT Golden Retrievers find their forever homes. Please visit the Forever Friends to read about Gus 06-212, the first forever friend and all the other friends that are listed.  While you're there, you can find out how to list your special forever friend.
 

It Takes Dozens of Volunteers to Keep
GRREAT Operating

GRREAT has no paid staff.  Everything we do to help homeless Goldens in the mid-Atlantic area is done by volunteers.  Some of our volunteers spend several hours a day and others much less.  Can you afford some time each week to be sure all of our dogs find new homes?  Check out our updated volunteer page to see if there isn't something you could do to help.
 

Your Donation Dollars at Work

Peaches 05-140 came to us at the young age of 2. Her family loved her but they had learned that she had an expensive digestive condition and they realized they could not afford or handle the treatment. GRREAT committed to her care and began the medical regimen necessary to help her. Shortly after she came to GRREAT however, it was discovered that her condition was much worse, complicated by a poorly functioning autonomic nervous system. She was taken to a specialist in August 2005 and again in October 2005 who was able to help us come up with a system of medications, special diet, and feeding schedules in order to manage Peachey's conditions. He warned us that it might not matter how hard we tried, that Peaches might succumb to her illness sooner than we hoped, but we endeavored to try as long as she had a high quality of life. And she did. Peaches lived, and loved, and romped, and played. For almost a year, we managed to keep her condition under control. In November 2006, Peaches suddenly became ill and was rushed to the animal hospital where they were forced to perform emergency surgery to save her life. Always a danger with her condition, her intestines had become impacted. Peaches quickly recovered from her surgery and bounced back to her exuberant self where she has remained for several months. As we learn more about her condition and ways to manage it, we hope to avoid this terrible crash from happening again. We know that we are racing against time but Peaches has a strong will to live and a joyous energy that touches everyone around her. Until there is no hope, until her quality of life is diminished, we must keep trying. Because of your past and continued support, GRREAT is able to offer sanctuary to Peaches and to other Goldens like her. Goldens who might otherwise have suffered or been put down long ago. Every little bit helps so please consider making a donation. One-time or even small monthly donations go a long way. And please, don't forget to renew your memberships or become a member to ensure that we are able to continue our good work. Thank you for reading and hope to see you at the Bark-B-Que where Peaches will be ready to greet you. Read about more of our Special Dogs.